A nice leisurely trip across the Atlantic on a ship sure makes those FIVE time zones easier to take;-) It is kind of nice, though, to finally set foot on dry land – even if it is Fenway Park for a Yankee fan! If one is a base ball fan, Fenway Park is the granddaddy of them all as the oldest park and possessing that ‘green monster’. Be sure to take a tour of the stadium so you can see the mound that the Babe pitched from and sit in the seats above the green monster for nothing instead of the minimum $500 per game!

Finally back to where it all began – New York, New York. Coming in early morning gives NY a different, clean, magical look.

NY was the end of a segment and the beginning of another – NY to Montreal. Friends Linda May and Bill joined for this part of the journey and a night on the town was enjoyed before embarking on the last 11 days – –

The last trip out provided one more look at that beautiful lady in the river. The scene never gets old –

The next 11 days would explore everything Canada including many of her NP’s. First up was Gros Morne NP in Newfoundland with another dramatic example of the continental drift – so much so declared a UNESCO World Heritage site. Unfortunately, the day visited included such bad weather the true drama of the landscape could not be seen;-( So – on to Lobster Cove Head and a cute little lighthouse that has been a landmark since 1898 – –

From one lighthouse to another. Just outside of Halifax is perhaps one of the most famous and most photographed lighthouses in Canada at Peggy’s Cove. This quaint little village is now overrun by tourists wanting a picture of this icon and the surrounds. Even with the crowds this is a must see. The many little shops with local merchandise are delightful to visit. AND – the gingerbread at the cafe located in the gift shop is pretty good as are the good old hot dogs at the kiosk by the cove!!

One more stop in Sydney – this time with friends;-)

Next stop is Gaspe in eastern Quebec province and another NP – Forillon. Take an invigorating walk along the coast to the lighthouse at lands end and observe the mountains inland, which are the northern beginnings of the Appalachians. Like so many of the small villages in this eastern edge of Canada, Gaspe began as a fishing village attracting those from as far away as Ireland, Scotland and France to fish for cod until the seas were fished out. Today – it is just beautiful.

On to interesting Baie-Comeau and its Parc Nature Pointe-Aux-Outardes, as well as the first Hudson Bay Company small department store in Quebec. The Nature Park is a protected coastal nature reserve featuring 9 distinct environments, including sandy beaches, dunes, boreal forest, salt marshes and peat bogs. With one two mile boardwalk (constructed to preserve the dunes) you can walk through all of these environments! Absolutely amazing. If you are on a guided walk with a ranger, you might even get a taste of tea made from leaves within the Park;-) Enjoy these amazing sights.

One more – Saguenay NP and this writers personal favorite. The village of Saguenay sits on a majestic fjord – one-of-a-kind in North America and one of the longest in the world. Thus, the sail in was magnificent! The Saguenay NP protects over 60 miles of this dramatic, glacier carved fjord and its stunning beauty. This area is definitely on our road trip itinerary for next summer.

This park was hard to leave, but the ship doesn’t wait. So on to Quebec City, sitting right on the banks of the St. Lawrence River. The Old city is a UNESCO World Heritage site and the only fortified city remaining in North America. The old Upper Town is dominated by the majestic Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac hotel, which is a wonderful place to have lunch or tea;-)

Being French, the catholic churches are in abundance here. Stop and peek in.

Last, but not least, was Montreal and a stroll through its ‘old section’ – DQ and all – and one more church.

After almost three months on the ship, many of the people who took care of us day in and day out had become like family and it was hard to say goodbye. Here’s hoping they will be part of our lives again on a future cruise.

A fantastic trip on Oceania all around the northern hemisphere. It was definitely cooler than Phoenix for the summer. It was also enlightening, educational and often eye opening. Can’t wait for the next one!!

E & G – delighted to be able to travel and enjoy the world around us. Wishing you the same;-)

 The title is NOT a misnomer! And, if you come from the US there is a bit of an infatuation as there just aren’t castles in North America?!?! So – before leaving the greater UK and Ireland it is fun to take in just a couple more. Especially Blarney Castle where one has the opportunity to kiss that Blarney Stone and attain “the gift of gab”!

