tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7265721054638318472024-02-18T19:25:26.285-08:00GARY & MARIE...OUR LIFE IN QUEBEC!Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comBlogger588125truetag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-44295132430797481832022-09-18T11:55:00.001-07:002022-09-18T11:55:25.562-07:00Summer Boat Trip to Massachusetts <p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M-Rv0YDQa13MFztq0yd9imTG4sfeJ70VuamEErtc53qu1NAq4YXSVVXhsSavP13f5g11FCkROO3fkr1n_dCMYC_FdHbzcf2dCONYa2_0e6ujBgIQsErcb8iPEdbqGIlUtKek85qhG6erwBNUaXAcf9YdRHwSY2XAB1pLLFRua2JDqhQG0BR4U46AjA/s3648/IMG_20220723_170541.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1M-Rv0YDQa13MFztq0yd9imTG4sfeJ70VuamEErtc53qu1NAq4YXSVVXhsSavP13f5g11FCkROO3fkr1n_dCMYC_FdHbzcf2dCONYa2_0e6ujBgIQsErcb8iPEdbqGIlUtKek85qhG6erwBNUaXAcf9YdRHwSY2XAB1pLLFRua2JDqhQG0BR4U46AjA/w640-h480/IMG_20220723_170541.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>A</i></span></b> 2-week trip to the States to do some boating and visit Mario and Elizabeth, the first time since the Pandemic, was in order so on the last week of July with Phil and family following, we headed into Maine, pulling the boat through the hilly countryside along highway 27 to the coast. We stopped to camp the first night at Sagadahoc Bay campground, just south of Bath. Mosquitoes were abundant at night and in the morning but the kids enjoyed themselves and we were surprisingly able to build a campfire, even though it was hot and dry in the woods, the temperatures hovering around 30. Little did we know that was the coolest we were going to be for a while. The next day we put the boat in the water in Falmouth, just outside Portland, amazed at the amount of boats moored in the harbor, and said goodbye to Phil and Fer till we met up with them again in Wells. Marie and I returned to the now lonely campground, deciding to have an early supper at one of our favourite lobster shacks in Five Islands, twenty minutes away. After a quiet night at the campground we packed up and pulled the now empty trailer to meet up with the family who had called us from Wells. We arrived at the Webhannet River boat yard the next afternoon to meet the tired and exhausted sailors after a long day on the water of Casco Bay. Heavy waves and wind had made it a very unpleasant voyage and they were glad to see us pull up! After a lunch at the nearby restaurant, Hobbs Harborside, and in a sudden downpour we headed to Rowley, Massachusetts, the new home of Marie's brother, an hour away by road on highway 1.</p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEQGRlWM46f_Fq_MnYEGVLYq8JyLZsjPDmbEAYGUeqoZMRKBQrlZLLa7dCla6Yqa8wgX3TeSJQLbwlUxnzbP5auZ_9842j7BemKLDe0E4DdPi4U05WVTP-p2UrYZMMKur6zSbw8Woem8-K5BCNKX1pvymJAh9_3dqkiK3MsVy2Sp0YHFSj-hpUKe6w/s3648/IMG_20220723_195253.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="436" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEQGRlWM46f_Fq_MnYEGVLYq8JyLZsjPDmbEAYGUeqoZMRKBQrlZLLa7dCla6Yqa8wgX3TeSJQLbwlUxnzbP5auZ_9842j7BemKLDe0E4DdPi4U05WVTP-p2UrYZMMKur6zSbw8Woem8-K5BCNKX1pvymJAh9_3dqkiK3MsVy2Sp0YHFSj-hpUKe6w/w581-h436/IMG_20220723_195253.jpg" width="581" /></a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbggBLHqYvZ0N9shaISc4hrgOJJCSMONNpWBa0Mpad64feWYglXCBKQtHVzhCwRuNR8yuyoPVeeEaQU-d1pb9r20nxSZRnUqL24TiJaMtmbgK_8kI5sLTOELBbvmTVLJxAT-MHYMlCJDDPb9ha6lmV2rweEfUE8kMuQQ3r-pIki-g6jE1_Dw2KXu2Vw/s3648/IMG_20220723_170152.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicbggBLHqYvZ0N9shaISc4hrgOJJCSMONNpWBa0Mpad64feWYglXCBKQtHVzhCwRuNR8yuyoPVeeEaQU-d1pb9r20nxSZRnUqL24TiJaMtmbgK_8kI5sLTOELBbvmTVLJxAT-MHYMlCJDDPb9ha6lmV2rweEfUE8kMuQQ3r-pIki-g6jE1_Dw2KXu2Vw/w400-h300/IMG_20220723_170152.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sagadahoc Bay Campground, Maine</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4B8tOYeQNqcQghC_4Opp3OoJhhwHqBe4r1KyQga86Z0q9iGX3M2-8Xhd9Dp34i6VoH4MzG0kV5_F2uGPOuExLZBiayIqW9h3i-b-vHkhXOTp75hhvaaUK_AxFn8aBw9c6h2E9fou35mVhmGy5kIDzUasXUXhgpNJJZZKR4jEZJbZbbJjBvUEmxGSA/s3648/IMG_20220724_104413.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTZ4B8tOYeQNqcQghC_4Opp3OoJhhwHqBe4r1KyQga86Z0q9iGX3M2-8Xhd9Dp34i6VoH4MzG0kV5_F2uGPOuExLZBiayIqW9h3i-b-vHkhXOTp75hhvaaUK_AxFn8aBw9c6h2E9fou35mVhmGy5kIDzUasXUXhgpNJJZZKR4jEZJbZbbJjBvUEmxGSA/w480-h640/IMG_20220724_104413.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphTGXAEkMTToD2zCxipolKc88MgtoXO96Fb6E4GSt6BQQxfXsUgf5kQOASLeCQfO_-Etuu5bbhKt6PJ7oPkXUe9llOHcundwWRnw8wm3tGNRn760WgrkXS5OuSZLLkF7UXnlsu2Tj62CGOtpzks6KPt1BaURVkD6jwQkhV2390zLOd0un-feRTK4RWA/s3648/IMG_20220724_112911.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjphTGXAEkMTToD2zCxipolKc88MgtoXO96Fb6E4GSt6BQQxfXsUgf5kQOASLeCQfO_-Etuu5bbhKt6PJ7oPkXUe9llOHcundwWRnw8wm3tGNRn760WgrkXS5OuSZLLkF7UXnlsu2Tj62CGOtpzks6KPt1BaURVkD6jwQkhV2390zLOd0un-feRTK4RWA/w400-h300/IMG_20220724_112911.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVAMbX2aXjiUJbfqa_x0Yoq8MYhBkAUjiT2pQQi-6J1wNWFgOJfIbMNzFEURowHOg4u69RYFv_CBX8xjB-BtEVCut0c98UNsCuSUN3Y1FiYrfxv25jTUEo_oHXACC1p-6A9-QfWnwOpPqa9l3pT2l8BmEfvmPKQbDpgqX1ent6oMF20d8qMoqwKRB2w/s3648/IMG_20220724_112249_1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUVAMbX2aXjiUJbfqa_x0Yoq8MYhBkAUjiT2pQQi-6J1wNWFgOJfIbMNzFEURowHOg4u69RYFv_CBX8xjB-BtEVCut0c98UNsCuSUN3Y1FiYrfxv25jTUEo_oHXACC1p-6A9-QfWnwOpPqa9l3pT2l8BmEfvmPKQbDpgqX1ent6oMF20d8qMoqwKRB2w/w400-h300/IMG_20220724_112249_1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Falmouth Town Landing boat ramp, Maine</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyVaI6H9zhl1GdVe0BlMfAgIQqavc4yVCbTUP3sb78g-QcjOfRIGr2xU609bHAZoEERWGlV_Jb1tj1ET1U5ozIr2oSTAREYFPhItvfMb9L8qZNfy_6XaKTJcOY4m14eslcL99JPjvQLyi1S_bHntEWQ0tXV_dYKDOerbhj9ewLx_513FhaSW1PXRj-A/s3648/IMG_20220724_142846.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdyVaI6H9zhl1GdVe0BlMfAgIQqavc4yVCbTUP3sb78g-QcjOfRIGr2xU609bHAZoEERWGlV_Jb1tj1ET1U5ozIr2oSTAREYFPhItvfMb9L8qZNfy_6XaKTJcOY4m14eslcL99JPjvQLyi1S_bHntEWQ0tXV_dYKDOerbhj9ewLx_513FhaSW1PXRj-A/w640-h480/IMG_20220724_142846.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9kJCbMbB4RepVgWrWulSMNEgYTmmMww10EFftbH5i1do5ZzAEHjQRjJ149o-RwojIbSuEBgj5VTop_bgVQzbbk4bb26_6J9SPoUn34IgUyCUdTdWIaUHiTq_9KfZkCkOylKFY_R_UZe4D7rcwcwV-ROwjsrh0nvenMOE5thHIA2O4Pej5TN92O7jwg/s3648/IMG_20220724_143854.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR9kJCbMbB4RepVgWrWulSMNEgYTmmMww10EFftbH5i1do5ZzAEHjQRjJ149o-RwojIbSuEBgj5VTop_bgVQzbbk4bb26_6J9SPoUn34IgUyCUdTdWIaUHiTq_9KfZkCkOylKFY_R_UZe4D7rcwcwV-ROwjsrh0nvenMOE5thHIA2O4Pej5TN92O7jwg/w300-h400/IMG_20220724_143854.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Five Islands, Maine</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfDy807zvbfN9njwNPyzu2gShR01Y8n5J3EYrHRLDLiEVxN5ZV29VWiIEMq0tXEnqhCK6a2KyAoNljQ5hlFmHMLZGaaNL9bT-vMCSZP0eETYancYjclPa1GY2584CGS9dylGVzDKoG-FeyVRE9Yn_YLJx_tZo-_xzi1KOuvGILpycZoD6oTHqAX7dQ/s3648/IMG_20220725_190722.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijIfDy807zvbfN9njwNPyzu2gShR01Y8n5J3EYrHRLDLiEVxN5ZV29VWiIEMq0tXEnqhCK6a2KyAoNljQ5hlFmHMLZGaaNL9bT-vMCSZP0eETYancYjclPa1GY2584CGS9dylGVzDKoG-FeyVRE9Yn_YLJx_tZo-_xzi1KOuvGILpycZoD6oTHqAX7dQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220725_190722.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zxysWI8TYBgAn-5mFzdDKm6bFqP4LxwQItGukEBkekdpox8zkUtWqwzRlX9gadLHtw46kx3S5msM26Uk9OzI7W7i4Ahq3mFr46HeDmbM65IZsS94UKTauvU3ruAVwBd6Ts0oKLWZ90dR2h3Kpb0aGamgjW0EhOdeWjUsuS7EBichmXWUOXHqXlXLFQ/s3648/IMG_20220725_195041.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zxysWI8TYBgAn-5mFzdDKm6bFqP4LxwQItGukEBkekdpox8zkUtWqwzRlX9gadLHtw46kx3S5msM26Uk9OzI7W7i4Ahq3mFr46HeDmbM65IZsS94UKTauvU3ruAVwBd6Ts0oKLWZ90dR2h3Kpb0aGamgjW0EhOdeWjUsuS7EBichmXWUOXHqXlXLFQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220725_195041.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>At Mario's dock, Rowley river, Maine</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyD9FrhcRUBvpzNh71uTpSI-x7rb_CNkph5Y4B6d949-QhTTgHDKrr4zjBAR_uRylom6L9Na_Co161LmjoTjVQ_WH1UFNLhusMio4RD9o4Y1ZMePYTTyh0Bmt0_eMF1jcTcI_Mb37jFAlRswj81P0I1eBpXRICLZps0NDMR2DOATTQC8fdqWbUwyu1Q/s3648/IMG_20220726_093305.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyyD9FrhcRUBvpzNh71uTpSI-x7rb_CNkph5Y4B6d949-QhTTgHDKrr4zjBAR_uRylom6L9Na_Co161LmjoTjVQ_WH1UFNLhusMio4RD9o4Y1ZMePYTTyh0Bmt0_eMF1jcTcI_Mb37jFAlRswj81P0I1eBpXRICLZps0NDMR2DOATTQC8fdqWbUwyu1Q/w400-h300/IMG_20220726_093305.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo18Y-BFTECAuIBfGwefanIrM3mgvNbZSldO8WjN967-b4ld9ZkpL28MIKxsWH0fzTIf-1duZnhNbRN2CCMQuNME0ZYz7ZJj_UHb5rT0AMsXq6RBHUGOGn3w5HGNxWR6FiHY1mx9-FT9zlb2e0d3f1sNKax7uFFWz9kEM7lN6tF3wTI0K8k0BTZ1WDw/s3648/IMG_20220725_191330%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFo18Y-BFTECAuIBfGwefanIrM3mgvNbZSldO8WjN967-b4ld9ZkpL28MIKxsWH0fzTIf-1duZnhNbRN2CCMQuNME0ZYz7ZJj_UHb5rT0AMsXq6RBHUGOGn3w5HGNxWR6FiHY1mx9-FT9zlb2e0d3f1sNKax7uFFWz9kEM7lN6tF3wTI0K8k0BTZ1WDw/w400-h300/IMG_20220725_191330%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">R</span></i></b>owley, Massachusetts is a small town north of Cape Ann, along the Rowley river, a muddy and slow moving tidal river surrounded by marshland we got to know quite well the week we stayed there. Mario and Elizabeth's home is at the end of the river, accessible by a well weathered boardwalk at the bottom of their yard. We put the boat in at the local marina, Perley's, just a few hundred feet from Mario's dock where we tied up with it and the tender and were greeted by the ever present greenhead horseflies (tabanus nigrovittatus) very common to the area. It was hot and humid with temperatures in the low 30s when we arrived and perfect weather for these ornery creatures that were worse than any plague of mosquitoes. All along the river we could see the numerous black box traps that had been put up by the communities to control them but they pursued us till we got to the river mouth and the welcoming and refreshing breezes from the ocean. From here Boston was only a short trip on the MBTA commuter rail. We often waved as it went by on the bridge just beyond our mooring and had a chance to go aboard when we went into the city. We all enjoyed the hour long cruise from Mario's to the entrance of the river, going into Plum Island Sound and anchoring off Crane Beach, part of the town of Ipswich. This was a bird protected area of dunes an pine forests and we spent two pleasant times here, motoring in with the tender which we had towed behind us..</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0FckEFLr109Dk9Vz7r57zagSvQXUr9SsUODDYXp8k_FSpVtLYnRRSe3SeAV1wyUUjgl0kjt1gi0nQ5khrZoHGQzsrKrvVUtyXvejd_5AS6AOxK6PFoGoFVromElOjEfmkM-h-L2oD4QgkxxaJDz3txJswY6I7yFp8BCLXxorw6IvkEtRtoXU_AYQ6g/s3648/IMG_20220727_191437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA0FckEFLr109Dk9Vz7r57zagSvQXUr9SsUODDYXp8k_FSpVtLYnRRSe3SeAV1wyUUjgl0kjt1gi0nQ5khrZoHGQzsrKrvVUtyXvejd_5AS6AOxK6PFoGoFVromElOjEfmkM-h-L2oD4QgkxxaJDz3txJswY6I7yFp8BCLXxorw6IvkEtRtoXU_AYQ6g/w400-h300/IMG_20220727_191437.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxUQLVgzCdNYkoLdX4e6ADWB-3kKBHXi7nJ7sZpDXn2bVm2_MjCvSnjA8nkEJWnaAWq9uVc-SG_kGYwhEqlqG7T2HjIals7ce0WQHmORVHKidp_-AE9kUt_S-zCPnjyu2qaX7Hm8eS7o1BcZDZOB8T29buUJ5leqjMKwccp6jwttAz5nMFNkksENMAA/s3648/IMG_20220727_130927.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyxUQLVgzCdNYkoLdX4e6ADWB-3kKBHXi7nJ7sZpDXn2bVm2_MjCvSnjA8nkEJWnaAWq9uVc-SG_kGYwhEqlqG7T2HjIals7ce0WQHmORVHKidp_-AE9kUt_S-zCPnjyu2qaX7Hm8eS7o1BcZDZOB8T29buUJ5leqjMKwccp6jwttAz5nMFNkksENMAA/w300-h400/IMG_20220727_130927.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Crane Beach, Ipswich, Massachusetts</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pEC-G63wBIGASJDU8hUIkIyuT9IiM1K7vrr36dxuIH_jR9CXY5mcZU3mRZ_S8x_3PfbLSE1_dketduk5MPBoL1acdZosPKI_CfoRrg-YHAVoLzpzk3JyZhu2AtvBYOARcCu6Kn9gID4LMLxDhvN5boyAhuuNibhdr8i9meMvzaFiGoMfdmqoJ-LKIQ/s3648/IMG_20220726_104055.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-pEC-G63wBIGASJDU8hUIkIyuT9IiM1K7vrr36dxuIH_jR9CXY5mcZU3mRZ_S8x_3PfbLSE1_dketduk5MPBoL1acdZosPKI_CfoRrg-YHAVoLzpzk3JyZhu2AtvBYOARcCu6Kn9gID4LMLxDhvN5boyAhuuNibhdr8i9meMvzaFiGoMfdmqoJ-LKIQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220726_104055.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Village Pancake House, Rowley, Massachusetts</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></i></b>he day we took the train into Boston was probably the hottest during our stay (35 degrees C or 95 F) so we walked about as little as possible. Phil and family had left earlier and we had promised to meet up with them at the Boston Museum. The air conditioned building was a welcome from the unaccustomed heat and we spent most of the day there exploring. A great place for kids and adults alike. We even took in a show at the planetarium. It was the first time we had been to Boston since Phil was a kid, decades ago. We ate out a lot with Mario and Elizabeth while we were in Rowley and the surrounding area and they were glad to share some of their favorite restaurants with us like the Clam Box and the Ipswich Ale Brewery. We also took a half hour drive to what they said was the best ice cream place in Massachusetts in Boxford called Benson's Homemade Ice Cream. Hmm, I guess that's a personal preference....</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgilsFjeoKgfTxkmbRO64eeVcQwZHcRGOPInqME_rB8tAV9eiTHDFSat-pnrg0-1RTVH4M2HzRqAz3dMSmgIVq4-pVv00jK-4bWLbj-mHoKpu2EDBuo37yV4RsVvZh1agGOuB-MaFx2WG7BjllOlxTy00aY5frkEXRDoAupuV7Yri7ecgWH9ReN6bXQ/s3648/IMG_20220728_083827.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgilsFjeoKgfTxkmbRO64eeVcQwZHcRGOPInqME_rB8tAV9eiTHDFSat-pnrg0-1RTVH4M2HzRqAz3dMSmgIVq4-pVv00jK-4bWLbj-mHoKpu2EDBuo37yV4RsVvZh1agGOuB-MaFx2WG7BjllOlxTy00aY5frkEXRDoAupuV7Yri7ecgWH9ReN6bXQ/s320/IMG_20220728_083827.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>train station, Rowley, MA</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiammglSJu5WvHUyKFSNtqgWb-LF3RPU8mPHvxgVkAOKR2ckRc4sDahoS9bsb4ltxXR27lPAHfB5rrdaD1bMzAw8tJ0WArSnWBNHzzvMyKzXCYocS9wcJzMYEfCJv7K1asUzYtQSHvS_scxnuOqC7bD0_vM7jLBXvt7j25FRe8QByZcbRTpoub3jA0fNA/s3648/IMG_20220728_101044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiammglSJu5WvHUyKFSNtqgWb-LF3RPU8mPHvxgVkAOKR2ckRc4sDahoS9bsb4ltxXR27lPAHfB5rrdaD1bMzAw8tJ0WArSnWBNHzzvMyKzXCYocS9wcJzMYEfCJv7K1asUzYtQSHvS_scxnuOqC7bD0_vM7jLBXvt7j25FRe8QByZcbRTpoub3jA0fNA/w300-h400/IMG_20220728_101044.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>#4 Bobby Orr, Boston Gardens</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt7lFG-32iwI0g5X_vv6XEr68KzA9uJ0ZiGAKZaDN4HKcyO8zfKZ4TATtVjTk4Rw5yFKunfWvdy6bak2AH2rbXCgkRa7mG3MyfJMP4DALIDhSFe1vOjq9WpuUtCdTuPu-O6xLOqbdsQHqq6LEW4F4htU4U0VGko78TpyikIGuPKMDJEb9ofbC6TcWXA/s3648/IMG_20220728_125113.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQt7lFG-32iwI0g5X_vv6XEr68KzA9uJ0ZiGAKZaDN4HKcyO8zfKZ4TATtVjTk4Rw5yFKunfWvdy6bak2AH2rbXCgkRa7mG3MyfJMP4DALIDhSFe1vOjq9WpuUtCdTuPu-O6xLOqbdsQHqq6LEW4F4htU4U0VGko78TpyikIGuPKMDJEb9ofbC6TcWXA/w640-h480/IMG_20220728_125113.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBdSlg_uyerXNWT14ooaQ9Xaas1Zbh4yVYby-AN64ZHl8M0YphnY_uZMCxoNgBkTwaM3TGXn1g50c_w6B5_dcdeSZU0PTWaegwuh-UoeJxDym0-VvqIKqLy2F5o3ODpHHFuFIuUpZleuwMY0u50HffSrnwPlO6WdxGXd5TIUM_76zx4-HXCfJyQVALg/s3648/IMG_20220728_142444.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijBdSlg_uyerXNWT14ooaQ9Xaas1Zbh4yVYby-AN64ZHl8M0YphnY_uZMCxoNgBkTwaM3TGXn1g50c_w6B5_dcdeSZU0PTWaegwuh-UoeJxDym0-VvqIKqLy2F5o3ODpHHFuFIuUpZleuwMY0u50HffSrnwPlO6WdxGXd5TIUM_76zx4-HXCfJyQVALg/w400-h300/IMG_20220728_142444.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4AAR6Pihnxvw8MkeVLRKpKJc8YTMgfCsNWY4zdsfcIgWj9bAshFSUtJx89wiAfqSDCxDko0TbOoYknSFGz_kD7XuIIAjob6uX5wb5CI_Hb-i6m9st_esZTMoCNttgYbm29XRQi9eNJq2x61a-zqnrmok7qtbBHGP9rDp-dmmpQXcp5sAzbznWgQmBA/s3648/IMG_20220728_123116.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ4AAR6Pihnxvw8MkeVLRKpKJc8YTMgfCsNWY4zdsfcIgWj9bAshFSUtJx89wiAfqSDCxDko0TbOoYknSFGz_kD7XuIIAjob6uX5wb5CI_Hb-i6m9st_esZTMoCNttgYbm29XRQi9eNJq2x61a-zqnrmok7qtbBHGP9rDp-dmmpQXcp5sAzbznWgQmBA/w400-h300/IMG_20220728_123116.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Boston Museum</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P-2JPQI0Z41moM6DC741T8dtTeaYb5HovEY0GhN3tGAbR2FnygoEDCj87bSQUpkluucL_Kay00RZXFottRXnLjbneHi05hV23cqIho-wbSAvN915GqIzrcmQ_1vajILEInxYuvCZdEkeMbEYofhbZOYJdewipQFnmYah4V_ZcP2GbZI0cZEnVfDWUw/s3648/IMG_20220729_200114.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7P-2JPQI0Z41moM6DC741T8dtTeaYb5HovEY0GhN3tGAbR2FnygoEDCj87bSQUpkluucL_Kay00RZXFottRXnLjbneHi05hV23cqIho-wbSAvN915GqIzrcmQ_1vajILEInxYuvCZdEkeMbEYofhbZOYJdewipQFnmYah4V_ZcP2GbZI0cZEnVfDWUw/w480-h640/IMG_20220729_200114.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMNQJk1sVnHEwRWRCUr2fzszF384eDjia0pc7qvB4k-IW3LKMZtUJy4HZHR4MwfykeCTZh39YDGatV1gPltY66z-2Z4hA06_zfy17THHJmTbPd1HKqinSz80ZGzhmUEbGRz3CO1_qVU-YbubQ5Q0vNwGaVnaRd4nm2PQnol344jPU2L7chKN1jVmNDA/s3648/IMG_20220730_184300.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNMNQJk1sVnHEwRWRCUr2fzszF384eDjia0pc7qvB4k-IW3LKMZtUJy4HZHR4MwfykeCTZh39YDGatV1gPltY66z-2Z4hA06_zfy17THHJmTbPd1HKqinSz80ZGzhmUEbGRz3CO1_qVU-YbubQ5Q0vNwGaVnaRd4nm2PQnol344jPU2L7chKN1jVmNDA/w400-h300/IMG_20220730_184300.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>The Clam Box, Rowley, MA</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9WmlMjAbUblEDAnnCpSNpQqur94EmfA_kaTgeKDtxAsBtAn6DIKbngul1Fa84GKcPYFWGZRvE0M5Pj_KNjc0EdAmb-D2hoc64GKa73Pk-GlF6D4-9c8gCphzrIVrGWO8fdxleXHTHGFU7ts9l9vyDVkfGi2uVljFOPvPNqEPdhOAOiJ0UHp0KHyEig/s3648/IMG_20220731_185953.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-9WmlMjAbUblEDAnnCpSNpQqur94EmfA_kaTgeKDtxAsBtAn6DIKbngul1Fa84GKcPYFWGZRvE0M5Pj_KNjc0EdAmb-D2hoc64GKa73Pk-GlF6D4-9c8gCphzrIVrGWO8fdxleXHTHGFU7ts9l9vyDVkfGi2uVljFOPvPNqEPdhOAOiJ0UHp0KHyEig/w640-h480/IMG_20220731_185953.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlHFpdDgptLbXnP19_Kw8TBEfpPVkTQLrkJmI2alKCHQeRBt3o1vnWpTCbYSww5wd6PzrQmTs2DjTB37x4r6jh2Lb67vOBz-9qh3t_wksSDvlb_vycv72UQwzuUFjgL_r79viBIcbOjUOCdtoYzM-accG23J64kbnL7Gtm4fx_OpSU7Uq1xrAPNt6DQ/s3648/IMG_20220731_194617.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPlHFpdDgptLbXnP19_Kw8TBEfpPVkTQLrkJmI2alKCHQeRBt3o1vnWpTCbYSww5wd6PzrQmTs2DjTB37x4r6jh2Lb67vOBz-9qh3t_wksSDvlb_vycv72UQwzuUFjgL_r79viBIcbOjUOCdtoYzM-accG23J64kbnL7Gtm4fx_OpSU7Uq1xrAPNt6DQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220731_194617.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDi1MCPt5G-vVKgIzWZzp8jqUp64UVfvhh5kI-VF5YSs4fz6VCoYWZtk3BWLaws2NVRSIevsmq31UVp3BNDZfiC75_1HkIsXF164Gw1QpmxibG8biD-_vQ0R7oknYhHkBOA0LQDwtTN4-7SZkL5nLzrUPsh-NFs96vzGmODI6l4ll6bm01L5vHZqMxg/s3648/IMG_20220731_202441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsDi1MCPt5G-vVKgIzWZzp8jqUp64UVfvhh5kI-VF5YSs4fz6VCoYWZtk3BWLaws2NVRSIevsmq31UVp3BNDZfiC75_1HkIsXF164Gw1QpmxibG8biD-_vQ0R7oknYhHkBOA0LQDwtTN4-7SZkL5nLzrUPsh-NFs96vzGmODI6l4ll6bm01L5vHZqMxg/w640-h480/IMG_20220731_202441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ipswich Ale Brewery, Ipswich, MA</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i>A</i></b></span>fter leaving Mario and Elizabeth's home in Rowley (we could no longer stay at the mooring) we headed to Gloucester, on Cape Ann, the smaller version of Cape Cod, with it's lovely Atlantic vistas, sandy beaches, seaside eateries and lots of colonial history. We really liked Gloucester, the oldest fishing city in the US where we eventually got permission from the very friendly and accommodating Harbor Master to tie up to a buoy for three days in the inner harbor. We were able to use their own tender service to get back and forth to the boat which ran from early morning to usually 9PM. Marie and I found a place to camp (Cape Ann campground), the only place actually, within 15 minutes of the town and we were able to get together with the kids for breakfast each morning. From there each day with all aboard we sailed past the famous Fisherman's Memorial, under the drawbridge into Blynman Canal, past the Dunfudgin Public Boat Ramp where we would eventually leave from, and under the towering Annisquam River Bridge to our destination - Wingaersheek Beach. Amy and William loved it here, the water was like a bath and there was a wonderful outcropping of huge boulders called the Barn Rocks to wade out to at high tide.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">.</div></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmqr8SxVxEOKHIYUIbYK-WkAIOEavv3tDdDLhZHNC9B6ZA38nDrDUnkbwyc2cjpyb6WaTSOajtXcWAgZzliLjOBfh1Q3ykzkTkJsybB4DfQi15aRM_5VxiFb6xjlAGcQetckUGZu2dasNpPmxJgRfs9VX7V2xKM5G9TmuGC3sEPxjLkMaJPnp5wE3Q/s3648/IMG_20220802_105554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEmqr8SxVxEOKHIYUIbYK-WkAIOEavv3tDdDLhZHNC9B6ZA38nDrDUnkbwyc2cjpyb6WaTSOajtXcWAgZzliLjOBfh1Q3ykzkTkJsybB4DfQi15aRM_5VxiFb6xjlAGcQetckUGZu2dasNpPmxJgRfs9VX7V2xKM5G9TmuGC3sEPxjLkMaJPnp5wE3Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220802_105554.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Gloucester City tender for the inner harbour</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzgA4YE2qbFpMvLQs4L1Il9-DnwddeHCqUppDzCIveJz1MZldjKk-BSgvz7NvjjE_R-0_YfxTEb39uEZrGPiV6G3EQuHPATHCTQmhDqj1E_eVQ_NHM1X6nD4MYf1HYwSSHm0VYmuOXO1822_lUQRfnr7aOdNUPGhJUlbaCcDo8CTl2w-OK0Qt_4EDg/s3648/IMG_20220802_102448.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrzgA4YE2qbFpMvLQs4L1Il9-DnwddeHCqUppDzCIveJz1MZldjKk-BSgvz7NvjjE_R-0_YfxTEb39uEZrGPiV6G3EQuHPATHCTQmhDqj1E_eVQ_NHM1X6nD4MYf1HYwSSHm0VYmuOXO1822_lUQRfnr7aOdNUPGhJUlbaCcDo8CTl2w-OK0Qt_4EDg/w480-h640/IMG_20220802_102448.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gloucester Fishermen's Memorial</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXdnV7ZxMswbQU7hYGZGrm2idWCdydFbwFtNcoyZGtCWOm-nOjska7pPKi7DFttaikXL1gGqEfDcCVRnC0cvivO_g0hP9w7XnhLGX0Vef8BDKcD7cR7NrnRqc1a_1OOhy-uwxy7Zy97YKSpvz8tlqNNksiUM4X04LjTGVJnAQ35EhybfG542_uzuidw/s3648/IMG_20220801_173457.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXdnV7ZxMswbQU7hYGZGrm2idWCdydFbwFtNcoyZGtCWOm-nOjska7pPKi7DFttaikXL1gGqEfDcCVRnC0cvivO_g0hP9w7XnhLGX0Vef8BDKcD7cR7NrnRqc1a_1OOhy-uwxy7Zy97YKSpvz8tlqNNksiUM4X04LjTGVJnAQ35EhybfG542_uzuidw/w400-h300/IMG_20220801_173457.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Gloucester Harbor</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjMyp2M5euPxBknp_IJZ7iAjD9MAwvfCXKjTCAG68TxcVh7ZeNe-7dNmufHD_T4Ad8s36xpSyd4ei6g9hhxE6dNuSBRCdVEpLtQ-3hKutsQlz2Nk4tv9yeRpCzbSydictOPvQqVeO-c4ybQDPKKgBB3et7I20TDGmGo9r1pUz0RcCpjfCdvlMXOunzQ/s3648/IMG_20220801_153514.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihjMyp2M5euPxBknp_IJZ7iAjD9MAwvfCXKjTCAG68TxcVh7ZeNe-7dNmufHD_T4Ad8s36xpSyd4ei6g9hhxE6dNuSBRCdVEpLtQ-3hKutsQlz2Nk4tv9yeRpCzbSydictOPvQqVeO-c4ybQDPKKgBB3et7I20TDGmGo9r1pUz0RcCpjfCdvlMXOunzQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220801_153514.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>approaching Blynman Canal drawbridge</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXPntdMX6kmmieslV4YqB9NziISVeTPC8K2Ry0DiPh1sEU1Uu357MfLGn7stPg2BjMFiuM086OE2qJMpwD5_vPUOuK0570v9Z0OyrJNwThugSou6MWCPUOI7HyUOMScpdqRWdF-xWQbjgWn7bZUf_8GBWJ4lgDMy2qaPTROhTBIujQgv02kVguiEgLQ/s3648/IMG_20220801_143526.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpXPntdMX6kmmieslV4YqB9NziISVeTPC8K2Ry0DiPh1sEU1Uu357MfLGn7stPg2BjMFiuM086OE2qJMpwD5_vPUOuK0570v9Z0OyrJNwThugSou6MWCPUOI7HyUOMScpdqRWdF-xWQbjgWn7bZUf_8GBWJ4lgDMy2qaPTROhTBIujQgv02kVguiEgLQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220801_143526.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Amy at Wingaersheek Beach, Cape Ann, Massachusetts</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcwsHfslS326LYJuTj27ygrN7qt4gbjBADDtsrcMMjs2i75ztDNHRGh20TMeXAx2kaVCcwAslhb9Y0atD5gbtL12QxRPI_AodBVrRozUSV0AEnylBfhAJSIK9TsqwbHnt56Iaz69_vcfmLlY0D4eqshVFqLTHQMG595-FfFgV0bJbn5ZJQSoG812mxg/s3648/IMG_20220801_143509.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcwsHfslS326LYJuTj27ygrN7qt4gbjBADDtsrcMMjs2i75ztDNHRGh20TMeXAx2kaVCcwAslhb9Y0atD5gbtL12QxRPI_AodBVrRozUSV0AEnylBfhAJSIK9TsqwbHnt56Iaz69_vcfmLlY0D4eqshVFqLTHQMG595-FfFgV0bJbn5ZJQSoG812mxg/w640-h480/IMG_20220801_143509.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Wingaersheek Beach</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><i><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></i></b>t was yet another sunny day when we left Gloucester, putting the boat on the trailer at the high school boat ramp and began our drive back home. Phil and his van went on ahead of us as we could not possibly keep up with him pulling the boat. They had planned to stop off at Old Orchard Beach and take in all the summer fun places for the kids, staying overnight there while Marie and I, after having no luck finding a motel, and just as well as they were all over $250 for the night, decided to pull into the Walmart parking lot in Farmington. It was quiet and free so we didn't mind. Pulling the boat up again through the Carrabasset Valley, past Sugar Loaf and we were soon crossing the border back into Quebec. It was a fairly uneventful drive considering the narrow, tight spots I had to maneuver around in places like Gloucester, missing parked cars by mere inches and hitting the top of low hanging trees on the back roads. I was pleased how well the truck ran, even up the steep mountainous roads in Maine. Perhaps we will do it again should we hang onto the boat but that will be another adventure. <b><i>gws</i></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-40211662546888868402022-05-13T16:45:00.003-07:002022-05-19T11:07:52.904-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 46-48 Dublin, Ireland)<p> </p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrdy85QMAJjl6HVnw38kCfvmJwi3JJbGgebKbuIq51Sxy7InuuwI3W2bx3l2YvTtzjPkZqsocJvvc5Mtt5ClSK95qBIOLrimWVMLahYYrWu4PBIFyJpAwwQEb0d2tzJ3BTYRCbCA7Y2t3QK3cccdOr59awa22zrEiAiqE727Uk0RSz9ShCDO7qkB7wA/s2293/IMG_20220507_184808%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2293" data-original-width="2168" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqrdy85QMAJjl6HVnw38kCfvmJwi3JJbGgebKbuIq51Sxy7InuuwI3W2bx3l2YvTtzjPkZqsocJvvc5Mtt5ClSK95qBIOLrimWVMLahYYrWu4PBIFyJpAwwQEb0d2tzJ3BTYRCbCA7Y2t3QK3cccdOr59awa22zrEiAiqE727Uk0RSz9ShCDO7qkB7wA/w606-h640/IMG_20220507_184808%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="606" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-weight: bold; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b><span style="text-align: left;">ur last few days in Dublin were going to be full so it was a relief to see the sun shining when we woke to begin exploring this old city on the Liffey river. We caught the bus into the center of town, walked past the Dublin castle and down into St Stephen's Green, a nine hectare green space in the middle of Dublin where we found the </span><span style="text-align: left;">Memorial Sculpture of James Joyce, </span><span style="text-align: left;">one of the most influential and important Irish writers of the 20th century. The downtown was crowded and,</span><span style="text-align: left;"> </span><span style="text-align: left;">being Saturday, f</span><span style="text-align: left;">ull of tourists, so it was nice to stroll among the leafy paths of the park for a while. From there we walked over to Trinity College's Library to see the famous Book of Kells, an illuminated manuscript created by Early Christian monks around 800AD - one of the great treasures of medieval Europe that you may not have even heard of. It contains the four gospels together with various texts and tables and is a masterwork of Western calligraphy, considered by many as Ireland's finest national treasure. You only get to see one page that is opened as it is protected and sealed within an airtight display case so nobody can touch it. From there we walked into the next part of the Old Library called the Long Room filled with over 200,000 of the Library's oldest books. Breathtaking if you like old books and even if you don't the beautiful barrel-vaulted ceiling is a joy to behold. Lining the central walkway are marble busts of famous philosophers and writers, the first commissioned in 1743, and the 15th century 'Brian Boru' harp, the national symbol of Ireland.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7nViovZJi_yR7P4Efn2MsTsU7L26gvLS3P5I3LDJdkZbfIovThauk0l9KTktOECsun-MIcLpYRFDMCzbxgOVLc8XLp7_I7ApE-Vssk621QVFuNiNJ_ESOLUmQ04uUW2HjB4m7lpJQmy0lt_5PzUhJJKJVbMO8TvuVvfJpOsJia1PhOGBbGC47bVmBA/s3648/IMG_20220507_135528%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7nViovZJi_yR7P4Efn2MsTsU7L26gvLS3P5I3LDJdkZbfIovThauk0l9KTktOECsun-MIcLpYRFDMCzbxgOVLc8XLp7_I7ApE-Vssk621QVFuNiNJ_ESOLUmQ04uUW2HjB4m7lpJQmy0lt_5PzUhJJKJVbMO8TvuVvfJpOsJia1PhOGBbGC47bVmBA/w480-h640/IMG_20220507_135528%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Book of Kells, Trinity College, Dublin</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTKsLrpcOCFVXLvopYLdHZnbF7ZnkPzjaNNHZiQlj-JxRPegAEbXrv2vfWq0z4gEVpep-xqLv-JM9DgBvHy_U36ahzxQsUbQwiSZRCOGGx2nk13w9AzQsiHJHjY4ZXWP74fkAKtn0n-aOcm4TbG1L5SCs1uYvm9YtD3UfWZahI_-3mN-I74MbaJvc8w/s3648/IMG_20220507_141543%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="font-weight: 700; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhTKsLrpcOCFVXLvopYLdHZnbF7ZnkPzjaNNHZiQlj-JxRPegAEbXrv2vfWq0z4gEVpep-xqLv-JM9DgBvHy_U36ahzxQsUbQwiSZRCOGGx2nk13w9AzQsiHJHjY4ZXWP74fkAKtn0n-aOcm4TbG1L5SCs1uYvm9YtD3UfWZahI_-3mN-I74MbaJvc8w/w300-h400/IMG_20220507_141543%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Brian Boru harp, Long Room</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div style="text-align: start;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b>t was Saturday in the Capital so we first decided to go check out The Temple Bar area, a busy riverside neighborhood spread over some old and uneven cobbled lanes that you can easily get lost in, These crowded pubs are the center of Dublin's nightlife and it was nuts when we there although it was only early afternoon, impossible to move and everyone singing, drinking and high fiving. We didn't stay long, just enough time to take some photos then opting to walk to the National Museum instead, a treasure house of anything Irish and with a very impressive display of Viking artifacts found locally. A walk along the Ha'penny bridge (built in 1816 and officially called the Liffey Bridge, it was used as a toll bridge for 100 years and you were charged, you guessed it, a half penny) and time to call it another day. Tomorrow was the Cathedral and a bus ride out to the the Royal Hibernian Military School where my Grandfather William Steward and his brother Great Uncle Harry Edward were sent as a young boys.