Isle of Skye and back to Inverness

Every time I start a new post I feel like I am trying to write the introduction to an essay ... I was useless at it.. I would get so stressed my brain would freeze. I am not sure I was a very good academic student ... I lacked a lot of confidence. I am glad those days are behind me.

We have nearly done a complete circuit of the NC500. Pete has really enjoyed driving along this coast line ... he has loved the long straight stretches and sweeping bends. For anyone who likes driving they will know what Pete means. He has often mentioned how much he would love to drive his Fraser along this route.

We are heading back to Inverness and onto Edinburgh now ... we are really having a wonderful adventure with Lars and Roxcy. They are the best to travel with ... we have done this a few times with them now. I think they are quite adventurous to get onto a plane and fly to the other side of the world ... away from home, their favourite food and Mum and Dad. We had discussed going to Hebrides Island, the big island. There was a music festival happening on the island and the ferry was booked out going over ... we could have gone standby but there was no guarantee about coming back. So we decided to go to the Isle of Skye instead and stayed at a seaside village called Portree ... we have no regrets.

We came across the Mackenzie Bakery. Scottish bakeries are different to NZ bakeries. In NZ the bakeries sell hot foods, filled rolls and some are like the Bell Bird specialise in selling artisan breads. Most of the Scottish bakeries only sell cold items and we never came across an artisan baker.  

There was a fair on the wharf of Portree to raise money to replace their search and rescue boat. There were lots of people and entertainment, mostly for the children. We got to look around the search and rescue boat and Lars got to have some fun on one of the rescue crafts. He looks like he is totally in role here ... heading out to sea to save some one from a grim death.

Of course there was the usual sausage sizzle and face painting ... this is one of the best face paintings I have seen in a while ... our very own fairy. I love the colours Roxcy has chosen, she is like Chris and has a real eye for colour.

We cam across a great bookshop that had some beautifully illustrated children's books ... I am a sucker for a beautifully illustrated book with a good story. I love to collect children's books and we have quite a few at home now, some of our favourite family classics like Goodnight Mr Tom, We are going on a Bear Hunt to name just a couple. I loved reading to our children when they young, it was the thing that I looked forward to at the end of our day and I love reading to our grandchildren.

Lars and Roxcy experiencing life in a paddy wagon, one of the things that was on display at the fund raiser. I feel like this photo is a glimpse of Lars & Roxcy when they are older, hopefully not in a paddy wagon.

We were told by someone at Inverewe to visit the Fairy Pools on the Isle of Skye. They certainly attract the crowds. In New Zealand there would be lots of signs, board walks for the wet areas and fences to stop people falling to their death and maybe the odd spot open to people to swim. In the States we would be paying money to see them. In Scotland there was neither.

The water was freezing but this did not stop Lars & Roxcy from jumping in and swimming. Here is Roxcy our very own fairy. On our way out we saw a man attempting to jump from one rock to the other. He missed, slipping down the rock and was only saved by his backpack. There was a rush of people to rescue him, he was very lucky. It was a very scary and tense moment. As we were walking back to our van Lars said ...  'I know this is a bit sick but the best part of the day was seeing someone nearly fall to their death, not many people get to see that!' He found this very exciting, the person who slipped did not ... he looked very grey when he was dragged back up the rock.

We camped at Glenbrittle Camp about 30 minutes up the road from the Fairy Ponds. It's rated the best camping ground in the UK. Lars and Roxcy spent their evening paddling in the ocean. These two are not at all deterred by the temperature of the water.

We visited Dunevegan Castle while on Skye ... these castles are very busy with visitors all through the summer. After a while it feels like after you have seen one castle you have seen them all. There might be the odd difference but over all they seem the same. I seem to remember feeling like this when Pete and I visited the UK in the 80's. 

As usual I am looking at the decor and the textiles and Pete is reading the history. He comes away with all the info and I come away with photos of textiles that I really liked and find inspiring. Like this wall paper.

Another wall paper that I liked ... it looked like a painting to me.

Lucy emailed through this portrait of Pete that Marigold had done ... great colours, a little too much hair I think. Never the less an artist in the making.

I discovered this in a supermarket ... I had no idea that Cadbury's had their own version of Nutella. I learnt something new, I am no Cadbury's fan.

On the way back to Inverness we visited Mackenzie Castle. Parts of it are still lived in today. I am not sure I would like to live in a castle they are pretty dark and would be a nightmare to keep warm. James Bond in Quantum of Solace drove his Aston Martin over the bridge that you can see in the background. Parking was a problem and Pete had to park a bit of a walk from the castle, which is fine when you are starting out your day but not such a good idea at the end of an hour or so looking round a castle, feeling tired, hungry and walking in the rain. Pete was also struggling to remember where he parked. When we finally found the van Roxcy said, "Pete this has been a very bad experience. From now on you are not allowed to park the car unless one of us is with you." We have had many moments of being 'schooled' by Roxcy ... another Roxcy gem that she would sometimes say is  'something for you to learn'. Roxcy is hard to prove wrong ... I often found myself in a losing battle with her.

We spent a few days back in Inverness at a campsite right next to an indoor swimming pool and a gym which we all appreciated. Pete and I would have turns going to the gym early in the morning and then swimming in the afternoon for Lars and Roxcy. We also took Lars and Roxcy to see The Lion King, one of my all time favourite movies. I love this photo of them both sucking their thumbs at the same time, unconsciously. Lars and Roxcy enjoying the comforts of life again.

We saw these three wheeled cars at the carpark ... two in a row ... a family of three wheelers. 

Pete got a haircut ... it was nearly as good as the one he had in Turkey. I loved the colours of their display. 

Roxcy lost her flip flops early on during our travels, Inverness was a good place to replace them and unicorns seemed like a perfect match.

As we walked around Inverness we came across a few of these coloured statues ... I am not sure what they were about but they looked really colourful and seemed to attract a lot of attention.

Preacher Lars ... 

I got really excited when I heard Mr Whippy and then saw Mr Whippy come into our camp ground ... I thought he was just a NZ thing but no! He is also alive and well in Scotland. Even the tune they play is the same.

I love, love, love the chimneys in Scotland. We would drive down streets and there would be rows of houses with rows of chimneys, I would get so excited.