Can't beleive we're almost home! We have had some great adventures through Scotland and Wales, including a trip out to the Isle of Mull (from where Calgary gets its name) and the sheepy mountains around Snowdonia. We met a world-champion sheep-dog handler, Aled Jones, and saw how his dog Gwyn can collect sheep and move them where ever he wants. Sheepdog puppies were plenty cute too. We also went deep into King Arthur's caves, visited the slate mines and spent a day on the beach. Carnaerffon castle was also a great visit and we were very saw to have to say goodbye to Cyffdy cottage when we had to leave.
Travel tip: the Yout Hostel in Bath is full of mold. Don't stay there.
In London now, and have been to the RAF Museum, Hyde Park (where James clonked his head on the playground again), Tate British and Modern galleries and the Tower of London. Lots of good bloody stories there for sure.
Tomorrow the boys reach the promised Mecca of Legoland. We'll visit Deirdre's cousin Chitra on Saturday and hopefully get to Hampton Court Monday. We're loving staying in Jill's house, but wish she was there with us!
See y'all back in Calgary Aug. 1st
Thursday, July 26, 2007
Thursday, July 12, 2007
Bonnie Bonnie Banks o Loch Lomond
Just figures... we want a quiet highland getaway and they have to host the Scottish Open golf tourney 3km down the road from our hostel... Traffic is a problem, but all the golfing stars are out and about. So, we've been enjoying this part by visiting some castes. First, Doune Castle, where the lion's share of Monty Python and the Holy Grail was filmed. They even give you coconut shells at the entry to enhance your visit. Very cool to see the spot where John Cleese (Launcelot) slashed his way through the peasants to save the 'princess' in the tower, and to see the wall where the French Knights taunted King Arthur and his men, and eventually launched a cow at them! Fun castle visit!
From there, we went to Loch Katrina for a boat tour and some local stories of Sir Walter Scott, who apparently landed a 34 lb Pike from the Loch. More recently, it is the drinking water supply for Glasgow, some 30km away. Nice highland views. Today we visited Stirling Castle, and the battlefields where William Wallace and Robert the Bruce became legendary as true BRAVE SCOTS. The boys love the gory history for sure. Axes in heads. Drawing and quartering. All very cool for sure. We also visited the Falkirk Wheel - a giant lift-lock on the canal system which uses a unique set of gears and wheels to raise and lower boats.
Then, back to the hostel, which is a massive estate home which looks a bit like Hogwarts's converted for hostel use. Our room is in a turret on the 3rd floor. Again, the boys think it's pretty cool.
If anyone is still reading this blog (I know it's summer now) thanks. We are just a few weeks from coming home and have enjoyed the e-mails and comments. We are having fun, but looking forward to seeing family and friends again!
From there, we went to Loch Katrina for a boat tour and some local stories of Sir Walter Scott, who apparently landed a 34 lb Pike from the Loch. More recently, it is the drinking water supply for Glasgow, some 30km away. Nice highland views. Today we visited Stirling Castle, and the battlefields where William Wallace and Robert the Bruce became legendary as true BRAVE SCOTS. The boys love the gory history for sure. Axes in heads. Drawing and quartering. All very cool for sure. We also visited the Falkirk Wheel - a giant lift-lock on the canal system which uses a unique set of gears and wheels to raise and lower boats.
Then, back to the hostel, which is a massive estate home which looks a bit like Hogwarts's converted for hostel use. Our room is in a turret on the 3rd floor. Again, the boys think it's pretty cool.
If anyone is still reading this blog (I know it's summer now) thanks. We are just a few weeks from coming home and have enjoyed the e-mails and comments. We are having fun, but looking forward to seeing family and friends again!
Monday, July 9, 2007
Best whiskey we've tried... Monkeyshoulder - a vat blend of three highland malts - excellent taste, good value and a really cool bottle - look for it!
We are in Oban where the local whiskey shop is staffed by someone from Saskatoon!!!
We are doing well in the West lands, and have visited some really beautiful places. A few days ago, we stayed at Glenfinnan, near the viaduct where all the dramatic train scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Every day, the Jacobite steam engine chugs up from Fort William and stops there en route to Mallaig on the coast. We rode the train, in one of the compartments used to film the scenes with the swirling 'Dimentors' and had a great time looking out over the hills an forests used to make the famous films. James and David were a little excited about all this.
We stayed in the Glenfinnan Rail Car sleeper - a hostel with a very small room, a nice kitchen and a seating area. The car is located beside the Glenfinnan station and is a really cool place to stay if you ever have the chance.
from there, we drove down the coast to Ben Nevis, and hiked the shoulder to the Steall waterfall. It almost didn't rain on us, but the top of the UK's highest peak could never be seen due to thick clouds up high. The boys have not forgotten how to hike - they did really well and earned an ice cream for their effort!
Then, down to Oban where we had the best Haddock and chips yet. We were over to the Isle of Mull yesterday, and spent some time at Tobermoray. We wanted to get across to Calgary and Calgary bay, but the local bus service does not run on Sundays! Had to settle for nice views of the harbour and town where we were.
Today we visited the Scottish Seal Recovery Centre- a place for injured wildlife. It has a pretty good aquarium too. This afternoon, I met a shopkeeper in a really nice whiskey store who hails from Saskatoon. She really likes the Monkeyshoulder as well. Off to a coastal park for a beach walk now, and tomorrow, off to Loch Lomond.
SUPER BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO MEI LEE OGDEN for having the good sense to pick Jamie and JJ as her new parents. The pictures are awesome and you guys look great!
Cheers!