Travel just 5 miles north of Cork to the 500 year old Blarney Castle and the beautiful surrounding grounds. Try to get there as early as possible or you are standing in one of those ‘Disneyland lines’ to climb four stories of narrow, twisting, dark stairwells. The line up the stairs moves slowly so you don’t need to worry about holding things up if you no longer move at the speed of a 20 something;-) Once at the top, there are 360 degree views of the surrounding area, where again you snake around to lie on your back over a sheer drop of 120′ and kiss ‘the Stone’ that is believed to have made its way here in 1314 from Scotland! Don’t worry, today they have installed iron handgrips and there is a LARGE, handsome man to hold on to you while performing this daring act. Don’t miss it – it’s something to say “I DID IT”.

After that exhilarating experience, wander the beautiful grounds. They include a new Blarney House built in 1874 (a private residence still resided in), old stables turned into a cafe, the many gardens and grand ‘climbing trees’.

Back across the Irish Sea to North Wales, where there was an earlier visit to Portmeirion in the Snowdonia NP. Thankfully, there was another visit to Holyhead to allow the visit to Caernarfon Castle with its distinctive octagonal towers. This place is HUGE! It’s no wonder the locals had a fit as it was being built as a display of the king’s force. It dates back to 1284 and is the site of Edward II’s birth, who was the first given the title of Prince of Wales. This was the King of England’s clear symbol that the English were in charge here. To this day this is the title conferred on the eldest son of the reigning British monarch and the investiture of then Prince Charles took place right here in 1969!

Back to reality leaving all the castles and kissing of the Blarney Stone behind – it is time to head the ship west across the Atlantic back to North America. In five days we will have gone through five time zones at a nice leisurely pace and be ready for another land excursion;-) See you all there!

E & G – headed west saying goodbye to Europe (for now)

After several years, it was time to make a return visit to the D-Day Beaches in Normandy, France. (The earlier visit can be found at https://egmagicbustour.com/2022/10/02/normandy-d-day-beaches/). Wanting to focus on an area not explored before, the US Airborne sector centered at Sainte-Mere-Eglise was targeted. This is where the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions made their landing in order to clear the area for the troops to land at Utah Beach.

The Church of Our Lady of the Assumption in Sainte-Mère-Église, played a prominent role in the landing and, as such, was highlighted in the 1962 film The Longest Day.  The parachute and figure hanging from the bell tower of the church  commemorates American paratrooper Pvt. John Steele of the 82nd Airborne Division, who was actually ‘hung-up’ on the church spire during his landing attempt and was made ‘famous’ by the film – much of which was shot here on location. It is quite amazing how grateful the French are to this day for what the Americans did for them. Over and over again there are tributes to the Americans’ acts of bravery such as this tribute to Pvt. Steele and the remaking of stained glass windows in their churches to honor their acts. Truly humbling and gratifying.

The Airborne Museum sits just across the square from the church and is devoted primarily to the American 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions and their preparation for, and operations during, the night of June 5–6, 1944. For those interested in the airborne operations around Utah Beach, this museum is particularly worthwhile because its focus is quite specific rather than trying to tell the entire D-Day story.

The Eglise Saint-Côme et Saint-Damien d’Angoville au Plain is a small medieval church not far from Sainte-Mere-Eglise. On D-Day, Pvts. Robert E. Wright and Kenneth J. Moore, medics with the 2nd Battalion, 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, established an improvised aid station inside the church. They brought casualties into the church and laid many of them directly on the still blood stained wooden pews – American and German alike, as well as local children. Contemporary commemorations generally credit them with caring for about 80 combatants. At different points the village changed hands with German soldiers entering the church. When it was discovered that German wounded were being cared for alongside Americans heads were turned and the aid station was allowed to continue operating.

The modern stained glass is particularly unusual for a medieval French church and once again honors the Americans.