</div></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnUYJHV8AHR4MKCRPBBcdpPKsq8oPg0VF44k-m5GQepDSdX_i_xhZ1mLEkcUwD0ZOZ0QyZAj4MEBJNIE-9KnhvW-eNRItr9vrzEOFGg9LiFprwN6pkjBb9Pfqdkh7nqZmTn7m5RMNtO5HrVZpG85ZuV2ZNzgfAjHffg938A09DGECjdM8nv-dNVhwQ/s1600/IMG-20220507-WA0005.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1549" data-original-width="1600" height="620" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgApnUYJHV8AHR4MKCRPBBcdpPKsq8oPg0VF44k-m5GQepDSdX_i_xhZ1mLEkcUwD0ZOZ0QyZAj4MEBJNIE-9KnhvW-eNRItr9vrzEOFGg9LiFprwN6pkjBb9Pfqdkh7nqZmTn7m5RMNtO5HrVZpG85ZuV2ZNzgfAjHffg938A09DGECjdM8nv-dNVhwQ/w640-h620/IMG-20220507-WA0005.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjjs8rS7UQ_8RClj6snvMkNLT-s0IdUi_6Nz_UAWEO38zstxoL_Fm850tjsho0ulKGStYoc3LZOUUq9qhqEvZiOM71IeU80_09Fd9w5JgOjLRB8GXygb5nwnbWcmjV004rcSPhJCzc5jDUufvfYYUaLUVDq1EUELhdJ7s9FeJqwRF7nWkTD5yFB655eQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220507_150226%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n4vpYU-ci4k3QJtqdsoKbGa6-RFBa0X2BBMXXL8FZPGUngSNPD5zIkg-Qhs1UhueMXpZ7nazdgXjJp-6afYBcTDWA2Uqhs4Fpdib4tO7ntDqcF471o0w6JHYjTjNV_kzDBdAYiLgJakbvxvgUTdZUaZXG_8UAjP5la2YizUqX8zegm2h50UpqsFvFQ/s5632/IMG_20220507_150308%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_n4vpYU-ci4k3QJtqdsoKbGa6-RFBa0X2BBMXXL8FZPGUngSNPD5zIkg-Qhs1UhueMXpZ7nazdgXjJp-6afYBcTDWA2Uqhs4Fpdib4tO7ntDqcF471o0w6JHYjTjNV_kzDBdAYiLgJakbvxvgUTdZUaZXG_8UAjP5la2YizUqX8zegm2h50UpqsFvFQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220507_150308%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Temple Bar, Dublin</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhminwaNAD6E9O6moXdRLoZD1PVYoA-kK0nMbnwullSpStg92En1PnZ3-m4FWiyhZLdt8wfrV8fGmqzVXYilAYDpZK0leNFyFrFXhXQIA1VM_DuPBXuqkWFXiHDUqE7dv-suMGGiaN19q404SMCywJPOadSBkWa00b26mPxsjCDH1m3ODBpRGe5zd9PGQ/s2609/IMG_20220507_184432%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="2609" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhminwaNAD6E9O6moXdRLoZD1PVYoA-kK0nMbnwullSpStg92En1PnZ3-m4FWiyhZLdt8wfrV8fGmqzVXYilAYDpZK0leNFyFrFXhXQIA1VM_DuPBXuqkWFXiHDUqE7dv-suMGGiaN19q404SMCywJPOadSBkWa00b26mPxsjCDH1m3ODBpRGe5zd9PGQ/w400-h286/IMG_20220507_184432%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r3J4GtpFVqDZcj1WZOLA3hQmAN2ST3MFwaeT-0AAz1NhatfTPy3FkehHeg_pSRhiOB0QrcGB58ELAU_6yenay02kScN-nDTbgzjwhtIIUheZUKuhPqUHQotTd50ExSOhsjDyg11uz6-_JU_GtuXYuMwbeu2rjias1QgzQvhxCE2lg5ANm1QaiJlWwg/s3006/IMG_20220507_184533.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2424" data-original-width="3006" height="516" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5r3J4GtpFVqDZcj1WZOLA3hQmAN2ST3MFwaeT-0AAz1NhatfTPy3FkehHeg_pSRhiOB0QrcGB58ELAU_6yenay02kScN-nDTbgzjwhtIIUheZUKuhPqUHQotTd50ExSOhsjDyg11uz6-_JU_GtuXYuMwbeu2rjias1QgzQvhxCE2lg5ANm1QaiJlWwg/w640-h516/IMG_20220507_184533.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Viking swords and axes, National Museum of Ireland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvlhl8M4DequSI0rCOXcjYxpd1THzGqCPr8tR2Uv77zdpNV6Eu7t2myA8UAo1kF7fhA902t_0Y48qQuwLGoii6LAqj6XZD6B0sreQS14om56I4_10daTl5LNIOMqSSH81sevu43e-WkXZyZxW6TjUuw_3fIzD9LGsW4YgVcaNaxHAZ7rGu-0zm_Gt7w/s1824/IMG-20220507-WA0006.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1824" data-original-width="1368" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVvlhl8M4DequSI0rCOXcjYxpd1THzGqCPr8tR2Uv77zdpNV6Eu7t2myA8UAo1kF7fhA902t_0Y48qQuwLGoii6LAqj6XZD6B0sreQS14om56I4_10daTl5LNIOMqSSH81sevu43e-WkXZyZxW6TjUuw_3fIzD9LGsW4YgVcaNaxHAZ7rGu-0zm_Gt7w/w480-h640/IMG-20220507-WA0006.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Time for a Guiness, The Bull& Castle, Dublin</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-weight: bold; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOjKuokxs8pQ_yxIZLZck6pcvrGJOriz5Jpyl9KJOEfzw-ZGCc9O2rP8c1c0d_dV73qNGu9vlYWGN-rzRNv8mGG8mebbtwXaVcC6CsbYS16eR5yayvRDuUowqrruwGz0nP69gy-KqUO5N12RxDwIzboWay9Cn-AKFYNTh5vyv6NBEqeGyECPhbge_Kw/s3648/IMG_20220507_145543%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMOjKuokxs8pQ_yxIZLZck6pcvrGJOriz5Jpyl9KJOEfzw-ZGCc9O2rP8c1c0d_dV73qNGu9vlYWGN-rzRNv8mGG8mebbtwXaVcC6CsbYS16eR5yayvRDuUowqrruwGz0nP69gy-KqUO5N12RxDwIzboWay9Cn-AKFYNTh5vyv6NBEqeGyECPhbge_Kw/w640-h480/IMG_20220507_145543%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ha'penny Bridge, Dublin</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-weight: bold; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="font-size: x-large;">T</b>he<span style="font-size: large;"> </span>bus ride out to the west end of the city took forever but we arrived mid-morning at beautiful Phoenix Park and St Mary's Hospital where the military school buildings remain but now part of the hospital. The building has been repainted and looks exactly as it did when it was constructed in 1771. The institution originally went by the name Hibernian Society for the Orphans and Children of Soldiers (until 1846). By the mid 19th century the school acted as a feeder to the British Army when children as young as 12 could enlist, By1922 it had moved to Folkestone. We wandered about the grounds and found the old chapel and another church where possibly my Grandfather attended. In the graveyard we discovered a sad part of the history of the school - the gravestones of dozens of young boys aged eight through thirteen. No records remain of the time he was there but we did get a feeling of how it must have been to be a boy there under the stern gaze of the instructors. What they endured can only be imagined.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KD2ifaB8eeZ7iJtVpte6CkFatvTsS7fEZZW8kE5hLnaGsApS1gqOK99x806-ewKgBhMIfFCeTu6XD2S4IqA9itRuyh8kcmnvESHmWHgV0YiardotsvAGGukYaCcBTrtbRXeY_0gM0DKQLif1c-OZFDy53Lh-khpNwSHcnitpul5qLYWAyOZsfpSxzA/s3128/IMG_20220508_114445.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="3128" height="510" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KD2ifaB8eeZ7iJtVpte6CkFatvTsS7fEZZW8kE5hLnaGsApS1gqOK99x806-ewKgBhMIfFCeTu6XD2S4IqA9itRuyh8kcmnvESHmWHgV0YiardotsvAGGukYaCcBTrtbRXeY_0gM0DKQLif1c-OZFDy53Lh-khpNwSHcnitpul5qLYWAyOZsfpSxzA/w640-h510/IMG_20220508_114445.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2111" data-original-width="3364" height="402" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0hl963Lg8hISY1mzDBDleU16rYVaV8FADWSOq29IUOQpVee5TJTnv60X4_trdWSJO1lqHCkPife8Ky-XJdDdZQy0yA1ngrpdzt0L5odDxLkZUa_TsIthaCeV01ucHmdEq3V_KZK-i2d-qfRti6nL75ZzpOeoiLO8X5DMS-y7VQ-Oxm3tRUIkRw7Hwkw/w640-h402/IMG_20220508_114327.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7jyxkiFgpqkE-yEukFRCgzotySVrOObnJ7ExksgJfiL95JAx0siAxHq2BGdgqLKWIccO13eKgUB5JbuUzHvq1CfjERdRlPDuCT1fEx_cdSmXpgrjcCAoNnDlJ3EnVyTVguTRg5j0t222bjKz5GJlGco1zX1bGuBiaPRcNiaVRVLna651rXXQxiz0rw/s3648/IMG_20220508_111628.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm7jyxkiFgpqkE-yEukFRCgzotySVrOObnJ7ExksgJfiL95JAx0siAxHq2BGdgqLKWIccO13eKgUB5JbuUzHvq1CfjERdRlPDuCT1fEx_cdSmXpgrjcCAoNnDlJ3EnVyTVguTRg5j0t222bjKz5GJlGco1zX1bGuBiaPRcNiaVRVLna651rXXQxiz0rw/w640-h480/IMG_20220508_111628.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZk337jBGyfx_iDUQj6KmE7thMoWtFu1paeET6FlLdO9bKNc7kvaoH_uQusvjkfVswuNsa1jSsoidDU3tkoXomHFgcNS-wz3hd-FmX-uZu5BEnEEMt4af9tHuJJ1GW5apt8LrzL_kcIJNMh0qq8Ho-nM3fpyh7QR5VY90ZriBvLPT5SeA376lXkkkxg/s3648/IMG_20220508_110819.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWZk337jBGyfx_iDUQj6KmE7thMoWtFu1paeET6FlLdO9bKNc7kvaoH_uQusvjkfVswuNsa1jSsoidDU3tkoXomHFgcNS-wz3hd-FmX-uZu5BEnEEMt4af9tHuJJ1GW5apt8LrzL_kcIJNMh0qq8Ho-nM3fpyh7QR5VY90ZriBvLPT5SeA376lXkkkxg/w640-h480/IMG_20220508_110819.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Chapel, former Royal Hibernian Military School, Dublin</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>e took another bus back to center town to see Saint Patrick's Cathedral, the National Cathedral of the Church of Ireland, and home to many depictions of Ireland's most famous saint. Nobody knows exactly what he looked like so all the paintings and statues looked different. We spent an hour inside this, our last Cathedral to visit on this trip, and had a chance to see a display case featuring the death mask, one of his sermons and a cast of the skull of the writer Jonathan Swift. He is best known for <i>Gulliver's Travels </i>but it was interesting to learn he was also Dean of the Cathedral from 1713 to 1745. His pulpit is on display as well and I had the chance to feel its well worn surface. He is buried under the floor alongside his best friend Stella. After our visit we walked along the River Liffey to O'Connell Street to gaze up at the Spire of Dublin, a 390 foot stainless steel pin-like monument. It was erected in 2003 on the same spot where Nelson's Pillar stood until it was destroyed by an IRA bomb in 1966. Some opposition initially greeted the Spire and it has inspired a number of nicknames, as is common with any public art in Dublin - the nail in the Pale, the stiletto in the ghetto, the erection at the intersection and my favorite, the Stiffy by the Liffy. A nice meal and a toast to Ireland ended our day. Tomorrow we fly home after 48 days; over 4000 miles by car alone, 125 miles walking and memories too numerous to count. <b>GWS</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y3PNazk-LrUHqVu57fd_leKCvXey-7q5aKcJcIoR3mNttyWRAHUTOWLqR7affymaVk7yYOVOs1q0fuFTL3OwODppzIhfBcME5gtZmQN0vYN_CSLZRQCb1YCBna5CWQlzO4yGXfeT34sQHBmGj2bIa3kVauAR8hsD_fd_MwkFrqi71bAwY9a04oX8ew/s3648/IMG_20220508_131828.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8y3PNazk-LrUHqVu57fd_leKCvXey-7q5aKcJcIoR3mNttyWRAHUTOWLqR7affymaVk7yYOVOs1q0fuFTL3OwODppzIhfBcME5gtZmQN0vYN_CSLZRQCb1YCBna5CWQlzO4yGXfeT34sQHBmGj2bIa3kVauAR8hsD_fd_MwkFrqi71bAwY9a04oX8ew/w640-h480/IMG_20220508_131828.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin0ENEhlIV66Ep27M4VTSAZfEFDYwg5DlAaRE9ZIjT6G1O2K-AyZct7qUBK62ZDMK9N6dKWzAWGNzeWweYcc2uI9WJCkHhcptD5zK0ZwCq-e7hgH4DiPPlIjzrIK1x8FQUXhyZXLUWRxRkgKqSC8SQ8Xlp-qVUSYOP3pgqe8GW__UVYUGwxaZPx0F4wQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220508_133116.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DZgdZMvrvnF76EvkPO96nhysuh92SS4FrFSY89UDz7CsEOijBgGm1Vu1KrkED5t5rmzlLpdXZus28rpNKvfeM6MFnmxN35eJr6YQ1rSQLfp_k4i0gih71P5uYJghEC8h9kzoS4sw6I0n5dC6U6T1V9ONNCTDOXIUHqPqTD1j2-InpRB3MG8kVHpOWQ/s3648/IMG_20220508_133650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9DZgdZMvrvnF76EvkPO96nhysuh92SS4FrFSY89UDz7CsEOijBgGm1Vu1KrkED5t5rmzlLpdXZus28rpNKvfeM6MFnmxN35eJr6YQ1rSQLfp_k4i0gih71P5uYJghEC8h9kzoS4sw6I0n5dC6U6T1V9ONNCTDOXIUHqPqTD1j2-InpRB3MG8kVHpOWQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220508_133650.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg0VxuxF9Iksyka6gv7qRAn88ei-1DcZdBaGkN9ugNcvRtggiHNDG-E2S8NrRhMvvaijlF9_AyGTuwAskfCuXjT-3l-umDoTbe1_nn7AmV4AG8a5zd5vsaGTRza7kcKgcDvWJGdK_2utozDAYzNqJaw8gvkupQiz4mmsW_H8P0yU0VcKfJkw2ti7gTA/s3648/IMG_20220508_140718.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLg0VxuxF9Iksyka6gv7qRAn88ei-1DcZdBaGkN9ugNcvRtggiHNDG-E2S8NrRhMvvaijlF9_AyGTuwAskfCuXjT-3l-umDoTbe1_nn7AmV4AG8a5zd5vsaGTRza7kcKgcDvWJGdK_2utozDAYzNqJaw8gvkupQiz4mmsW_H8P0yU0VcKfJkw2ti7gTA/w640-h480/IMG_20220508_140718.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Saint Patrick's Cathedral, Dublin</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V3KAcrZLwedh_rnp-jVSgP6RWt0VK0kyAJXpK8KVuneDNbcqTbRrYl4XUIXQV2sEjTwgV_TGuzXq3y6MkEmCQ2M2H4dN9p5mzyOCn8tppFuOkwdpw9_ofQ1IGerVCXnDRqaawIdF3KZoXDZ0Y3MlU0zUflrK0BhRHCnuJSlWivVU-ROEGFyjwXEXnQ/s3648/IMG_20220508_164239.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-V3KAcrZLwedh_rnp-jVSgP6RWt0VK0kyAJXpK8KVuneDNbcqTbRrYl4XUIXQV2sEjTwgV_TGuzXq3y6MkEmCQ2M2H4dN9p5mzyOCn8tppFuOkwdpw9_ofQ1IGerVCXnDRqaawIdF3KZoXDZ0Y3MlU0zUflrK0BhRHCnuJSlWivVU-ROEGFyjwXEXnQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220508_164239.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Spire of Dublin, O'Connell St</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfepGldR6L2dnRWRCDC5hAteKrFCW55IkPgRguuYcH1x0sT9MLlNh4pk20kKwxeuGaGcryhio-lRfgB41hQxCIWRn4jqJkuXEnt77GNlzojKlSjRXGD2ekdlco4FWd1ODVanhy7jSRYPdhg_E3uMRqmuP3f-dOWq2t4AmlDJAhhM1MtDaWShWJ_0yGw/s3648/IMG_20220508_152917.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzfepGldR6L2dnRWRCDC5hAteKrFCW55IkPgRguuYcH1x0sT9MLlNh4pk20kKwxeuGaGcryhio-lRfgB41hQxCIWRn4jqJkuXEnt77GNlzojKlSjRXGD2ekdlco4FWd1ODVanhy7jSRYPdhg_E3uMRqmuP3f-dOWq2t4AmlDJAhhM1MtDaWShWJ_0yGw/w400-h300/IMG_20220508_152917.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ah6i2kxIN4fO2J_O1e0xoG1dj18lhjQX07j8-L1kHyzhalBKanUMjOL8fn1946BDnXxV6Vc3e2Da6w1ixejkPakNj6XQM4cWt0ET3uHxWuTv2p55tLZt2kLxHvO28InTKCsjse8PBbTCB1G6Qiq7mZOZFD2QkM-RSY3M1ZuIcJBdnHcCHOu1fhng0w/s3648/IMG_20220508_153251.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7ah6i2kxIN4fO2J_O1e0xoG1dj18lhjQX07j8-L1kHyzhalBKanUMjOL8fn1946BDnXxV6Vc3e2Da6w1ixejkPakNj6XQM4cWt0ET3uHxWuTv2p55tLZt2kLxHvO28InTKCsjse8PBbTCB1G6Qiq7mZOZFD2QkM-RSY3M1ZuIcJBdnHcCHOu1fhng0w/w300-h400/IMG_20220508_153251.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>slan atha cliath (goodbye Dublin!)</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLlPoUn445-KRl9iOh2_bm_xmRTSSDLBpFmAb-34KTZrPweUGluaQV1XntHFYD56uV5BZYnMkYiNRIhSxaBuAT4wFwNUox1S3Q9iEI4Ak5jGjt9jSbAcmzKJ0IEOL-GmrU_OOm-JXAq1z6BB2TnyiYMm0MFUfYdu7P44l99TyDzSRPxyyIENS5MYXOg/s3648/IMG_20220509_120215.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixLlPoUn445-KRl9iOh2_bm_xmRTSSDLBpFmAb-34KTZrPweUGluaQV1XntHFYD56uV5BZYnMkYiNRIhSxaBuAT4wFwNUox1S3Q9iEI4Ak5jGjt9jSbAcmzKJ0IEOL-GmrU_OOm-JXAq1z6BB2TnyiYMm0MFUfYdu7P44l99TyDzSRPxyyIENS5MYXOg/w640-h480/IMG_20220509_120215.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>goodbye to the green field of Ireland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsW7qDt2gTZr1OG2Z8Tyywmm5gXesPIoF4RcSpU5MwaAs8AXABZv35k90rpn3tc4fZ5FiPmiMbK3dgasBiiKAFRLf-ALsfm-MSsqOsNBNlN_x8vi-m6JGIjcHQf9N7AUETH9UR8_E5wePTi69qqv_D_Mtr1evkChdHxTo-CL5o9x3r0TYcxmsfFhGoQ/s3648/IMG_20220509_162752.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgsW7qDt2gTZr1OG2Z8Tyywmm5gXesPIoF4RcSpU5MwaAs8AXABZv35k90rpn3tc4fZ5FiPmiMbK3dgasBiiKAFRLf-ALsfm-MSsqOsNBNlN_x8vi-m6JGIjcHQf9N7AUETH9UR8_E5wePTi69qqv_D_Mtr1evkChdHxTo-CL5o9x3r0TYcxmsfFhGoQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220509_162752.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>hello to the white landscape of Canada</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-79705527840682354312022-05-07T10:29:00.001-07:002022-05-07T10:34:47.865-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 45 Bru na Boinne, County Meath, Ireland)<p> </p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nb5qFmJcLF6Y2TnrjXVPEfMOpQR2tqmwweEaXCt7xErxKQhkrem4m_DPxdPirf3c1XQ1Q7RM3_ZT2YzxsqjEv8PYEcujxOlRziy5FEPGKNnDTBVnMQk283XL_R53IyiCNszs8woCcJZ9qAxXF144lDX-sRmVKfrve0UV7zSHdZiC5CCBV58jRrfyww/s5632/IMG_20220506_123732%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1nb5qFmJcLF6Y2TnrjXVPEfMOpQR2tqmwweEaXCt7xErxKQhkrem4m_DPxdPirf3c1XQ1Q7RM3_ZT2YzxsqjEv8PYEcujxOlRziy5FEPGKNnDTBVnMQk283XL_R53IyiCNszs8woCcJZ9qAxXF144lDX-sRmVKfrve0UV7zSHdZiC5CCBV58jRrfyww/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_123732%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><b><br /></b><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>ur last major attraction in Ireland before going to Dublin was Bru na Boinne, a place 'within the bend' of the River Boyne that contains one of the world's most important prehistoric sites. The archaeological landscape within the area of Bru na Boinne is dominated by three large passage tombs - Knoth, Newgrange and Dowth built some 5000 years ago in the Neolithic or Late Stone Age. An additional 90 monuments have been recorded in the area and these tombs contain the largest assemblage of megalithic art in Western Europe. We visited Knoth and Newgrange, amazed by the vastness of this Neolithic necropolis that is a 1000 years older than Stonehenge. The River Boyne flows through here where the Battle of the Boyne, a major battle in Irish history, took place near Drogheda in 1690. Bru na Boinne is a real testament to the achievements of prehistoric man and again shows how little acknowledgment we have given him. This complex was built to to house the remains of those who were at the top of the social heap and it's tombs were the largest in Ireland until the construction of the Anglo-Norman castles 4000 years later! We learned through two efficient and friendly tour guides how that over the centuries the tombs decayed, were covered by grass and trees, and plundered by everybody from Vikings to Victorian treasure hunters. We could see initials and names from the 1800s inscribed on the walls of the main burial chamber at Newgrange. Here within the centre of the tomb the guide turned off the lights and showed us it's precise alignment with the sun at the time of the winter solstice using a beam of light place to mimic the sun. It is then the sun's rays shine through the roof-top above the entrance, creep slowly down the long passage and illuminate the chamber for 17 minutes. Quite a humbling and personal experience to be there and relive, trying to put our selves in the place of those humans 500 centuries ago. The rain came down steadily while we were there, the first time on our trip, but cleared up as we left for our Airbnb in Dublin, our last stop before flying home.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWSpepAu81MN_BOXIeb1VlgQD5E0ArCHwffXgESdIEkLLgV-fCXmX-tSncns7jfzQr-Vugo4Fw1d07qdbTOtgjwPW7NGr5MiuTdj1yVBbZ4ADvMVaq0tBbqfkMOPaN1-S3OwGJ6NeoEYdFq6ftCJADXxQqC2gflYXwB1_EcBF4Yq0T-DwNVm4QHXs1Q/s2048/IMG-20220506-WA0008.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWSpepAu81MN_BOXIeb1VlgQD5E0ArCHwffXgESdIEkLLgV-fCXmX-tSncns7jfzQr-Vugo4Fw1d07qdbTOtgjwPW7NGr5MiuTdj1yVBbZ4ADvMVaq0tBbqfkMOPaN1-S3OwGJ6NeoEYdFq6ftCJADXxQqC2gflYXwB1_EcBF4Yq0T-DwNVm4QHXs1Q/w640-h480/IMG-20220506-WA0008.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>timeline comparing Newgrange and Stonehenge</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34jtJiQAirBUP0egzgOcToAdlIuwtyjIbB0ZEhBI8y48ixtHq9iyve_w6z27_aG5xIN7_jnInnhoVKbn-hQILf5WgIvkKvankWtpFWzO90nUqQBz6L1TZGPltP7RjCAzzcR_b-NS0tqd211Cs89Qj9W1aefIOBqabMZJwHG1U6r5RVVjFzpCVYNuUdg/s3648/IMG_20220506_121940%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34jtJiQAirBUP0egzgOcToAdlIuwtyjIbB0ZEhBI8y48ixtHq9iyve_w6z27_aG5xIN7_jnInnhoVKbn-hQILf5WgIvkKvankWtpFWzO90nUqQBz6L1TZGPltP7RjCAzzcR_b-NS0tqd211Cs89Qj9W1aefIOBqabMZJwHG1U6r5RVVjFzpCVYNuUdg/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_121940%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZpXGp06jEU8Yn1TayYPiAeZufDfSX4NM1cI5ezPg6v69dgXZAa6V2St0Mlr5hsKyKEmtgSr4ROKbEWjMLFVS2GALHpZK2SffU6X-G8dgaarHnmR2T3DJrhmZSnuQtpLd1lUmlNVFX4ysHv3qZyX7oJ6Ftfn-_QKAQMoo7f_fTkCv9cXZE2IOmegMXg/s3648/IMG_20220506_122123%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3ZpXGp06jEU8Yn1TayYPiAeZufDfSX4NM1cI5ezPg6v69dgXZAa6V2St0Mlr5hsKyKEmtgSr4ROKbEWjMLFVS2GALHpZK2SffU6X-G8dgaarHnmR2T3DJrhmZSnuQtpLd1lUmlNVFX4ysHv3qZyX7oJ6Ftfn-_QKAQMoo7f_fTkCv9cXZE2IOmegMXg/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_122123%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the River Boyne at Newgrange</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkZMcJhi7qeQqb6MnGVBjFgrgekkQEvgYLb3eSdhviBy_Mvyp_qhASO-JYw4FkE3BGeEKAhodkOHaD96K8Oz95Eq3cYZ48_Ms4vlMK28AF1h3loUMqqoNwPm7_KZxLNQ4sI7HlR2wQ8gX4EGY1PzJRUDc9TUXM6WrBGonGvvMilFhJ3RUWt1g3TVvJA/s3648/IMG_20220506_124654%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhkZMcJhi7qeQqb6MnGVBjFgrgekkQEvgYLb3eSdhviBy_Mvyp_qhASO-JYw4FkE3BGeEKAhodkOHaD96K8Oz95Eq3cYZ48_Ms4vlMK28AF1h3loUMqqoNwPm7_KZxLNQ4sI7HlR2wQ8gX4EGY1PzJRUDc9TUXM6WrBGonGvvMilFhJ3RUWt1g3TVvJA/w400-h300/IMG_20220506_124654%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFe3cAkpGsWpZK7YOBCQGaZR7KcxSeAkpu98kmDG0cpPxRZMr1N7YRIfcXG3LhIdHWdFl_ANDm1qMOBLOvDh6KwPVPzqt1SrUxxQyE5q2ljSZ58DY8VJx32EXg3Yfo0EOh68edAp21E5d9Hpjb4zjlgykYYPSE3q-66M8wLxDiJcrxZILQgG6RoYKtw/s3648/IMG_20220506_125552%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBFe3cAkpGsWpZK7YOBCQGaZR7KcxSeAkpu98kmDG0cpPxRZMr1N7YRIfcXG3LhIdHWdFl_ANDm1qMOBLOvDh6KwPVPzqt1SrUxxQyE5q2ljSZ58DY8VJx32EXg3Yfo0EOh68edAp21E5d9Hpjb4zjlgykYYPSE3q-66M8wLxDiJcrxZILQgG6RoYKtw/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_125552%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdJx27-Hj23uXf1C5IkA-wy094sWhhIvoUg72qKofwQMWO78OtxIwvWwU8ZPEV4kssN-sUQrcVVsuv7h7h69pFLUFnVawF9ws1WoX8iQQRdRPdHlBpYOt_FEh0Q3qvPQn8flsiNzCZxEFHUCg4EybzQ6Q1Ziz2X44QJ8Z3habde3KiMoq-pJy45ZymA/s3648/IMG_20220506_125718%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpdJx27-Hj23uXf1C5IkA-wy094sWhhIvoUg72qKofwQMWO78OtxIwvWwU8ZPEV4kssN-sUQrcVVsuv7h7h69pFLUFnVawF9ws1WoX8iQQRdRPdHlBpYOt_FEh0Q3qvPQn8flsiNzCZxEFHUCg4EybzQ6Q1Ziz2X44QJ8Z3habde3KiMoq-pJy45ZymA/w400-h300/IMG_20220506_125718%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Knoth, Bru na Boinne</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQX7eYsGxYzAaf_QOae3xPvSE6mJXMHuxsIBM6TgTyo9Vx73lx9pI0H5oOi5RKhu4AzsGpOTfgyNvVetkMbLgnnh02HTJuLZujJo1eCLmdFfui6i3lIrZKqrxweX330_uFWr5kaqGKzoOUIxwxb4VmUymLClWNFYIviO5t7jayF0buclYzGxXckAXzw/s3648/IMG_20220506_131330%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCQX7eYsGxYzAaf_QOae3xPvSE6mJXMHuxsIBM6TgTyo9Vx73lx9pI0H5oOi5RKhu4AzsGpOTfgyNvVetkMbLgnnh02HTJuLZujJo1eCLmdFfui6i3lIrZKqrxweX330_uFWr5kaqGKzoOUIxwxb4VmUymLClWNFYIviO5t7jayF0buclYzGxXckAXzw/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_131330%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAFUzQVWNNGAVT1bZXF6Q50HxbnYkgeWXhkXi98330BTlRgdIikSBNMSvB1mY9ENN5hyH9CC0MphkP6JZrv95AEScdeQu6aXhZ2lXYdBbSLMpKzGK0Hi-wEpZDOf9H5iC8fU7G5n_00kPiI0mlZv_kW5ZcoJnNP9Kjl2HbdIDyUuGwkhNihNW4QEOBA/s3648/IMG_20220506_134312%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAFUzQVWNNGAVT1bZXF6Q50HxbnYkgeWXhkXi98330BTlRgdIikSBNMSvB1mY9ENN5hyH9CC0MphkP6JZrv95AEScdeQu6aXhZ2lXYdBbSLMpKzGK0Hi-wEpZDOf9H5iC8fU7G5n_00kPiI0mlZv_kW5ZcoJnNP9Kjl2HbdIDyUuGwkhNihNW4QEOBA/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_134312%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqcD9DDl7YuszxnMQq2kZQ7nsJokUKp4yXXBm6Reoanqdojrb-_U_1v-sb2mN-RzsdZj0HlkU2Kz8O2sqGXCOnunKrwVWvr_Y0dkrFsM21RH8DWThmU9kDc_jVYkHfjm2zkbHqr9mmmJMMaCNtxc3So-dXSnWjXpT1WE8W1pqPQpLsp21r74dYyv_GQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_140036%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUQ5N-wpFq5m8BDzU-sv_BpNblRaRA3f1YJvTeBek-glUE-wxGeckJn2RaWq4VBXoq1-6tmk9ayI6aADihAw2plNKIat1IfMCiT2ibgs9KcDnEC-6q_gOxjr6Vfh0kSv1jvdkpnbBNk2xiKDt4cGLB-8bjCXROBIKxHwxNgnVuXaHjmzwknnGEHCoag/s3648/IMG_20220506_142519%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaUQ5N-wpFq5m8BDzU-sv_BpNblRaRA3f1YJvTeBek-glUE-wxGeckJn2RaWq4VBXoq1-6tmk9ayI6aADihAw2plNKIat1IfMCiT2ibgs9KcDnEC-6q_gOxjr6Vfh0kSv1jvdkpnbBNk2xiKDt4cGLB-8bjCXROBIKxHwxNgnVuXaHjmzwknnGEHCoag/w640-h480/IMG_20220506_142519%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>a spiral engraved curb stone, Newgrange, Bru na Boinne</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-81059417807673332142022-05-05T23:17:00.002-07:002022-05-05T23:17:36.905-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 44 Kilmacduagh/Athlone, Ireland)<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomI8PhZNs22jMrMzaFVQxMyYxN8IM2rCGZhckPQll2BTSyl_gusL6B9mG3XPyh_T7F9h_7l3doXfzxAldoocUTUo3fp5SHxriuivopWdXQDC4peQ7-gpr3ZrL1FcDm49Vkk_VAZERk-J5oLrcmfsb09EA8cC49JVJR2FerNHwDQTmgDx2RMsKHrkm8A/s3583/IMG_20220505_135531%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1219" data-original-width="3583" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiomI8PhZNs22jMrMzaFVQxMyYxN8IM2rCGZhckPQll2BTSyl_gusL6B9mG3XPyh_T7F9h_7l3doXfzxAldoocUTUo3fp5SHxriuivopWdXQDC4peQ7-gpr3ZrL1FcDm49Vkk_VAZERk-J5oLrcmfsb09EA8cC49JVJR2FerNHwDQTmgDx2RMsKHrkm8A/w640-h218/IMG_20220505_135531%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>n our way to Athlone we drove through the green Irish countryside along the narrow Irish roads (R460), coming suddenly to the ruins of Kilmacduagh Abbey. We stopped as it looked interesting, a tall tower overlooking the roofless Abbey and the churchyard, still in use. Founded in the 7th century by Saint Colman MacDuagh (hence the name) it was plundered in the 13th century but was in use probably for another 300 years. The round tower was a place of refuge for the monks in case of attack, dated to be from the 12th century. Legend has it that the Saint trained a rooster to crow to remind him when to pray, a mouse to stop him from sleeping more than 5 hours in 24 by scratching him behind his ears, and a fly to walk along the lines of his book to direct him where to read again by standing on the first letter of the next sentence. Really. Our reason though for visiting Athlone was to find my great-grandfather Isaac Steward's gravestone in Cornamagh Cemetery. He and three of his mates accidently drowned on the 2nd of July, 1881while sailing in nearby Lough (lake) Ree, the second largest of the major lakes on the River Shannon. An unexpected storm came up and overturned their boat. Great-Grandpa Steward was 31, a Sergeant in the 15th Battalion of the 60th Royal Rifles. His mates were Sgt. John Crowley, Color Sgt. James Thompson and Sgt. Major James Mitchell. We searched high and low for their gravestones but time and the effects of weather had obliterated most of the markings from this period and we couldn't find anything. The records though from the cemetery do indicate he is buried there somewhere. Our search will continue and hopefully one day these four graves can be identified. We did go to the Lough just to see the waters that had claimed my Great-Grandfather's life and I had a few moments to reflect on the fragility of man. At one point on our way there we took a shortcut along a farm road where it was necessary for Marie to get out of the car, open two gates across a 'live railway crossing' to let me cross with the car. Only in Ireland!</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp9lRjabzuaJ1d4MWgfMQfuW1FKU-pbI3ocOKcbfsfhQJnJn5n5advP7NHJ4AE23ukHH_yEZttd6sSHnGJsyreDlylHSpbiybl24fnhIPUJY2v4xj9Opf4DLRgu2fMZAl2oHHizXVqE6OfeDDpMw7DjFtMYYH7YJm2sq6CEvWSACI-EQAAmoGcnLPCw/s3648/IMG_20220505_101716.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFp9lRjabzuaJ1d4MWgfMQfuW1FKU-pbI3ocOKcbfsfhQJnJn5n5advP7NHJ4AE23ukHH_yEZttd6sSHnGJsyreDlylHSpbiybl24fnhIPUJY2v4xj9Opf4DLRgu2fMZAl2oHHizXVqE6OfeDDpMw7DjFtMYYH7YJm2sq6CEvWSACI-EQAAmoGcnLPCw/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_101716.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJ1qVaoGYLE7Z4R7qo5rk07TKqehwxx_ReogwulT9EgrKBZfuLKwUTY0R0etoH-16pDPCgKhJN3zeGYoXqTlw74YW_UcphJC320DmzD0CcCdjBls90k8QLGaBBhGTiO9MSxWe4y-VGC3yGz-32tIujjltRNh90SKW6T5S5O_48-h5KkWuClCXeLlQQ/s3648/IMG_20220505_102051%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghTJ1qVaoGYLE7Z4R7qo5rk07TKqehwxx_ReogwulT9EgrKBZfuLKwUTY0R0etoH-16pDPCgKhJN3zeGYoXqTlw74YW_UcphJC320DmzD0CcCdjBls90k8QLGaBBhGTiO9MSxWe4y-VGC3yGz-32tIujjltRNh90SKW6T5S5O_48-h5KkWuClCXeLlQQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220505_102051%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Kilmacduagh Abbey, County Galway</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1ZTuJuHsftqfrbEn7KU2S8lTekHofBlegwYeJU_8Qb0u8GfedxrABAMRvq0UUgcjdyqJSyR-_yEdyCh4AFPQ-qKZmCbPWER9vOZNEZgFt_Vsyx6p_Mj6pU7KruuKB9iCa9uYQl-qHKFj2Fiu9uoUBaiAQntPLTeSiS5sbaEtxJvGJy7TOlBiy5uvLg/s3648/IMG_20220505_124621.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC1ZTuJuHsftqfrbEn7KU2S8lTekHofBlegwYeJU_8Qb0u8GfedxrABAMRvq0UUgcjdyqJSyR-_yEdyCh4AFPQ-qKZmCbPWER9vOZNEZgFt_Vsyx6p_Mj6pU7KruuKB9iCa9uYQl-qHKFj2Fiu9uoUBaiAQntPLTeSiS5sbaEtxJvGJy7TOlBiy5uvLg/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_124621.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQaRTw9kaFhibOoRzYGt4bzaLGhpLu0QhlwCAkXcHbkSsJ0YNB9VXMg2s27eMzcaZHi0fYmggNUZOWcv54FkkkEAFT8c1HcJEy0b8cJw6dyakSO_BAYCJyD-1XNiHpRQ63yPC2tBOWFkIEnmKedDRL7IQoHjE0w-g4fG-W6ymVR6-ptpKCHu-MV00Jg/s3648/IMG_20220505_122008%20-%20Copy%20(2).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQaRTw9kaFhibOoRzYGt4bzaLGhpLu0QhlwCAkXcHbkSsJ0YNB9VXMg2s27eMzcaZHi0fYmggNUZOWcv54FkkkEAFT8c1HcJEy0b8cJw6dyakSO_BAYCJyD-1XNiHpRQ63yPC2tBOWFkIEnmKedDRL7IQoHjE0w-g4fG-W6ymVR6-ptpKCHu-MV00Jg/w400-h300/IMG_20220505_122008%20-%20Copy%20(2).jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Cornamagh Cemetery, Athlone</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhdJI2MFX0bsv7H73y-pmJU4cb-nWmw7zgh1X1UP5X_yxmQZipEP8m_Id9MUjo8yjnntSrbpKzRE9cKNKBVhfORQzpF_CI_LL_vh5tJT3s9iFAYDmMh8vEjAYmDVnWBR_Zkhi8pzNqT1ojrvxCpuKbwXpimqNzpiQW5ZMHidFv5PC13kctIpBpmV-mw/s2539/IMG_20220505_165331.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1912" data-original-width="2539" height="482" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEhdJI2MFX0bsv7H73y-pmJU4cb-nWmw7zgh1X1UP5X_yxmQZipEP8m_Id9MUjo8yjnntSrbpKzRE9cKNKBVhfORQzpF_CI_LL_vh5tJT3s9iFAYDmMh8vEjAYmDVnWBR_Zkhi8pzNqT1ojrvxCpuKbwXpimqNzpiQW5ZMHidFv5PC13kctIpBpmV-mw/w640-h482/IMG_20220505_165331.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>opening first gate across the train tracks</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sW9Yv7u6adnJlRiSdm-IOZgEZPeGeuPZWEqPiX2fvuSu7UUrMXyfb8Mom0Qm5X9_A9LJIfiB4kPGnrXRxMA-nZnvU89BaFno867W497n9c0E96iIrz8qZp_iqc-PnoSnlh-nr04bwNXzcTWVzcFls9mOWLMwzGk0mdeC5x94G6s1TqFaWxFaqiJCsQ/s1801/IMG_20220505_165248.