Scotland

We have arrived safe and sound in Scotland! I am going to be hard pressed to decide which area is my favourite! I was sad to leave Wales but quickly grew to love the new scenery. We drove through the Lake District. I am a bit disappointed in what is happening to these beautiful spots because of tourism. The coach buses and people everywhere make it hard to see the landscape! Windemere on a Saturday was wall to wall people! I was glad to leave and just be on the winding roads (with Dad driving!) Scotland too has spectacular views. Our first stop was Gretna Green - where young lovers in the late 1700's/early 1800's would run to elope at the local blacksmith's shop. I have read so many books from the period mentioning Gretna Green that it was exciting to actually see it. The blacksmith's shop is still there and people are still getting married there!! There were two weddings in the space of an hour that we were there and there are weddings all day at 30 min. intervals!! I guess it's the Vegas/Niagara Falls of Scotland! But, it was interesting to see the sight and read the history.
Glasgow didn't get much attention but I am finding that the cities don't appeal as much as being in the countryside. Our goal today was to get to Paisley, Scotland (at one time twinned with my hometown Paisley, Ontario). After a few wrong turns in "not so nice" Glasgow streets, we found it. This is the church we pulled up beside. While taking pictures, a woman heading in asked Dad if he wanted a tour so took us in. Built 1163, it is a bit older than our Paisley and a magnificent building! It was Harvest Sunday so there were displays of fruit and vegetables and flowers to add to the scene. A nice way to start a Sunday morning!
On to Stirling to see Stirling Castle. A later construction than the ones we've seen so far (1530) but impressive all the same.
We wanted to get some sense of the mountains and highlands so went north from Stirling to Braemar and did a quick pass of Balmoral Castle. Closed for the season to tourists so I only got a picture of the gates but the countryside alone was worth the trip! We were diverted onto an estate road when an enormous flock of sheep took over the main road! Only in Scotland!!
We arrived in Aberdeen just after 6 and had a wonderful home-cooked meal with Liz and David and Martin and Rachel. Lots to see and do in the area and so little time!

More Sheep!

This one thought I was his mother! I was taking pictures when it "baaed" at me. To be friendly, I "baaed" back and he came to investigate! I wasn't sure how safe I would be so got back in the car. Here's his little face peering up over the car window!

I LOVE sheep!!

I have sworn off eating lamb since my time here! They are so cute - and all over the place! We drove up to Horseshoe Pass (13 000 ft above sea level) and there were sheep on the hills and all along the side of the road! There were even a few cases where one would wander down the MIDDLE of the road! There was a spot to pull off and I got out for some close up shots! Very friendly animals!

Llangollen Canal

Boy Bev's fast!! We only took and sent this photo a couple of hours ago!! We took a horse-drawn barge ride down the canal this afternoon. A lovely ride as you can see by the bridge. Our horse looked a little bored but I guess when you do this day in and day out it can get a bit routine!! When we stopped to turn the ropes around for the return trip, the horse kept walking! He went a bit farther down the path, had a bite of grass then wandered back to be retied!

We have had a Welsh afternoon tea (much like all the rest except we had whipped cream with our scones instead of clotted cream) and are going back to the B&B to pick up the car and head out to Horseshoe Pass - a recommended scenic site and slate quarry. Mom's souvenir request is a piece of slate?! That should pack well and add to their already heavy suitcases!!

Sheep!!

One of the few spots where we could actually pull off the road to get a picture of the sheep. This is a very small flock compared to some we've seen. In many cases, the white of sheep covers the green of the grass and you can see them for miles! I just put my camera on the "action" setting and snap away!!

Back again!

We have been blissfully disconnected from all things technological for the past few days but continue to be busy. I can't believe we have only been gone just over a couple of weeks. We have seen and done so much it feels like I've been here forever! I have even had some trouble remembering what day it is and what country I'm in...poor me!!
Wales is absolutely spectacular! We drove up the coast on Wednesday stopping at Harlech then Caernarfon Castles. The Snowdonia Mountains are incredible and there are huge flocks of sheep on every bit of grass and hillside! We went from being in the bottom of a valley to the very top of a mountain peak - so glad Dad was driving 'cause I wouldn't have been able to keep my eyes on the road!
Drove to the Isle of Anglesey yesterday and toured Beaumaris Castle then on to Conwy and the castle there. Amazing to see and many photos for my grade 4 medieval unit! I'll try to get the hundreds of photos down to something a little more manageable for them to sit through!! It does give a whole new perspective to the unit and the time period! While we were at Beaumaris, a group of school children arrived. I had a moment of longing for the Perth Road kids - until I watched them racing along the wall walks and jumping off the crumbling remains of walls!! They did eventually settle and had an art activity - sketching parts of the ruins! Can you imagine?! A field trip to a castle!
From Conwy we drove into Llandudno (learning Welsh and the Ll is pronounced - Cl...I'm getting a few snickers when I try to say place names!). It's a seaside resort with huge old Victorian hotels along the boardwalk. Had a quick bite to eat then went to a concert by the Trelawnyd Male Voice Choir. Dad's only request for our trip was to hear a Welsh choir so I was busy back in March surfing trying to find a concert that would be in the vicinity of where we were staying when we were there!! I'm so glad I found this one!! They won the Eistenfodd this year. (Don't have the spelling right so I'll have to do my "spell check" later!) It's a choir competition held in Llangollen (where we are staying) every summer! The voices were amazing - 100 men (most over 70, I think!!) and there were a few tears shed by us throughout the concert! They could fill the church with their sound or bring it down to a whisper. The chills I felt then were awe rather than cold!
For the final number, the audience joined them in "Guide Me O, Thou Great Jehovah"!! It is one of my favourite hymns and I quite enjoyed singing along with those voices! I think this has been a highlight of Dad's trip. He bought two CDs and we listened to them on the way back to our B&B. It was 47 miles but took us 1.25 hours!! We are averaging between 27-35 miles an hour with the narrow and winding roads. But, I am still glad to see the area remaining in it's natural state and not bowing to the pressure to widen roads for buses and demanding tourists!!
I am now at the Llangollen Public Library. Another perfect spring day and we are spending it in the town. We hope to take a ride on the horse drawn barge down the canal and visit the aqueduct. Plas Newydd is also in the area and has an interesting history of two women who "eloped" from Ireland in 1780 and spent the next 50 years in the centre of local Regency Society.
Tomorrow we head off to Glasgow then Aberdeen for a few days with our friends from Kingston (Liz, David, Rachel and Martin). While people have been incredibly friendly, it will be nice to see some familiar faces again!

Pembrokeshire Coast Trail

Another view from the top! Not sure if you can see the parking lot in the distance but it gives you some idea of how far up we were! There were surfers in the bay but they weren't having much luck getting out into the surf much less doing any surfing!!