Part of the German Atlantic Wall defenses at La Madeleine/La Grande Dune (Utah Beach) on June 6, 1944 was a concrete bunker built right next to an establishment now known as Le Roosevelt Café. The cafe existed at the time of the landings and was operated by the Théodore family. Following the capture of Utah Beach, American troops used the building, and it became closely associated with the U.S. forces operating from the beachhead. The café has subsequently become a small piece of living D-Day history. Its interior contains signatures, photographs, insignia and messages left by American veterans who returned to Utah Beach since the war. 

Although a prior visit had been made to the American cemetery at Omaha Beach, it didn’t seem right to leave the area without another visit.

Another enlightening visit and reminder of what those before us fought for and how much they sacrificed.

E & G – wishing peace to all

If you are looking for a side trip from London or Southampton, Oxford is a mere 57 miles northwest of London. In fact – bag the side trip and plan to spend about a week or more exploring Oxford and venture from there to the Cotswolds and Cambridge. This is another addition to the wish list along with the NC 500 in Northern Scotland!

 Unfortunately, this trip only allowed for that quick day trip from Southampton to Oxford but did a great job of whetting the appetite. The city of Oxford dates back to the 12th century but it is the university that has given the city its identity since it first opened its doors in 1263. And the university is actually a collection of 38 colleges, all acting on their own with their own support/financial arrangements and contributing to many shared university properties. Many of the colleges do NOT open to the public or only do so on a limited basis. A walking tour of the city is a fantastic way to get the lay of the land and to learn about the composition of the University. It may also provide a glimpse into one or more of the colleges as the “Oxford Walking Tours” adventure did on this particular day. Come on in to the Trinity College grounds – –

Every college has its own chapel, as it is the center of the college and showiest for all the world to see;-) It also has dorms, a library and eating facility. There really aren’t classrooms as students receive syllabi and it is up to them to complete the studies reporting to their advisor as required. Significantly different from US universities.

Not far from Trinity is The Bodleian Library, one of the oldest libraries in Europe and a member of the Bodleian Libraries group. This group of libraries hold over 13 million printed items and includes major research libraries, and libraries attached to faculties, departments and other institutions of the University. The Bodleian Library is known by Oxford scholars simply as ‘the Bod’ and is used by students and scholars from all over the world.

Walking from ‘the Bod’ to the true center of the University – the Radcliffe Camera – one passes under Oxford’s ‘Bridge of Sighs’. The Radcliffe Camera is a working library and part of the central Bodleian Library complex.

Across from the Radcliffe Camera is the University Church of St. Mary the Virgin, the official church of the University of Oxford since the 1200’s. Of course, the interior is exquisite!

On another side of the quad around Radcliffe Camera resides All Souls College. Founded in the 1430’s, this college is dedicated to advanced study and research bringing together Fellows engaged in world-leading research and supports them with an outstanding library and archive.

Wandering the streets of a town provides wonderful sights and Oxford is no exception. Its streets are quite lively. There is a bustling Oxford Market and a delightful restaurant called The Ivy for a lovely, quiet lunch retreat;-)

And then there is Blackwell’s – Oxford’s oldest, largest and best bookshop. It is spread over four floors and has FIVE miles of shelving!! You can get lost in here – –

Time to head back to the ship and end the day here in Oxford. But, one last call before heading out;-)

A fascinating day in Oxford but only a tiny glimpse of what is there to investigate. Have to come back on that ‘wish list’ trip sometime in the future.

E & G – In awe of a fantastic city and institution!

Denmark is the birthplace of the Vikings, and their legacy is everywhere. Two more stops are on the itinerary before we say goodby to them.

First up is the sunny little island of Bornholm in the Baltic. The Vikings landed here a millennium ago and their legacy is still here. That good old book – “1,000 Places to see Before You Die” – suggests you see/do four things here and you can accomplish that in a morning. So – lets go.

Very distinct sights on the island are its whitewashed 12th century rundkirkem, or round churches. They are capped with ink-black conical roofs and are quite a vision throughout the rolling green countryside. Well maintained grave sites are also part of the grounds around the church, creating a beautiful, serene parklike atmosphere. It is said that they also contain wonderful frescos – unable to be seen on this visit, as it was Sunday and the churches were closed for worship.