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1801" height="351" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3sW9Yv7u6adnJlRiSdm-IOZgEZPeGeuPZWEqPiX2fvuSu7UUrMXyfb8Mom0Qm5X9_A9LJIfiB4kPGnrXRxMA-nZnvU89BaFno867W497n9c0E96iIrz8qZp_iqc-PnoSnlh-nr04bwNXzcTWVzcFls9mOWLMwzGk0mdeC5x94G6s1TqFaWxFaqiJCsQ/w400-h351/IMG_20220505_165248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj350Evfzd8T9b7z2LITNydaOtVw2WIhF2imD7ua0HRuqNCCmEG8CkoEM334t9iceROENOW_ZE2ZLhBCUoULGzDCKWQxk0WlTw0It7CY_D5TzRxTlqfWopQXPexgD8j85tvYNi5Jn_fc-M7J14M4_A_laiOAue6PdtbXE1vlmKbRHPnWAF6zj8t-NZJ_g/s3648/IMG_20220505_150012.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj350Evfzd8T9b7z2LITNydaOtVw2WIhF2imD7ua0HRuqNCCmEG8CkoEM334t9iceROENOW_ZE2ZLhBCUoULGzDCKWQxk0WlTw0It7CY_D5TzRxTlqfWopQXPexgD8j85tvYNi5Jn_fc-M7J14M4_A_laiOAue6PdtbXE1vlmKbRHPnWAF6zj8t-NZJ_g/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_150012.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>I'm through! Close the gates Marie!</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8akcsXqoFBaZTZSvOPjFCfgocCioA8xv4HLyndA-Pt2rVnSo7DDtMuHBChHPpoeY4HeqidVW43ieralZkpDvP9TSBbI4TRCaEdZiXgoF8tfjytnxHJ3FCWg9UafmYTdOP_W0whdtO-zwBInJCnWELpE0KnFc_GEMEifUJy8m3Q_cBbcobJhqTFRk4Kw/s3648/IMG_20220505_150906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8akcsXqoFBaZTZSvOPjFCfgocCioA8xv4HLyndA-Pt2rVnSo7DDtMuHBChHPpoeY4HeqidVW43ieralZkpDvP9TSBbI4TRCaEdZiXgoF8tfjytnxHJ3FCWg9UafmYTdOP_W0whdtO-zwBInJCnWELpE0KnFc_GEMEifUJy8m3Q_cBbcobJhqTFRk4Kw/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_150906.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJo6LCMep_QdsxRvX8XSnyc13R0sdqJCGLjCRVSKWucHUUWmEznrpIovB49GpR1MOJHZKXqRRF1KnJ85EcLryoF_gfiQFqi8Bm2sbG2x7187MFXSl1DPc95mavbCRZz0Iu6mkVfYOE6tijscvVr-vm8vPZ16AUnLqQly1lGuE4-IBbkR2lsNEo-A1lA/s3648/IMG_20220505_150802.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCJo6LCMep_QdsxRvX8XSnyc13R0sdqJCGLjCRVSKWucHUUWmEznrpIovB49GpR1MOJHZKXqRRF1KnJ85EcLryoF_gfiQFqi8Bm2sbG2x7187MFXSl1DPc95mavbCRZz0Iu6mkVfYOE6tijscvVr-vm8vPZ16AUnLqQly1lGuE4-IBbkR2lsNEo-A1lA/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_150802.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Lough Ree, near Athlone, County Westmeath</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>e also stopped of to visit to Athlone Castle while we there and walked over to the nearby Custume barracks where my great-grandfather was billeted during his time here. It is so named after Sgt Custume, a hero of the siege of Athlone by the British Williamite army in 1691. It is still a military establishment where the 6th Infantry Battalion of the Irish Army are garrisoned. We talked to one of the soldiers there who suggested we check out the Collins Museum in Dublin for more information about the late 1800s time period we were interested in. Isaac Steward must have visited the castle while he was stationed here as it is only five minutes from the barracks but he probably didn't have to pay to get in as we did. The Castle, from the 12th century, details the heroics of Sgt Custume and others as well as the history of Athlone in eight exhibition spaces. Just a few minutes walk from the castle was Sean's Bar, the oldest pub in Ireland and another place where Isaac may have stepped in for a Guinness when off duty. Before leaving for our next Airbnb we picked up a few souvenirs of the town and turned our thoughts to our last stop tomorrow - Dublin. GWS<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3LiJTF-ABK5KpofkHJcC3H2Dc0ARzmcRG0ubZU9XboMB8Ouo96H0norPdrKAyCS_PSlf_3OlZe1dU1Fzkd3BulYFogIk5btmjmmlJCDEjnjkG4aGVYy2l1xlfscZVyHXqyELryYPcyLbNjiciKjVvWGvT-AW-tmTaPNOFZ54dzcFDtBhVN_pDavaKg/s3648/IMG_20220505_133219.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-3LiJTF-ABK5KpofkHJcC3H2Dc0ARzmcRG0ubZU9XboMB8Ouo96H0norPdrKAyCS_PSlf_3OlZe1dU1Fzkd3BulYFogIk5btmjmmlJCDEjnjkG4aGVYy2l1xlfscZVyHXqyELryYPcyLbNjiciKjVvWGvT-AW-tmTaPNOFZ54dzcFDtBhVN_pDavaKg/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_133219.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLenPh--vVT3zQf-mm5j_HxVydMva4Q5Gea61fH_QC4cm-S7VD5WNfGMGguNZSeO016sR4B5SB6tyftwoHmVQSc44XqJ-65fTdK3ZJgE_lfWwRsN3ab-zLbC2RnVV_W7ZgPMpMDK3MtM3vQThtt2sf6X_N5pt_3TKE4xla1D8CU6nHJTVuWWX_zP73-w/s3648/IMG_20220505_142343%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLenPh--vVT3zQf-mm5j_HxVydMva4Q5Gea61fH_QC4cm-S7VD5WNfGMGguNZSeO016sR4B5SB6tyftwoHmVQSc44XqJ-65fTdK3ZJgE_lfWwRsN3ab-zLbC2RnVV_W7ZgPMpMDK3MtM3vQThtt2sf6X_N5pt_3TKE4xla1D8CU6nHJTVuWWX_zP73-w/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_142343%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D1v8pyfRlfiopUBPkVk6f2rzkaHIjsbPemFwqSi-9KUnYpAh4OzbkPlQj2i6D8m0CoQAkpTVQm2Vm6UqczLmUlXs0-Wc4PMRIRn1lc4WZ0BQ5T-_EMVXkRu6ivnGrR3oCLYjHwZJZr_MCgW98yxKbdcy1pj5zA4KTi_r2du8L6dSL3Wivn_cwJeqrg/s3648/IMG_20220505_132637.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2D1v8pyfRlfiopUBPkVk6f2rzkaHIjsbPemFwqSi-9KUnYpAh4OzbkPlQj2i6D8m0CoQAkpTVQm2Vm6UqczLmUlXs0-Wc4PMRIRn1lc4WZ0BQ5T-_EMVXkRu6ivnGrR3oCLYjHwZJZr_MCgW98yxKbdcy1pj5zA4KTi_r2du8L6dSL3Wivn_cwJeqrg/w480-h640/IMG_20220505_132637.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Sgt Custume</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYACdETs6-vHS865RYNU_35OY4RKBbGSkEnLmwb8lXpm76VA--zky-in9A5h-xSm1MB0cI6RKHPdhV-6QndW-YX8muDG8K3pLxNjVDxSAJBtW81QaomQnMqs_Ls-TEBstCN78mtSHHDBAO-HOdyZQ_fQU115cMiHv0eDt-ARL27etxemyFsAMiq9Qg6A/s2880/IMG_20220505_165412.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2880" data-original-width="2292" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYACdETs6-vHS865RYNU_35OY4RKBbGSkEnLmwb8lXpm76VA--zky-in9A5h-xSm1MB0cI6RKHPdhV-6QndW-YX8muDG8K3pLxNjVDxSAJBtW81QaomQnMqs_Ls-TEBstCN78mtSHHDBAO-HOdyZQ_fQU115cMiHv0eDt-ARL27etxemyFsAMiq9Qg6A/w510-h640/IMG_20220505_165412.jpg" width="510" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLy-io30Z2kztoo9VOlIgPqefOByot3Iv7G2l1J9EeYC6esHhQuATsPko7YVbEiomulYCAfAiyCnZhC566RQTg9NfssKi3j30dOU_GwKpHKeBOcLo_f3vHSDSnp9LUYBz4-PLsem0P5f3v4nce5FvDes8Bf2BGsH1BoBhMB2qTaYxBTgaJr2VicSnkg/s3648/IMG_20220505_142808.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirLy-io30Z2kztoo9VOlIgPqefOByot3Iv7G2l1J9EeYC6esHhQuATsPko7YVbEiomulYCAfAiyCnZhC566RQTg9NfssKi3j30dOU_GwKpHKeBOcLo_f3vHSDSnp9LUYBz4-PLsem0P5f3v4nce5FvDes8Bf2BGsH1BoBhMB2qTaYxBTgaJr2VicSnkg/w480-h640/IMG_20220505_142808.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Sean's Bar, oldest pub in Ireland</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-73517145616406997202022-05-05T00:03:00.001-07:002022-05-05T10:14:33.799-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 43 Limerick, County Limerick/Lislorkan North, County Clare, Ireland)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FJyLo98AfwI9cVKCoQVN3fhD0fF6ItPSxwSBDEDEmnBxzu978CAkmaW5z1Q3kPcufK4fnEq7FdNO3Lc3QwbWyBEO0PIMPUso-DvTgggXWKsVR3RpsYxmIuVjPh4exdhHZPQYPS8rV2EtTAEHxq_TGwSr31W7oyC7UheOelnnorcs2bk1QZjfd3vuiA/s3648/IMG_20220504_123441.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9FJyLo98AfwI9cVKCoQVN3fhD0fF6ItPSxwSBDEDEmnBxzu978CAkmaW5z1Q3kPcufK4fnEq7FdNO3Lc3QwbWyBEO0PIMPUso-DvTgggXWKsVR3RpsYxmIuVjPh4exdhHZPQYPS8rV2EtTAEHxq_TGwSr31W7oyC7UheOelnnorcs2bk1QZjfd3vuiA/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_123441.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>wo hours from Cork we were looking for parking in the busy and narrow streets of Limerick to visit King John's Castle, located in the heart of the medieval quarter. This 12th century castle is right on the River Shannon, the site dating back to 922 when the Vikings lived here. The Castle itself was built on the orders of King John around 1200 during the first Norman Conquest of Ireland as a base to which to subdue the Gaelic Chieftains of the west. There are a lot of interactive displays within the building, recent archaeological information and great views of the city and river from the towers. Just before entering the castle I discovered a small closed shop with some very interesting political posters referring to the Provisional Government and the Troubles. There was a photo and song dedicated to Michael Gaughen, the IRA member who died of a hunger strike in 1974 in Parkhurst Prison on the Isle of Wight, performed by many Irish musicians including Christy Moore: <i>Take me home to Mayo, across the Irish Sea, Home to dear old Mayo where once I roamed so free, Take me home to Mayo, there let my body lie, Home at last to Mayo beneath an Irish sky...</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0Ek14uD3IFFc1-3DZFWqkXKPzXPg7TUto3Kegz_a2AO9PVjlYr2gFpVOTlvxc6Lpp8FNuJyPbqVj-o5rsfB7lDciPoZs-dMYe0QWGFp7_0D1OAFUjiI3wFtVYWeXGviExM6VhuHSh8q7nlxM9DLHb2gyIYcjkcIY4wb8G179tQy0TtErgdz2gkw-TQ/s3648/IMG_20220504_112000%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio0Ek14uD3IFFc1-3DZFWqkXKPzXPg7TUto3Kegz_a2AO9PVjlYr2gFpVOTlvxc6Lpp8FNuJyPbqVj-o5rsfB7lDciPoZs-dMYe0QWGFp7_0D1OAFUjiI3wFtVYWeXGviExM6VhuHSh8q7nlxM9DLHb2gyIYcjkcIY4wb8G179tQy0TtErgdz2gkw-TQ/s320/IMG_20220504_112000%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRJfg-_28diz1HG-LjgCnpVEgKoP7YIAuOaZ-7dGsggIRY8sHK9wOZtyW5hqEo--ELrI_NpvJDFrqibMGawom90m3Iel9yQm8B4yyxXrQU8mZnTy5tmiqPbmAupUiYaI44PIPK-f3Ezi1mHmNhC1iZNPtKZI5vED11wey5qDoG2gk3dSQPqm2AMqcb2w/s3648/IMG_20220504_112039%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS96QF1rRY_-KfYDAe_AoZE0Gu6qq6ROCfeMJ1fUXriDD1pNPZJPDWLdhZt9ZDE9XjYQCYleS1eXRn77NNjHLwQtY4tDHnAW8o9ThYUgJ18y9FNEo1_3zF0_OBkq2qgWseY8fMYv3j9aKAyOqK-OhUzXdaRPeEHYjzdkWsic0DDZUn7vyYIjZtD21qAg/s3648/IMG_20220504_111158%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS96QF1rRY_-KfYDAe_AoZE0Gu6qq6ROCfeMJ1fUXriDD1pNPZJPDWLdhZt9ZDE9XjYQCYleS1eXRn77NNjHLwQtY4tDHnAW8o9ThYUgJ18y9FNEo1_3zF0_OBkq2qgWseY8fMYv3j9aKAyOqK-OhUzXdaRPeEHYjzdkWsic0DDZUn7vyYIjZtD21qAg/w480-h640/IMG_20220504_111158%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Posters I saw in a shop by the castle</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;">I</span>t was an hour or so to our next major stop on this seven week trip, one which we had been anticipating for a long time: The Cliffs of Moher! I have seen numerous videos of this essential Irish tourist must-see spot and expected massive crowds, howling winds, fog and cold. Were we pleasantly surprised! Our good luck of fine weather that has been dogging us since Day 1 in London met up with us after leaving Limerick and although we had come prepared with sweaters and toques we really didn't need them. We walked the whole length of these magnificent cliffs, often only a few feet from the 600 foot drop into the Atlantic below, the Aran Islands just visible to the north. If you crawled closer to the edge you can see puffins, razorbills, kittiwakes nesting in the cliff face and the occasional peregrine falcon diving overhead. Breathtaking and inspiring and a wonderful climax to the beauty of the UK and Ireland that we have had the privilege to find on our long journey. <b>GWS</b><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKcvuaG8bDe-8XdXwSSRZbKyJemk_pvFzRVDiUJkJGsp0SNkCqQ5aYeWG8rSup1V6f5vgf5piuok3L75KTVUypbTy5ufv-Papugh7TyIuNeaWJ4Zc3iURBokUNpTc806Dib_biXekGBJW3gBuX7GfKk1DFjYbCv1d7qXNsFrk34tg-97DKdbJ8VMuMQ/s3648/IMG_20220504_142823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivKcvuaG8bDe-8XdXwSSRZbKyJemk_pvFzRVDiUJkJGsp0SNkCqQ5aYeWG8rSup1V6f5vgf5piuok3L75KTVUypbTy5ufv-Papugh7TyIuNeaWJ4Zc3iURBokUNpTc806Dib_biXekGBJW3gBuX7GfKk1DFjYbCv1d7qXNsFrk34tg-97DKdbJ8VMuMQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_142823.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>blushing sea pinks</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dIGyJod-rA7mRyf5vRH5rECUzXwibDtgWyhz5gCkJuCdumjeVOmFoW5ccx2VoE4iuaw4E5prXlPdpkyZGNTOcT4odHPxPrGDcDN9Hijpfz7pWl5QjJJt1Io4QRf2lvbdGekSl3SR8k2Cyd6hhdBITSzjNH2fGDSM-RVCCiF0-6EDDmKIT8yWgg70yQ/s5632/IMG_20220504_143015.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6dIGyJod-rA7mRyf5vRH5rECUzXwibDtgWyhz5gCkJuCdumjeVOmFoW5ccx2VoE4iuaw4E5prXlPdpkyZGNTOcT4odHPxPrGDcDN9Hijpfz7pWl5QjJJt1Io4QRf2lvbdGekSl3SR8k2Cyd6hhdBITSzjNH2fGDSM-RVCCiF0-6EDDmKIT8yWgg70yQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_143015.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM78rAB2fP-5RAd2rBYpAF_hKq-NpphGIt6xM6R8XySgaNujMy3l9-JDLsL3SqWeOyTL36hNgL6N1xCuOv0KiAGiwt1Rv3jy4tYai6xhq5U2VP9EY1qImST0dA3sya7GatpFssQT2ZsE5H8KtrvH8O1SuQeWt9vorGUKu05okP2TfEDSWu_m2Tn5FXXw/s3648/IMG_20220504_145221.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM78rAB2fP-5RAd2rBYpAF_hKq-NpphGIt6xM6R8XySgaNujMy3l9-JDLsL3SqWeOyTL36hNgL6N1xCuOv0KiAGiwt1Rv3jy4tYai6xhq5U2VP9EY1qImST0dA3sya7GatpFssQT2ZsE5H8KtrvH8O1SuQeWt9vorGUKu05okP2TfEDSWu_m2Tn5FXXw/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_145221.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3QyRnzg1ep_FCMUTw85rELu-Q51U0KCs-RP6Qxj0sW0i1RAMZ_Gclqo3uxcLP8DZ1dN8SLLoAF0UAfceGbq8kQP0L7VRByvn-yX_Iaeq0sxqzDxm0onOBXcwDPtl8kH9lzUoBuYZ6Xqy2mVYvf1vruvk2kWcZLY3gVnOIl-ehhcps218VWb0K7Dc0A/s3648/IMG_20220504_145941.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3QyRnzg1ep_FCMUTw85rELu-Q51U0KCs-RP6Qxj0sW0i1RAMZ_Gclqo3uxcLP8DZ1dN8SLLoAF0UAfceGbq8kQP0L7VRByvn-yX_Iaeq0sxqzDxm0onOBXcwDPtl8kH9lzUoBuYZ6Xqy2mVYvf1vruvk2kWcZLY3gVnOIl-ehhcps218VWb0K7Dc0A/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_145941.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>A Special Protection Area with 20,000 breeding seabirds nesting on the cliffs</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaL4i_FtbftXZfxscbLfjfCeEq3CTY5o5nCjzcO3skTAcJjpGK8DYKhVlNugEbIrjOGQOsZBFisdEqh-AJmZ8O1Lhige9_hyAcKBOOuMnyFOla-jFR2XZCO2OmXT-e2BwWzc5jGMWzBTPcEc5K9DTrZC-ufTU13gHmPdSPPOia8FsfFGRqMkf5O6zCA/s3648/IMG_20220504_151002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYaL4i_FtbftXZfxscbLfjfCeEq3CTY5o5nCjzcO3skTAcJjpGK8DYKhVlNugEbIrjOGQOsZBFisdEqh-AJmZ8O1Lhige9_hyAcKBOOuMnyFOla-jFR2XZCO2OmXT-e2BwWzc5jGMWzBTPcEc5K9DTrZC-ufTU13gHmPdSPPOia8FsfFGRqMkf5O6zCA/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_151002.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlVFOJoXNKR7Xjw5eK_n5Ty0kkn4emQKPK-4CUYVPNG0uNJU3JxMK1PXblcDnNMXontGDKfVbl1ArVQdy6BCGHcc5b0w7dT0NwRLOXlH96W3sEeXbRgeCFHNVhHEIxWm0FCBYNIxj0jwgxP3CHUT9QauV8ZqcvzGpo2wp2oNK1ui7F5oR0uLVApYGqA/s3648/IMG_20220504_152024.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBlVFOJoXNKR7Xjw5eK_n5Ty0kkn4emQKPK-4CUYVPNG0uNJU3JxMK1PXblcDnNMXontGDKfVbl1ArVQdy6BCGHcc5b0w7dT0NwRLOXlH96W3sEeXbRgeCFHNVhHEIxWm0FCBYNIxj0jwgxP3CHUT9QauV8ZqcvzGpo2wp2oNK1ui7F5oR0uLVApYGqA/w640-h480/IMG_20220504_152024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9adXVa_KhReG05udqUIT9Psl1yhxFdZojwAkczSCu0jgr1uvLIomJxVtJ7ESQZkmhTye0b0GZbabde_d_0TcuOg9K8G07ehKAPNWWuMYOMDVYHvvxhIyn8cna6XQ3jexJeXj_YuZgDgfr8nwZ534mIrsV7rzZSlXXqRjBWj-JYYNywQU_QEm6cZ6SA/s5632/IMG_20220505_093232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-9adXVa_KhReG05udqUIT9Psl1yhxFdZojwAkczSCu0jgr1uvLIomJxVtJ7ESQZkmhTye0b0GZbabde_d_0TcuOg9K8G07ehKAPNWWuMYOMDVYHvvxhIyn8cna6XQ3jexJeXj_YuZgDgfr8nwZ534mIrsV7rzZSlXXqRjBWj-JYYNywQU_QEm6cZ6SA/w640-h480/IMG_20220505_093232.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Our Airbnb, the pink house!</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-11811447383307282982022-05-03T12:24:00.000-07:002022-05-03T12:24:18.090-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 42 Blarney/Coolyduff, Ireland)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe9Mu_3tI3WfbT99xi7sKaIYwbxwDVxb0iNuQ6EeNYNwfbm-gMdnum2LXzqgfSfee9qM3mseFQWOHRnw9BdPVyLmE9jXMK_KCXdr-Kb9taC4zbw791ETSY_TqLNw_eI3h2LMMjDwqAH2zpnCM3RZLx4z1oVnLKJ_DkUpv9ndLrjbstNU6OmKFdDpOhw/s3648/IMG_20220503_111944%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUe9Mu_3tI3WfbT99xi7sKaIYwbxwDVxb0iNuQ6EeNYNwfbm-gMdnum2LXzqgfSfee9qM3mseFQWOHRnw9BdPVyLmE9jXMK_KCXdr-Kb9taC4zbw791ETSY_TqLNw_eI3h2LMMjDwqAH2zpnCM3RZLx4z1oVnLKJ_DkUpv9ndLrjbstNU6OmKFdDpOhw/w640-h480/IMG_20220503_111944%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Dungarvan, County Waterford</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> W</span></b>e left our fairy tale castle after breakfast for our next destination, Declan's Cathedral in Ardmore, stopping briefly in Dungarvan in County Waterford to take a photo of sailing ships in the harbour. From the old cemetery and ruins the 115km Saint Declan's way begins here in Ardmore and ends in Cashel in County Tipperary. The story goes that when Declan, the great saint who converted his people to the Christian faith in the 5th century, sailed from Rome to the coast of Ireland with his disciples one of them forgot to bring on board the ship's bell. They all prayed earnestly to God for it's recovery when suddenly a rock floated by with the wee bell on it. On seeing this Declan said wherever the rock makes landing will be where he builds his monastery. It landed in Ardmore and you can see it on the shore today. Really. And, according to legend, Declan is buried here beside the round tower, though the vault is now empty. Very peaceful and a lovely spot to spend half an hour, the beach of Youghal Bay just visible in the distance. The N25, a beautiful stretch of road and the smoothest drive we have done in weeks, took us through Cork to the village of Blarney and it's Castle and gardens. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr8EWFEefQP8PqD14JsRD6Kgvj3m3KxtTkpORcw3fBPqRqoKNbEEgPtQv6_4Xo6LdNg1-85TeOpbi7t1hcg3vjueQVIVBMIZOVAiLSpgaLKMl_WlHE01VXP52_RpENryXrknMRVxPawleiZzhU77sx2qYQsP3ll1x3a5QmM0wLgt57eoD7fa_KxJLvA/s3648/IMG_20220503_115812%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPr8EWFEefQP8PqD14JsRD6Kgvj3m3KxtTkpORcw3fBPqRqoKNbEEgPtQv6_4Xo6LdNg1-85TeOpbi7t1hcg3vjueQVIVBMIZOVAiLSpgaLKMl_WlHE01VXP52_RpENryXrknMRVxPawleiZzhU77sx2qYQsP3ll1x3a5QmM0wLgt57eoD7fa_KxJLvA/w480-h640/IMG_20220503_115812%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP_ndgKc0QTwS6bclv0K80LZFY5o6PYL5iydLSOYLWUsmnC-GvGKJg23Eii_81WJD-Au5LGTl14KmF-RkITNL7c6hDVxhsxlMFytmA6ShpREUMNFX75_j_9zIILLJqod7thhH-VE3DSr16hXzyutYFvbJXA5EURpbeuFN9RNxQtPIP3yAs5dsUfD_Dg/s3648/IMG_20220503_120017%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxP_ndgKc0QTwS6bclv0K80LZFY5o6PYL5iydLSOYLWUsmnC-GvGKJg23Eii_81WJD-Au5LGTl14KmF-RkITNL7c6hDVxhsxlMFytmA6ShpREUMNFX75_j_9zIILLJqod7thhH-VE3DSr16hXzyutYFvbJXA5EURpbeuFN9RNxQtPIP3yAs5dsUfD_Dg/w400-h300/IMG_20220503_120017%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEjLMsM0JtuUyZnJBqKP3zTAB0BMDiBx5mqqfNmC820WvcsMFEtPabMTgvhBxm8UBizezUu1Mvsj6RkS8GYr-DTZfwjW5rgvEmcFp62pbVTuvk-Qf8701mwiZRtzK0ChprjV1K6WArjRjiKSYtf2Th1mZte8N8oSbnznSRKZketxCLBi2KHI_BZyLjQ/s2266/IMG_20220503_122720%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2266" data-original-width="1828" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHEjLMsM0JtuUyZnJBqKP3zTAB0BMDiBx5mqqfNmC820WvcsMFEtPabMTgvhBxm8UBizezUu1Mvsj6RkS8GYr-DTZfwjW5rgvEmcFp62pbVTuvk-Qf8701mwiZRtzK0ChprjV1K6WArjRjiKSYtf2Th1mZte8N8oSbnznSRKZketxCLBi2KHI_BZyLjQ/w516-h640/IMG_20220503_122720%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="516" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>St Declan's, Ardmore</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;">B</span></b><span style="text-align: left;">larney Castle, five miles west of the small city of Cork, is the third to be erected on this site. In the 10th century there was a wooden hunting lodge here, replaced in 1210 by a stone structure. The building was demolished for the foundations of the third castle built by Cormac MacCarthy in 1446. It is the tower house or the fortress residence of this we today know as Blarney Castle. It was besieged four times and taken once by Cromwell's army but the MacCarthy's held on until forced to leave in the years following the Battle of the Boyne in 1690. The Stone, just a block of carboniferous limestone built into the battlements by MacCarthy, is supposed to endow whoever kisses it with the gift of gab. The origins of the stone's legend are shrouded in mystery with names like Moses, the prophet Jeremiah, Irish kings, David and St Columba all mentioned but the most commonly accepted story of the stone is that, in gratitude for Irish support at the Battle of Bannockburn in 1314, Robert the Bruce gave a portion of the stone that MacCarthy had installed in his castle. The origins of the term 'kissing the Blarney Stone' are just as numerous. But we know that '</span><i style="text-align: left;">there is a stone there, that whoever kisses, Oh! He never misses to grow eloquent...' </i><span style="text-align: left;">Marie took the plunge (wrong words here I think considering the height) and now will forever reward me with her eloquence and persuasiveness as never before. Sigh.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitftopRRjNSDkI6VNfQYcOi-gth_nqzAIJNUB95eDE9l6HOCXk5o7rT5Bw-T4t8lEkU8gq2YWQYueHZ1TZCGPladaftpjNRvhudFA2FySfWVz4QdKJWolHRMrx_XjMKbx8dBWSxEIHvipH5kf8fH1bfYPo60nIz1i_zvkxMfG91p67sXaOtL012fUzFA/s3648/IMG_20220503_134952%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitftopRRjNSDkI6VNfQYcOi-gth_nqzAIJNUB95eDE9l6HOCXk5o7rT5Bw-T4t8lEkU8gq2YWQYueHZ1TZCGPladaftpjNRvhudFA2FySfWVz4QdKJWolHRMrx_XjMKbx8dBWSxEIHvipH5kf8fH1bfYPo60nIz1i_zvkxMfG91p67sXaOtL012fUzFA/w640-h480/IMG_20220503_134952%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD_1gAcJxCUkQ6Jis_7BLLR9VpfOVml59CmhLzaDCacTIreEqp0DSSeQPVmNPcQFQvTchJ3oF4vJ4dgnkLl64q19B6Bt4ffbBCiH4iSSdivpsjXINt1VKR5CIm6xxq6lkrSHfKxrV2Ks5IuIXtjDbGDgDYiClx5qk51uDvu4obdzH6b-cBvBOoSW_ng/s5632/IMG_20220503_135302%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYD_1gAcJxCUkQ6Jis_7BLLR9VpfOVml59CmhLzaDCacTIreEqp0DSSeQPVmNPcQFQvTchJ3oF4vJ4dgnkLl64q19B6Bt4ffbBCiH4iSSdivpsjXINt1VKR5CIm6xxq6lkrSHfKxrV2Ks5IuIXtjDbGDgDYiClx5qk51uDvu4obdzH6b-cBvBOoSW_ng/w400-h300/IMG_20220503_135302%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfIqajSzs41C_Ba4-iPfOPHq85-zINQRly9Fq0dZDo9t8TN55mg-0YyF_vV5Pnz7qvnIJ8lJiKm2F3HLSAJUeRTjStinIlXX9s84_a6Dutwb-POf4CaXncFfVCD_5mQNSmaATkjgnxJIyLYL-nCEvE6QLpcONoOy6bZpCGt9R0IKQMIpjiYBdaxCORA/s3648/IMG_20220503_135938%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVfIqajSzs41C_Ba4-iPfOPHq85-zINQRly9Fq0dZDo9t8TN55mg-0YyF_vV5Pnz7qvnIJ8lJiKm2F3HLSAJUeRTjStinIlXX9s84_a6Dutwb-POf4CaXncFfVCD_5mQNSmaATkjgnxJIyLYL-nCEvE6QLpcONoOy6bZpCGt9R0IKQMIpjiYBdaxCORA/w640-h480/IMG_20220503_135938%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>one of the many legends of the Blarney Stone</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-1tMAQYLH8CODILJ9XN7Pw0z7trymLFxdtPRL4bY1ru5yHklYpbDVrgvFmH_bDRsdW36cfC_VcCjxkmgWNIBknhu1HXZw3AY7adHBK87thPV3rIFcngwNKseUk3-0ZHQLhV1z_ibZQv6URgrh2mxi0iVLdqR54ClIKGr686p2wqZPC5NNFJ_ap8Hxw/s3648/IMG_20220503_140200%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4-1tMAQYLH8CODILJ9XN7Pw0z7trymLFxdtPRL4bY1ru5yHklYpbDVrgvFmH_bDRsdW36cfC_VcCjxkmgWNIBknhu1HXZw3AY7adHBK87thPV3rIFcngwNKseUk3-0ZHQLhV1z_ibZQv6URgrh2mxi0iVLdqR54ClIKGr686p2wqZPC5NNFJ_ap8Hxw/w320-h240/IMG_20220503_140200%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSVatTRZWmO6YyJEn2b65D9XzxWGBko1V4qtCMyzC-VMYhQ3IbTLto16XodDBUtMBdWgf1TKtH8sBpLGCN_DSEelU9BxK5d9dWXY-c2YfqjWpz066ylaMcw-7E-ieKTJi50YMpPYeKIa5xRMAo5L2PHdTiN0_fhhL_bPhLD-5LiYuLhml-Vl3su8YfA/s3648/IMG_20220503_140206%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiSVatTRZWmO6YyJEn2b65D9XzxWGBko1V4qtCMyzC-VMYhQ3IbTLto16XodDBUtMBdWgf1TKtH8sBpLGCN_DSEelU9BxK5d9dWXY-c2YfqjWpz066ylaMcw-7E-ieKTJi50YMpPYeKIa5xRMAo5L2PHdTiN0_fhhL_bPhLD-5LiYuLhml-Vl3su8YfA/s320/IMG_20220503_140206%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Marie kissing the Blarney stone</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlrEbupVWvpwU2NkwstS-RzVpUJHjc6WEVBsxx8L9V6-UMAg45Io1hUpO0tCvhxel8_10-L1bHhUhyGHiUK2f9tkq2w9xedk8eJojbmHj6v9OzD3BYf94NHZ4erjk2JoD1qwi4M6HKcaoNqR-h44GCLC8JZL0NoeTfjMb48eEhkyKSO-mxwqqQ6Z6Wg/s3648/IMG_20220503_140319%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKlrEbupVWvpwU2NkwstS-RzVpUJHjc6WEVBsxx8L9V6-UMAg45Io1hUpO0tCvhxel8_10-L1bHhUhyGHiUK2f9tkq2w9xedk8eJojbmHj6v9OzD3BYf94NHZ4erjk2JoD1qwi4M6HKcaoNqR-h44GCLC8JZL0NoeTfjMb48eEhkyKSO-mxwqqQ6Z6Wg/w640-h480/IMG_20220503_140319%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>view from Blarney Castle</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he Gardens at Blarney were amazing and well worth the admission price, covering 60 acres and a joy to explore. We wandered around the prehistoric Fern Garden, the deadly Poison Garden, saw ancient Yew trees over 600 years old, waterfalls, woodlands, arboretums, an 18th century Rock Close garden, tropical and jungle borders, an Himalayan walk, a fabulous azalea and rhododendron beds, sculptures and many more rare and unusual trees that constantly overwhelmed you with their colours and size. Go for the stone but see the beautiful gardens first. Our Airbnb in Coolyduff was just 15 minutes away so we lingered as long as we could before saying goodbye to another Irish treasure. <b>GWS</b></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgM3t31JFYNCX7GwuNQa5N09zbbKexzUJJH6Yh2ulVlEzDl7pbeWzB29Q47lKJSbGoRaz1G7T7FGiMJL6ohK3L9t0NwG3IUlpCf5u9ukyyj0px9sTWbTf6EjjGLyIrVkK0Q8fwt_9lbi-2rIgoYzRx06n9DCn_G8Apr_sQkqImHNU7mUOLwGhSVfxqA/s3648/IMG_20220503_142518.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgM3t31JFYNCX7GwuNQa5N09zbbKexzUJJH6Yh2ulVlEzDl7pbeWzB29Q47lKJSbGoRaz1G7T7FGiMJL6ohK3L9t0NwG3IUlpCf5u9ukyyj0px9sTWbTf6EjjGLyIrVkK0Q8fwt_9lbi-2rIgoYzRx06n9DCn_G8Apr_sQkqImHNU7mUOLwGhSVfxqA/w480-h640/IMG_20220503_142518.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPX83CH5uPzwkAx36OQTWsx6H3uEyW9N8_Tv8UZGyDeLtq1brX5rpwvAbvC3KD-aWIqgisNSi0xtKHVtUl2uReapalsNVA75_DCWQcxvFpKnZ0CBAn5IHAsJ7M1Lv2bkSqjI_wvUQtZG7q9_koUbQOWJFtT60t-wemUz-5K4J3Z2ov7d2dT5pCFr7PEA/w400-h300/IMG_20220503_161749.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>our Airbnb, Coolyduff</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-80757056033099710342022-05-03T00:22:00.001-07:002022-05-03T00:23:38.555-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 41 Cahore Point/Wexford/Enniscorthy, Ireland)<p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Lby3vUQ-pgAV_dhRPoQUhh3POa_zWluNly5cA-UWBJgIQwVzzzs7twGI6IyZs7tz6cSzraXMUcdDo7qEXtqapaK6wFEvXjWYCSrhP8iBsk3c9cPY5vwID4O0LZsyIS6lNEbZglx6IeYnOge4vUDWUCu57o1t_7yUxhZvEkwHLSS_lBAO1zmoQPR_w/s2983/IMG_20220502_164441.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2432" data-original-width="2983" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs-Lby3vUQ-pgAV_dhRPoQUhh3POa_zWluNly5cA-UWBJgIQwVzzzs7twGI6IyZs7tz6cSzraXMUcdDo7qEXtqapaK6wFEvXjWYCSrhP8iBsk3c9cPY5vwID4O0LZsyIS6lNEbZglx6IeYnOge4vUDWUCu57o1t_7yUxhZvEkwHLSS_lBAO1zmoQPR_w/w640-h522/IMG_20220502_164441.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Meeting of the Waters</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p> <b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>n our way to Enniscorthy where we were to spend the next night I took the back roads past the small village of Conary Lower. Near here the two rivers of Avonbeg and Avonmore merge to become the Avoco River, marking this spot as 'Meetings of the Waters'. It was a peaceful place with a bust of the celebrated Romantic Irish poet Thomas Moore who penned, among many, many works the song of the same name: <i>There is not in the wide world a valley so sweet/as that vale in whose bosom the bright waters meet/Oh! the last rays of feeling and life must depart/Ere the bloom of that valley shall fade from my heart. </i>The fog from the Irish Sea greeted us as we headed to Cahore Point for a late morning break where, surprisingly, a few brave swimmers were enjoying themselves in the dull-green water. From Cahore it was another hour drive to the port of Wexford where we stopped for lunch. The sun had broke through the cloud when we arrived and parked along the quay. It was a beautiful afternoon to explore this small town on the mouth of the River Slaney that was founded by the Vikings in 800AD. From Wexford we turned back north on the N11 towards Enniscorthy and the Castle Winton, our stopover for the night. Castle Wilton is situated on the banks of the Boro River in the heart of Wexford County and is surrounded by open parkland and quiet wooded countryside. We had to drive past a large field of cows ready for milking and a sheep dog who played tag with us as we approached. The earliest reference to Wilton dates from 1247 when the first fortified tower was built on this land. It is recorded that one of the last pistol duels in Ireland took place here in 1807. A number of families, after which each of the suites are called (we stayed in the Furlong Suite) called Wilton home over the course of the next 400 years before it fell into the hands of the Alcock family. In 1923 it was burnt to the ground by arsonists following a number of turbulent years in the Irish Civil War. Renovations of the castle began in 2003 after more than 80 years left to ruin. We were met by the current owner who related a bit of the history here as he checked us in. There is no staff other than himself and it felt quite strange to stay in this almost deserted and perhaps haunted castle, hidden away here in the Irish mists. Tomorrow we are going to kiss the Blarney Stone so I will be sure to bring along a big bottle of hand sanitizer. <b>GWS</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UhiBb_36L-2eixsAAGJe2Hb0A44-y5ZTj7cW2B4H1uawaYuekuoS0mdcwpIZKCzsCpSuOaoLZZmN6Tnlvm1MnYc5g6gHS0SxWLOfOi8FS2tiGtzd0_WwdKEsm2F82MEH3_q0rafS6EhVcsMsZwBnbJPvVQkZQQlhC707tKPcbH1wddUHWwHjXzJGJA/s3648/IMG_20220502_095656%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6UhiBb_36L-2eixsAAGJe2Hb0A44-y5ZTj7cW2B4H1uawaYuekuoS0mdcwpIZKCzsCpSuOaoLZZmN6Tnlvm1MnYc5g6gHS0SxWLOfOi8FS2tiGtzd0_WwdKEsm2F82MEH3_q0rafS6EhVcsMsZwBnbJPvVQkZQQlhC707tKPcbH1wddUHWwHjXzJGJA/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_095656%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Thomas Moore Memorial Park, Avoca, Co Wicklow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDvnuK9XL36Q4hDWt47td6SSyJHjwv7w9DsCY-bEHYj-m6d6lxDvtHuxrHlepulgCch7FxPAwOoZd36NWaRDUnN-7og-fL4prrcPUnmKkO1ifNnHy7FE3yNhhwoIT22_-EROMtpoWKEeD/s3648/IMG_20220502_110603.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieDvnuK9XL36Q4hDWt47td6SSyJHjwv7w9DsCY-bEHYj-m6d6lxDvtHuxrHlepulgCch7FxPAwOoZd36NWaRDUnN-7og-fL4prrcPUnmKkO1ifNnHy7FE3yNhhwoIT22_-EROMtpoWKEeD/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_110603.