We are in Oban where the local whiskey shop is staffed by someone from Saskatoon!!!
We are doing well in the West lands, and have visited some really beautiful places. A few days ago, we stayed at Glenfinnan, near the viaduct where all the dramatic train scenes from the Harry Potter movies were filmed. Every day, the Jacobite steam engine chugs up from Fort William and stops there en route to Mallaig on the coast. We rode the train, in one of the compartments used to film the scenes with the swirling 'Dimentors' and had a great time looking out over the hills an forests used to make the famous films. James and David were a little excited about all this.
We stayed in the Glenfinnan Rail Car sleeper - a hostel with a very small room, a nice kitchen and a seating area. The car is located beside the Glenfinnan station and is a really cool place to stay if you ever have the chance.
from there, we drove down the coast to Ben Nevis, and hiked the shoulder to the Steall waterfall. It almost didn't rain on us, but the top of the UK's highest peak could never be seen due to thick clouds up high. The boys have not forgotten how to hike - they did really well and earned an ice cream for their effort!
Then, down to Oban where we had the best Haddock and chips yet. We were over to the Isle of Mull yesterday, and spent some time at Tobermoray. We wanted to get across to Calgary and Calgary bay, but the local bus service does not run on Sundays! Had to settle for nice views of the harbour and town where we were.
Today we visited the Scottish Seal Recovery Centre- a place for injured wildlife. It has a pretty good aquarium too. This afternoon, I met a shopkeeper in a really nice whiskey store who hails from Saskatoon. She really likes the Monkeyshoulder as well. Off to a coastal park for a beach walk now, and tomorrow, off to Loch Lomond.
SUPER BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO MEI LEE OGDEN for having the good sense to pick Jamie and JJ as her new parents. The pictures are awesome and you guys look great!
Cheers!
Sunday, July 1, 2007
Wee bit 'o Cullen Skink in the Highlands
Happy Canada Day!
Tonight we are in Inverness, at the mouth of the river Ness, Moray Firth. We haven't seen any baby Nessie monsters in the river yet, but the paths and parks which surround the area are mystical and gorgeous. Scotland is a beautiful, natural place so far. We arrived last week in Aberdeen and drove down to Stonehaven in the driving rain. As it happened, out place there was on a high bluff looking over the North Sea at Crawton Croft. The house itself was amazing. Warm, comfy... we could have moved in for a long long time.
So - the Keiths descended from Robert de Keith who was awarded the lands near Stonehaven after the battle of Bannockburn. Subsequent generations of Keiths built up the area, including William Keith who built Dunottar Castle (used in Mel Gibson's 'Hamlet'). We spent some time there, and at Kennef Kirk down the road (plays big in Keith history) and also had some time in Aberdeen at the Maritime museum and Marishal College. We also visited Montrose, Brechin and the Caledonian Railway. The coast in this area is powerful - there are sea-birds everywhere (but only one Puffin) and the forest walks are tranquil. David and James are ready to stay and re-claim the Keith lands.
On our travels, we've also been to Lossiemouth, Keith, and the Glenfiddich distillery at Duffstown. It's Free! And they give you whiskey at the end of the tour! Today we visited the Scottish Wooden boat festival at Portsoy on the Moray Firth - very cool old ships and small boats, and a really nice harbour town.
And lots of Cullen Skink! Yum.
So now we are planning to escape to Skye, then on to Mull and hopefully Iona. Then to Loch Lomond and to Wales beyond. We hope to see Nessie on our trips around Loch Ness - will have the camera ready...
The local news is of flooding and of a car-bomb at the Glasgow airport. We are far away from those troubles, and appreciating that immensely. The boys are in good spirits. Still riding the high from the great time we had in Ireland. We hope everybody had a great Canada Day and will try to update again as soon as possible.
Tonight we are in Inverness, at the mouth of the river Ness, Moray Firth. We haven't seen any baby Nessie monsters in the river yet, but the paths and parks which surround the area are mystical and gorgeous. Scotland is a beautiful, natural place so far. We arrived last week in Aberdeen and drove down to Stonehaven in the driving rain. As it happened, out place there was on a high bluff looking over the North Sea at Crawton Croft. The house itself was amazing. Warm, comfy... we could have moved in for a long long time.
So - the Keiths descended from Robert de Keith who was awarded the lands near Stonehaven after the battle of Bannockburn. Subsequent generations of Keiths built up the area, including William Keith who built Dunottar Castle (used in Mel Gibson's 'Hamlet'). We spent some time there, and at Kennef Kirk down the road (plays big in Keith history) and also had some time in Aberdeen at the Maritime museum and Marishal College. We also visited Montrose, Brechin and the Caledonian Railway. The coast in this area is powerful - there are sea-birds everywhere (but only one Puffin) and the forest walks are tranquil. David and James are ready to stay and re-claim the Keith lands.
On our travels, we've also been to Lossiemouth, Keith, and the Glenfiddich distillery at Duffstown. It's Free! And they give you whiskey at the end of the tour! Today we visited the Scottish Wooden boat festival at Portsoy on the Moray Firth - very cool old ships and small boats, and a really nice harbour town.
And lots of Cullen Skink! Yum.
So now we are planning to escape to Skye, then on to Mull and hopefully Iona. Then to Loch Lomond and to Wales beyond. We hope to see Nessie on our trips around Loch Ness - will have the camera ready...
The local news is of flooding and of a car-bomb at the Glasgow airport. We are far away from those troubles, and appreciating that immensely. The boys are in good spirits. Still riding the high from the great time we had in Ireland. We hope everybody had a great Canada Day and will try to update again as soon as possible.
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