Next up the little village of Gudhjem (God’s Home). This is Bornholm’s best preserved fishing village with winding cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses and a spinning windmill. Its claim to fame is smoked fish and you can see the chimneys of the smoking ovens everywhere!

Number three is castle Hammershus Slot. This is the remains of the 13th century clifftop castle, the largest such remains in Northern Europe. Leading to the Hammershus castle is a well-preserved fortified bridge spanning a 20′ deep ravine, which previously would have had a wooden drawbridge. When one climbs to the top of the ruins it is evident why this position was sought after for protection. The views show activity in all directions.

OK – the fourth must do is sample the local specialty of “Sun over Gudhjem”, which is smoked herring on dark bread topped with a raw egg and raw onions washed down with a chilled Tuborg. And yes – this finicky writer tried it all!!!

Having had a “fill” of Bornholm, it was time to move on to Aarhus, where the Danish royals summer. Founded in the 10th century as a Viking settlement, today it is a vibrant university town. And – Danish design and architecture are on full display when cruising into the harbor – –

The Aarhus Domkirke (cathedral) in the center of town dates to the 12th century. It is dedicated to St. Clemens, the patron saint of sailors, and contains that obligatory ship in the sanctuary. It also contains unique painted – not stained – glass windows behind the altar.

Den Gamle By (the Old Town) is an open-air museum of 75 traditional half-timbered houses dating from the 17th to the 19th centuries. The houses were disassembled at their original locations and reconstructed on the ‘museum’ site. This was a bit of a contrived, Disneylandesque experience and could have been done without;-( But, it was a nice day and provided a nice walk.

There are always those fun sights in the walk about town –

Then there is the educational sight, which one has to ask AI about as it just looks weird! This ship is a ‘jack-up vessel’, as it can lower the four tallest towers to the seabed in order to raise the ship and create a stable platform. Then the cranes can lift the windmill pieces (seen on the far left of the ship) into place to build the off-shore wind farms.

One last item from Denmark – –

This segment of the cruise was a whirlwind of sights. It was 16 days with 7 countries – Northern Ireland (1 stop), Ireland (2), Scotland (3), Norway (1), Denmark (4), Germany (1), England (1) and just 3 sea days. Enjoyed every minute of it – but a few sea days in the next leg will be welcome.

E & G weary and exhilarated all at the same time;-)

Are you surprised that our cruise ship took us to Berlin? Well, it didn’t exactly. The port is Warnemunde and the transportation (bus) to Berlin is 2 1/2 to 3 hours each way. On previous trips this has been an ‘opt out’ decision but, the time had come to bite the bullet and check out what had been heard and read about as youths and try to make some sense of it all. There is NO sense to it – but here is the experience.

The Allied Museum is a great place to start for a good foundation. An excellent guide will also help the process especially if they are Berliners and lived through it all.

It has always been hard to understand how a city in the middle of an area occupied/run by ONE country (Russia) could be split amongst FOUR countries?!? And yet – that’s what the ‘powers that were’ did. Apparently without much thought of how the infrastructure of things like trains that ran underground through the various areas would be accommodated. Almost 15 years after the end of the war and East Berliners leaving in droves, Russia decided a good way to keep them from leaving was to build a wall around the ‘free’ portions of the city that sat in the middle of the Russian controlled country. Seems the answer is always – Build A Wall?!?

Now – in order to pass into the ‘free’ areas of the city, one had to pass through checkpoints with appropriate documentation. To gain access to the US portion of the city one came through Checkpoint Charlie (Britain=Alpha, France=Beta and US=Charlie). The Checkpoint Charlie building looks much like an early passport control facility and now resides on the Allied Museum grounds with a small replica at the original location.