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Cohore Point</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UJKB1PulW_o8KaYwZw0Ynu-cdwIFeMRPWJY1VhQOn_1rjDAF1UgWtM1tmd8tLJROey6aYkqfFWj0l0AXB_qNGg3lUFIVCHxfgKXh1h7CdS2Ud8nn8NNNTpMRU9K262UdTzRX3LhJhJ_0kOhIC4I2gdDnNENp5DC7Tp-hU8fF_dzjbWaGW5Ns13VQOg/s3648/IMG_20220502_122704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9UJKB1PulW_o8KaYwZw0Ynu-cdwIFeMRPWJY1VhQOn_1rjDAF1UgWtM1tmd8tLJROey6aYkqfFWj0l0AXB_qNGg3lUFIVCHxfgKXh1h7CdS2Ud8nn8NNNTpMRU9K262UdTzRX3LhJhJ_0kOhIC4I2gdDnNENp5DC7Tp-hU8fF_dzjbWaGW5Ns13VQOg/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_122704.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Wexford Town</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwYvhQz1uaq68fkF8ju-DR3ixhM3otYROAx43I4cabCXlZnLin-LL5uvZZ_dtoshO1m38XUIY2WyeaVZIqZDWaPpyZHL5qxV0J8RIrNvvXCA_5dYYCESJpvfi9giQiEO1v5r4RyxW6yVhqKkO_vH6mDTz5rikXx2u5IJ9SlSvU6XeU93q4z6wwGmFxw/s3648/IMG_20220502_124244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnwYvhQz1uaq68fkF8ju-DR3ixhM3otYROAx43I4cabCXlZnLin-LL5uvZZ_dtoshO1m38XUIY2WyeaVZIqZDWaPpyZHL5qxV0J8RIrNvvXCA_5dYYCESJpvfi9giQiEO1v5r4RyxW6yVhqKkO_vH6mDTz5rikXx2u5IJ9SlSvU6XeU93q4z6wwGmFxw/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_124244.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>St Selskar's Church, 12th century, Wexford</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiU14sZrmA3W8knYk8IoEw22woYGUyOSfQDTCSYN_CdeFYqY8rQ9mOToID_u_v5sX_jUWaEkCuzR725P5y0N7iFgRmZ0EVnG4HAhwfY7UxybvNwO5TrhDl45Y36jvp6XrFqJTlPzIBrV5B8FL-qGIIQ6L6IgElKwK7udwSxjqyNZH8n86YCWinYzkug/s3648/IMG_20220502_123341.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOiU14sZrmA3W8knYk8IoEw22woYGUyOSfQDTCSYN_CdeFYqY8rQ9mOToID_u_v5sX_jUWaEkCuzR725P5y0N7iFgRmZ0EVnG4HAhwfY7UxybvNwO5TrhDl45Y36jvp6XrFqJTlPzIBrV5B8FL-qGIIQ6L6IgElKwK7udwSxjqyNZH8n86YCWinYzkug/w400-h300/IMG_20220502_123341.jpg" width="400" /></i></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Wexford Quay</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSPUZN_bNRbiAMz9ow3J7iXnucCzR1oxic-GrXoWkRBjeivSR38Ov2vGs8kIidZc_E-LxWJGxMZn8sc1BuEnTDNi53UBOX5oaMBnzUTDJW8U1dtthdFEN4wEYXM691MYIMwOdQZE9W9zyRHYB27zsw7UISvmq1GuIftnKMTpQYMi5hW89MMWafaGNlw/s3648/IMG_20220502_144741.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPSPUZN_bNRbiAMz9ow3J7iXnucCzR1oxic-GrXoWkRBjeivSR38Ov2vGs8kIidZc_E-LxWJGxMZn8sc1BuEnTDNi53UBOX5oaMBnzUTDJW8U1dtthdFEN4wEYXM691MYIMwOdQZE9W9zyRHYB27zsw7UISvmq1GuIftnKMTpQYMi5hW89MMWafaGNlw/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_144741.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jO6I5N0H1vntZgmjRbyqzHvaWuPRM1LeCnZ3oPNvitW7VAK2XAD8ZuOU3syo4lzGXVPVyM0bXzSRTKGs7gnLhCRMsQxLRO8qRx7qPOxh0ZrsTSHWPe2T8SFaNZVpjhuNnxrfkLr1uwGEcLbgeoj6TM-KXqohFh-5fSGUiUuEARkzgQAQNEaf3kpWow/s3648/IMG_20220502_145034.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6jO6I5N0H1vntZgmjRbyqzHvaWuPRM1LeCnZ3oPNvitW7VAK2XAD8ZuOU3syo4lzGXVPVyM0bXzSRTKGs7gnLhCRMsQxLRO8qRx7qPOxh0ZrsTSHWPe2T8SFaNZVpjhuNnxrfkLr1uwGEcLbgeoj6TM-KXqohFh-5fSGUiUuEARkzgQAQNEaf3kpWow/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_145034.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUibjK7MHRkdc81j3kVVhD1U2p1XZ2E3En7MuLiBwsiq-F53wEOGf1cZdbCIdHXjhd1n-4Y2-qa65tyqDN1YK1eJ4KZh9yqCwMhcoOqZ_4kLHpkSfU5hv0gXGxm0GMk71hPu0XpoqriU9BhXHGnzeBvF6mcQwGFEXKYtBfUZ1ZB16qDoHMXS444Mlshg/s5632/IMG_20220502_150228.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUibjK7MHRkdc81j3kVVhD1U2p1XZ2E3En7MuLiBwsiq-F53wEOGf1cZdbCIdHXjhd1n-4Y2-qa65tyqDN1YK1eJ4KZh9yqCwMhcoOqZ_4kLHpkSfU5hv0gXGxm0GMk71hPu0XpoqriU9BhXHGnzeBvF6mcQwGFEXKYtBfUZ1ZB16qDoHMXS444Mlshg/w300-h400/IMG_20220502_150228.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Wilton Castle,Enniscorthy</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94Fss9wSrQij_AmzNpmoGd-WJwYQ_6mjVe3HyVGUe0DI7keIb6j1siUfKnduFPFfoWxriVdXbytil9uUM2SjPt_WEZ0VwUqpt0Bejbqgx4WEdou9L0wyOJHOzUXZNWOUP532cgEhhjggGPepTbUF3TOeXdnx3QXeuERBjjwdDVbJPsQASfBrOJm-tpA/s3648/IMG_20220502_145359.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi94Fss9wSrQij_AmzNpmoGd-WJwYQ_6mjVe3HyVGUe0DI7keIb6j1siUfKnduFPFfoWxriVdXbytil9uUM2SjPt_WEZ0VwUqpt0Bejbqgx4WEdou9L0wyOJHOzUXZNWOUP532cgEhhjggGPepTbUF3TOeXdnx3QXeuERBjjwdDVbJPsQASfBrOJm-tpA/w640-h480/IMG_20220502_145359.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-1794115710558195192022-05-02T08:38:00.001-07:002022-05-02T08:38:22.929-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 40 Dublin/Rathdrum, Ireland)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO-GQueH3-Xm4KqUJcal79Mc9aPfWp4iQT_TbirKqdCzwCLwSDEu_v8pG_9omAnfbNWmEWk1RD2K4HLgKu1tzMq4Q1Sy-vThB7itmJOQGQp1VeOw_aKnw8NwTt_g_4O1-bpqzbGNBvNCDrmfpd-RkfFtWKkBMihZJfgX2Yc49FX7ZMv36A8_R5Srqkg/s3648/IMG_20220501_174710.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqO-GQueH3-Xm4KqUJcal79Mc9aPfWp4iQT_TbirKqdCzwCLwSDEu_v8pG_9omAnfbNWmEWk1RD2K4HLgKu1tzMq4Q1Sy-vThB7itmJOQGQp1VeOw_aKnw8NwTt_g_4O1-bpqzbGNBvNCDrmfpd-RkfFtWKkBMihZJfgX2Yc49FX7ZMv36A8_R5Srqkg/w640-h480/IMG_20220501_174710.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSJEa3A6E6vc8r2kDhfMQZlhF2qrF71HQlxSfgjNy_xeZgU015K88pStgJ7dPzS6TabPQw5FCLlAAJtIfLvm3txx7WclF3TPpyq-z-4gVoUNDlg-PkioAhDQQzft_7jtqksTAiimTQONtNae_1mZYLqZyGwRt3c-gV7sKtTKlsTqtcdKzTUhhPPSyBA/s1600/IMG-20220501-WA0003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="996" data-original-width="1600" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdSJEa3A6E6vc8r2kDhfMQZlhF2qrF71HQlxSfgjNy_xeZgU015K88pStgJ7dPzS6TabPQw5FCLlAAJtIfLvm3txx7WclF3TPpyq-z-4gVoUNDlg-PkioAhDQQzft_7jtqksTAiimTQONtNae_1mZYLqZyGwRt3c-gV7sKtTKlsTqtcdKzTUhhPPSyBA/w640-h398/IMG-20220501-WA0003.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LiNoViM1R_SGD6JAIKgBODUBll_vONW04_4e_paNtjcWoR8Aah2yrAwGXLujR8e8D4qql7KwA9MbkFHJi6mFf-pZmpwvau96pDz6MIXmfcam_yu6p5y17ypqc1mV7laS6qcgQ1Q0_IgBJeo79hgzLkitT5MkjDsFkf3OHAjcrwojARkKbWU0D6vVXA/s3648/IMG_20220501_174725.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7LiNoViM1R_SGD6JAIKgBODUBll_vONW04_4e_paNtjcWoR8Aah2yrAwGXLujR8e8D4qql7KwA9MbkFHJi6mFf-pZmpwvau96pDz6MIXmfcam_yu6p5y17ypqc1mV7laS6qcgQ1Q0_IgBJeo79hgzLkitT5MkjDsFkf3OHAjcrwojARkKbWU0D6vVXA/w400-h300/IMG_20220501_174725.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>hanks to our Airbnb host Garvin we made our 1230PM bus to Dublin airport from his home in Belfast and, with just ten minutes to spare, we were on our way to <i>Baile Atha Cliath,</i> 'town of the hurdled ford' or more commonly: Dublin, capital of the Republic of Ireland. The airport was typically busy but we had our new rental (brand new Citroën Cleo, the same kind of car we had in France in 2017) and were on our way in no time. The sky was overcast but still bright and the beautiful Irish countryside lived up to its name The Emerald Isle as we headed towards our night's stopover in Rathdrum, a beautiful little village in County Wicklow. Through here the Avonmore river flows through the Vale of Clara and joins up with the Avonbeg River at the 'Meetings of the Waters', a spot we would visit tomorrow on our way south. Tonight though we went into town for supper at a very highly rated pub and restaurant, Jacob's Well, chatted awhile with our hosts and fellow travelers, two girls from South Africa and then bed. <b>GWS </b></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nIkvj18mWByw9T4u0jp76SPBeCDC8ISpy-upmxPb3gqeEsX2uPIZRJ_0xrN48fRLgsl--t5kSGvYXQrTJxW6L8f5aZqy5lQeHPPSodeNdpRytvv9bnaq4jtnQ-XNfdp0osP-uJV8FftzP9JfIjAW92CB-rJqQ6AgBri0nasF7vnL6kOXCtwPYZJzow/s1599/IMG-20220501-WA0011.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1599" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8nIkvj18mWByw9T4u0jp76SPBeCDC8ISpy-upmxPb3gqeEsX2uPIZRJ_0xrN48fRLgsl--t5kSGvYXQrTJxW6L8f5aZqy5lQeHPPSodeNdpRytvv9bnaq4jtnQ-XNfdp0osP-uJV8FftzP9JfIjAW92CB-rJqQ6AgBri0nasF7vnL6kOXCtwPYZJzow/w640-h480/IMG-20220501-WA0011.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>zipping along R752 toward Rathdrum</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m0qWfBJUQYuAiwu9NCpvVE9cAsexs6jdpy7ejB9p_M-tMWEJphk6PxfAE2O4CSSZ2X-OdZpNsYP6zuNEt50lJNjKkyKko0fOgmmNbgZuYclVlgm6AnaBX4c1HCEWJPbIoA54k_yHRwD0sWT3Q2l0jVNoDod-vpiLcwJ97LzL6EALg9PvAIoDwDgDDQ/s3648/IMG_20220501_170844.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4m0qWfBJUQYuAiwu9NCpvVE9cAsexs6jdpy7ejB9p_M-tMWEJphk6PxfAE2O4CSSZ2X-OdZpNsYP6zuNEt50lJNjKkyKko0fOgmmNbgZuYclVlgm6AnaBX4c1HCEWJPbIoA54k_yHRwD0sWT3Q2l0jVNoDod-vpiLcwJ97LzL6EALg9PvAIoDwDgDDQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220501_170844.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6SW2rs4p7aU7KOFfG-DuIPsRb6HORMQ19TPJJ2UTFHG69M505PjU04Ue-30N4Us1ccnvmlCinl22EIkcltyJy6oNTFZZU6Zxg-CRrmpr6YQhAFNY-5grDdv6JbGn_RbzGjaHjES4TWI3wQ2XEF9vdgutKitMjSwzvJIqeL3dbbCrx2FF_zkgNN8sBA/s5632/IMG_20220501_174420.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6SW2rs4p7aU7KOFfG-DuIPsRb6HORMQ19TPJJ2UTFHG69M505PjU04Ue-30N4Us1ccnvmlCinl22EIkcltyJy6oNTFZZU6Zxg-CRrmpr6YQhAFNY-5grDdv6JbGn_RbzGjaHjES4TWI3wQ2XEF9vdgutKitMjSwzvJIqeL3dbbCrx2FF_zkgNN8sBA/w400-h300/IMG_20220501_174420.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>our Airbnb in Rathburn, County Wicklow, Ireland</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGVyFzmhbJAaMn0Fb1qTldlRrjDXuegGKM9jQ-QExkoyuG7-hdsv1j6Nx793BoJGvhTrukk1eTD1ywNHzzaOhN1YQmdiX1Pbu0SFKlhaLw3ZbF2HwehSyycSjY3LMF6EIiOfonRFWNfCuMXX7yuwaAT3GEGD-fKyqcpTh0Ib4ZVRTTgPThMCicDYavg/s3648/IMG_20220501_175437.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYGVyFzmhbJAaMn0Fb1qTldlRrjDXuegGKM9jQ-QExkoyuG7-hdsv1j6Nx793BoJGvhTrukk1eTD1ywNHzzaOhN1YQmdiX1Pbu0SFKlhaLw3ZbF2HwehSyycSjY3LMF6EIiOfonRFWNfCuMXX7yuwaAT3GEGD-fKyqcpTh0Ib4ZVRTTgPThMCicDYavg/w640-h480/IMG_20220501_175437.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nd8ss1JWI8CnqhmJSB3-600FMw5p78C3S-YZRxNk3-nCoinekecCg_hS8m0kgTBnHUOFDBar-2pVfIvNqg1gqjzd5FBqzhVeIYicMZDGWbOJWcNfTyEcTWa-LWjKY3U4V1tBQVXfugG6nuLnJ4kKzhXGTZzknELZAnJmaxwF-XOkyo0Q7gCgGsbuUA/s3648/IMG_20220501_210712.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_nd8ss1JWI8CnqhmJSB3-600FMw5p78C3S-YZRxNk3-nCoinekecCg_hS8m0kgTBnHUOFDBar-2pVfIvNqg1gqjzd5FBqzhVeIYicMZDGWbOJWcNfTyEcTWa-LWjKY3U4V1tBQVXfugG6nuLnJ4kKzhXGTZzknELZAnJmaxwF-XOkyo0Q7gCgGsbuUA/w640-h480/IMG_20220501_210712.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-76194416101143635132022-05-01T01:44:00.001-07:002022-05-01T01:44:34.844-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 37-39 Belfast, Northern Ireland)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30OrfEN9nS_CPV6XP1ukh1W5A_eutyHauBiH2CWyl1R-pQkrfNggJNHcO06tvs3Qh0qAhl08PWv39SKIwe89_W73Vz0kXjaV2MH1bIrDUA3heASbO-x1h91-TaucTp-PxQ2eddN2qj9TK7NW-Ub4e6iqRhhQSRjeKz9MDG1cNvJeMTXOU1wcw0QRrng/s3648/IMG_20220428_143810.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi30OrfEN9nS_CPV6XP1ukh1W5A_eutyHauBiH2CWyl1R-pQkrfNggJNHcO06tvs3Qh0qAhl08PWv39SKIwe89_W73Vz0kXjaV2MH1bIrDUA3heASbO-x1h91-TaucTp-PxQ2eddN2qj9TK7NW-Ub4e6iqRhhQSRjeKz9MDG1cNvJeMTXOU1wcw0QRrng/w640-h480/IMG_20220428_143810.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_KtbivR3dHfk1e8hAYHSe74tAKZg9DARAK30tKAFPR1Ku8rbmGOFfECoRpVKiimpuAtG2NWLiHkJJGRvU1Fywv94YDTkxZx3lIL56svGtsTfOYbQv540i-RfT-M8SPfEw3ysw47trBreV_udYigE6L77VPJ6QRQgvN7fVWWrTEs3xGOxKjqY1nkTPA/s3648/IMG_20220428_123022.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-_KtbivR3dHfk1e8hAYHSe74tAKZg9DARAK30tKAFPR1Ku8rbmGOFfECoRpVKiimpuAtG2NWLiHkJJGRvU1Fywv94YDTkxZx3lIL56svGtsTfOYbQv540i-RfT-M8SPfEw3ysw47trBreV_udYigE6L77VPJ6QRQgvN7fVWWrTEs3xGOxKjqY1nkTPA/w400-h300/IMG_20220428_123022.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>leaving Cairnryan, Scotland</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7HhS6WUdDsboab4xE2zocQtIUNUCfSJZif6iS8ySdXH9sy6FH9QV95xDcRxtgLntnRlYu7QBtKNyRhcOQ_h3b6uq42bbo9nzvSI3yHdkoK9EcqXNVR0lOfOq7hJtiPcERPs7vbgcPucCqRnbKWcY-1hyalZmDZjaeAe60ySFoFuM7tHm4WcHVWhurg/s1600/IMG-20220428-WA0007.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1255" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP7HhS6WUdDsboab4xE2zocQtIUNUCfSJZif6iS8ySdXH9sy6FH9QV95xDcRxtgLntnRlYu7QBtKNyRhcOQ_h3b6uq42bbo9nzvSI3yHdkoK9EcqXNVR0lOfOq7hJtiPcERPs7vbgcPucCqRnbKWcY-1hyalZmDZjaeAe60ySFoFuM7tHm4WcHVWhurg/w314-h400/IMG-20220428-WA0007.jpg" width="314" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhw6hdyVNNPmPtPdMzLSjjSJlRV2wyyMDnjz0ybISSvO4TlewKfqhTbk48t4MDnSYzWVmkuEtSlgD6zXaTAN5xeqz92BtM1At75NCMu03vSvHQ44GXtf6KwL7toRg_3jl4e7JPkxY6D0ZDgxJvbcZhgGIl6zWIgIklCY5Rad8RYAOBd1MjckYdqPmpQ/s3648/IMG_20220428_175812.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOhw6hdyVNNPmPtPdMzLSjjSJlRV2wyyMDnjz0ybISSvO4TlewKfqhTbk48t4MDnSYzWVmkuEtSlgD6zXaTAN5xeqz92BtM1At75NCMu03vSvHQ44GXtf6KwL7toRg_3jl4e7JPkxY6D0ZDgxJvbcZhgGIl6zWIgIklCY5Rad8RYAOBd1MjckYdqPmpQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220428_175812.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I</b></span>t was a lovely crossing over to Northern Island from the port of Cairnryan on the big superfast Stena ferry and we caught our first sight of Belfast around 2PM in bright sunshine. We called an Uber to take us to our Airbnb then made plans to take a bus tour early the next morning to the Giant's Causeway on the Antrim coast. But not before stopping off for supper at the closest pub. Right at 0830 from the Europa Hotel, in the heart of downtown Belfast, (during the Troubles the most heavily bombed hotel in the world) we were seated in our McCombs tour bus. It was a gorgeous drive along the Causeway Coastal Route and we stopped at various sights along the way that had a connection with the TV series <i>Game of Thrones </i>filmed in the area (Cushedun, Portaneevey, and Carnlough Harbor), followed by a short visit to Carrickfergus Castle (a Norman fortress), and an even quicker look at the ruins of Dunseverick Castle. Our guide Steven was an interesting character who recounted often amusing stories along the way about the small villages we drove through and their particular role in the country's romantic history, past and present.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHdgtuxi6RGJlMlOftL1sn50wtOlAZ84MiT1T4JxroNNYX-OBZ_JS9V3u-kzzfCz6xd9kWtXnI4YqNDV6zCciBNiQdCHpLInPaslrzzFC4rfYCKspTy7XvIW8FiKWboYazeoCs5AfyvnjbZDNRWSFT4psGmetjdY115u2rFxJwcHBZCjPM3pll6ORIA/s3648/IMG_20220429_174126%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEHdgtuxi6RGJlMlOftL1sn50wtOlAZ84MiT1T4JxroNNYX-OBZ_JS9V3u-kzzfCz6xd9kWtXnI4YqNDV6zCciBNiQdCHpLInPaslrzzFC4rfYCKspTy7XvIW8FiKWboYazeoCs5AfyvnjbZDNRWSFT4psGmetjdY115u2rFxJwcHBZCjPM3pll6ORIA/w400-h300/IMG_20220429_174126%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Europa Hotel, Belfast</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zbl8cxqPm5-edN2T7_sRDnOeFlQaBhQ5Zv36RWVQPG8qPQJnXm2BX4Jv3LnvfbqNPlYhcdOzgGjHNEvuF4CJpA_m25fNpJzNqvujCiscsyPrgdE-I2Tv2vDdT1sPY0tVtPATnSJU54p4j2biNFN5VwIfHKboCyLBF_C_RysK44uHAXpm1UnWP_5Yvw/s1824/IMG-20220428-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6zbl8cxqPm5-edN2T7_sRDnOeFlQaBhQ5Zv36RWVQPG8qPQJnXm2BX4Jv3LnvfbqNPlYhcdOzgGjHNEvuF4CJpA_m25fNpJzNqvujCiscsyPrgdE-I2Tv2vDdT1sPY0tVtPATnSJU54p4j2biNFN5VwIfHKboCyLBF_C_RysK44uHAXpm1UnWP_5Yvw/w640-h480/IMG-20220428-WA0000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYci8FQHlIgTXM3-pG_aeFlwG8dzJth0HkToj-xWQLGQ5yRfP8BBR_PNUtS6XGbJ4jo6c3ty4bsycDCtGqn6KTDMKtkTBI9oe58YK5M9RDIx9UK80O53atLN97GFC_tg4cBK7WWtmwDAkWzde1RD_lpwk8Ig__6iAwoip7H-di28Ez-PuGRcSBnyC5PQ/s1824/IMG-20220429-WA0003%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYci8FQHlIgTXM3-pG_aeFlwG8dzJth0HkToj-xWQLGQ5yRfP8BBR_PNUtS6XGbJ4jo6c3ty4bsycDCtGqn6KTDMKtkTBI9oe58YK5M9RDIx9UK80O53atLN97GFC_tg4cBK7WWtmwDAkWzde1RD_lpwk8Ig__6iAwoip7H-di28Ez-PuGRcSBnyC5PQ/w640-h480/IMG-20220429-WA0003%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>near the Dark Hedges, Ballymoney</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRXsuEBpMeTPffSiyrIne46ojv8EFZ3vCR8hzYI52K01UCyMN2igpVDdD2-ouXF5JnBuYIvPYKqUE_swSWWN27HAtF2-k-VmKr4y1NISnBYbeD6hw721ykZoQW5tYDzf0qD5T7DpJyyDlY3CGSIoKx_ugQ5wCg9idKa9-6Ojp9QWnYriVEtlJi6RPhA/s1824/IMG-20220429-WA0010%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKRXsuEBpMeTPffSiyrIne46ojv8EFZ3vCR8hzYI52K01UCyMN2igpVDdD2-ouXF5JnBuYIvPYKqUE_swSWWN27HAtF2-k-VmKr4y1NISnBYbeD6hw721ykZoQW5tYDzf0qD5T7DpJyyDlY3CGSIoKx_ugQ5wCg9idKa9-6Ojp9QWnYriVEtlJi6RPhA/w400-h300/IMG-20220429-WA0010%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TY-VVLyzgED-vYMffRCxz5mBtocLrdXy660oeM5negdKJZPTR1waPdgzCO6Zc1RUFWfcIacJIYCRc3zIIbIEGQfdj6lv7PRGnwC6yUr6ROFt5isRYpJIwa6Al2oK4VxTgBCVhg3jcCKADPZkeR18kxxVly0pF7EJoBMUWw2zVdY4wV2EuTXY2CFSqg/s3648/IMG_20220429_084933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TY-VVLyzgED-vYMffRCxz5mBtocLrdXy660oeM5negdKJZPTR1waPdgzCO6Zc1RUFWfcIacJIYCRc3zIIbIEGQfdj6lv7PRGnwC6yUr6ROFt5isRYpJIwa6Al2oK4VxTgBCVhg3jcCKADPZkeR18kxxVly0pF7EJoBMUWw2zVdY4wV2EuTXY2CFSqg/w400-h300/IMG_20220429_084933.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKK6QdYquz32zbUe3kuGqU1lnk3KFEJThVz3fUMOSVl391bS_3Xnba8-ebUHazLjO0taOKCr_4pVoAJ6I_PoGyJkimd6y-LE8osHNnSHER99WVE52fT9357lLmYA6duhxUYcQMc9RdVZhwl_9_4Qs7NXsLe4RTdKHN8kYTv3iAnRhmRG6-QPTVwDKSw/s3648/IMG_20220429_085313.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFKK6QdYquz32zbUe3kuGqU1lnk3KFEJThVz3fUMOSVl391bS_3Xnba8-ebUHazLjO0taOKCr_4pVoAJ6I_PoGyJkimd6y-LE8osHNnSHER99WVE52fT9357lLmYA6duhxUYcQMc9RdVZhwl_9_4Qs7NXsLe4RTdKHN8kYTv3iAnRhmRG6-QPTVwDKSw/w640-h480/IMG_20220429_085313.jpg" width="640" /></i></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Carrickfergus Castle</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH8gJVptQfPeFWVif34QP9PWNLj3LsFjD3BLs4SK1EBA3JluGvJpkKVLSxvmX-qzi_yUuWdYgHXISEUklauvSn43onMtg4UQ28mtdgyH1A5LlIaAaVVDx21zldiSe7i5M0wRXQ6l93w4ZBohO0822doZ9BB3FqkTGNpSCtIDyEnkMSrDRvlqbe4ZD1Q/s2585/IMG_20220429_092233.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2005" data-original-width="2585" height="496" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXH8gJVptQfPeFWVif34QP9PWNLj3LsFjD3BLs4SK1EBA3JluGvJpkKVLSxvmX-qzi_yUuWdYgHXISEUklauvSn43onMtg4UQ28mtdgyH1A5LlIaAaVVDx21zldiSe7i5M0wRXQ6l93w4ZBohO0822doZ9BB3FqkTGNpSCtIDyEnkMSrDRvlqbe4ZD1Q/w640-h496/IMG_20220429_092233.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSocGabDR7752t2N6AFUuj_SF_kI7LHCiHliE-TtoSRg4G1Oks3DgWUmS65Ku2Cl8m-tv0CP8tdXxq4gOs6VWD64xAF4Zta4gfpJ-5VLH4g-YPu-GuwKpyFbF2VG_TWpGsyzm2lyqh7xW25Wa4a93k5pEwuZPbCFcwYCzsA13NlrQ9SlRq8_FRfulQ/s3648/IMG_20220429_130751%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSGSocGabDR7752t2N6AFUuj_SF_kI7LHCiHliE-TtoSRg4G1Oks3DgWUmS65Ku2Cl8m-tv0CP8tdXxq4gOs6VWD64xAF4Zta4gfpJ-5VLH4g-YPu-GuwKpyFbF2VG_TWpGsyzm2lyqh7xW25Wa4a93k5pEwuZPbCFcwYCzsA13NlrQ9SlRq8_FRfulQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220429_130751%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzrU2l0oR6Fc6cKTIG6l7RhFsFP0FYAIOdWzcMWWpUOkk-C6NdFZFYy_o-Wc9c64_j0SLOzOpthYuXJJtebJcCYS_mzkH1Ugznm4Qrn84uWf34b0eCIG_jqHlgtznVYCw6XHdRAZjvI93RV1gtYYmEYK0RkEKo5Rax747hZsNjppV0b0InPebZBrTnQ/s3648/IMG_20220429_130611%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvzrU2l0oR6Fc6cKTIG6l7RhFsFP0FYAIOdWzcMWWpUOkk-C6NdFZFYy_o-Wc9c64_j0SLOzOpthYuXJJtebJcCYS_mzkH1Ugznm4Qrn84uWf34b0eCIG_jqHlgtznVYCw6XHdRAZjvI93RV1gtYYmEYK0RkEKo5Rax747hZsNjppV0b0InPebZBrTnQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220429_130611%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ballymoney, dragon door from Game of Thrones</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zhC0-NRAAf75BMT52-jfsqraCW4Cb6G6PD85sD4MmZT4cOACrS_eV1jkmEyrupsU1ikUwmOOh_nbx7wkpxDiF-yHiO11AhQLyS1IqzJlssrnUimvBrAMBgJdNArdxxh9ppFfoboMZxxsdvhSwecux20WdjHkA_1_fBPTXUA1irMUjxlPt5jXdMBkQA/s3618/IMG_20220429_085943.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2128" data-original-width="3618" height="376" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1zhC0-NRAAf75BMT52-jfsqraCW4Cb6G6PD85sD4MmZT4cOACrS_eV1jkmEyrupsU1ikUwmOOh_nbx7wkpxDiF-yHiO11AhQLyS1IqzJlssrnUimvBrAMBgJdNArdxxh9ppFfoboMZxxsdvhSwecux20WdjHkA_1_fBPTXUA1irMUjxlPt5jXdMBkQA/w640-h376/IMG_20220429_085943.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZjSJxlKXCV7Ex3HScvyxPJOW647XjDgNVsRPEajl2wjUHPb4wJRAdFzTCnqjf7gax24cRygHmmRRzLFYwA509gG6pezpUWZquHjPPp5OOCZMmi6XfkTlLmRWXZHEh2Ddy1pqvDiG_6EVAwAKrJx4HaUwYXl0G7w8-hGccM6SuDgvM8_GwjQGoXWXvg/s3648/IMG_20220429_095554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9ZjSJxlKXCV7Ex3HScvyxPJOW647XjDgNVsRPEajl2wjUHPb4wJRAdFzTCnqjf7gax24cRygHmmRRzLFYwA509gG6pezpUWZquHjPPp5OOCZMmi6XfkTlLmRWXZHEh2Ddy1pqvDiG_6EVAwAKrJx4HaUwYXl0G7w8-hGccM6SuDgvM8_GwjQGoXWXvg/w400-h300/IMG_20220429_095554.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Arya's steps, Carnlough Harbor, Glencloy</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he highlight of the day was exploring the Giant's Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site located in County Antrim, about three miles from the town of Bushmills, home to the Old Bushmills Distillery. This remote place is on the Atlantic Ocean side of the island comprising about 40,000 interlocking basalt columns, the result of an ancient volcanic fissure eruption. Most of the columns are hexagonal although we saw some with four, five and seven sides. As there was a tour ship in port that day there were more people clambering about the rocks than I liked. The path down from the carpark resembled a line of ants and I wondered to myself what exactly were they all doing here. They were just rocks and although unusually shaped, to me nothing out of the ordinary. Maybe I am becoming blasé about everything we have seen on this trip and have a case of scenery overload. That happens in this part of the world where around every corner another spectacular view appears. The drive back to Dublin on the motorway took just over an hour (very nonscenic thankfully) and before returning home we had a quiet dinner in an Italian restaurant, Fratelli's.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh1Xi2E0QtaH4a7B6v2gh1g5DQu8ZMl8VWQ5LrHZubhf9s5NE0VjB6BkF2wsk5DUziIHA1pkWp2vP8FPlC2EvyfnSvhzDqsRNm5nsB8MczHBrWV6rd-fsIUDXauXFE-dU7I18GgjF5-mp7VQ2U5bS8UE41bz529MVNxkurz6pXwQ0iBDINoPwPx3rYw/s3648/IMG_20220429_141319%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHh1Xi2E0QtaH4a7B6v2gh1g5DQu8ZMl8VWQ5LrHZubhf9s5NE0VjB6BkF2wsk5DUziIHA1pkWp2vP8FPlC2EvyfnSvhzDqsRNm5nsB8MczHBrWV6rd-fsIUDXauXFE-dU7I18GgjF5-mp7VQ2U5bS8UE41bz529MVNxkurz6pXwQ0iBDINoPwPx3rYw/w640-h480/IMG_20220429_141319%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfcThF_GquGt2SnBGGqi3_GqG1j_5pD5rBJ8dz0JDSpn81CuoZRSK7hBxpiX-6m9sZafGvH20yISto-8PPwLowz_RLVNpcw485T6p3dCp0IXmMslgedJDJDh11o4A8XoyTEtq0GePtNU0pZQbskWZ_sAHj_7fqlG0cGAKtuqFhcclVIDC1RSOVPZcCQ/s3648/IMG_20220429_140344%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFfcThF_GquGt2SnBGGqi3_GqG1j_5pD5rBJ8dz0JDSpn81CuoZRSK7hBxpiX-6m9sZafGvH20yISto-8PPwLowz_RLVNpcw485T6p3dCp0IXmMslgedJDJDh11o4A8XoyTEtq0GePtNU0pZQbskWZ_sAHj_7fqlG0cGAKtuqFhcclVIDC1RSOVPZcCQ/s320/IMG_20220429_140344%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRQUY1YllKr6KxYcbUHwU8o-L2W4wD4_JwwrLi8D4AObrW2T0goKn7t10uqb4HKZnqprbCzi1Ujl5gEjWJfouPYinj3T8ZeaIBBTR5SDmU8zRRFo4OIZyEk7Z9195zQIgcO54xmxPEapFvWK0f7-hcsHbonRH2nrfXP8Z3z1vkMj776NQ2HNgT9Fs9Q/s5632/IMG_20220429_135857%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpRQUY1YllKr6KxYcbUHwU8o-L2W4wD4_JwwrLi8D4AObrW2T0goKn7t10uqb4HKZnqprbCzi1Ujl5gEjWJfouPYinj3T8ZeaIBBTR5SDmU8zRRFo4OIZyEk7Z9195zQIgcO54xmxPEapFvWK0f7-hcsHbonRH2nrfXP8Z3z1vkMj776NQ2HNgT9Fs9Q/s320/IMG_20220429_135857%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGwbufcS-aicI9Gkf423yJ6GkZIdEApJDg7QRDH2BHSRxBZultByqtoytDFbQTOCTz0qc8I5gya0JxkwiOQCM64RrRfRnxNZhw39FXcNm-He6Gp1v22HbxM5kScNChVlg0sZ4AIhxUJl-1YsfplYazTN0_Styfe5UHKMxsFe0N864N_UBHirJFesoEw/s3648/IMG_20220429_135741%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEGwbufcS-aicI9Gkf423yJ6GkZIdEApJDg7QRDH2BHSRxBZultByqtoytDFbQTOCTz0qc8I5gya0JxkwiOQCM64RrRfRnxNZhw39FXcNm-He6Gp1v22HbxM5kScNChVlg0sZ4AIhxUJl-1YsfplYazTN0_Styfe5UHKMxsFe0N864N_UBHirJFesoEw/w480-h640/IMG_20220429_135741%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></i></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Giant's Causeway, Northern Ireland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>O</b></span>ur last full day in Belfast was drizzly and cool, the first time in weeks we had seen any noticeable precipitation. We headed into town, wearing our raincoats, on the local purple Glider bus that would take us to the Titanic Experience. This is claimed to be one of the world-leading attraction, telling the story of RMS Titanic from her conception in Belfast in the early 1900s, her construction and launch, to her maiden voyage and subsequent place in history which we all know. Well organized and informative but a lot of reading which because of the crowds could become difficult at times. Unfortunately they had no actual artifacts recovered from the ship's debris field but the ride through the imaginary docks where it was constructed was fun. After lunch we took another bus to the Peace Wall in the Shankill district, site of a deadly bombing in 1993 by the Provisional Irish Republican Army that killed 10 people. It was a typical working class area of the city, a bit run down and often showing it's Protestant colours, but a part of history not to be missed and no less important than the Titanic story. Crumlin Road Gaol was our next destination. Trying to figure out the buses to get there was a challenge, but we found it, standing unchanged across from the decrepit shell of the Crumlin Road courthouse. The gaol first opened its gates to prisoners in 1846 and for over 150 years was a fully operational prison, holding murderers, suffragettes, loyalist and republican prisoners. We saw the execution chamber and heard the stories of some of those condemned to die here, places and items with which they were flogged (some as young as 14) and it was easy to feel the depression and fear those held here must have felt within these grim walls. The rain was starting to let up when we left and found a bus back to our Airbnb where we would pack up once again. Tomorrow we were heading to the green fields of the Republic of Ireland! <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JIS02S-jcdlL9onYx-FqDonaIghHu8iySjrakD4i7SzRr53OqcuScpVohu9v_tygj-srQYCSXx5c4Aow2EpqHgF15VELtTUDPacT8VCmOvr0xT_TXFO4GMq2lceI_5UPYI4N_b6avwE3jFobCSrdLluEw0AAvhM8hQu_p5ur01IZwkoQa_M5AVKVQQ/s5632/IMG_20220430_100903%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JIS02S-jcdlL9onYx-FqDonaIghHu8iySjrakD4i7SzRr53OqcuScpVohu9v_tygj-srQYCSXx5c4Aow2EpqHgF15VELtTUDPacT8VCmOvr0xT_TXFO4GMq2lceI_5UPYI4N_b6avwE3jFobCSrdLluEw0AAvhM8hQu_p5ur01IZwkoQa_M5AVKVQQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220430_100903%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcfTiEsHMIALvCaCyoS8sjE4XuXYL5EOL8GY_oUALFulr_mLD3nFVWvCdOu00qfo_XuAo4pvbLyHAASwiF98Fl-ScqcFAXmqlSXj8M8JvM0_DOZn2H462Dg_ENm8luii0ndxUAehFjoazGG2RMmAGUxzZDMfs1Wdb7rbV6tw-WsqyNm5ej-fUN9dlCQ/s3648/IMG_20220430_102511%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHcfTiEsHMIALvCaCyoS8sjE4XuXYL5EOL8GY_oUALFulr_mLD3nFVWvCdOu00qfo_XuAo4pvbLyHAASwiF98Fl-ScqcFAXmqlSXj8M8JvM0_DOZn2H462Dg_ENm8luii0ndxUAehFjoazGG2RMmAGUxzZDMfs1Wdb7rbV6tw-WsqyNm5ej-fUN9dlCQ/w300-h400/IMG_20220430_102511%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG0PTl9IBHKsgSdH-FZjF3VHFN1q9bMP1uPn3Wgqb6f-RmKrqio9mqRRDWcqpUKX7SxGjyEXJKaRXbjcz4-mFloc5jU-myA01hvdQWxEsiJi5bdajSMMwn6VPJLcPoyPRGcQJigf_bYe5ud39fb9QIrr7fSeQiCd2dpbKj0wgI3YNZy4ci91ErtTteg/s3648/IMG_20220430_105635%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsG0PTl9IBHKsgSdH-FZjF3VHFN1q9bMP1uPn3Wgqb6f-RmKrqio9mqRRDWcqpUKX7SxGjyEXJKaRXbjcz4-mFloc5jU-myA01hvdQWxEsiJi5bdajSMMwn6VPJLcPoyPRGcQJigf_bYe5ud39fb9QIrr7fSeQiCd2dpbKj0wgI3YNZy4ci91ErtTteg/w480-h640/IMG_20220430_105635%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Titanic was launched from this spot</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGL2mKh3U9THUu2QXexRpNwVlkyjrnXiFdBgwUBtbAdVBqgjbWjouKLo9imnteQO9jUBVG3IMbYSdYlo8DrgY12IFPTLrA6TBCMnBVnlkGPPDCaNfHz8T2LDhjFFHCKGFw_DymV71dKJPCqkPQ2b9hN2sAlbTJmRUzy96DQAoDWU7ruuQcCT3P_TJZQ/s3648/IMG_20220430_101028.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMGL2mKh3U9THUu2QXexRpNwVlkyjrnXiFdBgwUBtbAdVBqgjbWjouKLo9imnteQO9jUBVG3IMbYSdYlo8DrgY12IFPTLrA6TBCMnBVnlkGPPDCaNfHz8T2LDhjFFHCKGFw_DymV71dKJPCqkPQ2b9hN2sAlbTJmRUzy96DQAoDWU7ruuQcCT3P_TJZQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220430_101028.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Titanic Experience, Belfast</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw0La0AG6d7JZnpnTj99r7IH40Iu5NvYKpJ7-RfoOO5rcd2VcX2hYQiKvcx8Jk6D_eA8yjIK2X4pTbKqg3tKZ71V890VFFWxAKwY-b8JVgNwTR379Y9pm0wrLU-Vf3IjX_uDHcNmxLboLfLVa-VWPx9k3ty5m8w3MNS5tlIuZ_vjaHays4-n6g_zvvQ/s3648/IMG_20220430_140055%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMw0La0AG6d7JZnpnTj99r7IH40Iu5NvYKpJ7-RfoOO5rcd2VcX2hYQiKvcx8Jk6D_eA8yjIK2X4pTbKqg3tKZ71V890VFFWxAKwY-b8JVgNwTR379Y9pm0wrLU-Vf3IjX_uDHcNmxLboLfLVa-VWPx9k3ty5m8w3MNS5tlIuZ_vjaHays4-n6g_zvvQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220430_140055%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk6x7ug3IKBRw5WPUNYzKckcuTS88PFM8ADqLPdItlWNarwgloypA741QhT4t6eD0X9PoJNfWT6I0htw3Jjq0vP7gUdQRHqOYkuB4p5-tXLbcjMxuEWwCHAVigQ4SCpG1_WU7JW6OflmBWATNQrQp9OWd0sitwORAYtCNYnE8wBW0rPCcGHfV_wS3bw/s3648/IMG_20220430_140119%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizk6x7ug3IKBRw5WPUNYzKckcuTS88PFM8ADqLPdItlWNarwgloypA741QhT4t6eD0X9PoJNfWT6I0htw3Jjq0vP7gUdQRHqOYkuB4p5-tXLbcjMxuEWwCHAVigQ4SCpG1_WU7JW6OflmBWATNQrQp9OWd0sitwORAYtCNYnE8wBW0rPCcGHfV_wS3bw/w640-h480/IMG_20220430_140119%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Peace walls, Belfast</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5imqBtKfQrZoqMAk0WrFJwpF_GGhwEv8UJc8BLVvCSp5-6ql3rs3votgkoICprifTUIfg-mO9BUn7H5dFTt1vUq9BriI4LuV2wPzCKxAJ5tEMokGVK4PoIOLsmK5zrqHojbEBLjm-H7ggNYUDnLsZ5efUxSBsUQAqfOUWG4dGL1SQdFboaw44HpN4ig/s3648/IMG_20220430_144523%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwiG3YaoUuDSTJ0WQjrZWdcJpiLN2RuAGJb7-AtHPR7F0QVGzB29EAkbegMiZ28dNO196FJ-qsHNcxcKdTrFBIBmnqGSQjICFs47FtKwezFk9CN_onhFgn7mQbPzvJ27DWvfXltIoHdS1hg3b632-2xBVogoD29eW0OJywYg6_NzhfHduoDXt3PD2o7Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220430_150404%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijngZm0sjdWJqedjAhCrzw4rCJhJZxi8H6aQXQ3o-zqK2sgxAbOSDBjGPoIg9s7bJtqIUqpxYmG1cQ5Un6HrAE4x086-4NGMzdw9A7c1HXrmuSatPbeKu2-VyEV3nE8W0uX1tjUmat4oClvyjfB6bXMnCLEaYS8mq0lBLDraKwqQLUaf-UWL5EIQ3uIg/s3648/IMG_20220430_154559.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijngZm0sjdWJqedjAhCrzw4rCJhJZxi8H6aQXQ3o-zqK2sgxAbOSDBjGPoIg9s7bJtqIUqpxYmG1cQ5Un6HrAE4x086-4NGMzdw9A7c1HXrmuSatPbeKu2-VyEV3nE8W0uX1tjUmat4oClvyjfB6bXMnCLEaYS8mq0lBLDraKwqQLUaf-UWL5EIQ3uIg/w640-h480/IMG_20220430_154559.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Wessex helicopter, from 72 Squadron, RAF Aldergrove</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickgBXM93L-J8SX59b7BHWCzLa4HbQCw2R4Gr-cbUt8979ZIq6Dm04fbRcs00iGcnsQ-HlFGqmy59HpdoNEJ62JpU0mbO-K4hjp_kWYW1jmNKqQqoIWA6IwkJj8Q1HRPU8nNuiOUJUtHXQBPJAB4M5EkHJb3n_A3vpWB4zgpUz-rprlg6eWGvsX7k9CQ/s3648/IMG_20220430_153756%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickgBXM93L-J8SX59b7BHWCzLa4HbQCw2R4Gr-cbUt8979ZIq6Dm04fbRcs00iGcnsQ-HlFGqmy59HpdoNEJ62JpU0mbO-K4hjp_kWYW1jmNKqQqoIWA6IwkJj8Q1HRPU8nNuiOUJUtHXQBPJAB4M5EkHJb3n_A3vpWB4zgpUz-rprlg6eWGvsX7k9CQ/w300-h400/IMG_20220430_153756%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tsRn-M2I8PFGIXrasgjhiuU-xsjYWrnJDU0NMG10yCBqPPYVJblutuykHIv-pzI0KdPjTnSdnI0SnXmMYYmj0ulPutb6gEKU9Ovoi78APfTy-nhuIm83ff2c38D6HtcrQ9iNVU9z7v8O_CLIiZBnlCepETizqsvXzz_oVbwR-SU_fSBi_HM_r-PO-Q/s3648/IMG_20220430_144854%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0tsRn-M2I8PFGIXrasgjhiuU-xsjYWrnJDU0NMG10yCBqPPYVJblutuykHIv-pzI0KdPjTnSdnI0SnXmMYYmj0ulPutb6gEKU9Ovoi78APfTy-nhuIm83ff2c38D6HtcrQ9iNVU9z7v8O_CLIiZBnlCepETizqsvXzz_oVbwR-SU_fSBi_HM_r-PO-Q/w480-h640/IMG_20220430_144854%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-58924596426566831162022-04-27T12:38:00.002-07:002022-04-27T12:38:23.278-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 35-36 Glasgow, Scotland)<p><br /></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwK8CD6_ATgv5JGarHaGzxZ0np3FL8pvFPg1fZT9uK30z055tGKoMY48I5Q666jGQXskK2lNDYWsykFTAwIGzmRNKZ_U04QgFeZ4nEBqiZbfEMtT3j0dhSQKO_VKHx-QvLlu5VzjlCg_C7NKFiNeujHI84UJmCVRTpVYJ-m8C9IM9zreBbuzguqzzKw/s3648/IMG_20220426_065155%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIwK8CD6_ATgv5JGarHaGzxZ0np3FL8pvFPg1fZT9uK30z055tGKoMY48I5Q666jGQXskK2lNDYWsykFTAwIGzmRNKZ_U04QgFeZ4nEBqiZbfEMtT3j0dhSQKO_VKHx-QvLlu5VzjlCg_C7NKFiNeujHI84UJmCVRTpVYJ-m8C9IM9zreBbuzguqzzKw/w640-h480/IMG_20220426_065155%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>oday was the day we had to return our car (by 1PM in Glasgow) so there was no dawdling this morning. After breakfast we looked one last time at Ben Nevis in the early morning sunlight and headed west on the winding, scenic but white knuckle road, the A82, past Loch Leven and Glencoe, Loch Tulla and Bridge of Orchy, onto the A85 past Loch Lubhair and Loch Lomond until picking up the pace finally into Glasgow on the M8. We returned the Juke with no problem, having logged over 2600 miles since picking it up in Dover 30 days ago. It proved to be a reliable car, good on petrol and peppy, lots of room for us and our luggage and, most importantly, comfortable. From here its on foot, Uber and bus, until we rent another car in Dublin in a weeks time. Tomorrow we explore Glasgow, Scotland's biggest city on the River Clyde. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ99JQ-itazN3UMXN9njJU70l2QvtMnpU0jS82CI99SPrb6A-ZRZZ7g7SGUA16kDLTgJeS7ocnGPTXVUSPkCwIaSQybrWKSv5oaTzUycCdkweAprxYuPPHMicFj40rXY1qxd6j_pZ2l4Gf9h4ZFExsIiV4WYG2cpTvodZpQLhLD0rLowkIc7Psy_MNg/s5632/IMG_20220426_083347.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnQ99JQ-itazN3UMXN9njJU70l2QvtMnpU0jS82CI99SPrb6A-ZRZZ7g7SGUA16kDLTgJeS7ocnGPTXVUSPkCwIaSQybrWKSv5oaTzUycCdkweAprxYuPPHMicFj40rXY1qxd6j_pZ2l4Gf9h4ZFExsIiV4WYG2cpTvodZpQLhLD0rLowkIc7Psy_MNg/w400-h300/IMG_20220426_083347.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHGzRviI44s9huKiDNj1rmeS92y7oBIwunfoPBghYOuDX7VzM0rNir46q4dVAKrGmqWUtSCCbIfUeqjvMnRgK2Fgkt3BNLZeoBHkp7YBtel4nGvVx1xn7_BFycoOWdqGjzv2dDeYRumEFpY1b45qDT_t_o3Agc44L_pgsJlvQaZw_Mg5zAhNy1kejqw/s3648/IMG_20220426_092022.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixHGzRviI44s9huKiDNj1rmeS92y7oBIwunfoPBghYOuDX7VzM0rNir46q4dVAKrGmqWUtSCCbIfUeqjvMnRgK2Fgkt3BNLZeoBHkp7YBtel4nGvVx1xn7_BFycoOWdqGjzv2dDeYRumEFpY1b45qDT_t_o3Agc44L_pgsJlvQaZw_Mg5zAhNy1kejqw/w640-h480/IMG_20220426_092022.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUIPWho8Ynw5DtsQ1ySCrFsZOECawQWcy-F7mQUwUyUc-x-dGd44ZQ0EOWwAhNkZvIVxOU05F5FsvDFbSQUs6hqI2wFTaa1hfkHaQJ6EgF87uTuMk-nyG-ACPPI9UXUZT22HGFBEQz2J3EIL-SaSv4eRglmA2lwCHkoGfEsVJQVzSWBrGGskUtq0VYQ/s3648/IMG_20220426_093112.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilUIPWho8Ynw5DtsQ1ySCrFsZOECawQWcy-F7mQUwUyUc-x-dGd44ZQ0EOWwAhNkZvIVxOU05F5FsvDFbSQUs6hqI2wFTaa1hfkHaQJ6EgF87uTuMk-nyG-ACPPI9UXUZT22HGFBEQz2J3EIL-SaSv4eRglmA2lwCHkoGfEsVJQVzSWBrGGskUtq0VYQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220426_093112.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>somewhere between Ben Nevis and Glasgow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15BRpYrTjVNEhRzpPEAtc77F5r9TmB5u-uMIO0E68xVx1qgcxRWPXLQ1vjg6ezw85nhhUuKzM5pPFUiU8jtwEoAHEBp-gWGNsZUwOrgksqDLwsPsqnlA_jelknHtaEzlwjacgLQBURuzCwx9bS-l2N8RU5zQv7LzMWyCzIqD9SJB0QM1jOIDMkRr5SA/s5632/IMG_20220426_142629.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh15BRpYrTjVNEhRzpPEAtc77F5r9TmB5u-uMIO0E68xVx1qgcxRWPXLQ1vjg6ezw85nhhUuKzM5pPFUiU8jtwEoAHEBp-gWGNsZUwOrgksqDLwsPsqnlA_jelknHtaEzlwjacgLQBURuzCwx9bS-l2N8RU5zQv7LzMWyCzIqD9SJB0QM1jOIDMkRr5SA/s320/IMG_20220426_142629.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oFLTKompunT3EC5RklOMxSuZCf8mE_50HaD3v4CFhkKoA-KuTcjBB9GNu0YpMFbr465zlKD7nqeg0ip3uwnTO9fjR7s57n5R8peavJ8vPYiiyFIB3zocvIPrmpGGQWilHFTW97WT-Sd03liyHt0BBTlP_C1RHBfQOOHnqejlRqibp70a6V2H5pN-OA/s3648/IMG_20220426_142658.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4oFLTKompunT3EC5RklOMxSuZCf8mE_50HaD3v4CFhkKoA-KuTcjBB9GNu0YpMFbr465zlKD7nqeg0ip3uwnTO9fjR7s57n5R8peavJ8vPYiiyFIB3zocvIPrmpGGQWilHFTW97WT-Sd03liyHt0BBTlP_C1RHBfQOOHnqejlRqibp70a6V2H5pN-OA/w480-h640/IMG_20220426_142658.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>our Airbnb, downtown Glasgow</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">A</span></b>nother rather cool and overcast day greeted us as we headed out down Sauchiehall Street - pronounced Sucky - to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum on the banks of the River Kelvin. From The Glasgow Boys group of painters gallery (the most significant modern European style of their time), Scotland's wildlife exhibition, French and Dutch Art to an excellent display of Scotland's First People this was probably the most well organized and selection of artifacts I have ever seen in one museum. And it was huge, covering three floors of a beautifully designed red sandstone building in the Spanish Baroque style that even had a WW2 Spitfire hanging from the top rafters above Sir Roger, the elephant. I even got to see genuine Turner, Constable and Lowry paintings all in one special corner! By the time we walked down to the waterfront the sun was coming out of the clouds and warming us nicely. Tied up on the River Clyde by the Riverside Museum was Glasgow's own tall ship the<i> Glenlee,</i> last of the old Windjammers still afloat in a British port and one of only five great Clyde-built sailing ships left in the world. We went aboard this old merchant ship that was first launched in 1896 and underwent three other name changes and three nationalities until her return to the Clyde in 1992 as nothing more than a mastless hulk. She was lovingly restored over the course of six years to her original 19th century splendour and we were able to explore every deck of this three master and learn about it's storied history, it's masters and the human drama of the young apprentices who sailed in her. The Riverside Museum we explored next was fascinating and we could have spent the whole day walking about the exhibits - more model ships than I have ever seen under one roof, locomotives, trams, vintage cars, and horse drawn-drawn carriages, the majority built in Glasgow. A superb reconstruction of a 1938 Glasgow Street made us feel like we had been transported back into time. All in all we were left with a very good impression of Glasgow: it was a fitting and good feeling as we were sadly saying goodbye to Scotland. But before walking back to our Airbnb there was one more stop at the Clydeside Distillery for a taste of three excellent single malt whiskies. This distillery is the second new distillery to open in Glasgow in over a 100 years, right on the docks where custom and taxes used to be monitored. Wonderful stuff indeed but it will be Irish whisky tomorrow when we take the ferry across to Belfast! <b>GWS</b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4sBxR4o0cwk93lmXoyS_IyL00EBlvqgUydHxxI5EXbUaUpczh1HqlJGxDtqxw5YF9Zs-6wb3lWamXaxIgSI0bUR1zl2EMZfW9PIuOju2Qf9xq_p7Mv1DYRte0O5L4BHtMqAY-gsQQlANHv3ne6xqVmXjLozOFfEfYBA2JSdC19cBwQRTnDKyPaUKRA/s3648/IMG_20220427_104125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2034" data-original-width="3648" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4sBxR4o0cwk93lmXoyS_IyL00EBlvqgUydHxxI5EXbUaUpczh1HqlJGxDtqxw5YF9Zs-6wb3lWamXaxIgSI0bUR1zl2EMZfW9PIuOju2Qf9xq_p7Mv1DYRte0O5L4BHtMqAY-gsQQlANHv3ne6xqVmXjLozOFfEfYBA2JSdC19cBwQRTnDKyPaUKRA/w640-h356/IMG_20220427_104125.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RK8yPkmtKVcoz-DjKYc5p3M5y8Pt9MwI_hNFJHFj6tQe6BKLRhjBjZCkXXOc7ALSQ2_f17yiIOzi2vIPbirmYuggW7_8XrgL3NpEuo9eoPP_RAfsbevWrgoKKbOd-Bkn_ovla0WEUZ4BfPk3R-6VcoSJDhU_3yc6IFpsFFQRLZuVAjKWKC-L9DcsfA/s3648/IMG_20220427_111641%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9RK8yPkmtKVcoz-DjKYc5p3M5y8Pt9MwI_hNFJHFj6tQe6BKLRhjBjZCkXXOc7ALSQ2_f17yiIOzi2vIPbirmYuggW7_8XrgL3NpEuo9eoPP_RAfsbevWrgoKKbOd-Bkn_ovla0WEUZ4BfPk3R-6VcoSJDhU_3yc6IFpsFFQRLZuVAjKWKC-L9DcsfA/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_111641%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>another Turner!</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKXCJeWwKLR65FaHINRTJqk7O5BDjvzvq4uNgc-jmr1jE-oNFM5aD5ztDegA5Nujb4yosNPXNFuLxzfcmSi4FIoPa7gQghgIJ-423lYhHBPZIxhAclMl8jPXhxwkWihuMFecv0iZZNshbAs5-TtJNVnltQ7RYW3r9nhx2OGPlj67MwBmnTerpdir7Uw/s3648/IMG_20220427_123526%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsKXCJeWwKLR65FaHINRTJqk7O5BDjvzvq4uNgc-jmr1jE-oNFM5aD5ztDegA5Nujb4yosNPXNFuLxzfcmSi4FIoPa7gQghgIJ-423lYhHBPZIxhAclMl8jPXhxwkWihuMFecv0iZZNshbAs5-TtJNVnltQ7RYW3r9nhx2OGPlj67MwBmnTerpdir7Uw/w480-h640/IMG_20220427_123526%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCfLanM_bfBi1f790kOdfy7d8MPcnSKDGb22qdNcKCW8aewlIIsHKafkhPPQV-TMTsIBBdZcqYjjp39U843ilswzDW-srq7NUkh6d2aWV5oFq2l70unf0a-ZojvK3mW6iR6do041X4y8iuhNnmAfuRW6rrMkgvr_qmZxKMBSQzI3Jo1uus0w9-MQFPA/s3648/IMG_20220427_123849%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggCfLanM_bfBi1f790kOdfy7d8MPcnSKDGb22qdNcKCW8aewlIIsHKafkhPPQV-TMTsIBBdZcqYjjp39U843ilswzDW-srq7NUkh6d2aWV5oFq2l70unf0a-ZojvK3mW6iR6do041X4y8iuhNnmAfuRW6rrMkgvr_qmZxKMBSQzI3Jo1uus0w9-MQFPA/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_123849%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMDFb08g7G2cuRKEYGQiVCAEnTWZ9dCjwZL6ls-vaJh7kueWRz586k4qcLZjwGQKtNGqzWdaX7Z3VFZGYfGgLGoVZXu7rYPEwQdwMTb6OkrQYUO2698dLn2SEfgu-jYRLU3ISWXGat0Qa8FiyaJlR1JQMOmglodC7WRuUpNqLIJMud3aQ2IwqitLfgQ/s3648/IMG_20220427_132350%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSMDFb08g7G2cuRKEYGQiVCAEnTWZ9dCjwZL6ls-vaJh7kueWRz586k4qcLZjwGQKtNGqzWdaX7Z3VFZGYfGgLGoVZXu7rYPEwQdwMTb6OkrQYUO2698dLn2SEfgu-jYRLU3ISWXGat0Qa8FiyaJlR1JQMOmglodC7WRuUpNqLIJMud3aQ2IwqitLfgQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220427_132350%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5v5155BeIUpBu1p7ZskjsKk9rDWjp61JAThaL_j98VU5FSzY6fD0csCK80Z0fh2WTi_1LA26VfHkMlKMHzBxHEkFQW_XqHG1VTCiIjocsxgytd19xrySi-7Xax6fMMM-8E2t33HTtECYaSoTik8isBNjxQaXoC1910wgXRZymvDHIilDuVle2JMv-A/s3648/IMG_20220427_122727.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib5v5155BeIUpBu1p7ZskjsKk9rDWjp61JAThaL_j98VU5FSzY6fD0csCK80Z0fh2WTi_1LA26VfHkMlKMHzBxHEkFQW_XqHG1VTCiIjocsxgytd19xrySi-7Xax6fMMM-8E2t33HTtECYaSoTik8isBNjxQaXoC1910wgXRZymvDHIilDuVle2JMv-A/w480-h640/IMG_20220427_122727.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5P2BUhLIyESpG8m730DXmmB9i6TE7A3AUYHgbjdRkqd9lk1mT3BYRPDjugt0_mtU1kwvjjxBW3qeSquM7ei5rMvbN9RjF0CUAb9sGyDBhKYmXwrDrNGWzLT9J5nkr9Y0YqL2q8Wr-oTpqjD3a2QPneHMMhj4kJ-qH86vcQqaKkdey-1uiC464nSGaQ/s3648/IMG_20220427_125419.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5P2BUhLIyESpG8m730DXmmB9i6TE7A3AUYHgbjdRkqd9lk1mT3BYRPDjugt0_mtU1kwvjjxBW3qeSquM7ei5rMvbN9RjF0CUAb9sGyDBhKYmXwrDrNGWzLT9J5nkr9Y0YqL2q8Wr-oTpqjD3a2QPneHMMhj4kJ-qH86vcQqaKkdey-1uiC464nSGaQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_125419.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0gwPLtPOV3IWXyuoODS-dZ0xa72FiKU4wUsxPd-zqnxJWzDpie_TzRZpWGLTn4RaBZ6W-nIwTscO_knqA0oTrs08nAA6R5otu3iHDgmJjENKXO7pH9jD3P2RhyyaQ8UegeDOxbxJQmjZz5tcOCjTZCIUinqm2gx87aHWqwuv1DubZdJoCajTVolSYQ/s3648/IMG_20220427_143439.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs0gwPLtPOV3IWXyuoODS-dZ0xa72FiKU4wUsxPd-zqnxJWzDpie_TzRZpWGLTn4RaBZ6W-nIwTscO_knqA0oTrs08nAA6R5otu3iHDgmJjENKXO7pH9jD3P2RhyyaQ8UegeDOxbxJQmjZz5tcOCjTZCIUinqm2gx87aHWqwuv1DubZdJoCajTVolSYQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_143439.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQfEq4Glp9Ze7nhjUKJ8rH6WHqquZ2vUjioNaDtS8chpBdrKb95vH6YouifOkVpt1IkVL4vpBHc3wCWQjGhhUBwDley1NVShAW8llh9orOa1YBI3HzI1czLDZDqCDMhkpuRNyqs25y1G8WpCO9cyRzbpbmtzCjXglRFdEVFmjpQAl2gyFVSikkbzfIw/s3648/IMG_20220427_144424.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsQfEq4Glp9Ze7nhjUKJ8rH6WHqquZ2vUjioNaDtS8chpBdrKb95vH6YouifOkVpt1IkVL4vpBHc3wCWQjGhhUBwDley1NVShAW8llh9orOa1YBI3HzI1czLDZDqCDMhkpuRNyqs25y1G8WpCO9cyRzbpbmtzCjXglRFdEVFmjpQAl2gyFVSikkbzfIw/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_144424.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Glenlee, Glasgow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXHm6qejCj91j_9QNtq6SWumavtFkZRDNQi_wQwBmIOX9BRGZYQ-eXj-XOIZzREvNXicJjeiUeNGTZaAHImFJh5Gz9lH5E1Q6KGvvvEjHgvnjq_1i_qvz2DN-gqiS5yv3LlKS1sjcjn2IfBI8OvhSqg3g_cLxLqGkKGOpP7DfvkfsecGPxpefvm86lw/s3648/IMG_20220427_145004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXHm6qejCj91j_9QNtq6SWumavtFkZRDNQi_wQwBmIOX9BRGZYQ-eXj-XOIZzREvNXicJjeiUeNGTZaAHImFJh5Gz9lH5E1Q6KGvvvEjHgvnjq_1i_qvz2DN-gqiS5yv3LlKS1sjcjn2IfBI8OvhSqg3g_cLxLqGkKGOpP7DfvkfsecGPxpefvm86lw/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_145004.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5brQryTiBXEVWkdU_N0BMin6vUIihVxmgzRnPbJRikAR521beSzvl3MwsiN9liOvi1aOlmU94qriGKvkoIUjzHF20UJyYl_LoSnCfhelfOIx7sZyIgZBLfb3gxNI1tQo7yrZcvom7dG3GcSyugPFWLb2P6L8HnFec8f-dHy4n9Jlt_wTLCXL7F431g/s3648/IMG_20220427_150806.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy5brQryTiBXEVWkdU_N0BMin6vUIihVxmgzRnPbJRikAR521beSzvl3MwsiN9liOvi1aOlmU94qriGKvkoIUjzHF20UJyYl_LoSnCfhelfOIx7sZyIgZBLfb3gxNI1tQo7yrZcvom7dG3GcSyugPFWLb2P6L8HnFec8f-dHy4n9Jlt_wTLCXL7F431g/w400-h300/IMG_20220427_150806.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v-gcUqoiaNobIRcyHSRDfdzm3AlcyokUI_2IiuccAQL7x5-G5KY4C0Pjjq57_0LvMruwTi8iHaHJ3XTwCiiTfEAA4qI8LNb2OjgBD3VfH4G7g9zusnaNgAm7cHTkcP2aXW6_a_7xDc08Q647ExC8sMHm42Dt_BdOnPQAhgE3k0Oj7-852McROn-9qg/s3648/IMG_20220427_152231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3v-gcUqoiaNobIRcyHSRDfdzm3AlcyokUI_2IiuccAQL7x5-G5KY4C0Pjjq57_0LvMruwTi8iHaHJ3XTwCiiTfEAA4qI8LNb2OjgBD3VfH4G7g9zusnaNgAm7cHTkcP2aXW6_a_7xDc08Q647ExC8sMHm42Dt_BdOnPQAhgE3k0Oj7-852McROn-9qg/w480-h640/IMG_20220427_152231.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICdrEx2n1C9g3GLaY9ANEwDcDRJ2YGYlaZPe987lZ098uaiwyRN5eyd9Pw3K1EQyKHVlPbQsxYwJz71fZt44zedQiaINHcXLONZdvFYzwes-dlMauYJZTtOP-5e7xSkyL6heAcOlEILCKZ3dD6kALt3IjefRv4O6VI9xJlC0axZPCp7XTNwmKzCH-fg/s3648/IMG_20220427_154114.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjICdrEx2n1C9g3GLaY9ANEwDcDRJ2YGYlaZPe987lZ098uaiwyRN5eyd9Pw3K1EQyKHVlPbQsxYwJz71fZt44zedQiaINHcXLONZdvFYzwes-dlMauYJZTtOP-5e7xSkyL6heAcOlEILCKZ3dD6kALt3IjefRv4O6VI9xJlC0axZPCp7XTNwmKzCH-fg/w640-h480/IMG_20220427_154114.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Riverside Museum, Glasgow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH8eo34eTnXfOirYd-NfbMg6s5_9Z_hU32_zPFDdD02wmxm97FBjf02MYtpGNOyq1AWbnUaqKFvm57AkNcu_7z1Gpe3_xgDXIGCJre2p1yC1t5tP1jN1AUjqFmbR5EEfRO2BA32lAHm7PZ2IiI_umtVNofIiXLmzursMAmAzON9swhYmpkerau8KUEQ/s3648/IMG_20220427_171812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFH8eo34eTnXfOirYd-NfbMg6s5_9Z_hU32_zPFDdD02wmxm97FBjf02MYtpGNOyq1AWbnUaqKFvm57AkNcu_7z1Gpe3_xgDXIGCJre2p1yC1t5tP1jN1AUjqFmbR5EEfRO2BA32lAHm7PZ2IiI_umtVNofIiXLmzursMAmAzON9swhYmpkerau8KUEQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220427_171812.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Clydeside Distillery</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNv5y7pa2iqKqLIO6-vS3WrJ14NrXdS0ljTHYVQqxt6skJi5B5F9sJgGfIBHWduS28bZkC3y4Zieno3SqRgdIRBawAANUllqF0X5yWtpC3cvLBhRkFTVUb8LmTJIz-6ycMkbaMlnYXNi2a_IwQTp55TCqhNP33D-4UakFXzsxgLnVbIVxdf6yvxQ9Zg/s2048/IMG-20220427-WA0004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1439" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFNv5y7pa2iqKqLIO6-vS3WrJ14NrXdS0ljTHYVQqxt6skJi5B5F9sJgGfIBHWduS28bZkC3y4Zieno3SqRgdIRBawAANUllqF0X5yWtpC3cvLBhRkFTVUb8LmTJIz-6ycMkbaMlnYXNi2a_IwQTp55TCqhNP33D-4UakFXzsxgLnVbIVxdf6yvxQ9Zg/w450-h640/IMG-20220427-WA0004.jpg" width="450" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Art Deco, Glasgow</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-8196423815457273792022-04-26T06:06:00.001-07:002022-04-26T06:06:21.388-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 34 Isle of Benbecula, Outer Hebrides/Banavie, Scotland)<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHbU8XfS5Nu-R_Gd0q5uk8B44x56Sl5NNL44hS8j8DiElS9pm11aC-NJlazJbPZAaO_r51ACVlzvmNeU8Kexmd41sl9sGziE0evSILdTy1Q4OXgD59cQ3TEdNb3MU78yTb38YClzcLJ_3YCWkic4Qr7Zaogafcp0aQhwErKjKgP1PokT8NbqKinjrNQ/s3648/IMG_20220425_105932.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHbU8XfS5Nu-R_Gd0q5uk8B44x56Sl5NNL44hS8j8DiElS9pm11aC-NJlazJbPZAaO_r51ACVlzvmNeU8Kexmd41sl9sGziE0evSILdTy1Q4OXgD59cQ3TEdNb3MU78yTb38YClzcLJ_3YCWkic4Qr7Zaogafcp0aQhwErKjKgP1PokT8NbqKinjrNQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220425_105932.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Our Lady of the Isles, South Uist<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>e left our Airbnb in Balivanich on the small island of Benbecula shortly after nine to do some more exploring before heading south to Lochboisdale, South Uist's main village and port. This is where we were to take another ferry across to the mainland and eventually continue on to Glasgow. For our first stop we saw visible from the road a granite statue visible on the slopes of Ruabhal hill, Our Lady of the Isles. This is a sculpture of the Madonna and Child that was commissioned and constructed in 1957 shortly after the Minister of Defence proposed a missile testing range be constructed on this site. This obviously caused concern it would destroy much of the island's way of life, culture and language but the military prevailed, though very much scaled down, and I guess it is up to the residents here to determine if it has affected them at all. Later we found a sign leading to the site of some ancient chapels but there was really little to see except remains of weathered stone walls and sheep grazing close by. We went instead into the small Church of Scotland there and signed the visitor book. Next stop was at a ruined Ormacleit Castle. Nothing much to see here either, no accompanying plaque or notice, just a shell of an old stone structure adjoining a farmer's rather ramshackle buildings. We did find a very interesting museum near Lochboisdale, the Kildonan museum. It has a large collection of items from and about South Uist collected by a local parish priest Father John Morrison, a great collection of bronze age and Vikings remains and is home to the Clan Ranald Stone which has a very interesting Canadian connection. We arrived thirty minutes before the ferry left and joined the small line of cars and were on at the scheduled time. The crossing was a long 3 1/2 hours but smooth and relaxing, as there were very few passengers aboard we had the lounge to ourselves. I went on deck to watch the Small Isles of Canna, Rum and Eigg pass by to starboard and then the tiny port town of Mallaig appeared in the distance. At 5:30 PM, right on schedule, the ferry tied up, and after stopping in the local co-op to pick up our supper we were off, following the A830 to our next stopover for the night. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy2zVp18L981_Gj5bVlL6laJz1ZB2IszlFtDLSPOx9ShSb9Ptl1fETH4Zo9Our-8ymUIIy4BgFqMAYvFyfsHgWJCwZEsvWAXSpFRuvtG1NMwslwtZi3u3xeaywSbLtaQporBFWe0JK2_g2rbnoeof-CCm36v6jA36y4dM0obB3adCSZvFs6S5RVi3Sw/s3648/IMG_20220425_113714.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZy2zVp18L981_Gj5bVlL6laJz1ZB2IszlFtDLSPOx9ShSb9Ptl1fETH4Zo9Our-8ymUIIy4BgFqMAYvFyfsHgWJCwZEsvWAXSpFRuvtG1NMwslwtZi3u3xeaywSbLtaQporBFWe0JK2_g2rbnoeof-CCm36v6jA36y4dM0obB3adCSZvFs6S5RVi3Sw/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_113714.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>site of Tobha Mor Ancient Chapels</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFV04qDtSfpSPi4XvsIDOYG4fdch2_EJu-eozmXFivPBA2_c461CvJRW0wt-uFIsDaSkbmaxFkfkQ-_Lkjl2zwcj4bSAj71iWrCBqs-2BHs8yDNUrRT472TclZfc7N0njj9F8_1vi6Zm4CyHT_wH6osAt1vYOGCT-9oNDcSW5vW8WAsfeZK54_ESwfA/s3648/IMG_20220425_113407.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinFV04qDtSfpSPi4XvsIDOYG4fdch2_EJu-eozmXFivPBA2_c461CvJRW0wt-uFIsDaSkbmaxFkfkQ-_Lkjl2zwcj4bSAj71iWrCBqs-2BHs8yDNUrRT472TclZfc7N0njj9F8_1vi6Zm4CyHT_wH6osAt1vYOGCT-9oNDcSW5vW8WAsfeZK54_ESwfA/w300-h400/IMG_20220425_113407.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w49Og4NBtUp8dgU9J_FUw_aNJzhrVPQA7aaZ2PTKE9gZnQ1v0XRxXSd4vtn7cy6SmcDiDaTh43An5k_VxjxQwaz4O_1D3iXGwb-hii_9PmSkvrfqC5XUEPHDGKnEQybmV_bVOuDFK2dg8T4u61vLZtpSQc0bjor7b73iH8mlJsmxr8LyDhLi1OPC2w/s3648/IMG_20220425_113558.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4w49Og4NBtUp8dgU9J_FUw_aNJzhrVPQA7aaZ2PTKE9gZnQ1v0XRxXSd4vtn7cy6SmcDiDaTh43An5k_VxjxQwaz4O_1D3iXGwb-hii_9PmSkvrfqC5XUEPHDGKnEQybmV_bVOuDFK2dg8T4u61vLZtpSQc0bjor7b73iH8mlJsmxr8LyDhLi1OPC2w/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_113558.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedKtSu2TekmUQBzQDd_M1Wt-la6t2QRXMMR-TrGRVk1DoQXNVx4nbET1I9qSjnph-Mz9x4xh1ZCiKc8xWw2h_3pmA5Atp4jB014Czhz2eaE4vJP89-bWFVIXglOmJAtr0bA4p21cgaZ6aTg09PAgrcl4a0X1ZKDccEe6TLINNK5rDAueNi5cMzHtdww/s3648/IMG_20220425_115844.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgedKtSu2TekmUQBzQDd_M1Wt-la6t2QRXMMR-TrGRVk1DoQXNVx4nbET1I9qSjnph-Mz9x4xh1ZCiKc8xWw2h_3pmA5Atp4jB014Czhz2eaE4vJP89-bWFVIXglOmJAtr0bA4p21cgaZ6aTg09PAgrcl4a0X1ZKDccEe6TLINNK5rDAueNi5cMzHtdww/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_115844.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Ormacleit Castle, South Uist</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqI875CQgfbprZgVd95sxh9Ep0fM3RgnYtD1mmx3JQhfxz9MO4eWWhz9-A6IBc-VqxnhfzG5mlr3i-Z0vabr31viRqNF8R8jYrlBkVGgcqSxcDBdHIezsYOu2gBcR7pxH6qpknxQ_U8PGNtYm5Y8SeMgdkS2MPKFZl95x1z4BTnKrlE0roKXbw2wklQ/s2800/IMG_20220425_162547.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2216" data-original-width="2800" height="506" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzqI875CQgfbprZgVd95sxh9Ep0fM3RgnYtD1mmx3JQhfxz9MO4eWWhz9-A6IBc-VqxnhfzG5mlr3i-Z0vabr31viRqNF8R8jYrlBkVGgcqSxcDBdHIezsYOu2gBcR7pxH6qpknxQ_U8PGNtYm5Y8SeMgdkS2MPKFZl95x1z4BTnKrlE0roKXbw2wklQ/w640-h506/IMG_20220425_162547.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Kildonan museum, South Uist</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVQuDJvwOj07vO-It_-XMM5MKLytSKq3EwQFOwUdAp2ae2_u4m0nvxeAOACiJ11N8h7Ts0j71kuCgfK8bEfoFXXrTQCsg34eed4Pr5L3XywQwvhW21ZOxo3qVgadI1MzXxItkTWoGeK7hMvbhk1V4LqvCUKk1MRX3MQsLmL2DAGSZI8xw6QfDfJS1KA/s3648/IMG_20220425_134729.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWVQuDJvwOj07vO-It_-XMM5MKLytSKq3EwQFOwUdAp2ae2_u4m0nvxeAOACiJ11N8h7Ts0j71kuCgfK8bEfoFXXrTQCsg34eed4Pr5L3XywQwvhW21ZOxo3qVgadI1MzXxItkTWoGeK7hMvbhk1V4LqvCUKk1MRX3MQsLmL2DAGSZI8xw6QfDfJS1KA/w400-h300/IMG_20220425_134729.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov46NQPOZkaOgKnq2d-76UxeJZIuoQlc3R4boinmydicwO8_-KY1cb_v6Rmtp8DALjZJz0pRW85JMs82Lckpn3-4d-1CmD6PDPqcdv4ALJoMFRN_VlRcJTdHO3Iw0OUExjfWiFIcfF7NK4nbMtS5tC074lD9wIpfTsgVTiVeSpPNA49WM2lHQ1DUAwQ/s3648/IMG_20220425_140050.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhov46NQPOZkaOgKnq2d-76UxeJZIuoQlc3R4boinmydicwO8_-KY1cb_v6Rmtp8DALjZJz0pRW85JMs82Lckpn3-4d-1CmD6PDPqcdv4ALJoMFRN_VlRcJTdHO3Iw0OUExjfWiFIcfF7NK4nbMtS5tC074lD9wIpfTsgVTiVeSpPNA49WM2lHQ1DUAwQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_140050.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>leaving Lochboisdale, South Uist</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b> T</b></span>he drive to Banavie, near Fort William, was difficult, with winding hairpins and typical rough Scottish asphalt but with lovely scenery. We stopped once along the way to look at a monument in Glenfidden on Loch Shiel. It was here in 1745 the Jacobite rising began when Princes Charles raised his standard on the shores of the loch. The Monument was built in 1815 as a tribute to 'the generous zeal and undaunted bravery' of those Highlanders who 'fought and bled in that arduous and unfortunate enterprise'. One of the scenes from several Harry Potter movies was filmed here using the 21-arch viaduct where the West Highland Line steam train crosses over the River Finnan. Not surprisingly, more people come here to gawk at the viaduct and wait for the next train to cross than gaze up at the lone, kilted Highlander staring silent across the deep blue waters. Our Airbnb in Banavie was delightful and very private and had a wonderful view of Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in the UK. The sun was setting and reflecting off the the last of the winters snow, the rest of the Grampian mountains marching off in the distance. A perfect backdrop to end another full day. <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uY5R3JPWtfqR0sMjDHv7I7YdpMeRufnRAHRlio3V8hcuntIE7v3mUTsk43Fr5nPCZNlYzGh1wDadEvezOuA3H-2yf7mKw_SV3CTSLEJEhTn6WNof1Dkzld2ICvzGNj0D9KKFuRU7INPoQT76dQwHuBhiYXvqM5t8Wn4Ykljxga74wqVKzcb-7DT5aA/s3648/IMG_20220425_171958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-uY5R3JPWtfqR0sMjDHv7I7YdpMeRufnRAHRlio3V8hcuntIE7v3mUTsk43Fr5nPCZNlYzGh1wDadEvezOuA3H-2yf7mKw_SV3CTSLEJEhTn6WNof1Dkzld2ICvzGNj0D9KKFuRU7INPoQT76dQwHuBhiYXvqM5t8Wn4Ykljxga74wqVKzcb-7DT5aA/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_171958.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh147wRqdCJ4dS6F6rpupYsqx4gnMO3ZD-EKJYsBFLy_h59jPrt9QsANwuMxOAtOQuZgOWgPPiZBejmN0MuXqdfmrtgxvZqTuqnV5kmyi3jBPHuRr0XqjDzHycu5zKtFUnc-V6F9wiILEdSfRmwDjzto1GlV8fLzk0kCF2c0YCOmhwYXFp5GeVBO8Rg/s3648/IMG_20220425_172422.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwh147wRqdCJ4dS6F6rpupYsqx4gnMO3ZD-EKJYsBFLy_h59jPrt9QsANwuMxOAtOQuZgOWgPPiZBejmN0MuXqdfmrtgxvZqTuqnV5kmyi3jBPHuRr0XqjDzHycu5zKtFUnc-V6F9wiILEdSfRmwDjzto1GlV8fLzk0kCF2c0YCOmhwYXFp5GeVBO8Rg/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_172422.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>arriving Mallaig</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqOkndZhv3pk2IW69OJNIc169cE8E_a7490uVBAP4qeSBG78Qro0fXy7yAS0G5wFnfGjRJSJz3N5OQvF3-JILTxWHVhDO_3Qn2NckbzeHXWrzBO2K56VIPy8D9XdgtX5WoT3Ub1odQWkBNgLeyneotoKmsLOl15IiLh9c71xWiG4_fgnE4yyk3EBwQ/s3648/IMG_20220425_184217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEbqOkndZhv3pk2IW69OJNIc169cE8E_a7490uVBAP4qeSBG78Qro0fXy7yAS0G5wFnfGjRJSJz3N5OQvF3-JILTxWHVhDO_3Qn2NckbzeHXWrzBO2K56VIPy8D9XdgtX5WoT3Ub1odQWkBNgLeyneotoKmsLOl15IiLh9c71xWiG4_fgnE4yyk3EBwQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220425_184217.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Glenfinnan Monument, its all Gaelic to me</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSpULDr1rvO76z5QV1Bk3IjxLkLxRfh5d8FiVDcEP-pBGZvvrJYa63KaJ0yyHqj_GdW_qhCmps90y2hKghUtwRdcmoeYdntuolx9K2qq7xaan0SeicESFb2hdqRfnuMYMuKvym6m90EEyuxEM2lmbh17uVnQDDz90F9sDXyD9a1utCEOhqXtPUhH8xA/s3648/IMG_20220425_184653.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTSpULDr1rvO76z5QV1Bk3IjxLkLxRfh5d8FiVDcEP-pBGZvvrJYa63KaJ0yyHqj_GdW_qhCmps90y2hKghUtwRdcmoeYdntuolx9K2qq7xaan0SeicESFb2hdqRfnuMYMuKvym6m90EEyuxEM2lmbh17uVnQDDz90F9sDXyD9a1utCEOhqXtPUhH8xA/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_184653.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Glenfinnan Viaduct, in the distance</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWdiGtkP8xqaIoz_oGCMvJQY7f7W1QxBqW0ls31A1DtpwN2N3r7IxdBvZAxEd0Ys9gzWeVoTGIzO4A4xmjd0G5kAFGFJg0Z9bPZVPUIZORviBBCf8Yy7X14OA9bkK-m9p2DDaYRPq0zQ1Q7ayRoMjkAkfru5Vvz7p0k-WYZrpiuvqPrqLmMKnDZvuwA/s3648/IMG_20220425_183842.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWdiGtkP8xqaIoz_oGCMvJQY7f7W1QxBqW0ls31A1DtpwN2N3r7IxdBvZAxEd0Ys9gzWeVoTGIzO4A4xmjd0G5kAFGFJg0Z9bPZVPUIZORviBBCf8Yy7X14OA9bkK-m9p2DDaYRPq0zQ1Q7ayRoMjkAkfru5Vvz7p0k-WYZrpiuvqPrqLmMKnDZvuwA/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_183842.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Loch Shiel</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxREZVD2X1izYHv3d0m1QkdbEq56wzuuCXB-8GZTeJ8UtUjLxx0_JXjwoCzFTWDNxon5vLbmbU5MLf60ptgo6mhFhBD0aZ8lDZZ4sTj2nOUHdG7vo__YyVaxkiI34dsg0JFAnhG91zRkJ4mXi3DgmD0rP3WGtGQFpejcmYihvFO0_4wmKca1Jmk9qqQ/s3648/IMG_20220425_194738.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQxREZVD2X1izYHv3d0m1QkdbEq56wzuuCXB-8GZTeJ8UtUjLxx0_JXjwoCzFTWDNxon5vLbmbU5MLf60ptgo6mhFhBD0aZ8lDZZ4sTj2nOUHdG7vo__YyVaxkiI34dsg0JFAnhG91zRkJ4mXi3DgmD0rP3WGtGQFpejcmYihvFO0_4wmKca1Jmk9qqQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220425_194738.