One way for Russia to eliminate these pesky three countries from ‘residing’ in the middle of their country was to not allow supply trucks to cross the rest of East Germany to the the city or not let Allied planes land at the airport, which was in East Berlin. Sooner or later the Allied’s would get frustrated and leave – right?? NO! Airlifts began to drop supplies into the three allied quadrants of the city and sometimes they would drop chocolates. One of the planes utilized for this purpose is also at the Allied Museum.

And then there is the wall. As noted before, the wall was built long after the war ended and was constructed around the Allied portion of the city. It first went up as chain link, which was done almost overnight. East Berliners were shocked when they woke up the next morning and could no longer move as freely. The more secure block wall was constructed over years and there were actually two walls with the section between the two called ‘No Man’s Land’ or ‘Death Strip’. Many were shot trying to climb over the wall into the Allied territory of West Berlin.

Not far from the remaining portion of the wall is the original location of Checkpoint Charlie and everything American – KFC and McDonalds;-)

Because so much happened in this country and this city, there are many reminders, tributes and memorials around Berlin to those who served in many different ways, to those who lost loved ones and to remember horrific acts in the hopes they never happen again.

Along with the reminders is some peace and tranquility.

A fitting end to the day is a stop at the Brandenburg Gate, which sat on the dividing line between East and West Berlin. Originally built in the late 1700’s to symbolize peace’ this is where Reagan delivered those famous words – “Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!” Thankfully just a little more than two years later, the Berlin wall was torn down and the path was cleared for the reunification of Germany.

This day was overwhelming but incredibly educational and emotional in many ways. War is an incredible waste of lives, money, resources and so much more. Yet it seems the answer is always fight, build a wall, contain THOSE people. I have yet to figure out the reasoning for this thought and hope some day those making the decisions will see the light and there might be peace on this earth.

E & G – with many lessons learned as we travel this earth

Many cruises utilize the Copenhagen port in any cruise of northern Europe or the Baltics. So, if one finds this a repeat stop and not fond of the Copenhagen crowds, hop on a train, head west about 30 minutes and visit the cute little town of Roskilde. It is a charming, quiet location with two fabulous sights – its twin spired cathedral and the nation’s best Viking Ship Museum. From the train station head to the twin spires and along the way you’ll find a pedestrian street with several bustling cafes. If it is lunch time – as it was for these hungry travelers – stop at any one of these and have some regional fare with great views.

Once ready to move on, head for those twin spires again. The original church built on the same spot was built in the early 1000’s. The current Gothic cathedral was built in the 1200’s and was catholic until the Reformation in 1536 when Christian III forbad the catholic church and it became Lutheran with the King as its head (ala England and Henry VIII)! This cathedral is Denmark’s Westminster Abbey as 40 kings and queens are thought to rest here with 37 known with certainty. They are ensconced in royal marble, alabaster and draperies of every ornate description. Altogether, there are more than 1000 graves in the church, many so worn no identifying marks can be seen. The paintings, frescos and statuary are something to be seen.

And then the elaborate tombs – – –

When totally overwhelmed with the cathedral sights, continue the walk down a lovely treed lane past a park and part of the university grounds to Vikingeskibsmuseet Roskilde, the Viking Ship Museum. This is not one building but several with a workshop, where they are building replicas of the Viking ships, a shipbuilding area for guests, a boatyard with replicas of the rebuilt ships and a building housing the remains of five Viking longships found at the bottom of the fjord. These five longships date from approximately 1000 AD (according to tree ring dating of the wood utilized in the hulls) and are thought to have been sunk intentionally to prevent enemy ships from entering the harbor. While these five were rebuilt in 1957, they are the subjects of current rebuilds with greater accuracy based on involving craftsmen and seamen and includes the reconstruction of full-scale ships and their testing under realistic conditions.

The first step in the reconstruction is to create a 1:10 ratio of a wooden model based on a cardboard model. This wooden model reflects the possible appearance of the original ship when new and forms the starting point for the full-scale reconstruction of the ship.

Several details in the reconstruction are adapted to fit this ship based on various depictions from the Viking Age to the extent they can not be specifically determined from the information derived from the remains of the ship. With all of this information, skilled craftsmen begin the process of recreating just as the Vikings would have completed their construction. This is done in the workshop.