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Ben Nevis</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmq9ZD806yNjADy0IedJW-EX6rnLru38b-DoxmaQ9Y3DeRDRIiVKgKsrCFx168KRxEr7hRFGLJpsZF1mtjSsDvHrKkHWqKciqIkHzsOXe0-8I-11VfK2SNeEwu__UXjHtOZxAlP_JF9pjlnRwMYDrVd5y1yaNwv-nDQ5S-wBl-8Qo5DuQzhVMzb1Kng/s3365/IMG_20220425_162523.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3365" data-original-width="2065" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmq9ZD806yNjADy0IedJW-EX6rnLru38b-DoxmaQ9Y3DeRDRIiVKgKsrCFx168KRxEr7hRFGLJpsZF1mtjSsDvHrKkHWqKciqIkHzsOXe0-8I-11VfK2SNeEwu__UXjHtOZxAlP_JF9pjlnRwMYDrVd5y1yaNwv-nDQ5S-wBl-8Qo5DuQzhVMzb1Kng/w392-h640/IMG_20220425_162523.jpg" width="392" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-91868366267985914442022-04-24T12:28:00.000-07:002022-04-24T12:28:00.933-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 33 Isles of Berneray/North Uist/Benbecula, Outer Hebrides, Scotland)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx91Di2WZPCg__RhxYFAh_TWzb1sKI7BrlBUf6CLdClUU_iFOd6G_fcQ8cUJp3UpOVVx2TOUnLaVDC1u9OmC0w_QmbLnC88nHzqZ8ddcrIEmTgWP3Er0F3xZQ0o4B3GcWJP4o6iBYIiAJ9i5u-y_NrLQ5-DSp14A1TIE0wJoVBhWHyia1na5-Y4ywEBw/s3648/IMG_20220424_114829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx91Di2WZPCg__RhxYFAh_TWzb1sKI7BrlBUf6CLdClUU_iFOd6G_fcQ8cUJp3UpOVVx2TOUnLaVDC1u9OmC0w_QmbLnC88nHzqZ8ddcrIEmTgWP3Er0F3xZQ0o4B3GcWJP4o6iBYIiAJ9i5u-y_NrLQ5-DSp14A1TIE0wJoVBhWHyia1na5-Y4ywEBw/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_114829.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>oday was an exploration of the southern part of the Outer Hebrides - the islands of Berneray, North Uist and Benbecula. I was up early to see the sun rise while I finished my blog of the day before, lighting a warm peat fire in John's Bunkhouse. This old stone building where we stayed the night has been renovated into a beautiful lodging by the waters of Cockle Bay that literally wash up on the doorstep. It is one of the most unique places we had yet slept in and a place I could easily call home. We started out to see as much as we could of the countryside, following the few signs we could to new discoveries. We also wanted to get an idea of this bleak but beautiful area where my great grandfather lived and worked, likely in or around the village of Kirkibost, or on the island of the same name. Our first stop was at a Neolithic chambered cairn, typical of those built by farming communities on N. Uist. It has a small burial chamber inside but a recent collapse of the stone roof has made it impossible to get up close to examine. Moving on along A865 beach after beach beckoned, seemingly around every bend, and it was only a short walk over a grassy knoll or across a farmer's field to the most captivating views we could imagine. The best was yet to come though.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQjAmKbW8AJeQOZ0tFvM1-PK_sx3KMtUnZMj7wQUJHro-bdBeKUIwEMMeUsvCxB2NQGBPSvFxgTpx_75HJXF-gYB7xKY7j1LxVmmEoYgzA5c0npT5HYvWeAkVkwuf0GxQcWljXGIOVs-uIcIx48UN1FBHs1LgLz_8tcjiaMjxFjkCXehlrJuXZvMg0A/s3648/IMG_20220424_115315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifQjAmKbW8AJeQOZ0tFvM1-PK_sx3KMtUnZMj7wQUJHro-bdBeKUIwEMMeUsvCxB2NQGBPSvFxgTpx_75HJXF-gYB7xKY7j1LxVmmEoYgzA5c0npT5HYvWeAkVkwuf0GxQcWljXGIOVs-uIcIx48UN1FBHs1LgLz_8tcjiaMjxFjkCXehlrJuXZvMg0A/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_115315.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>lost on the peat hills of N Uist</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmkz_Hf4K8uE4Qg8a9Xj9ZkKuSF198iAJdsUE_Tl5qBDb9yU2_otVxeUiXaiw_evSoLgRFc5l02sSVB-_UFqDemlkpKN9C5AJdIisM5yC9ikC78DzOvNtIxkL8OEicz2huMeYbwjFNbTa3YwNgIfE1uSbQHu5nwor_JcyUmAMUq9E4oIivmwYSbmd0A/s3648/IMG_20220424_122356.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmkz_Hf4K8uE4Qg8a9Xj9ZkKuSF198iAJdsUE_Tl5qBDb9yU2_otVxeUiXaiw_evSoLgRFc5l02sSVB-_UFqDemlkpKN9C5AJdIisM5yC9ikC78DzOvNtIxkL8OEicz2huMeYbwjFNbTa3YwNgIfE1uSbQHu5nwor_JcyUmAMUq9E4oIivmwYSbmd0A/w400-h300/IMG_20220424_122356.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the old and the new, Kirkibost</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHhzSzVbr50XBpKmhyczJI9Mmetaf1v-IBc3wTFsIZdfR0pXNkr3lc6KCEj6XjdMrVEAa9ckVp_oyFqo7choO7yGSuC6kbruNjV-VAGkJ27iwfP9GPqgXGos_5Aew_X9hC7ASPwacT4Gitcd9ggqDvqGnEsfEALZ7QFdmDzhl9huml1bOjnpqgEvBYw/s2048/IMG-20220424-WA0010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYHhzSzVbr50XBpKmhyczJI9Mmetaf1v-IBc3wTFsIZdfR0pXNkr3lc6KCEj6XjdMrVEAa9ckVp_oyFqo7choO7yGSuC6kbruNjV-VAGkJ27iwfP9GPqgXGos_5Aew_X9hC7ASPwacT4Gitcd9ggqDvqGnEsfEALZ7QFdmDzhl9huml1bOjnpqgEvBYw/w400-h300/IMG-20220424-WA0010.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>thatched cottage, N Uist</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jFle4LV0kZgEuCGuIhXzAiR4XZIAu6i7LDBITWeFwQqOLStiiiwoUsQnH1q2xWIqGYGbMpUJFayNKBCbjPVrO4sKnOpPjbxpsIxnKAgvKRbgaKOHLMdsS_KDQZujC-l7cDjpV7UZHASqL15cbOFZZalHxIBcAt603nrvCNMEfDAbh6pybylk9GYitQ/s2048/IMG-20220424-WA0018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2jFle4LV0kZgEuCGuIhXzAiR4XZIAu6i7LDBITWeFwQqOLStiiiwoUsQnH1q2xWIqGYGbMpUJFayNKBCbjPVrO4sKnOpPjbxpsIxnKAgvKRbgaKOHLMdsS_KDQZujC-l7cDjpV7UZHASqL15cbOFZZalHxIBcAt603nrvCNMEfDAbh6pybylk9GYitQ/w640-h480/IMG-20220424-WA0018.jpg" width="640" /></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oAJ3LAHwWom3_kKJQOrKCcRGD_whc1Br1aYA-j_ZLTitbpb-WNUvKAlImzltCwV4QBNGAdVSVrMOOloDHIY2hVjulYvEs_OF7_1M6gjTalz4no1A2psLNQpiJzrSmwo97Zq8QVM7eIAbWd3cglI_N6JxvAv0r0Kwz5RDnEwJmCrAm04_xqn-zgyS2g/s2048/IMG-20220424-WA0044.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5oAJ3LAHwWom3_kKJQOrKCcRGD_whc1Br1aYA-j_ZLTitbpb-WNUvKAlImzltCwV4QBNGAdVSVrMOOloDHIY2hVjulYvEs_OF7_1M6gjTalz4no1A2psLNQpiJzrSmwo97Zq8QVM7eIAbWd3cglI_N6JxvAv0r0Kwz5RDnEwJmCrAm04_xqn-zgyS2g/w640-h480/IMG-20220424-WA0044.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>typical roads on the islands</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTaevjuuCfjviAWh3rkqTU8OUtgcwYEsBZGSjoXrnVum3RcWlZlxn6Mr36gJ4TotL7umAuYrVPpIjB6w-n69FrQlWE1yz2wCodADKik6OT6wl16uTqSY2VoBxnFHuDfBev6HbAajT-N33KO4h4MeEqJmV_7q759uRPiZCAgZqIuae0KAqi8qt0UIJhw/s2048/IMG-20220424-WA0046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggTaevjuuCfjviAWh3rkqTU8OUtgcwYEsBZGSjoXrnVum3RcWlZlxn6Mr36gJ4TotL7umAuYrVPpIjB6w-n69FrQlWE1yz2wCodADKik6OT6wl16uTqSY2VoBxnFHuDfBev6HbAajT-N33KO4h4MeEqJmV_7q759uRPiZCAgZqIuae0KAqi8qt0UIJhw/w640-h480/IMG-20220424-WA0046.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>miles and miles of treeless landscape</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfAgh_A1-X_RODFw70PMRGLBgfara1ZybvaqduzD2D9-KkWD-yuOvve6RhkEw4vsZK_XS3-ANAiaUB3oEN-bO4-PvxRU6jRma2mOh6hLYvc-YVvUhu469_f-1-wwK6ZxZeBGqrVApYbzRO8mj2VVcslKZRgJdTV85ZSnbQuGUrQB-F3e84YMDhPtZYA/s3648/IMG_20220424_130031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZfAgh_A1-X_RODFw70PMRGLBgfara1ZybvaqduzD2D9-KkWD-yuOvve6RhkEw4vsZK_XS3-ANAiaUB3oEN-bO4-PvxRU6jRma2mOh6hLYvc-YVvUhu469_f-1-wwK6ZxZeBGqrVApYbzRO8mj2VVcslKZRgJdTV85ZSnbQuGUrQB-F3e84YMDhPtZYA/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_130031.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>one of many beaches on N Uist</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc2UF7zWRGhiijnw9PzZAabxSO2E_r6CnLTVNG2fDLglO-BNN23uzjkcq3_M03_kiCFDDewtHJZNzIBsSMDdWmxNKaA75h-iCSGOV1rgMS-DLVempiEQioADcd13o7LNl8jcY8hk9GpKAVS0ljZoLvEYLC91658ps05A1gZY3uYhfbn0rqbxBsd88bw/s3648/IMG_20220424_130637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMc2UF7zWRGhiijnw9PzZAabxSO2E_r6CnLTVNG2fDLglO-BNN23uzjkcq3_M03_kiCFDDewtHJZNzIBsSMDdWmxNKaA75h-iCSGOV1rgMS-DLVempiEQioADcd13o7LNl8jcY8hk9GpKAVS0ljZoLvEYLC91658ps05A1gZY3uYhfbn0rqbxBsd88bw/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_130637.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>dipping our toes in the N Atlantic</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>B</b></span>ecause we had been advised to check out a very special place on Berneray we retraced our drive back across the causeway between the two islands and, after following the narrowest of roads for a mile, we were treated to the highlight of the day - West Beach! The pictures and videos I took of this magical beach cannot do it justice - white sand, towering sand dunes, crystal clear emerald-colored water and totally deserted. We almost felt like we were the last people on earth and we could hear nothing but the gentle lapping of the water and the sharp cry of plovers and curlews overhead in the azure sky. Unfortunately we had to finally leave and point the car southeast toward our next destination, the island of Benbecula and the village of Balivanich. Hopefully we would be able to find someplace to eat on this late Sunday afternoon. <b>GWS</b></span><br /><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHPuhkeyHqHntF8TEUgHhSZ7NTH6xKfezvQ3TWzgdKIg_DBMtXebHTyPDUR9qEhPIceC0K9bcrJ39-kzlQeh-GxGWxdo-4V47IsUUeoNpNv7nzQ_2EiRsBHewEu-BPLBqB617XeFEypI5c_mOoAeUBKa6DQwYaclyGAnXl2sdZ4FN8Ggxhst_Fb8kRQ/s3648/IMG_20220424_143534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnHPuhkeyHqHntF8TEUgHhSZ7NTH6xKfezvQ3TWzgdKIg_DBMtXebHTyPDUR9qEhPIceC0K9bcrJ39-kzlQeh-GxGWxdo-4V47IsUUeoNpNv7nzQ_2EiRsBHewEu-BPLBqB617XeFEypI5c_mOoAeUBKa6DQwYaclyGAnXl2sdZ4FN8Ggxhst_Fb8kRQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220424_143534.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_hEQSe7d_el_eEMeWdBoqs5b7_ljgSM_ASTUSXOJ-gLfWTmA1IxXK_mX15fY06zdCVqDGSGJ_i9VVOwF6TILfTj1t8plUvCDtdnW0hcwVDF8jLESiogizsumHWjdD_CUaKvSeJUiyCTWpqpMT8moly1FUwJjEYoNUfukzy5dttxiIaTVdE_MRzasXg/s5632/IMG_20220424_143738.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU_hEQSe7d_el_eEMeWdBoqs5b7_ljgSM_ASTUSXOJ-gLfWTmA1IxXK_mX15fY06zdCVqDGSGJ_i9VVOwF6TILfTj1t8plUvCDtdnW0hcwVDF8jLESiogizsumHWjdD_CUaKvSeJUiyCTWpqpMT8moly1FUwJjEYoNUfukzy5dttxiIaTVdE_MRzasXg/w400-h300/IMG_20220424_143738.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpne7GWoMOwCzncOWU_UnhA2JR2-Wbm2rGC18yCyR_slpNoja4lHR1dCOPONJHGSFiPjQN8V04bubstg4jMHI7U3-uGbMEmGZGkofl_eYoXYwBM1jGekwT8NkcGM_8B0yFOIbec_101Wh20km5RwJpHd84q0CoGFMmLzFNErT1mUNuc0rjAd2rDHrekA/s3648/IMG_20220424_144609.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpne7GWoMOwCzncOWU_UnhA2JR2-Wbm2rGC18yCyR_slpNoja4lHR1dCOPONJHGSFiPjQN8V04bubstg4jMHI7U3-uGbMEmGZGkofl_eYoXYwBM1jGekwT8NkcGM_8B0yFOIbec_101Wh20km5RwJpHd84q0CoGFMmLzFNErT1mUNuc0rjAd2rDHrekA/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_144609.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y2IzTcqtadnajvV2dEN8xHevRgI8zvegdt9900EidGRcr86COD5xBk2RvKAOS2yJ_QPYwFx8CYtqRV1ZSNzlgdba6oUN6mDm4wvLaT-s5pPnPjSoRRCQ1egpS0NKcXn-xYnOBhveg9XiydQ6EIycEWkTMdbnq8tpE56hg7ZUuYpg8mPdn1LYvBlUuw/s3648/IMG_20220424_144746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-y2IzTcqtadnajvV2dEN8xHevRgI8zvegdt9900EidGRcr86COD5xBk2RvKAOS2yJ_QPYwFx8CYtqRV1ZSNzlgdba6oUN6mDm4wvLaT-s5pPnPjSoRRCQ1egpS0NKcXn-xYnOBhveg9XiydQ6EIycEWkTMdbnq8tpE56hg7ZUuYpg8mPdn1LYvBlUuw/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_144746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>West Beach, Berneray, Outer Hebrides</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj4gMqcpeIWAWzyLkVLiRZkF8NnDdIxLbqVb3ZGBYISV1vdEB15nofYPDVr83_NAVUyHuoBLzudVZf7YQuBF0NdgnjC8UfYj4YViLjAaRFnQjm5pe4brU7vEid3Lg2UqJxg1t-RqrmzqhwfeIy9BTh6hcsyfF3-xJ70U3r8tGsxR1VYBTFMl3zIRB9g/s3648/IMG_20220424_150912.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcj4gMqcpeIWAWzyLkVLiRZkF8NnDdIxLbqVb3ZGBYISV1vdEB15nofYPDVr83_NAVUyHuoBLzudVZf7YQuBF0NdgnjC8UfYj4YViLjAaRFnQjm5pe4brU7vEid3Lg2UqJxg1t-RqrmzqhwfeIy9BTh6hcsyfF3-xJ70U3r8tGsxR1VYBTFMl3zIRB9g/w640-h480/IMG_20220424_150912.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>supper?</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-90243585145772599142022-04-24T00:06:00.001-07:002022-04-24T00:06:38.347-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 32 Isle of Lewis/Isle of Harris/Berneray, Outer Hebrides, Scotland)<p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-wPgeGzZlxviLrcR2gBffsBUtl5QMjDJ_RWBaHaxJa3zrf2XnrOxgLYqSPWlhbS8Ppiq3mWEjhiHxwlUyDDdFDwqOC_mvhHaxSAoAYCvtHJ5uErt1PW-2AnH_Wvwdhp5L1yjN7dHfZ5qCNR4U6lzDbd0Q3iKSU6hX2bVliOUch2M0YtOfF7zH4zTZw/s3648/IMG_20220423_075510%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1-wPgeGzZlxviLrcR2gBffsBUtl5QMjDJ_RWBaHaxJa3zrf2XnrOxgLYqSPWlhbS8Ppiq3mWEjhiHxwlUyDDdFDwqOC_mvhHaxSAoAYCvtHJ5uErt1PW-2AnH_Wvwdhp5L1yjN7dHfZ5qCNR4U6lzDbd0Q3iKSU6hX2bVliOUch2M0YtOfF7zH4zTZw/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_075510%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he next morning Marie and I walked down to the Gress beach, ten minutes from our Airbnb. It was very windy and overcast but it felt good to stretch our legs before breakfast. The Highland cattle in the field we passed came up to see who was out so early on such a blustery day. We were reluctant to leave our very kind host Chrissie but we took away some lovely memories of this special lady and her dog Archie - the evening we arrived she made a peat fire in her living room for us! From Gress we drove up to the Butt of Lewis at the very top of the island, exploring the sandy beach and the lighthouse perched above the menacing and very steep and dangerous cliffs, crowded with nesting seabirds. Heading back south on the A858 we looked for signs indicating standing stones that were believed to be erected thousands of years ago, the most famous on the island at Callandish. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YwGyvsYN2a78jx7A_sztj1HCm_ouN5Q-1Zo7fYzk71myVH3E2rd0ycr7_Oahdef79pg25id7C9Xcru5svZ9FIbmX96O2xtJmeOpy1gxnIQUZ15PhSLrVDChZlG2KA7p4ojDLIMISpgFt-H5BEzLb65uA_l8Q41Tk0xmR8cbHmjbfc_oTb4RpeC2tog/s3648/IMG_20220423_080126%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-YwGyvsYN2a78jx7A_sztj1HCm_ouN5Q-1Zo7fYzk71myVH3E2rd0ycr7_Oahdef79pg25id7C9Xcru5svZ9FIbmX96O2xtJmeOpy1gxnIQUZ15PhSLrVDChZlG2KA7p4ojDLIMISpgFt-H5BEzLb65uA_l8Q41Tk0xmR8cbHmjbfc_oTb4RpeC2tog/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_080126%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Gress beach, Isle of Lewis</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr-mTBGoQtJEhuwubH6Ve5ric8ETlgWz0x_byFrwsL4BqHaQGH-THwE_JLE3CwmvvJKZkBwZ82_4_3sgT_dhwb8wrQsIA0wuPe5d0QA28DvnamsCHN1qmuXLiEm0GLDtXtcwDGEk2LcgqvWG-FeBxlTrZ57ogOszueArIafEw4R9qURpWOoHXxSOD_g/s3648/IMG_20220423_105913.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCr-mTBGoQtJEhuwubH6Ve5ric8ETlgWz0x_byFrwsL4BqHaQGH-THwE_JLE3CwmvvJKZkBwZ82_4_3sgT_dhwb8wrQsIA0wuPe5d0QA28DvnamsCHN1qmuXLiEm0GLDtXtcwDGEk2LcgqvWG-FeBxlTrZ57ogOszueArIafEw4R9qURpWOoHXxSOD_g/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_105913.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>spectacularly colored secret caves at the Butt of Lewis</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX4DxdUR9zpMzPAp5zWlw4FLlZcgHlDVMnMg__3aR91mezy0TFKiwkCeEmhairLZN_qraTfz0oxBOh94iF3aF6RFKmAtyw-3BGbB07zUE8kI0mYpi8JenYjaDo1rh5otdFM9l6PXzJN_ls7pZbP28CA26kNrrQAg5HOKveCBECHBjTDjCpg0oDL8CWQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_110639%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAX4DxdUR9zpMzPAp5zWlw4FLlZcgHlDVMnMg__3aR91mezy0TFKiwkCeEmhairLZN_qraTfz0oxBOh94iF3aF6RFKmAtyw-3BGbB07zUE8kI0mYpi8JenYjaDo1rh5otdFM9l6PXzJN_ls7pZbP28CA26kNrrQAg5HOKveCBECHBjTDjCpg0oDL8CWQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_110639%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykqGDEAJ-FYqhMBE1y0eqMrUUEJpPuJS3_qZ5nfB1ZHG6ob2jLueWef0kcb4bRBllN4aWk2Y9IOw3HR6vfvQd4Y4O6IrSpwPl5LqmxouGZWYdQcsIMnmWVa-J-JBszCqapR-MiMpQ8Bx3KFTDqFSOf2V75CsarzjnabwmtmubmJbuzUfNDedd_r9nnQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_110723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykqGDEAJ-FYqhMBE1y0eqMrUUEJpPuJS3_qZ5nfB1ZHG6ob2jLueWef0kcb4bRBllN4aWk2Y9IOw3HR6vfvQd4Y4O6IrSpwPl5LqmxouGZWYdQcsIMnmWVa-J-JBszCqapR-MiMpQ8Bx3KFTDqFSOf2V75CsarzjnabwmtmubmJbuzUfNDedd_r9nnQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_110723.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlpwOmGTm7Nv4IDtVh2KwQRuDr2DmI3HbF2n_n1hq8HZTHUCM31mN0SUT6ELfS3JLAs5fmCRSm5e20JE3RCw28pZjPXIpHaFcsleCkEZhTrqhnJ7kbT-QUvOaxOzZuOVNTRzde5ym3pLa-pXp8lrPEM8HyJhLPcTOgEwnEkHOAKuCdwgRucYn8o66jA/s5632/IMG_20220423_111619%20-%20Copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAlpwOmGTm7Nv4IDtVh2KwQRuDr2DmI3HbF2n_n1hq8HZTHUCM31mN0SUT6ELfS3JLAs5fmCRSm5e20JE3RCw28pZjPXIpHaFcsleCkEZhTrqhnJ7kbT-QUvOaxOzZuOVNTRzde5ym3pLa-pXp8lrPEM8HyJhLPcTOgEwnEkHOAKuCdwgRucYn8o66jA/w480-h640/IMG_20220423_111619%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Lighthouse, Butt of Lewis</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtQLqUHCsYb7Ka92iaq0a9FAQK-biTimVojkUZsw_WWZ5wNWi5QLYJgEQWtrxbNIZc7hMt2XlrG5mjm_RLIxCRpuaeQdra2Xw_qcoQOzMc1DwBNgLEsSMoU-6e4hFb6ua1kUkuMnsTo6q2vjhvpWvwJxLnWQpjfBQZNEm5claWhYuk9Id_sNHbI6GAA/s3648/IMG_20220423_115807.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUtQLqUHCsYb7Ka92iaq0a9FAQK-biTimVojkUZsw_WWZ5wNWi5QLYJgEQWtrxbNIZc7hMt2XlrG5mjm_RLIxCRpuaeQdra2Xw_qcoQOzMc1DwBNgLEsSMoU-6e4hFb6ua1kUkuMnsTo6q2vjhvpWvwJxLnWQpjfBQZNEm5claWhYuk9Id_sNHbI6GAA/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_115807.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzgsRwjNbw5dspNIQx_qC5yiplX0gXUK8pvb_8C3u-jxs07utox7sTdRk8EcPC-wP7hh3TdL_Svwnt0PMOvmoA22U9W5PktXByx337nRcgCpJpEOyvXpnmbM9d5QgMLMMMhunN5xgcYbku60DCgdbRED1pcSyv_DMSS2iUPYRrwJ3LrSpcy0ZRLX7AQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_122002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpzgsRwjNbw5dspNIQx_qC5yiplX0gXUK8pvb_8C3u-jxs07utox7sTdRk8EcPC-wP7hh3TdL_Svwnt0PMOvmoA22U9W5PktXByx337nRcgCpJpEOyvXpnmbM9d5QgMLMMMhunN5xgcYbku60DCgdbRED1pcSyv_DMSS2iUPYRrwJ3LrSpcy0ZRLX7AQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220423_122002.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the Trussel stone</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>e also walked through a field of grazing sheep to to an old reconstructed thatched Norse mill and kiln by the village of Shawbost. This spot used to be home to as many as 200 small horizontal wheel mills, active till the 1930s.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> The road to Tarbert where we crossed over to South Harris, the home of Harris Tweed, was spellbinding and we stopped often to take in the spectacular scenery, dodging the numerous sheep and lambs grazing at the very edge of the road or crossing suddenly in front of us. </span><span style="text-align: left;">Wherever we drove dark lines of cultivated peat were visible, in places recently cut from the ground. All this partially composed vegetable matter, cut out of the wet acidic bogs and fens that roll away into the distance, is still used for fuel here on the Hebrides. Soon great expanses of golden sand beaches came into view around the Sound of Taransay, taking our breath away again and again. The road to Leverburgh narrowed even more as we got close to the ferry terminal and I was glad we had left some time to spare so we could enjoy some unforgettable sights on this incredible part of Scotland. It was twelve hours since we strolled the beach in Gress and, to end another long day, we watched the sun go down on the beach by the Airbnb. <b>GWS</b></span></div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7fsqRCF612t5NgftQ4Ak68u571mc1uPxWBNFT3AUH2ydjpLjqg50XfAWiJsxbyLihfQNEPCFI7sAmrrK6oUb9Cgq_y40TLLl1_tk247wwjkD1wqoyM3Ki1PBcPyqnXF_Q3V_Au1ac-oOm3w-qgt08DleDukOaaV5V5QeqXeW-Y-Y4tmzoMnpuEeLRQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_125347.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU7fsqRCF612t5NgftQ4Ak68u571mc1uPxWBNFT3AUH2ydjpLjqg50XfAWiJsxbyLihfQNEPCFI7sAmrrK6oUb9Cgq_y40TLLl1_tk247wwjkD1wqoyM3Ki1PBcPyqnXF_Q3V_Au1ac-oOm3w-qgt08DleDukOaaV5V5QeqXeW-Y-Y4tmzoMnpuEeLRQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_125347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Shawbost Norse mill and kiln</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwGx8qa1iHvfBCxDlH7OvO50WYgRCg3axyjzfs7Y2ADy-SAj7hDHf-VuuNFjGXSsYkOqTo-d87UDSbSArAl1SEH4BUN1DY-KRvRw1SzUg8BNnkfhxlUSB7_aWq8h6HAaQmixxNHnW-mDIyypT1O20Ms0ImckCLxTjzf6n7xQTB2pvca5yHgHNv9JAqw/s3648/IMG_20220423_151438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilwGx8qa1iHvfBCxDlH7OvO50WYgRCg3axyjzfs7Y2ADy-SAj7hDHf-VuuNFjGXSsYkOqTo-d87UDSbSArAl1SEH4BUN1DY-KRvRw1SzUg8BNnkfhxlUSB7_aWq8h6HAaQmixxNHnW-mDIyypT1O20Ms0ImckCLxTjzf6n7xQTB2pvca5yHgHNv9JAqw/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_151438.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Standing Stones of Callandish</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglczRuDVdvyEO8C7oh73-6jttoq6AdbQE2i53qQj9OB7WMDi5Y238zVWm8zM1zSGcnRfFXGmwHEtg7QrVOrVUwQaGKgfVS_Wqnhhi2HwmUgwEqVA_pzkkkqu_DIwwXQ4J15ekJvvGNG38aabOHk4DluF763p7JniiXtq0BNCVMzeonaJK-zicv5kxj4A/s3648/IMG_20220423_153659.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglczRuDVdvyEO8C7oh73-6jttoq6AdbQE2i53qQj9OB7WMDi5Y238zVWm8zM1zSGcnRfFXGmwHEtg7QrVOrVUwQaGKgfVS_Wqnhhi2HwmUgwEqVA_pzkkkqu_DIwwXQ4J15ekJvvGNG38aabOHk4DluF763p7JniiXtq0BNCVMzeonaJK-zicv5kxj4A/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_153659.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>peat in the wet bogs</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAaE4PfByyJgYUpNhobYCZHMBJSv1_b0r87RG0dY8360v7tdTR113czEZoO87-XSI7vBglsNJzZx60Sx2cfR3KlOxrXFQjsC7hR7WIt3SLCIPeEfsIl8hARCp0UHcUw1IJXhi8nsxGb3bNGOv6_RoqtXDpPTA5xYveNisvJHXzzVxNEklyfA5SDM_aQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_172009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwAaE4PfByyJgYUpNhobYCZHMBJSv1_b0r87RG0dY8360v7tdTR113czEZoO87-XSI7vBglsNJzZx60Sx2cfR3KlOxrXFQjsC7hR7WIt3SLCIPeEfsIl8hARCp0UHcUw1IJXhi8nsxGb3bNGOv6_RoqtXDpPTA5xYveNisvJHXzzVxNEklyfA5SDM_aQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_172009.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ_gQieK92VwDVVRJRLqmQfxYJlPRLappmuK-Xf05L3Kpq_VqNYVgRqiYYcbjRsHmdyaI-L3I9XU8vr2xGhsYdCicKcTKYYdgxiY3_ROJ47iz60Ov4k9xM_n1dd7en2V9ECRDz5m_LF6ulUtO5l_1yG7tUlZnw-EfHHrsNGUWBbJddruPIRI5Le2JZQ/s3648/IMG_20220423_172248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirZ_gQieK92VwDVVRJRLqmQfxYJlPRLappmuK-Xf05L3Kpq_VqNYVgRqiYYcbjRsHmdyaI-L3I9XU8vr2xGhsYdCicKcTKYYdgxiY3_ROJ47iz60Ov4k9xM_n1dd7en2V9ECRDz5m_LF6ulUtO5l_1yG7tUlZnw-EfHHrsNGUWBbJddruPIRI5Le2JZQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_172248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>the beaches of South Harris</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfivVgB81VCBseUUR-F1NilqicjynWlEYqyDFSPShNvUEA65GBKiSRKdrtj3dRSLZsbNULGyeZF8tnSPyhUWKB6mPJRYBnmm4lsx3BQYWlPOGM0fcaSZGkPvAIsB8T6mA6hZUz5R0TwvMNtzRGMJoLYH5-kXIW--ihXt3L5bPWc2gCQW9Ai-MRFJp-tw/s3648/IMG_20220423_182138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfivVgB81VCBseUUR-F1NilqicjynWlEYqyDFSPShNvUEA65GBKiSRKdrtj3dRSLZsbNULGyeZF8tnSPyhUWKB6mPJRYBnmm4lsx3BQYWlPOGM0fcaSZGkPvAIsB8T6mA6hZUz5R0TwvMNtzRGMJoLYH5-kXIW--ihXt3L5bPWc2gCQW9Ai-MRFJp-tw/w400-h300/IMG_20220423_182138.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>ferry to Berneray and North Uist</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0vzKMfWKrelBsSsgPshApTRz61q2BFqmP25Sx3xRI8xfO4g-c_1phj9oylAD6apDL_1gyRvgzsR56VYvYqIZ92wHykGjEuq8pc3n7iHtn3rfn4-595tjDRKf2NJnzkNUrn5xV8k4_ojlzkURaKPET9RQlwlgQlqCVKyVy1nYFIfsjiedEVOBSz7y9Q/s3648/IMG_20220423_182414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx0vzKMfWKrelBsSsgPshApTRz61q2BFqmP25Sx3xRI8xfO4g-c_1phj9oylAD6apDL_1gyRvgzsR56VYvYqIZ92wHykGjEuq8pc3n7iHtn3rfn4-595tjDRKf2NJnzkNUrn5xV8k4_ojlzkURaKPET9RQlwlgQlqCVKyVy1nYFIfsjiedEVOBSz7y9Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_182414.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Scampi and chips</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg8mkMKI0TLCb4bToXPWuYVhJBqQPzGKTXDy-9VDv5DOYSEvZ5uDtRSukgFZmW8SiB2DSBi5qCdIb7LwHcZmLKzhDPwP3tgyQVUNSMFojDCsK0gApdrg2o5LFBbGGDK_Lsvi4tLq3HdMIp7AJXRtS2AWsYhU-EFFPOVTPlsgma6feepBn_BiPJxefGA/s2048/IMG-20220423-WA0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKg8mkMKI0TLCb4bToXPWuYVhJBqQPzGKTXDy-9VDv5DOYSEvZ5uDtRSukgFZmW8SiB2DSBi5qCdIb7LwHcZmLKzhDPwP3tgyQVUNSMFojDCsK0gApdrg2o5LFBbGGDK_Lsvi4tLq3HdMIp7AJXRtS2AWsYhU-EFFPOVTPlsgma6feepBn_BiPJxefGA/w480-h640/IMG-20220423-WA0011.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>coal and gas</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nqRdo2ycPSZRxpOhaKAkqwKffYAh9wQcPKKvnjicKSbuXPeNTSU_i5XodcOFGwNhfDCIwUYR09up2h4enUnFpKvvB28y42gItlejGLQppUeoilqcLSymLNc2hoFajXDlA7JtGDVIsA3C6dCUcR0C4MCvO0q3E3QPLr4AIslg66zLs_ezDQQEN8d82w/s5632/IMG_20220423_202845.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1nqRdo2ycPSZRxpOhaKAkqwKffYAh9wQcPKKvnjicKSbuXPeNTSU_i5XodcOFGwNhfDCIwUYR09up2h4enUnFpKvvB28y42gItlejGLQppUeoilqcLSymLNc2hoFajXDlA7JtGDVIsA3C6dCUcR0C4MCvO0q3E3QPLr4AIslg66zLs_ezDQQEN8d82w/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_202845.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>our Airbnb, Berneray</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WylQ5OTZTc54m10wIxEm3XOdb5RyNpwAvfePKjYoXzmD0jMlFkhykgoLqf6QJnisX61YH_W2Aq0t-wiQkVw5cK80M3L3JdrYJLKCuL5ZyRd03TRgnNeR-fMHqkc0VY0GFSmqR7smqVnxUafPTa9H8AhdjLSgmForDj8OvPpoDA5NAPxdJ0KzIFLiXA/s3648/IMG_20220423_204747.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6WylQ5OTZTc54m10wIxEm3XOdb5RyNpwAvfePKjYoXzmD0jMlFkhykgoLqf6QJnisX61YH_W2Aq0t-wiQkVw5cK80M3L3JdrYJLKCuL5ZyRd03TRgnNeR-fMHqkc0VY0GFSmqR7smqVnxUafPTa9H8AhdjLSgmForDj8OvPpoDA5NAPxdJ0KzIFLiXA/w640-h480/IMG_20220423_204747.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-30432418215844021742022-04-22T12:59:00.002-07:002022-04-25T13:00:13.517-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 31 Uig, Isle of Skye/Gress, Isle of Lewis, Scotland)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpa4EuogfqFlIeug4XJPmbqOMfSmPxoLL3kPrSB8K6B9SeXUnIEYalMAge5_rbvaNQkTPcTuti_52NfvyQhhVhgetzpEkcPH46ZrviHdKmpSRCmfQvN9EU2cZ6QeDV79XdiVF8uyB58mjd2Cgtad2mjfb_ywzMNOKJu5w5l_ZJyRfoX7PqSYJZ2oojw/s3648/IMG_20220422_094131.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkpa4EuogfqFlIeug4XJPmbqOMfSmPxoLL3kPrSB8K6B9SeXUnIEYalMAge5_rbvaNQkTPcTuti_52NfvyQhhVhgetzpEkcPH46ZrviHdKmpSRCmfQvN9EU2cZ6QeDV79XdiVF8uyB58mjd2Cgtad2mjfb_ywzMNOKJu5w5l_ZJyRfoX7PqSYJZ2oojw/w640-h480/IMG_20220422_094131.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>hen we left Staffin the next morning we stayed on the A855, a wonderfully challenging road around the top of the island to Uig where we were catching the ferry to the Isle of Lewis on the Outer Hebrides. The scenery was beyond imagination and it was hard for me to concentrate on the road, the temptation to stop every mile and take photos hard to restrain. We did stop at a pullout near the small settlement of Duntulm and walked along the mossy grass to a rocky promontory to see the fragmentary remains of Duntulm Castle. By the windy hillside ruin there was a cairn commemorating the MacArthurs, the hereditary pipers to the MacDonald clan. The castle is believed to have been fortified in the Iron Age, later refortified by the Norse and subsequently by their successors the MacLeods of Skye. Not much left now though, most of it fallen into the sea or been carted off to be used for local building projects. After Duntulm we came across a very interesting museum, the Skye Museum of Island Life which was actually a preserved crofter's village, celebrating in part the life of Flora MacDonald whose grave we walked up to nearby. She was a member of the MacDonalds of Sleat who helped Charles Edward Stuart evade government troops after the Battle of Culloden in 1746, and very famous in Scottish history. Keeping an eye on the clock, as we had to catch the 2PM Cal Mac ferry to Tarbert, we next headed on our way to the Uig pier, twenty minutes away. The sun was hot overhead and there was still the promise of good weather for the Hebrides! We were headed to Gress next, near the top of the island of Lewis to meet up with our next host and looking forward to the next three days in this magical place. <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmTwVYVHcIrcyLUT-n8H6gJ5786folHqoVe9imJdrOSb2zxs_9MB39HpSFJQ5hr81xveFwBxnsv0XkBvkxpqoJKyYgaiDFNbtgv2Jr2zT4Zj7CmBvXfkfeuWLXDrUl2_dE9tu8UN6_phftIYDIMyLGZAvtvLtUkfRuwgmfg21Fg7LJre25iOPtKa6eA/s3648/IMG_20220422_094511.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVmTwVYVHcIrcyLUT-n8H6gJ5786folHqoVe9imJdrOSb2zxs_9MB39HpSFJQ5hr81xveFwBxnsv0XkBvkxpqoJKyYgaiDFNbtgv2Jr2zT4Zj7CmBvXfkfeuWLXDrUl2_dE9tu8UN6_phftIYDIMyLGZAvtvLtUkfRuwgmfg21Fg7LJre25iOPtKa6eA/w640-h480/IMG_20220422_094511.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIgKV2lXG6oa3p3SaULDY3Y3Ow1YXXy0K0dXTA2TFMT2C5Dqj7FKsR-Jr3BEFF4ZTxnS-xTvwCWe5nXEP7Hb5g1OQNun5HwHVjkr-WCYsvojr3Ua7jBsbrcJGF3PgWwXS30VCWXKCkKoc-_1SJbdPMflN7gAl8qgfEvmOB2xPL76mtJQnekfm9D7lzQ/s3648/IMG_20220422_101949.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeIgKV2lXG6oa3p3SaULDY3Y3Ow1YXXy0K0dXTA2TFMT2C5Dqj7FKsR-Jr3BEFF4ZTxnS-xTvwCWe5nXEP7Hb5g1OQNun5HwHVjkr-WCYsvojr3Ua7jBsbrcJGF3PgWwXS30VCWXKCkKoc-_1SJbdPMflN7gAl8qgfEvmOB2xPL76mtJQnekfm9D7lzQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220422_101949.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWFkEbjrYi6c8vcyJOamWqLxdkD-_M-rBvEa2Lm2CIYo35VNW33Q3zue7HkpK8gsgSvx7LbIqyuHg4mvvmU2RqNeZMIq-XjnDl2hhk1fwq-wcpromB3YKJBWAVB_la02cQjLD3soDuZnvPzlcilzM7bOLJvFUFVJpO8GjIy-EeW6GDarKxDD0ciXS7g/s3648/IMG_20220422_101902.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWFkEbjrYi6c8vcyJOamWqLxdkD-_M-rBvEa2Lm2CIYo35VNW33Q3zue7HkpK8gsgSvx7LbIqyuHg4mvvmU2RqNeZMIq-XjnDl2hhk1fwq-wcpromB3YKJBWAVB_la02cQjLD3soDuZnvPzlcilzM7bOLJvFUFVJpO8GjIy-EeW6GDarKxDD0ciXS7g/w640-h480/IMG_20220422_101902.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>remains of Duntulm castle, near Duntulm, Isle of Skye</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLRTZhP3Ttt5UJnXIzpOHy6vJOwy31OXv7d5cE0Qvpz0Wu6WVVx95GlqJ68OxpHxhmVef3H5KIB-RJn9IeAxesVRlK2roOag9VHkY_VG3cXvXXabRpUVmTcJxC4IuuEpUNr1z7SmFBMIt-b2matUx-IF1ByVYPkESeanvg-DKKbKnq9AYyE5Dano06Q/s3648/IMG_20220422_110701.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTLRTZhP3Ttt5UJnXIzpOHy6vJOwy31OXv7d5cE0Qvpz0Wu6WVVx95GlqJ68OxpHxhmVef3H5KIB-RJn9IeAxesVRlK2roOag9VHkY_VG3cXvXXabRpUVmTcJxC4IuuEpUNr1z7SmFBMIt-b2matUx-IF1ByVYPkESeanvg-DKKbKnq9AYyE5Dano06Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220422_110701.