After all this work you wind up with something like this – –

If one has a little extra time back in Copenhagen, early in the morning before the crowds hit, a stroll and a coffee in the pedestrian section can be quite nice.

In the category of odd notations yet again – interesting sights are seen from the ship. Copenhagen is revitalizing the entire port area with apartments, condos and office buildings. It seems that they are really looking to the future with concerns of ecology since many of the buildings have plant/sod roofs! Interesting look – but who else sees them than cruisers on higher decks of the ships?!?

This stop in Copenhagen provided the opportunity to check out something off the beaten path – Roskilde and all it has to offer. It is highly recommended for anyone in the neighborhood looking for an escape from the crowds. Enjoy.

E & G – enjoying every minute;-)

What a lovely little town. One would never know the area has been settled since 400 AD! King Christian IV formally founded the town in 1641 – thus the name. Because of location, it was useful for defense which allowed it to grow into a major port. Today, the town is redeveloping the port area into a walkable ‘seaport village’ to attract all those cruise ships to help the economy. Just hope it doesn’t lose its charm. 

The ‘must sees’ in Kristiansand include the un-congested pedestrian street of lovely cafes and shops, Posebyen (the old town with its white wood houses), the cathedral at the city center and the Fiskebrygga (fish market). ALL walkable from the cruise dock. So – off we go. First stop is one of those lovely little cafes on the pedestrian street. This is Norway’s version of Starbucks and a repeat of a similar pic you might remember from the Alesund post. That is because they have the BEST hot chocolate and this wonderful cinnamon roll – not too sweet with just the right amount of cinnamon;-)

After that great nourishment, continue down the pedestrian way and be amazed and the sights – –

As one can see, the centerpiece of the central square is the Cathedral with its elegant simplicity. This Neo-Gothic cathedral built in 1884 contains beautiful wood ceilings and along with wood framed organ pipes. AND – they were having an organ recital within minutes to provide a great respite with outstanding music. The organist was fabulous and very informative introducing each piece played and discussing the fiber optic connectivity of the organ to the pipes, which allowed the console to be in the middle of the floor. What a treat!

Energized from the beautiful concert, it was time for a brisk two block walk to Old Town with all its white, wood houses lined up side by side. This old town is one of Northern Europe’s largest collections of charming timber houses. Interesting – but a bit monotonous – until you find a few cute little places with a little color or a few plants outside.

Now – a little diversion you might find odd. But, a very interesting discovery in this old part of town. The garbage system! As one looks up and down the street, there are NO apparent garbage cans or those large ugly bins that are always overflowing;;-( That’s because they have this unique system of vertical ‘bins’ in the ground that housing units are assigned to and must have a key fob to gain access. Never know what one might find when wandering these little towns.

All of these discoveries may have created an appetite. So, off to the Fiskebrygga (fish market) for the best fish and chips you’ll ever have!

The town of Kristiansand might be small but it is mighty when it comes to hospitality. Come and enjoy;-)

E & G – quite happy with our day full of surprises!

There is a 60-million year old fault line in Northern Scotland that contains a beautiful glacier-gouged lake – the famed Loch Ness;-) Measuring 24 miles long and 755 feet deep, it is one of the largest ‘lochs’ in Scotland AND more importantly, home to Nessie! So – off to spot her.

The 1,500 year old Urquhart Castle ruins is a good place to search from as it sits atop a small promontory with great views of the lake. This unfortunate property passed from Scottish hands to the English and back again many times. Locals plundered the castle for building materials during its lifetime and wooden portions rotted away leaving little for historians to piece together to attain its history and usage. Between 1912 and 1922, after the castle passed into State care, it was tidied up, unintentionally removing important clues to its past.

It has been determined that the Grant Tower, which housed the Grant family, was built some time after King James IV gave Urquhart to John Grant in 1509. The property was rewarded to Grant for his support of the monarch in his struggle against the MacDonald Lords of the Isles. Climb as high as you like for wonderful views of the loch – and perhaps a sighting of Nessie;-)

Sadly, there was no spotting of Nessie. Perhaps there was not enough of that prevalent Scotch Whisky taken in to aide in the spotting;-) So, she was safely hidden for another time.