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Skye Museum of Island Life</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNih8dXZ_zSt0A6-0duFFgDQOK38UO2K9fIDpttUBrImG2oOWeVHB-EP501dhayFcWnwUKStcGYjWw1wTFmnACfKuYXfuUvBkzSveQqjk2DkpxyOPxFysRUg-z-2zt4IrPFF74s0Eya8YM58-58PuxbIa9uPu-ws9sKQSu4PKt5UztkkbVMVxkMKcSpQ/s3648/IMG_20220422_113132.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNih8dXZ_zSt0A6-0duFFgDQOK38UO2K9fIDpttUBrImG2oOWeVHB-EP501dhayFcWnwUKStcGYjWw1wTFmnACfKuYXfuUvBkzSveQqjk2DkpxyOPxFysRUg-z-2zt4IrPFF74s0Eya8YM58-58PuxbIa9uPu-ws9sKQSu4PKt5UztkkbVMVxkMKcSpQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220422_113132.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>monument to Flora MacDonald, Kilmuir</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHOFAeO1NN0PLqbGjqsy0Y6xwyFioUU76PORmjljDjf7CMgMRtqRTW1TkVKZwB-WWZGPloBYaAJRQlolwtGqHOeSlx4-nQSpB1DlFlzzpO15uIOPnZ7UY03kpAwK2xtJVaEbN6P8gJ3Ba-0yWe9z_n1dsHRe6eKy9XKBVV6EvZ8QwdTPrsTpQFC8WAQ/s3648/IMG_20220422_122643.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiHOFAeO1NN0PLqbGjqsy0Y6xwyFioUU76PORmjljDjf7CMgMRtqRTW1TkVKZwB-WWZGPloBYaAJRQlolwtGqHOeSlx4-nQSpB1DlFlzzpO15uIOPnZ7UY03kpAwK2xtJVaEbN6P8gJ3Ba-0yWe9z_n1dsHRe6eKy9XKBVV6EvZ8QwdTPrsTpQFC8WAQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220422_122643.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzgRsKDYK37MLyCms9DCHk_tb8-aJe8EWnA7rl32GBObEzgQDY7dJWEBfWLDhyPhGZ5VUPBPUUhrvwAlCpWSM6MduBOsls5BiwQag6SnWZDxHzEpUzL3PGjKptQS5whabbXXAYD15ooPtYgKbmC3Ia1n4WD5yM9bwkYWsfrLkaAle2WuIxWiYN-_9kg/s3648/IMG_20220422_141924.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEzgRsKDYK37MLyCms9DCHk_tb8-aJe8EWnA7rl32GBObEzgQDY7dJWEBfWLDhyPhGZ5VUPBPUUhrvwAlCpWSM6MduBOsls5BiwQag6SnWZDxHzEpUzL3PGjKptQS5whabbXXAYD15ooPtYgKbmC3Ia1n4WD5yM9bwkYWsfrLkaAle2WuIxWiYN-_9kg/w640-h480/IMG_20220422_141924.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b>on our way to the Outer Hebrides!</b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><i><b><br /></b></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><br /></div></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUGvKpc2hP-LC7pUrvYyEZVyn-jjakVDD1v8N9F55t1JUoFarr2dTr2PVn4F7EQCustel5DXKfofD4H8tVID2YySTLbFxQzJW72moahnWlU2rJt2rluiJJo59v38ogZ26HMj6RCpYAqTTKOR-746YkYzk10QH8Mr7LYEiaKj1FBUrXPF_QZ5R8JXcdg/s5632/IMG_20220423_074451.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaUGvKpc2hP-LC7pUrvYyEZVyn-jjakVDD1v8N9F55t1JUoFarr2dTr2PVn4F7EQCustel5DXKfofD4H8tVID2YySTLbFxQzJW72moahnWlU2rJt2rluiJJo59v38ogZ26HMj6RCpYAqTTKOR-746YkYzk10QH8Mr7LYEiaKj1FBUrXPF_QZ5R8JXcdg/w400-h300/IMG_20220423_074451.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>our wonderful Airbnb in Gress, Isle of Lewis</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-18944183025720065682022-04-22T00:05:00.000-07:002022-04-22T00:05:08.874-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 30 Steffin, Isle of Skye Scotland)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStoi1crxHX6Zt8MCDwhHSvOV95HRNpb2Jh22IW_db47OLyl3lW1zdSH47tXIosZpCLCMjo9geU2ZYQ1NZsOeZmSObWdJT-sCIY-tj_dNKvhRqpsw-9_4Ik2HWkgCqWObS1G5O96VEyNjZBuel9NXu5MXuZYJwYDX3-PQrvz81LlCsCef_FGJQLDby7w/s3648/IMG_20220421_101442%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgStoi1crxHX6Zt8MCDwhHSvOV95HRNpb2Jh22IW_db47OLyl3lW1zdSH47tXIosZpCLCMjo9geU2ZYQ1NZsOeZmSObWdJT-sCIY-tj_dNKvhRqpsw-9_4Ik2HWkgCqWObS1G5O96VEyNjZBuel9NXu5MXuZYJwYDX3-PQrvz81LlCsCef_FGJQLDby7w/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_101442%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b> decided to take the northern route (A835) out of Inverness to avoid the traffic around Loch Ness when we left for our next Airbnb, arriving in Kyle of Lochalsh just after lunch. We crossed the bridge onto Skye, staying on the A87 to Staffin. But along the way we made a few stops to stretch our legs, the first at Rogie Falls, a series of waterfalls on the Black Water river which we found after a delightful ten minute walk through a varied and very peaceful woodland. A little later I pulled into a spot honoring Donald Murchison, a Colonel in the Highland Army of 1715. The simple grey granite obelisk lies on a little rocky headland overlooking Loch Alsh, peaceful and nice views of the water. We met a nice elderly Scottish couple enjoying their lunch at our next stop on Loch Carron who wished us safe travels and, as we couldn't check in till 7PM in our Airbnb, we drove to one of the spots on Skye I had highlighted to visit, The Old Man of Storr. This rocky hill overlooking the Sound of Raasay was in an absolutely surreal setting and although we didn't go all the way to the top, the views were breathtaking. Unfortunately all the pine woodland had been cut down in the past few years and the lower part of the climb resembled a battlefield, the remains of the old trees scattered about like white and bleached corpses. Sad. There were the usual gaggle of tourists but as the walk up was over an hour and a half we soon all spread out and we had the trail to ourselves after a bit. The walk down was often just as scary but rewarding.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrG2ooNU7RSN0kEFpW4wUiwNEJl1qGtNPitdc6EOgGayc7lm4JddgOxP2LYVhKTszNY-W2xUj3iU2ve5qLHSsj3N6Hc2jShn_0RBgYgB53LH9EyvL4B9YF55UqKjfandoVdSiUWP2Zx-VX_UMXk19Q3shwQJUM0j7ZvHll8EveO-bnT_H5-LBCvebKQ/s3648/IMG_20220421_101657%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvrG2ooNU7RSN0kEFpW4wUiwNEJl1qGtNPitdc6EOgGayc7lm4JddgOxP2LYVhKTszNY-W2xUj3iU2ve5qLHSsj3N6Hc2jShn_0RBgYgB53LH9EyvL4B9YF55UqKjfandoVdSiUWP2Zx-VX_UMXk19Q3shwQJUM0j7ZvHll8EveO-bnT_H5-LBCvebKQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_101657%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>suspension bridge, Rogie Falls</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2-xYZDk2F6QSZHAXhIn957S9nIAJcXVxfuCkCPu44vM_ODQ8QGR74h6vpl_66SOi2GOPysF9bVV7uyKeGulolWWuHOFSbNRWrCjU1gY6m0x3xLSTl0EuO-6lXpvSvAFglW4xAcOlLX-SvtHXSFsFmXartom51ridrcVfh31ZKoEp7nUM7HBPS54wIw/s3648/IMG_20220421_102404%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij2-xYZDk2F6QSZHAXhIn957S9nIAJcXVxfuCkCPu44vM_ODQ8QGR74h6vpl_66SOi2GOPysF9bVV7uyKeGulolWWuHOFSbNRWrCjU1gY6m0x3xLSTl0EuO-6lXpvSvAFglW4xAcOlLX-SvtHXSFsFmXartom51ridrcVfh31ZKoEp7nUM7HBPS54wIw/w480-h640/IMG_20220421_102404%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPZ-jh7M7ar7_3u0uRfY95RjKt3wiGzjrEAHamdyXwqJf3QwfCFsOHAm3ToAqfNpcKGNQnrHfk5T-IR_TfVwGLGCtQfVobR4fuoO2SOpPv9IWCbUPjrvTnFA3_udtxE287qdg6tFMYOXL4YVgfckRracLO4M61FyXx4taEn9di0UZ_2cQGOAmbQA5aQ/s3648/IMG_20220421_123217.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicPZ-jh7M7ar7_3u0uRfY95RjKt3wiGzjrEAHamdyXwqJf3QwfCFsOHAm3ToAqfNpcKGNQnrHfk5T-IR_TfVwGLGCtQfVobR4fuoO2SOpPv9IWCbUPjrvTnFA3_udtxE287qdg6tFMYOXL4YVgfckRracLO4M61FyXx4taEn9di0UZ_2cQGOAmbQA5aQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_123217.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Loch Alsh</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2095Xx8yaAtImRIxxedsT2u8VPOJyK5rbBx5yY9J5wTTUOokByfhHZl3lkyy5fGhyIhExFNyOH4508PSgAMMcX9G7cl9lrr4ZzwD3SXOwk-FAc1VKsX6jwUMwz4DibOMOdLM3Ld8sR4ev1epYQMez6ontxf74qemi3iF2wSBBKpRbLD0kglZPwVx4ZQ/s3648/IMG_20220421_141110.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2095Xx8yaAtImRIxxedsT2u8VPOJyK5rbBx5yY9J5wTTUOokByfhHZl3lkyy5fGhyIhExFNyOH4508PSgAMMcX9G7cl9lrr4ZzwD3SXOwk-FAc1VKsX6jwUMwz4DibOMOdLM3Ld8sR4ev1epYQMez6ontxf74qemi3iF2wSBBKpRbLD0kglZPwVx4ZQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_141110.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Pdg6KR7Eh5wJkQNNp0pLD7OmXSflk1p_Ei4d_SJXnlBYhdKS04Nd778d84PoFeRilYu_rzcCJrLt3SMcKystThVjR2MM5Cg-rAk1jHrbWMiJgHyv1X1d8DMpZDZqJ9P1cklzyy4XPVHfkePRpvrayvxQT5dO5xNVW_lAnPUQCBG1WPJE-Jp9yWtyVA/s3648/IMG_20220421_115036.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Pdg6KR7Eh5wJkQNNp0pLD7OmXSflk1p_Ei4d_SJXnlBYhdKS04Nd778d84PoFeRilYu_rzcCJrLt3SMcKystThVjR2MM5Cg-rAk1jHrbWMiJgHyv1X1d8DMpZDZqJ9P1cklzyy4XPVHfkePRpvrayvxQT5dO5xNVW_lAnPUQCBG1WPJE-Jp9yWtyVA/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_115036.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Loch Carron</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebTDhxgu4T2WdgYNaOu-W6Y7sNdZ2l_S1z7vCRgLY6m7H0Agf8CYtmMvUBa4GDLthWsC5l4h67UIw9NAA3fPljA26vkyA8Y5N958_YKTL6FJl7mXqKndU0vLeMykJRVQpEO1sjwbWfYCdbqZJogbSWRM6rejAAneGSO1AzdLi-Dc60ZOv2WIcGDfrGQ/s3648/IMG_20220421_144413.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjebTDhxgu4T2WdgYNaOu-W6Y7sNdZ2l_S1z7vCRgLY6m7H0Agf8CYtmMvUBa4GDLthWsC5l4h67UIw9NAA3fPljA26vkyA8Y5N958_YKTL6FJl7mXqKndU0vLeMykJRVQpEO1sjwbWfYCdbqZJogbSWRM6rejAAneGSO1AzdLi-Dc60ZOv2WIcGDfrGQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_144413.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34WmCZ3DfdmmQQnWrjKEtszIwpR6Kifxi6cjR_MGZYLjAswzjHdjkfxXu0YdQImxOZkLolgawGNxugy-c4WPz499Kzm9PvQNRH6g5BaSQPKkQEg9QFULC0sZ8IV7sNO3cVBmXk_lZBNVzQjve0tvYWNlCP58IdiFMuHmToqEmJi2z-CN-BYJzpN76sw/s3648/IMG_20220421_145717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi34WmCZ3DfdmmQQnWrjKEtszIwpR6Kifxi6cjR_MGZYLjAswzjHdjkfxXu0YdQImxOZkLolgawGNxugy-c4WPz499Kzm9PvQNRH6g5BaSQPKkQEg9QFULC0sZ8IV7sNO3cVBmXk_lZBNVzQjve0tvYWNlCP58IdiFMuHmToqEmJi2z-CN-BYJzpN76sw/w400-h300/IMG_20220421_145717.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC2y4peJjJn-FXQRaDO701ofqgjPFzUaCep2XebODANA8WheWPZ-kwtsjZrZfwDEB0HvbYILhDLDrouvdICRFYeNcuWvxoloSXYuqrLczdtbH2eMPmDWGCDCG5EBD6bqi_5y8KgEyWCCGctRrkElNdwMl-6uCQu-R5CTPFz9eUYutCZZG4qaghiw1xnw/s3648/IMG_20220421_151418.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi074WACqIbZyljh-d5wvR4qPBYB3qRKkj9dj4xokSIK3f1O9e43ohCAKvk7vSfEw0kf-cgzKUKsGEqkq4e4v64u6DtIEQYBgedBtHjvuug9ErYA2py1qyiMylqKpkX7J0PWlhBQeoGb4zJXKmO6aBY5q-LYBPy9URcHgDueJa9XXLxrhRNhGLbHtQyYA/s5632/IMG_20220421_152933.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi074WACqIbZyljh-d5wvR4qPBYB3qRKkj9dj4xokSIK3f1O9e43ohCAKvk7vSfEw0kf-cgzKUKsGEqkq4e4v64u6DtIEQYBgedBtHjvuug9ErYA2py1qyiMylqKpkX7J0PWlhBQeoGb4zJXKmO6aBY5q-LYBPy9URcHgDueJa9XXLxrhRNhGLbHtQyYA/w300-h400/IMG_20220421_152933.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUgFOD7paKdAmtmx8mI_HpJesTFUglBcKNmtGcj2maHIK-Y6zJayznNYyKhCUJb2uBAqzS2G5qzk_9ttDNwC5z6LD4q-LcP_v3abZ9vKlyygsf078qboPwros-7d8UxbmGdI-KZIAgdrvFz5dhrhG3W8rCcnnR8akLs3UyrpKs8y9mXTHcqI4ChufWw/s3648/IMG_20220421_154244.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUgFOD7paKdAmtmx8mI_HpJesTFUglBcKNmtGcj2maHIK-Y6zJayznNYyKhCUJb2uBAqzS2G5qzk_9ttDNwC5z6LD4q-LcP_v3abZ9vKlyygsf078qboPwros-7d8UxbmGdI-KZIAgdrvFz5dhrhG3W8rCcnnR8akLs3UyrpKs8y9mXTHcqI4ChufWw/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_154244.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>e next went to see Kilt Rock and Mealt Falls, just up the road from the Storr, as we followed the coast and ancient cliffs of the Trotternish Peninsula. I stopped here to visit 90 meter Kilt Rock which they say looks similar to a pleated kilt, made up of basalt columns resting on a sandstone base at the water edge. From our viewpoint I didn't see the resemblance but there was a strong wind blowing and a haunting tone appeared to come from below, sounding a bit like an organ. Just off to the left was the waterfall plummeting from the top of the cliffs to the rock-laden coast below. Then it was a short drive to Steffin where we ordered a great take out dinner at the Hungry Gull (Scottish poutine with haggis!) and a couple of locally brewed Skye beers. Last stop of many was An Corran Beach, an out of the way black basalt sand beach where dinosaur footprints could be found if you were lucky. It didn't take me long to find one - skepticism not withstanding I am sure it is. Checkout the picture and use your imagination. Our Airbnb was a much welcomed sight when we pulled into the driveway. It had been an exceptionally long day and we now had to rest up for our next adventure - the Outer Hebrides. <b><span style="font-size: medium;">GWS</span></b></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6vVygOrFG6TCocGiLibosxCNOP6pFCkokmLdFE3a97u4_qLkMUDuPfAcXn0bU9Z5G_FXbm0c5D7YEndx7XqN4uMyw9yxKJdDCtjGjlsE1sIMuXoKvKXEVScOGO45EuZNWXyOnrIUaH9iIE9vFvdzG7ESLyKQVVSi-jFxOSQdQJjZE5cLI2JiBGPjIg/s3648/IMG_20220421_163248.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo6vVygOrFG6TCocGiLibosxCNOP6pFCkokmLdFE3a97u4_qLkMUDuPfAcXn0bU9Z5G_FXbm0c5D7YEndx7XqN4uMyw9yxKJdDCtjGjlsE1sIMuXoKvKXEVScOGO45EuZNWXyOnrIUaH9iIE9vFvdzG7ESLyKQVVSi-jFxOSQdQJjZE5cLI2JiBGPjIg/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_163248.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Mealt waterfall</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp18Xyjbej_1XHwWZrlcwo8cD6GKRAwYk3RUb2hvqQ7EE-7EDy657DAAcLxet2S55jcMxGIt4Z_KaViCOVVl9LVH9kqaAOFAn6HQIAPEFHX_fAIuCK6ULHiGrx4m2XmWnkGMNy4RhHp_GGXDuWgoEgaCl0yGL1VgmuZa8OYIDBqZ9V-mOFmy1fR13EA/s3648/IMG_20220421_182326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKp18Xyjbej_1XHwWZrlcwo8cD6GKRAwYk3RUb2hvqQ7EE-7EDy657DAAcLxet2S55jcMxGIt4Z_KaViCOVVl9LVH9kqaAOFAn6HQIAPEFHX_fAIuCK6ULHiGrx4m2XmWnkGMNy4RhHp_GGXDuWgoEgaCl0yGL1VgmuZa8OYIDBqZ9V-mOFmy1fR13EA/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_182326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi8JU0TlnjHuZ5hSksc2vekZcpslAll_A5k12RtqhbHYMNIHatH_l1txKcFCAWUqKOkUTfW7VnKvsts7o0DnpRPk1rb6tiEMFvt8vRaKVbOFkk__0n70VoX4ATrkEYn2WR4xDNvj4Cvu8aLtTJCeQhll1f5J61KKVtw9TvgXqgKsyokAL0V3jQIHv9g/s3648/IMG_20220421_182739.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoi8JU0TlnjHuZ5hSksc2vekZcpslAll_A5k12RtqhbHYMNIHatH_l1txKcFCAWUqKOkUTfW7VnKvsts7o0DnpRPk1rb6tiEMFvt8vRaKVbOFkk__0n70VoX4ATrkEYn2WR4xDNvj4Cvu8aLtTJCeQhll1f5J61KKVtw9TvgXqgKsyokAL0V3jQIHv9g/w400-h300/IMG_20220421_182739.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>An Corran Beach, Staffin</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-fVR68cuRq0PmajWPEgHduh6wBqsGCky5aaaqNURKYeUl8a_45r4ERhS4IR-jj7T0aF329vAou6GTrcv48BXr8KBPSlINYCvQ0BQAFAD69BKQ-nPnI0KRuyX8wdFequloiFPG2qaWIN89pbfPYpDlEZimb4RSn9nf2aD6CvMZCo-_rkDvpQgLlJk0Q/s3648/IMG_20220421_184715.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx-fVR68cuRq0PmajWPEgHduh6wBqsGCky5aaaqNURKYeUl8a_45r4ERhS4IR-jj7T0aF329vAou6GTrcv48BXr8KBPSlINYCvQ0BQAFAD69BKQ-nPnI0KRuyX8wdFequloiFPG2qaWIN89pbfPYpDlEZimb4RSn9nf2aD6CvMZCo-_rkDvpQgLlJk0Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220421_184715.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>early evening Steffin, the end of another long day</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-28074941323018988462022-04-20T23:54:00.004-07:002022-04-20T23:54:54.509-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 28-29 Balmoral/Fort Augustus/Foyers/Inverness CastkeInverness, Scotland)<p> </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYLxEq3HL75D_MMo33XlfXTolLRMYDCJCXhDX-FDS-zCdIYD-gZp2J05c8Iq_2zjyaTtloTaXPKAtMqBt_JzeqsEZ3kpHJ8NDfYq_R1b6_VR_u9TaNvWy0WzSs12dUf2bEDylEkXcKoE2RLtBB-apbN00-7tARQ_zldjGs0C41DD5G0470e3NPWvEmQ/s1824/IMG-20220419-WA0013.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1368" data-original-width="1824" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYLxEq3HL75D_MMo33XlfXTolLRMYDCJCXhDX-FDS-zCdIYD-gZp2J05c8Iq_2zjyaTtloTaXPKAtMqBt_JzeqsEZ3kpHJ8NDfYq_R1b6_VR_u9TaNvWy0WzSs12dUf2bEDylEkXcKoE2RLtBB-apbN00-7tARQ_zldjGs0C41DD5G0470e3NPWvEmQ/w640-h480/IMG-20220419-WA0013.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">O</span></b>ur destination after leaving Aberdeen was straight west into the Cairngorms National Park, past Ballater, cross the river Dee and through the gates of Balmoral Castle, the summer home of the royal family since 1852. Bought by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria, the castle was completed in 1856, the working estate covering over 50,000 acres and actually belonging to the crown, unlike the Royal palaces. It is constructed of local granite, and full of gardens that were not yet in flower when we were there. It was nice to visit and see how the other half live for a month in summer, but other than the ballroom, we couldn't see much of the interior. Like most of the higher elevations in the UK I noticed a lot of trees down from Storm Arwen that passed through here in November of last year. It was a gorgeous day though and we enjoyed the walk under huge 100 year old pine trees that hadn't been toppled by Arwen, and Eunice a few months later. After leaving we stopped at the Royal Lochnagar Distillery, just a mile away for a sample and a bit of local history. On to Inverness then, through the wild but breathtaking and challenging roads of the Highlands and over the Monadhliath Mountains, till we could see the waters of the Moray Firth and the city below. </p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Hu1f7JPLy7CDSA1Mekc_QNF9TLvADtoMSvJ_dF7Jtn2j2i1zTKU9_ISNVMpghVRFiB3SjtCCKdda-mzzu34iSYEOz6KtKs-Qe5AdZWcpghgQGNz44qAT3sK8XBEHth1p8jxzCT0woQ6AuL4c54tGs0cmBXaPXw4AeYlxuBHvU4miyD5gRSpVOvDZUw/s3648/IMG_20220419_113132.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_Hu1f7JPLy7CDSA1Mekc_QNF9TLvADtoMSvJ_dF7Jtn2j2i1zTKU9_ISNVMpghVRFiB3SjtCCKdda-mzzu34iSYEOz6KtKs-Qe5AdZWcpghgQGNz44qAT3sK8XBEHth1p8jxzCT0woQ6AuL4c54tGs0cmBXaPXw4AeYlxuBHvU4miyD5gRSpVOvDZUw/w480-h640/IMG_20220419_113132.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_Cd0uzA9iOeMMeS7PkANqCkkUs9cvHhj-WacTgkr2CHF-W88nC6hHv5nH2R5-eNBFSml3CNjAw0DeAGLco4RfCSyz29BOKQmzchwqZDu3z39g27BO_7aynDMQCVTmImwer7PAKdbpTb77XV737ib7B9uKzcWXBe7NAoaMUfdMbvYWU-tk8OyhQp4Uw/s5632/IMG_20220419_115239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy_Cd0uzA9iOeMMeS7PkANqCkkUs9cvHhj-WacTgkr2CHF-W88nC6hHv5nH2R5-eNBFSml3CNjAw0DeAGLco4RfCSyz29BOKQmzchwqZDu3z39g27BO_7aynDMQCVTmImwer7PAKdbpTb77XV737ib7B9uKzcWXBe7NAoaMUfdMbvYWU-tk8OyhQp4Uw/w400-h300/IMG_20220419_115239.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl4JdVT5b8xv7b4HTNTSDjrvbl6HiiGB1WxA2gk5v5Hc39ENkFbrjUZm6DA8JwRZVssyInXHJxixHC8W6ldGiqY7Q4i7ygJ1QIfEaiaibzbxi-ZADjqsr5oOPPFOP9oFMS3MmVjHcTcC_vBlWEskQW9h2qUWFsDwMUfW0VHEzmE91LsvwcZisd-MWHg/s3648/IMG_20220419_115409.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMl4JdVT5b8xv7b4HTNTSDjrvbl6HiiGB1WxA2gk5v5Hc39ENkFbrjUZm6DA8JwRZVssyInXHJxixHC8W6ldGiqY7Q4i7ygJ1QIfEaiaibzbxi-ZADjqsr5oOPPFOP9oFMS3MmVjHcTcC_vBlWEskQW9h2qUWFsDwMUfW0VHEzmE91LsvwcZisd-MWHg/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_115409.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UhWzHY8a_xGkYRkjikDKAUoQbZC7qwey5HK4rOSxhxnG2Ctfyy9ocafHRQNe0ueNp6I5nifPVBPKHv1yC_ZK-fVqgLnhT5OyTo_JVdAkjoX9BPoJe9ebTDcfX9DqN1Kg-npdWHVmVoIUdcJIndPIt3egQXLUmRUT_bbxwkDNhws2jQuONvaHJ_-BLw/s3648/IMG_20220419_132239.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UhWzHY8a_xGkYRkjikDKAUoQbZC7qwey5HK4rOSxhxnG2Ctfyy9ocafHRQNe0ueNp6I5nifPVBPKHv1yC_ZK-fVqgLnhT5OyTo_JVdAkjoX9BPoJe9ebTDcfX9DqN1Kg-npdWHVmVoIUdcJIndPIt3egQXLUmRUT_bbxwkDNhws2jQuONvaHJ_-BLw/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_132239.jpg" width="640" /></a><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfczmhAfY5J8SsnYM22EdnPoKV4Vn1bz1si8ISH4jq_olqkjBlR7TsAXiJOBaVeiWllcNuM410yI0IamLY3L1QGnARSbU8ri4n9DDKWNwwQ-0yDwKOP0jl3As8YEtKibUKBh_FssT5K_5Un6hRyXi-lg-wYbLAu-Fh4Xp4Ib6sVv3ZshWt50EFy60xsw/s3648/IMG_20220419_130153.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfczmhAfY5J8SsnYM22EdnPoKV4Vn1bz1si8ISH4jq_olqkjBlR7TsAXiJOBaVeiWllcNuM410yI0IamLY3L1QGnARSbU8ri4n9DDKWNwwQ-0yDwKOP0jl3As8YEtKibUKBh_FssT5K_5Un6hRyXi-lg-wYbLAu-Fh4Xp4Ib6sVv3ZshWt50EFy60xsw/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_130153.jpg" width="640" /></a><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JBgsdq88CYsLVkeIm7wfoQdYYepBICMEcuj25JmrYbmcf-XDKDmrs5tW3-sooHoaSwj-ILo-EKIxbiQC_Yl2SoP8zab4pK0Pr_35Myiy_DM88t8AU91yTqT8RG4e3W8OEdX3hEnp_wLzU9f8QDemnYiRSFDJ3pnWbwD64pR6_hQdOzZUIYhPGRLaZw/s3648/IMG_20220419_125347.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-JBgsdq88CYsLVkeIm7wfoQdYYepBICMEcuj25JmrYbmcf-XDKDmrs5tW3-sooHoaSwj-ILo-EKIxbiQC_Yl2SoP8zab4pK0Pr_35Myiy_DM88t8AU91yTqT8RG4e3W8OEdX3hEnp_wLzU9f8QDemnYiRSFDJ3pnWbwD64pR6_hQdOzZUIYhPGRLaZw/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_125347.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Balmoral castle</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uxD3iY6zVNgMITJlU_2pHTls921Vo_vLz5e4O9e1XMbM3ArOFw4xgkVnkW7NQgDKPLbmPugWRt7mhAwcArFmtt5AJwhfkFEMxrF892NpwHgmTqzRKuF3D4Upst7qdzqj5L61s1BjhH97tyBCUN76nB0SL1NvvlyikWjFSDwqEs8J-Sk5ha_hD3XXgQ/s3648/IMG_20220419_140857.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uxD3iY6zVNgMITJlU_2pHTls921Vo_vLz5e4O9e1XMbM3ArOFw4xgkVnkW7NQgDKPLbmPugWRt7mhAwcArFmtt5AJwhfkFEMxrF892NpwHgmTqzRKuF3D4Upst7qdzqj5L61s1BjhH97tyBCUN76nB0SL1NvvlyikWjFSDwqEs8J-Sk5ha_hD3XXgQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_140857.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Royal Lochnagar distillery,</i></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliYTkoJXiyBa0vZaMa2dhPYtZNQJzxzgi2WI8PQRbkJglNbvfU7m1Z7VFYKIZ6iQmds9De4UwE-gI91z-a_AXQdZAnULhcQkc52qfsQpqW2Al90SuvPx-lNAAzbOTPTr0McEIqMex_Fxq1eUrNSDL-icMyh8YpCC4ukhIM6U36d6Qqcqz40fVmeHQeg/s1600/IMG-20220419-WA0026.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="979" data-original-width="1600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhliYTkoJXiyBa0vZaMa2dhPYtZNQJzxzgi2WI8PQRbkJglNbvfU7m1Z7VFYKIZ6iQmds9De4UwE-gI91z-a_AXQdZAnULhcQkc52qfsQpqW2Al90SuvPx-lNAAzbOTPTr0McEIqMex_Fxq1eUrNSDL-icMyh8YpCC4ukhIM6U36d6Qqcqz40fVmeHQeg/w400-h245/IMG-20220419-WA0026.jpg" width="400" /></a></p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLUtyE95gVdiLTuFGRNKVDK-Ee8HBk1_GUKUsGTyLqZTlxamL66y1I9T0oujREFQoXNkvaCmd5gRvmHlWmCw6H95tiVWSzBSAZ02YCkhJklJCmTTcic6CEAqcPaKjPfvQHyMJFDTSql6LSUc7cP0au6Xd4mNb0Kvt1O7vQZ7RZZF5vw_V-Hq6MI4UCA/s3648/IMG_20220419_144437.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdLUtyE95gVdiLTuFGRNKVDK-Ee8HBk1_GUKUsGTyLqZTlxamL66y1I9T0oujREFQoXNkvaCmd5gRvmHlWmCw6H95tiVWSzBSAZ02YCkhJklJCmTTcic6CEAqcPaKjPfvQHyMJFDTSql6LSUc7cP0au6Xd4mNb0Kvt1O7vQZ7RZZF5vw_V-Hq6MI4UCA/w640-h480/IMG_20220419_144437.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the Hills of Cromdale, Highlands</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">I</span></b>nverness is the largest city and cultural capital of the Highlands but we were here first to visit the famous Loch Ness and its castle Urquhart. Yet another beautiful day greeted us as we drove the A82 to the castle, stopping on the way to capture the fog still on the Loch but quickly dissipating in the warm sun. From its vantage point overlooking Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle dominated this region for centuries, It was <i>probably</i> the site of a Pictish hill-fort and <i>may</i> have been the scene for St Columba's encounter with a Pictish chief in the 6th century. So little is known of this place that we really had to use our imagination as we walked about the ruins. We do know that around 1230 the Durward family was granted the lordship of Urquhart and soon built the first castle and over the next three centuries remodeled to become a royal residence. Both Edward I of England and Robert the Bruce ravaged it during the Wars of Independence. The MacDonald Islemen raided here often in the 1400 and 1500s and the Jacobites laid siege during the Rising of 1689-90. The setting was perfect, the morning air crisp and clear and the views of the rugged landscape captivating. Until the tourists starting arriving in droves. Thankfully we had enjoyed our visit here and it was time to head along the Loch to the next village of Fort Augustus. This very small town lies on the 60-mile long Caledonian Canal, halfway between Inverness and Fort William. We had lunch here before going back to Inverness on the other side of the Loch, the B862 the most narrow road we have yet driven, often resembling no more than a wide sidewalk! At the village of Foyers we walked through the pine woods to see the waterfall but as it had been so dry this year it was no more than a trickle. Before shopping at the local Tesco for supper we stopped off at the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery. Although it is small it showcased the unique history and culture of the city and the Scottish Highlands very well and we were much impressed. We even found a Turner painting of the city so I was happy. And, after a long day in this area, thankfully no mention at all of a monster in the lake. <b>GWS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogfbk6FXjD5ndAJNRwD8DfJVmCHLF-utN5g0tEAgHmNU6h-6CpX5Wsi8PASIdmkdJRzP8DzadWshcQ00ZeiTQ-enk1YWlAbcjZ3oY2hn7TWnTtceKIS5ZtECJOMDDoElG81ZyK494SAXa5G81p3xw7R-w0fVJWd6S7usfH1Fdpq_AE0N96MoKCYuiXw/s3648/IMG_20220420_091025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiogfbk6FXjD5ndAJNRwD8DfJVmCHLF-utN5g0tEAgHmNU6h-6CpX5Wsi8PASIdmkdJRzP8DzadWshcQ00ZeiTQ-enk1YWlAbcjZ3oY2hn7TWnTtceKIS5ZtECJOMDDoElG81ZyK494SAXa5G81p3xw7R-w0fVJWd6S7usfH1Fdpq_AE0N96MoKCYuiXw/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_091025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhEztDsuB51QaWr3yfi2zVeOmf0Ip8EFiewJRnKsZMOe-ftObZ76cqpwd-KQzTZB97Pjst0Y2_NupPxf8Zcyb-LMxVnwjymHLIntyvXgjpdZVyOL07V6XkIezWTidOwuGnzWjLwiaF-T36o-kgnIlMuhao4DI4SEtRO-xRsssqaVLn15eVeCtLtl52w/s3648/IMG_20220420_092259.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQhEztDsuB51QaWr3yfi2zVeOmf0Ip8EFiewJRnKsZMOe-ftObZ76cqpwd-KQzTZB97Pjst0Y2_NupPxf8Zcyb-LMxVnwjymHLIntyvXgjpdZVyOL07V6XkIezWTidOwuGnzWjLwiaF-T36o-kgnIlMuhao4DI4SEtRO-xRsssqaVLn15eVeCtLtl52w/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_092259.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xnP4ogJa1U7TKowpv1yGi_JxtovgBGxIxTEkxDSwFJ0nEtedwMyvI7UE8iptvmS_kZNzWnCKF5qVmackZJxHvtr9VyxjSdHPipzww02iUWiLfq1wPsty8ynHWD3bIom1n2jxC30_ciPvF6zAVx7c5ZWhi2eBkgogmMq_aOCJAzyKI6FvNMEfOPmRew/s3648/IMG_20220420_102326.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9xnP4ogJa1U7TKowpv1yGi_JxtovgBGxIxTEkxDSwFJ0nEtedwMyvI7UE8iptvmS_kZNzWnCKF5qVmackZJxHvtr9VyxjSdHPipzww02iUWiLfq1wPsty8ynHWD3bIom1n2jxC30_ciPvF6zAVx7c5ZWhi2eBkgogmMq_aOCJAzyKI6FvNMEfOPmRew/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_102326.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOW2TRkE3siqOX5KMWAV59JIbDPr8yRB2j-eLS4B-bzPiAd17FdF1L11wj2poMpag9dumzIyv0zZhLnIoZXohkoKclJRSiOmGvW8gP_rIIL5wbcrWSppa4d9_v7rtGRlHT3O1lj_VD_d98l-ehc3rtTJT8oD1Yo-4OaOObbvSYzONkfCVoln9C9wkUg/s3648/IMG_20220420_120054.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOW2TRkE3siqOX5KMWAV59JIbDPr8yRB2j-eLS4B-bzPiAd17FdF1L11wj2poMpag9dumzIyv0zZhLnIoZXohkoKclJRSiOmGvW8gP_rIIL5wbcrWSppa4d9_v7rtGRlHT3O1lj_VD_d98l-ehc3rtTJT8oD1Yo-4OaOObbvSYzONkfCVoln9C9wkUg/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_120054.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Caledonian locks at Fort Augustus</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjEHc5q1oPXOAPy6H7MSQlZt49p7CfNZZknk-JBmrCt2xv-GA17sXy7FFOn8HFHq5pGYmZhKxK0t3N4hDoBN9tbG-lr7GsG21kFI44Rlk43qkBaQl5k8dHqBr1xiBsSEXz8wYExbu80d_cT_tb1E4VsAbnfuaqZVdd12tyW7hRzb_pBKZJdceuiBb9A/s3648/IMG_20220420_132717.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZjEHc5q1oPXOAPy6H7MSQlZt49p7CfNZZknk-JBmrCt2xv-GA17sXy7FFOn8HFHq5pGYmZhKxK0t3N4hDoBN9tbG-lr7GsG21kFI44Rlk43qkBaQl5k8dHqBr1xiBsSEXz8wYExbu80d_cT_tb1E4VsAbnfuaqZVdd12tyW7hRzb_pBKZJdceuiBb9A/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_132717.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsRGrInRK_lL3R--ZphFh_pKeKjx-4V68bmh_2URkngc7z3yUiVVZhcHib-mSH6V5oMzN8LTaho_oE2yk4kY73GV_H18RYwKp697pXXq5Nd7B8beNGyHa9LbQvz79nw1PSr-BxUoSBGXiq2B4kLQehOLPiv7LUMckHf6eOTxotx7Zl8ywiesTQpJSHA/s3648/IMG_20220420_133606.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsRGrInRK_lL3R--ZphFh_pKeKjx-4V68bmh_2URkngc7z3yUiVVZhcHib-mSH6V5oMzN8LTaho_oE2yk4kY73GV_H18RYwKp697pXXq5Nd7B8beNGyHa9LbQvz79nw1PSr-BxUoSBGXiq2B4kLQehOLPiv7LUMckHf6eOTxotx7Zl8ywiesTQpJSHA/w480-h640/IMG_20220420_133606.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Fall of Foyers, Foyers, Scotland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQ1ySY3Kbye-u-OQLDWVu8Bo1_97M_b796cHJjuzAReKUJVjofOssWFbvZz7h9pIPEI-t-WROQ7mpFWMVwHM7lGo8ld3cO7ZL82BFPN5mqwvkC96KdVVTspD2a98yNAMkWpnYMff8cAmUdfrrS2v7UL3cG-Pj0LSK8UA54x6oOewONQoeLb9Kf5yDg/s3648/IMG_20220420_130544.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7qQ1ySY3Kbye-u-OQLDWVu8Bo1_97M_b796cHJjuzAReKUJVjofOssWFbvZz7h9pIPEI-t-WROQ7mpFWMVwHM7lGo8ld3cO7ZL82BFPN5mqwvkC96KdVVTspD2a98yNAMkWpnYMff8cAmUdfrrS2v7UL3cG-Pj0LSK8UA54x6oOewONQoeLb9Kf5yDg/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_130544.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>view from the the B852<br /><br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p9SiL6HbCi_7mr7YOyxLoBXV-qlMrbxGlrODCK-d4nzRA3by7n2ZqrN3px5_WpNbCE6URcRfChyDR16K2cEf0uSAAS2NKhSWEaJG52qbp0fz_nRuzyJS6fCvLS1J6P22-Qq3vapUkFqjQBO-LiK4XC22y5H8HgMT5aBQ0xy5CJQBd_ttFJ_ZjjRS1A/s3648/IMG_20220420_151228.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9p9SiL6HbCi_7mr7YOyxLoBXV-qlMrbxGlrODCK-d4nzRA3by7n2ZqrN3px5_WpNbCE6URcRfChyDR16K2cEf0uSAAS2NKhSWEaJG52qbp0fz_nRuzyJS6fCvLS1J6P22-Qq3vapUkFqjQBO-LiK4XC22y5H8HgMT5aBQ0xy5CJQBd_ttFJ_ZjjRS1A/w400-h300/IMG_20220420_151228.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Inverness Castle</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzqlV_JzQbzj50CTTyEwcaRD0G70Fc_J5gvgBSWXS2RQgMhCJSSI3Q-MD83ZePpNZ-s3P5XoKew2r_kcayOCiazns6TpSeBoMcLD266rb13OwdTUTKkY0cJIbvlTlkdPyti0zr75nr41HRLYDFjJ668Azr8ePvCBuaNxURHVOS3NMgvNyZHynx7JbKg/s3648/IMG_20220420_171635.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzqlV_JzQbzj50CTTyEwcaRD0G70Fc_J5gvgBSWXS2RQgMhCJSSI3Q-MD83ZePpNZ-s3P5XoKew2r_kcayOCiazns6TpSeBoMcLD266rb13OwdTUTKkY0cJIbvlTlkdPyti0zr75nr41HRLYDFjJ668Azr8ePvCBuaNxURHVOS3NMgvNyZHynx7JbKg/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_171635.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Inverness and the River Ness</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRazmx-eNzNqnoupm52uTXcOk1oGSunsksXQ7MiLLI2lHggQVTxEG0NoG8Q9mChs312TnTB5i_VGY3FmY2FDB03n0KdHdOAT7kOfg5mz-0S7qzPjsf0nTDUxLbH_6416I9XWU1TlLHPpjR5l97_-y_qc7eolVYohTWtUy7qAqwX941zEDVSEbdCNkPQ/s3648/IMG_20220420_161554.