Not too far down the road was another castle. This one in much better condition although it was originally constructed over 600 years ago and is still home to the latest of 23 generations of the Cawdor family – Cawdor Castle. The rectangular tower-house (the original portion of the castle) consisted of four stories and a garret with only one entrance to the outside. It was built around a holly tree (still in the basement – now petrified – and has been dated to 1372) and had a secret dungeon only recently discovered!

The Gardens of the Cawdor Castle are quite special. The Walled Garden is the original kitchen garden and the oldest at Cawdor. It was remodeled in 1981 by the current owner, the Dowager Countess of Cawdor, and contains Symbolic gardens and a sculpted maze containing over 1200 holly plants.

The Flower Garden was laid out around 1710 – most likely influenced by travels to Poitiers, Blois and Paris, France.

While it is time to leave the beauty and myths associated with Northern Scotland behind, it would be remiss not to mention the major influences that the Vikings had on the entire northern region, including the UK and Iceland. They ruled many of the sea lanes around the northern isles and were responsible for establishing and settling ports that developed into many of the villages, towns and cities visited on this cruise. They also contributed to the language and verbiage used by many of the countries visited. These prior two sentences condense down the hundreds of years of Viking influence. Every tour taken during the past couple of weeks mentioned the Viking influence in the area. Raiders or settlers they had profound effects on the world they left behind.

Now it is time to leave Northern Scotland and all its beauty behind. Perhaps we’ll be back another day – to complete that NC-500;-)

E & G – Loved Scotland and all its GREEN

 A taste of the Scottish Highlands through visits to quaint little towns like Ullapool and Scrabster will quickly put this region on a bucket list for further adventures and exploration! Especially a drive on the North Coast 500 (NC500), which is a 516 mile scenic route looping around the north of Scotland from Inverness – probably with a slight diversion to investigate the Hebrides with its Isle of Skye;-) The scenery from our little sampling is stunning, the people are incredible friendly and the fish and chips (with the fish straight out of the water) are the best! So – here is a sample.

Ullapool is a wonderful little town with incredibly large significance. Just 30 minutes out of town is the Knockan Crag National Nature Reserve, with enormous geological significance. The low cliff of Knockan exposes rocks that set the scientific world ablaze in the 19th century as it proved prior thought wrong. The Moine Thrust was created by the force of two continents crashing together many millions of years ago causing old lower layers of the earth to rise up vertically and fall back on top of the newer layers of earth. Thus upending the previous theory that the oldest layers of earth were always on the bottom of any layers with newer periods of earth on top. It was only because of the exposed rock in this area that this was able to be determined. Unfortunately, the weather did not cooperate this particular day for a hike to the top of the crag, but the substitute hike was a good one.

Off to Corrieshalloch Gorge — a hike not to miss. One can take a myriad of trails to discover the gorge winding up at a Victorian suspension bridge that transports you over the 200′ drop to the River Droma. Further on a cantilevered viewing platform provides great pictures of the falls and the suspension bridge. Exposed rock here contributes to the Moine Thrust theory. Enjoy the walk, the greenery and the peace.

After all this exhilaration, it was time to head back to town and have some delicious fish and chips. Where else – Chipy’s!

How could Scrabster possibly top Ullapool? Well – just pass the lighthouse at the edge of town, go through the gate to the sheep pasture and follow the trail. You will have the best 1.5 mile walk with sights you wouldn’t imagine. The pictures will tell the tale.

The green, the sheer rock cliffs, the pounding sea and all the little white specks in the green pastures (the sheep) make this area of the world so inviting. One last item – the heather, which is in bloom.

How fun were these last two days. Incredible scenery, friendly people and very knowledgeable guides. Even though Donald made us sing ‘Old McDonald Had a Farm’ on the Gorge hike;-)

E & G – totally enthralled with the Scottish Highlands