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlRazmx-eNzNqnoupm52uTXcOk1oGSunsksXQ7MiLLI2lHggQVTxEG0NoG8Q9mChs312TnTB5i_VGY3FmY2FDB03n0KdHdOAT7kOfg5mz-0S7qzPjsf0nTDUxLbH_6416I9XWU1TlLHPpjR5l97_-y_qc7eolVYohTWtUy7qAqwX941zEDVSEbdCNkPQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220420_161554.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the old pipes of Kintail, late 18th century, Inverness Museum</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpZr4SJP6VKcfzuKahQTBNqrSx7E5m1Flt2stWP-81Hgkcw9ZdPz23sWxsZvCB3e6HB8-LQc_R42J7jhWL66rtf6JrImYIwO5sAZO-wiRC-4rb1zs7QH6qNNWuFGvnC89wjm6GkbznrYlONZD1_z-JxmYXL0CwNPjacqVDW_lB3m7MLuQDsHCCwNivvA" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" data-original-height="169" data-original-width="298" height="362" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpZr4SJP6VKcfzuKahQTBNqrSx7E5m1Flt2stWP-81Hgkcw9ZdPz23sWxsZvCB3e6HB8-LQc_R42J7jhWL66rtf6JrImYIwO5sAZO-wiRC-4rb1zs7QH6qNNWuFGvnC89wjm6GkbznrYlONZD1_z-JxmYXL0CwNPjacqVDW_lB3m7MLuQDsHCCwNivvA=w640-h362" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>J W Turner, Inverness from the River Ness</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-32925022527113356982022-04-18T13:03:00.001-07:002022-04-19T09:37:15.774-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 27 St Andrews/Stonehaven/Aberdeen, Scotland)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrrEmMLBayhkNGRtmSI_SMGkxg3l0F7QJGs-MoQmpPEmXz5HZdDQ6WivJzJKFqaJxyZ2eI6srtAlLaR8JXgD5377pzRJXd9G6o6nYEhbvV1NrKNMB56UduEVQ-yRiL6bMVroubVFnGMWIDkMmsnpL8NMsjMmSwfUwHEkZQKE5tPE__zMhzKv3inAOww/s2048/IMG-20220418-WA0000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><b><i><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBrrEmMLBayhkNGRtmSI_SMGkxg3l0F7QJGs-MoQmpPEmXz5HZdDQ6WivJzJKFqaJxyZ2eI6srtAlLaR8JXgD5377pzRJXd9G6o6nYEhbvV1NrKNMB56UduEVQ-yRiL6bMVroubVFnGMWIDkMmsnpL8NMsjMmSwfUwHEkZQKE5tPE__zMhzKv3inAOww/w480-h640/IMG-20220418-WA0000.jpg" width="480" /></i></b></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Forth Bridge</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>aving Edinburgh goodbye it was a rather humdrum drive across the Forth Bridge on the M90 to the A92 and A915 into the seaside town of St Andrews, known for its many golf courses (the largest public golf complex in Europe with seven courses), as well as Scotland's first university founded in 1413. We stopped there for coffee and walked down the main street to a headland nearby to look at the ruins of St Andrews Castle and Cathedral before continuing on to Dundee across the Tay Road Bridge. The coastal route looked more scenic so, after getting lost a few times and backtracking on some very narrow country lanes, found the A92 and arrived at Dunnottar Castle, just south of the town of Stonehaven. The day had turned out crisp and sunny and the views from the cliffside were magnificent, cormorants and razorbills, rock pigeons and herring gulls soared effortlessly around the steep cliffs as we made our way down to the shore and into the castle entrance.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdd0mt_BGFk0yzvBI2UwSHw_ySmTdDSQ6wpxt6RYcr8e2io5tDkU2avSTBqoO28ilW4sKAhi6cQIVEwVIiD58hcAA1IhX8pBIhtnrBU-fs3gZsScXAUDJBmPi1izmGws5p3l4f3Y3u29X9EZ19O005u02J7c11awHbPtL9DVgicfuht5NVqwhsAvMjw/s3648/IMG_20220418_111124%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBdd0mt_BGFk0yzvBI2UwSHw_ySmTdDSQ6wpxt6RYcr8e2io5tDkU2avSTBqoO28ilW4sKAhi6cQIVEwVIiD58hcAA1IhX8pBIhtnrBU-fs3gZsScXAUDJBmPi1izmGws5p3l4f3Y3u29X9EZ19O005u02J7c11awHbPtL9DVgicfuht5NVqwhsAvMjw/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_111124%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>St Andrews, Scotland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8B9Az4xd42ePlGC8UNs9ZZbTiLuoHZkBv_VV8PB6s3GG_dS5SOwp01SDY37DO77gnI1SfwNd27SU9anu3pxcWeGpjzbctVPv8JFWDsO0cuvHod6A_vOGLtwhdhl1FwyW-TKxnGOB7rfa80aprVt9jdtsPTjHzwDD9c4S-hwwaJLNk8Mkwpfg-Z8zaQ/s2048/IMG-20220418-WA0001.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP8B9Az4xd42ePlGC8UNs9ZZbTiLuoHZkBv_VV8PB6s3GG_dS5SOwp01SDY37DO77gnI1SfwNd27SU9anu3pxcWeGpjzbctVPv8JFWDsO0cuvHod6A_vOGLtwhdhl1FwyW-TKxnGOB7rfa80aprVt9jdtsPTjHzwDD9c4S-hwwaJLNk8Mkwpfg-Z8zaQ/w640-h480/IMG-20220418-WA0001.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>crossing the Tay into Dundee, Scotland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1M-dpV6w_oQzU9TBwTm0Ewe6aGIGUat0nLRtSEXunixKGBLAFt0GVckKkSYPUjjfkFokVSSxrmG-yUqeb_t9o0_IDTAujy3b43fkT0gqSRwnFxmbMyey4BxZKr2_d9Zj9bdmSu7jGXKQeV2y6LmY2hhBgzs641oj4GbPJSrqeUyxNBzg5fzZHq_uQ/s3648/IMG_20220418_132119%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBL1M-dpV6w_oQzU9TBwTm0Ewe6aGIGUat0nLRtSEXunixKGBLAFt0GVckKkSYPUjjfkFokVSSxrmG-yUqeb_t9o0_IDTAujy3b43fkT0gqSRwnFxmbMyey4BxZKr2_d9Zj9bdmSu7jGXKQeV2y6LmY2hhBgzs641oj4GbPJSrqeUyxNBzg5fzZHq_uQ/w400-h300/IMG_20220418_132119%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ8horb92baDi1J1rVwV44u4Vmo3bKvWcAPs_L4mJ28ScIZKDo-NTi5VWqgNoYdwcYod3P7Vo5HzGnB7jKO7eE7ZLyzK2fMhdo3dLQJEFXTtUzzIrdJ6RREqU_bQAfXqgYzCWcwhheZRx8zeBvoczsOAo8xohBoO8le-2TZ9j-bHOLD3s3G-lH4YXug/s3648/IMG_20220418_133118%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitZ8horb92baDi1J1rVwV44u4Vmo3bKvWcAPs_L4mJ28ScIZKDo-NTi5VWqgNoYdwcYod3P7Vo5HzGnB7jKO7eE7ZLyzK2fMhdo3dLQJEFXTtUzzIrdJ6RREqU_bQAfXqgYzCWcwhheZRx8zeBvoczsOAo8xohBoO8le-2TZ9j-bHOLD3s3G-lH4YXug/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_133118%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_avlT3pOWdAzXXrDcdr8mrcAVgR6zyHXozmGmswW_Utd7KTlxeTIeEqc7SzwYGm2KrqvuPhSxUOxRXs3I2dxVjWHxs3c8uSCNwiLFZMCn-bdtGlVnLlAkM_gOJ5-VrPu0eF3jcuv27urr6bU25FYRMFVo2u4GdSVigV0GWBp0UcWnYSh_dEyqii2Hw/s3648/IMG_20220418_133951%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-_avlT3pOWdAzXXrDcdr8mrcAVgR6zyHXozmGmswW_Utd7KTlxeTIeEqc7SzwYGm2KrqvuPhSxUOxRXs3I2dxVjWHxs3c8uSCNwiLFZMCn-bdtGlVnLlAkM_gOJ5-VrPu0eF3jcuv27urr6bU25FYRMFVo2u4GdSVigV0GWBp0UcWnYSh_dEyqii2Hw/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_133951%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Castle Haven beach, from Dunnottar Castle</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjg8ZPrMNe0FRE-Sl-7WVTLPIjrQYKpbcWGD8KgZUBUsttzLkltN7dgG7LEyG9mmc9WYghj8vQ5k1CZ-bA2mLnfS2g4yx74kgsXtIig7WORHu3w4Qh3JADJQddGAjfmjwfeMffGmvQ2jPMFgtBHsgm-6XJVC_47ooTlKgj2-eXENJXss7ZK_XEptnbQ/s3648/IMG_20220418_135324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkjg8ZPrMNe0FRE-Sl-7WVTLPIjrQYKpbcWGD8KgZUBUsttzLkltN7dgG7LEyG9mmc9WYghj8vQ5k1CZ-bA2mLnfS2g4yx74kgsXtIig7WORHu3w4Qh3JADJQddGAjfmjwfeMffGmvQ2jPMFgtBHsgm-6XJVC_47ooTlKgj2-eXENJXss7ZK_XEptnbQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_135324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he Castle, perched atop a 160 foot rock and surrounded on three sides by the North Sea, was the home of the Earls Marischal, once one of the most powerful families in Scotland. This castle played a crucial role in Scottish history and has played host to some great historical figures including William Wallace and Mary Queen of Scots. It is also famous for its role in saving the Scottish Crown Jewels from Oliver Cromwell's army in the 1650s. There is little left of the wooden structures and roofs but the stone buildings were easy to visualize in their heyday, including the little chapel that was consecrated in 1276 and apparently burned with an English garrison inside by Bill Wallace in 1297. The surviving buildings are largely of the 15th and 16th centuries but the site is believed to have been fortified in the Early Middle Ages. It was one of the most beautiful settings we had yet seen on our tour of English Heritage and Scottish Castles and was worth the stop on our way to Aberdeen for the night. <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNnsFh4-IjdxmU4IUn4SQe_AskcfdkXeEJ0t0LtKX_H-cg8Brl8w8Wikl7Frw5jth19DtIj3LTpHfscMmWN7o6akNQcYhIZO51tfSDh8cFiJBV_DMNQdWYnbBIU0W_bY9noda55kcfisjqAjSKL_Lt7nKrjGxDWdaAtqkv070fNuPt68Re9QAcYC9eA/s3648/IMG_20220418_142446.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghNnsFh4-IjdxmU4IUn4SQe_AskcfdkXeEJ0t0LtKX_H-cg8Brl8w8Wikl7Frw5jth19DtIj3LTpHfscMmWN7o6akNQcYhIZO51tfSDh8cFiJBV_DMNQdWYnbBIU0W_bY9noda55kcfisjqAjSKL_Lt7nKrjGxDWdaAtqkv070fNuPt68Re9QAcYC9eA/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_142446.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Dunnottar Castle chapel</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9pb5bcZqO7sJnZEW56TjCee6pk85OOboH9w3ywuFR5xO5PeuATgQTCRVxuKiyC7JhKTNHRs4JaOA7XEITx9AMaffLZq8y4q6kNuUOIGGNOrGzQMrRJxLg8VW0Pu-GBSH_1RzIszNqA833QhfE9_NxUZHpfaTK4Q9GhizCbyl5eOF3j4i3gl3IJ_VNw/s3648/IMG_20220418_144719.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu9pb5bcZqO7sJnZEW56TjCee6pk85OOboH9w3ywuFR5xO5PeuATgQTCRVxuKiyC7JhKTNHRs4JaOA7XEITx9AMaffLZq8y4q6kNuUOIGGNOrGzQMrRJxLg8VW0Pu-GBSH_1RzIszNqA833QhfE9_NxUZHpfaTK4Q9GhizCbyl5eOF3j4i3gl3IJ_VNw/w640-h480/IMG_20220418_144719.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrc5hSwYSVJzY_Lx1bxT_eQK1jvG-YfhPTYQeQ2Es1Q6NloauVT24mPMFE8NQeMOHy5ysqqPcMkDkYbBtnUGUcEyLk2MFrOWf-oxioXRJMha4tytebnhudZ7sQuTjGA5bWiASUar9OMfbxXBAK9AlJqSUm7uw54CCHyjyGtVAwBwMwZ43crqRvX0dA/s5632/IMG_20220419_092649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPHrc5hSwYSVJzY_Lx1bxT_eQK1jvG-YfhPTYQeQ2Es1Q6NloauVT24mPMFE8NQeMOHy5ysqqPcMkDkYbBtnUGUcEyLk2MFrOWf-oxioXRJMha4tytebnhudZ7sQuTjGA5bWiASUar9OMfbxXBAK9AlJqSUm7uw54CCHyjyGtVAwBwMwZ43crqRvX0dA/w400-h300/IMG_20220419_092649.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>78 Salisbury Place, Aberdeen, AirBnB</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-18921525292293409282022-04-17T11:20:00.001-07:002022-04-18T13:00:59.677-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 25-26 Lockerbie/Edinburgh, Scotland)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecY_zU9rwe6PKGaoGPSfK1_XamP15ievjvI2VTSOgJHQ_r6y9HHHOrisOvVWwm0na74RbNHBF1lruvpIJTuvuuGUsaQZo2n4X8pBmFbn16wmXbwtUyp-4V440f-NlGMzLRjuoOXH-qW-ks_4K5fiZ5elPF7dAAPRcBbc4V0a0wtaddCRE_HL_L9ZYkQ/s2048/IMG-20220416-WA0002.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1981" data-original-width="2048" height="388" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhecY_zU9rwe6PKGaoGPSfK1_XamP15ievjvI2VTSOgJHQ_r6y9HHHOrisOvVWwm0na74RbNHBF1lruvpIJTuvuuGUsaQZo2n4X8pBmFbn16wmXbwtUyp-4V440f-NlGMzLRjuoOXH-qW-ks_4K5fiZ5elPF7dAAPRcBbc4V0a0wtaddCRE_HL_L9ZYkQ/w400-h388/IMG-20220416-WA0002.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">L</span></b>ess than an hour on the A74 and we were passing into Scotland, still cloudy and threatening rain as I suppose it was the way most people see this place for the first time. But it didn't and it was even warm as we stopped in the little town of Lockerbie to pay our respects to the victims of the 1988 air disaster. A bomb took down Pan Am flight 103 0n the evening of December 21, 1988, sending it crashing in pieces in this small southern Scottish village, killing 11 residents on the ground and all 259 people on board. We found the initial place of impact that destroyed five homes, standing by a small plaque where the engines dug a 30 foot crater, now grass and trees, hidden from the road. All physical traces of this sad day are now gone but we spoke to a woman in the cemetery a mile away where the beautiful main Memorial is and she still felt the shock after 33 years. From here we took the scenic drive to Edinburgh, on the A701. The clouds hung low and it felt very chilly as we wound our way through the rugged and hilly country, stopping at the spot where the River Tweed first bubbles out of the ground on its windy way to Berwick-upon-Tweed and the North Sea. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSednN-hZVl-voZZ1e4kLl8bZhwDExalnE2kl6kuT52kiNW_05SMfP6dmxzKEhbmaXPAbxJn8MKh6BsRilmiKLtTxqlo0GHUjylgXnqkKb_761EmmeRV6hHEPuf8NBt6edWi6hlO68W8HrkW59dmAScx7lVe5tJQYyYQ3B63PJSrqnM7gCblLwFNjwA/s3648/IMG_20220416_101223.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUSednN-hZVl-voZZ1e4kLl8bZhwDExalnE2kl6kuT52kiNW_05SMfP6dmxzKEhbmaXPAbxJn8MKh6BsRilmiKLtTxqlo0GHUjylgXnqkKb_761EmmeRV6hHEPuf8NBt6edWi6hlO68W8HrkW59dmAScx7lVe5tJQYyYQ3B63PJSrqnM7gCblLwFNjwA/w480-h640/IMG_20220416_101223.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NHcl4VmFFp7VsjyaYgNQA3RD16473Ma02pZzGCWn7bTCrxlFQCB0ovxb1ekg-XoyOy4mA5yxu-4ktD252Q5G81srLe5uqcNLxTVKW_27qnj40Wdv5Dv9gMckJ8uvbHepeK4Lawpv7-rowV9CDN4zZ7qmvSMIGVesExhYItqCdKPPApsAC0Y-6Ozx7g/s3648/IMG_20220416_104916.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NHcl4VmFFp7VsjyaYgNQA3RD16473Ma02pZzGCWn7bTCrxlFQCB0ovxb1ekg-XoyOy4mA5yxu-4ktD252Q5G81srLe5uqcNLxTVKW_27qnj40Wdv5Dv9gMckJ8uvbHepeK4Lawpv7-rowV9CDN4zZ7qmvSMIGVesExhYItqCdKPPApsAC0Y-6Ozx7g/w640-h480/IMG_20220416_104916.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Lockerbie, Scotland</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJXqz1fs6kdjQg69610msgMsAjwPDo2J7kcAGuvBPYVLcq-ubU7lLJQIneN_BnumhzsiRhGOnQEq_YVjPUVa4JBXtz6Rm7kIfo12nPQV0doyP9cIUBDLPNiKjQ-xFfaCdYADGOpXjK1c248_tdHRl8EAHD-uhBZa1HT2p66CwtOOdKYzL5fTjwUqO3Q/s3648/IMG_20220416_113348.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJXqz1fs6kdjQg69610msgMsAjwPDo2J7kcAGuvBPYVLcq-ubU7lLJQIneN_BnumhzsiRhGOnQEq_YVjPUVa4JBXtz6Rm7kIfo12nPQV0doyP9cIUBDLPNiKjQ-xFfaCdYADGOpXjK1c248_tdHRl8EAHD-uhBZa1HT2p66CwtOOdKYzL5fTjwUqO3Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220416_113348.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZp442x08bEWeSa18uEHzAlN0Hf0rgxzp-gHOrpLY-zZ7gumrTu3HtFmvsIgQnsStFNLBmVmQWAFHkjeNNFi-r7J6ZHU-IkRKD7VVIgpISIgU4VTIKgo1GVq9PQ5s0si10bngauy_kMhuybmPfzybkZZfWb7doliB1jDbOB7Fi06STkE7ZGoaGUEgqQ/s3648/IMG_20220416_114113.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGZp442x08bEWeSa18uEHzAlN0Hf0rgxzp-gHOrpLY-zZ7gumrTu3HtFmvsIgQnsStFNLBmVmQWAFHkjeNNFi-r7J6ZHU-IkRKD7VVIgpISIgU4VTIKgo1GVq9PQ5s0si10bngauy_kMhuybmPfzybkZZfWb7doliB1jDbOB7Fi06STkE7ZGoaGUEgqQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220416_114113.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>source of the River Tweed, near Tweedsmuir, Scotland</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>e had to wait a few hours before meeting up with our host Maria (another Maria from Italy) in her condo so we walked around the area and got a first feel for this rather grimy city, noting the closest convenience store for snacks and beer. Afterwards we went out for supper at a local chicken peri peri restaurant before retiring into our very cramped and bare room, though admittedly we had a spectacular view of Arthur's Seat from our window. The next morning it was a quick tour of the High Street or what is known here as the Royal Mile, though more like the Royal Pain-in-the-Ass with unbelievable throngs of tourists crowding us out at every step. The Castle which we had planned to visit was out of the question, fully booked for the whole day, so we contented ourselves with a quick picture and hasty retreat. Certainly there is a lot of history in Edinburgh and in quieter times worth pursuing but we took in what we could and tried not to be swept along by the crowds. We walked past Canongate Churchyard (Kirkyard), a Presbyterian Church, used for burials around 1680s until the mid twentieth century. Buried here are the famous economist Adam Smith, the great Scottish poet Robert Fergussen and the man who inspired the character Ebenezer Scrooge, (Ebenezer Lennox Scroggie, a corn merchant, who on the gravestone Dickens misread 'a meal man' as 'a mean man' and the protagonist of <i>A Christmas Carol </i>was born.). Not much farther down the Royal P-in-the-A was the Scottish Parliament building and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen's official residence in Edinburgh and the home of the Scottish royal history. They were asking almost $60 to get in and gawk at royal paraphernalia so we opted not to further contribute to the coffers of the Windsors but, reluctantly on my part, we did settle on a tea towel and fridge magnet marking her 70th jubilee. <div><br /><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA3h8dkG5nHHrGLZnH1OZRqtXigRVak67-0iEzcwzspYMyZMrybz6abmQYCvr88Nu_iPjVLSVVMZMGSakND-oucvHIlD5siH5E5Yb4C9bVXavBVniYIGyRklTN5FQ6l0NZ_hn6eUgUC1qk-vlf1UOauPTe8J-9B-KmEs4T65JC6X0uvs-VfH7VQZUCA/s5632/IMG_20220418_083853.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeA3h8dkG5nHHrGLZnH1OZRqtXigRVak67-0iEzcwzspYMyZMrybz6abmQYCvr88Nu_iPjVLSVVMZMGSakND-oucvHIlD5siH5E5Yb4C9bVXavBVniYIGyRklTN5FQ6l0NZ_hn6eUgUC1qk-vlf1UOauPTe8J-9B-KmEs4T65JC6X0uvs-VfH7VQZUCA/w400-h300/IMG_20220418_083853.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Airbnb 42-7 Parkside Terrace, Edinburgh</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzeErLaxaykXVA0Xkr27iOUFHTM1exYbI4l7ZSoQFOBTYngSQPWLEIURyejFcJvrUb1ohnVcwAl10L3B3hUecO8rV-RNqm-MEh_Z93if9MGFxgzBPjHAkqcj50UVCdBDHtWvIRp9t66EBwmrX95pzRsGlBIqKbWkrafVLm4jWesKPGKDO0OaO8rLCGg/s3648/IMG_20220417_092443%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMzeErLaxaykXVA0Xkr27iOUFHTM1exYbI4l7ZSoQFOBTYngSQPWLEIURyejFcJvrUb1ohnVcwAl10L3B3hUecO8rV-RNqm-MEh_Z93if9MGFxgzBPjHAkqcj50UVCdBDHtWvIRp9t66EBwmrX95pzRsGlBIqKbWkrafVLm4jWesKPGKDO0OaO8rLCGg/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_092443%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>part of the Edinburgh University</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGfI79FEMLmEkbsYAoHgzxvl_Ps_wNWOQ0QPRo5FgC_wrRlmzCskfH2Zb31XPJ-XlVi-ckHtC4QusTtPYWl09UlIUyx-bnM2PlHMjPWzuC3gczJtppJG2jc6kLJ5lc-hYZiXaphUnUn62N4gnHgGl0HGm039KuPI8xmDM4YSm1qcVZx8OsHFuIKfLMw/s5632/IMG_20220417_094325%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglGfI79FEMLmEkbsYAoHgzxvl_Ps_wNWOQ0QPRo5FgC_wrRlmzCskfH2Zb31XPJ-XlVi-ckHtC4QusTtPYWl09UlIUyx-bnM2PlHMjPWzuC3gczJtppJG2jc6kLJ5lc-hYZiXaphUnUn62N4gnHgGl0HGm039KuPI8xmDM4YSm1qcVZx8OsHFuIKfLMw/w480-h640/IMG_20220417_094325%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Edinburgh Castle</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2STERCyjPmjmWCxsU3mDuMha02Vai1C9w-dpnXngmfms478de9sult8b7OfukBj-PHCkrN45Ieu561DecQ1kI5JOAWb7kXFgqX0Xni-jdZUYJ7FdDaVo-oNuyNF83gzaWso1k1M259FKNrviqF2KllopbTmMYJ8XTre_ePMg5vqZZ0BnI6YlK1MJsA/s3297/IMG_20220417_143243.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="2097" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU2STERCyjPmjmWCxsU3mDuMha02Vai1C9w-dpnXngmfms478de9sult8b7OfukBj-PHCkrN45Ieu561DecQ1kI5JOAWb7kXFgqX0Xni-jdZUYJ7FdDaVo-oNuyNF83gzaWso1k1M259FKNrviqF2KllopbTmMYJ8XTre_ePMg5vqZZ0BnI6YlK1MJsA/w408-h640/IMG_20220417_143243.jpg" width="408" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Deacon Brodie's Tavern, Edinburgh</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBBql47wJOtXNQbSiwCgvnjqNmD9DFCRS6miwMCEP-Tfr5AxTokEsolKFY4TNv_EG8tSRAcikV7x1O7MEhe1lbQEwcXeNDGJY25HgCktM2nJIHaKbCBDZOv-R6-7uNukYgKqZgGFXJCXn2zf4noOvx-mnZK_CXPfMTJxfBjdz5AM8SuvtLbHjv9b5mw/s3648/IMG_20220417_095824%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirBBql47wJOtXNQbSiwCgvnjqNmD9DFCRS6miwMCEP-Tfr5AxTokEsolKFY4TNv_EG8tSRAcikV7x1O7MEhe1lbQEwcXeNDGJY25HgCktM2nJIHaKbCBDZOv-R6-7uNukYgKqZgGFXJCXn2zf4noOvx-mnZK_CXPfMTJxfBjdz5AM8SuvtLbHjv9b5mw/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_095824%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet9xO9pdJYo3gCGPT7JtILGjjMy1aDLF1GYh5Vd1_5FzKs4JISX2yL_WNDM-PV5CUF-lO3I1I4pqZ-p96o16ZHvR45g0Jjv2TD_G_hNdfzALqTb3CQDkCuehDfOdAH9PaiYFDCVCdFA_WYl59sCoDy32tUv-7iVBctFktzfFMoBvmXYY_Cvp1xEcHpg/s3648/IMG_20220417_100011%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhet9xO9pdJYo3gCGPT7JtILGjjMy1aDLF1GYh5Vd1_5FzKs4JISX2yL_WNDM-PV5CUF-lO3I1I4pqZ-p96o16ZHvR45g0Jjv2TD_G_hNdfzALqTb3CQDkCuehDfOdAH9PaiYFDCVCdFA_WYl59sCoDy32tUv-7iVBctFktzfFMoBvmXYY_Cvp1xEcHpg/w400-h300/IMG_20220417_100011%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3RWeObNsv8EKvB9sYCpFWped0DRlNQvA0rYYu8mWyvUn8S3RWXX6-MvtFrTX4nzibz9I3gJnHj7BzGkPQA_ODBNofb0ttsia-k9BchlAK7DcNy3CTR1kmNeyJ-Exak6THhGfEIJ57PDccVqsA371dbKY5pykLkaZn7lgGqTGa76gOSEj9_WW1MRPZQ/s3648/IMG_20220417_101148%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH3RWeObNsv8EKvB9sYCpFWped0DRlNQvA0rYYu8mWyvUn8S3RWXX6-MvtFrTX4nzibz9I3gJnHj7BzGkPQA_ODBNofb0ttsia-k9BchlAK7DcNy3CTR1kmNeyJ-Exak6THhGfEIJ57PDccVqsA371dbKY5pykLkaZn7lgGqTGa76gOSEj9_WW1MRPZQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_101148%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>St Giles' Cathedral</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S6kqt78xi5NNOwU4mB8hLjyVocWDQi_nQ2cVnSYMyn1nfVhoMUjcEyQmJyk_IXSqgBlaFn7U2hESB56uMJ9rds0m-Q9HAX-ql63bkhIZVbhAbfVCzp4Dfpp_z4q2IWsRYr6-GEw_TH_VwqjnSfgceWsWvA3zOc-tGqzbhoANcc9vHSrliCgHRnu9Qg/s3648/IMG_20220417_103759%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_S6kqt78xi5NNOwU4mB8hLjyVocWDQi_nQ2cVnSYMyn1nfVhoMUjcEyQmJyk_IXSqgBlaFn7U2hESB56uMJ9rds0m-Q9HAX-ql63bkhIZVbhAbfVCzp4Dfpp_z4q2IWsRYr6-GEw_TH_VwqjnSfgceWsWvA3zOc-tGqzbhoANcc9vHSrliCgHRnu9Qg/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_103759%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Canongate Kirkyard</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk3ng6Fo6TPONCnJVdgn9nZD2tm4HYPXqycyRPqTEyaYsSJuVqmy0x0ZG-YohWoa8YEO6F4DPF8j62jBd269okYPE3yR613KafXqbfy0zcA56fq0isV9gog2OoWnpShPUjol4H0Mbwp1F58d89rOk2vi2fvGWU3Cvb17VqVcxygejOJkt4YGojQz3Mw/s3648/IMG_20220417_104151%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibk3ng6Fo6TPONCnJVdgn9nZD2tm4HYPXqycyRPqTEyaYsSJuVqmy0x0ZG-YohWoa8YEO6F4DPF8j62jBd269okYPE3yR613KafXqbfy0zcA56fq0isV9gog2OoWnpShPUjol4H0Mbwp1F58d89rOk2vi2fvGWU3Cvb17VqVcxygejOJkt4YGojQz3Mw/w480-h640/IMG_20220417_104151%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFricf9-c0FZmztk8-U7YBM4L4kgKmy7Btq_QkHUXse3uuZ9oFwDk8DnHpLrHgtLtSn7all54XSIS9g-qVwucPyYCcUddm7UNOzcFLPIVaeHUq0vazNoMLZJl4AUOtPddF8jdGg93prioyogEecVvzllatoxK1P7g7C_TXc_5LmnULF4pZxe_4qaEz-A/s3037/IMG_20220417_143045%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2075" data-original-width="3037" height="438" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFricf9-c0FZmztk8-U7YBM4L4kgKmy7Btq_QkHUXse3uuZ9oFwDk8DnHpLrHgtLtSn7all54XSIS9g-qVwucPyYCcUddm7UNOzcFLPIVaeHUq0vazNoMLZJl4AUOtPddF8jdGg93prioyogEecVvzllatoxK1P7g7C_TXc_5LmnULF4pZxe_4qaEz-A/w640-h438/IMG_20220417_143045%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Palace of Holyroodhouse, Queen's official residence</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>F</b></span>rom there we followed the road leading to the Salisbury Crags and on up to the top of Arthur's Seat, which loomed large from our bedroom window, a rocky and ankle twisting climb of 822 feet. The mostly grass covered hill is actually an ancient volcano (erupting 350 million years ago) with fabulous views in all directions. The extensive parkland surrounding it would have been an oasis of calm but as this was an Easter Sunday all Scotland was clambering up to be the first to the summit. When we descended we past the small loch and its swans and back to the condo - an almost 5 hour walk! Before supper we visited a very small local whiskey and gin distillery right next door (Holyrood's) that has only been in business two years and tried some of their extra products. Marie went gaga over a gin called <i>Height of Arrows - Bright. </i>The 48 % alcohol volume didn't influence her decision at all. Then it was Indian wraps for supper then packing for our next drive to Aberdeen, the Granite City, where the Dee and the Don rivers meet the North Sea. <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GWS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphCmRut7KuCGNeelCGc3cjAkO9iJ_UI7RmIk-mhG0rmYe3Xs-FreiVXjQXqPecdJMR11CvT7idhWui1VjvFC0c1v2F17FC2EkFqoEwgpsWtpDqQ_I8OX7gXj3T_Kxq-UzLZN5EUXZr876WAVhd5PppqWhOV9k0KN7r1X69bgbF2PcOC6AYf1eSjvN2Q/s3648/IMG_20220417_114911%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhphCmRut7KuCGNeelCGc3cjAkO9iJ_UI7RmIk-mhG0rmYe3Xs-FreiVXjQXqPecdJMR11CvT7idhWui1VjvFC0c1v2F17FC2EkFqoEwgpsWtpDqQ_I8OX7gXj3T_Kxq-UzLZN5EUXZr876WAVhd5PppqWhOV9k0KN7r1X69bgbF2PcOC6AYf1eSjvN2Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_114911%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-I8G3FDPfE-09SVMEe9Tx1483jQDLF6C2SZ47rEtLfxPVKUueJQY7nDJseuH4_W0JKibodj89F_yJlxrYp_V7xHIT6og8lV2l6_NJPFCAIrJUd8E6_1aoYS4pd5K3M08ADjwWXb4_PnwdEQMANp9rLgp4rkQOb2rwYpOV9f4-05Cd9b5jSkDmIm-jA/s3648/IMG_20220417_120723%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-I8G3FDPfE-09SVMEe9Tx1483jQDLF6C2SZ47rEtLfxPVKUueJQY7nDJseuH4_W0JKibodj89F_yJlxrYp_V7xHIT6og8lV2l6_NJPFCAIrJUd8E6_1aoYS4pd5K3M08ADjwWXb4_PnwdEQMANp9rLgp4rkQOb2rwYpOV9f4-05Cd9b5jSkDmIm-jA/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_120723%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4lcYGXwtpGwqlvj4uqHLXnje_bezqkq6MUurpnuX7kNdRdCcYMa0fmGKCviJAIyCRMX_3YGAeTUgd9XClFbkvB1bOivmHb68SPcRQGfmFuXx91Aq7P0eixl3chmZvs4B2JaRq70mUaOrRZ8cKcIahJgEdcn__8n1IfuaOBkznBxJ9lpiwvYEMS-yag/s3648/IMG_20220417_120738%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju4lcYGXwtpGwqlvj4uqHLXnje_bezqkq6MUurpnuX7kNdRdCcYMa0fmGKCviJAIyCRMX_3YGAeTUgd9XClFbkvB1bOivmHb68SPcRQGfmFuXx91Aq7P0eixl3chmZvs4B2JaRq70mUaOrRZ8cKcIahJgEdcn__8n1IfuaOBkznBxJ9lpiwvYEMS-yag/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_120738%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWXgK-yd3XUK5Li1So06rFnyk-LSFM4NkLfMLcVdBP24fFUZeMpKwfwM_6bvfXzZ7V_bTwYGM9kft-NPZSs1QLMNCCh4rL9CyiZ3hX0otGA9d7Gqf1zxgsytdpKcaD1aCnJ0tfhkK80h2lT6llqVCZDExgtspOxiloeNcGXClcOCWSLYuRu6CgiHQvA/s5632/IMG_20220417_121936%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTWXgK-yd3XUK5Li1So06rFnyk-LSFM4NkLfMLcVdBP24fFUZeMpKwfwM_6bvfXzZ7V_bTwYGM9kft-NPZSs1QLMNCCh4rL9CyiZ3hX0otGA9d7Gqf1zxgsytdpKcaD1aCnJ0tfhkK80h2lT6llqVCZDExgtspOxiloeNcGXClcOCWSLYuRu6CgiHQvA/w400-h300/IMG_20220417_121936%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxQ5BxFweV93RYs0mFSmo8BlKi2vAGPC822uLIeWh3IFjGWv2kC2cJbMpXwmKme4tMb9_qf6M2Zo7uXSC27HlcCsQLidrfy-Jn7-_z5M33_G_qLnx4sVPhzYCnPn6PPBC3FbyeahPTAWK11X5PHkLFHCuEcBanowU7iCBhxCnWCT3WNOwAQeBPEiW6g/s3648/IMG_20220417_123923%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHxQ5BxFweV93RYs0mFSmo8BlKi2vAGPC822uLIeWh3IFjGWv2kC2cJbMpXwmKme4tMb9_qf6M2Zo7uXSC27HlcCsQLidrfy-Jn7-_z5M33_G_qLnx4sVPhzYCnPn6PPBC3FbyeahPTAWK11X5PHkLFHCuEcBanowU7iCBhxCnWCT3WNOwAQeBPEiW6g/w640-h480/IMG_20220417_123923%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Loch, Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3cjZmZPaJ3KUttE5DBtBaHZNsrSP6lBn7-qEwBmY7MwMplBMcNmYfsjHlwwycFWFJomWwhL0H6JMXftkWSX0GUIBC7QfgBzJ32dY7MK383vUxOqy50WEU38230eYbjJ62sdUkBJw_E4E82m14Ki1u32cT-cou7JSdS7A7y_HYlckRCejjnkL6qvSVA/s2048/IMG-20220417-WA0019.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho3cjZmZPaJ3KUttE5DBtBaHZNsrSP6lBn7-qEwBmY7MwMplBMcNmYfsjHlwwycFWFJomWwhL0H6JMXftkWSX0GUIBC7QfgBzJ32dY7MK383vUxOqy50WEU38230eYbjJ62sdUkBJw_E4E82m14Ki1u32cT-cou7JSdS7A7y_HYlckRCejjnkL6qvSVA/w640-h480/IMG-20220417-WA0019.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXss9z4ZuKKw6SemV1K7va1mXuhnhYWtjJfWq_iffjUCwiEofslfeIZurPs8UinHlNbCgpRcPcGyN8coe2ysmUlFyaXxGRggwy-ipPSEOimzNG6uw7XEuhZ8zNySluCmNyi0QFX6qYEZsExJxVKe4R9CVbsIMresymVUtNXoPbVgU7jyGSmA98k7lgJg/s2048/IMG-20220417-WA0020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXss9z4ZuKKw6SemV1K7va1mXuhnhYWtjJfWq_iffjUCwiEofslfeIZurPs8UinHlNbCgpRcPcGyN8coe2ysmUlFyaXxGRggwy-ipPSEOimzNG6uw7XEuhZ8zNySluCmNyi0QFX6qYEZsExJxVKe4R9CVbsIMresymVUtNXoPbVgU7jyGSmA98k7lgJg/w400-h300/IMG-20220417-WA0020.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Holyrood Distillery, Edinburgh</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p></div></div>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-90511767512711305652022-04-16T08:31:00.003-07:002022-04-16T10:47:00.757-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 24 Heddon-on-the-Wall/Corbridge/Carlisle, Cumbria, England)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-rZymWoiuANZfILh6i2XkjFVLxYdzaTPBpJ0peNi_jgtz_3xRw89Y6Klv9At9KkTAYnuCIPtXapDAtWs-nagKv7p5_Jj3yloXKvVMc-pxjuP1_7hwQBl_NmidTzZJrkKasb7GyWXAhYNz0pJ8HJYwa3MDcgJNe590x5JVyS7IjzyDDUKQTmzuUFLrw/s3648/IMG_20220415_095138.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr-rZymWoiuANZfILh6i2XkjFVLxYdzaTPBpJ0peNi_jgtz_3xRw89Y6Klv9At9KkTAYnuCIPtXapDAtWs-nagKv7p5_Jj3yloXKvVMc-pxjuP1_7hwQBl_NmidTzZJrkKasb7GyWXAhYNz0pJ8HJYwa3MDcgJNe590x5JVyS7IjzyDDUKQTmzuUFLrw/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_095138.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>N</b></span>ot far from Newcastle the next morning we stopped at the first of many sites where we could walk upon and learn the history of Hadrian's famous wall. Heddon-on-the-Wall was part of the north-western border of the Roman Empire for around 300 years. Emperor Hadrian who reigned from AD 117-138 arrived in Britain in AD 122 to strengthen the empire's frontier here where we now stood. He realized that the cost of conquering the whole island would far exceed any economic gains so he decided to build a permanent barrier. This part of the wall was over ten feet high and ran continuously for 73 miles, as we were to see as we followed it along. Thousands of soldiers were stationed at large forts and smaller installations along the Wall known as milecastles and turrets and we would visit three of them on our way to Carlisle. Just nine miles away was the fascinating Roman fort town and museum at Corbridge, first excavated in 1906. The remains visible today include superbly preserved granaries, a market complex and compounds for legionary soldiers and the collection of finds in the museum were the most extensive collection from the Hadrian's Wall area.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu1xvaQrrg5O29u8IiScTRoz2TPmiIeEPbJJoyoH8NmLnD1j24iLCnHihs1ZXCxJ12GtsgoaVFmOl9MS_pnEaVAeWCqyfGYhyULxt7NupdNRZQqdK7j2TI4cuhQ5W8w5C37MwwIxFnIMAfWWW4oxnrjZg20bT0IK2uktkNhdrk4uf0y-SPV1UBYEBiw/s3648/IMG_20220415_095708.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipu1xvaQrrg5O29u8IiScTRoz2TPmiIeEPbJJoyoH8NmLnD1j24iLCnHihs1ZXCxJ12GtsgoaVFmOl9MS_pnEaVAeWCqyfGYhyULxt7NupdNRZQqdK7j2TI4cuhQ5W8w5C37MwwIxFnIMAfWWW4oxnrjZg20bT0IK2uktkNhdrk4uf0y-SPV1UBYEBiw/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_095708.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Our first glimpse of Hadrian's Wall, Heddon-on-the-Wall</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlo7JTtJRvzJAgLN5mVMljuyAQfid_fXToAcOvNDbKkOOs90gasBUMG3pqaVJsm3sqVBpIS8xg5KPz3JKYV2kVbwjvJduyz9_nvmERqFFC3rVl4J9Siu7baKa6fnHMMSpRPvlEef9UggOtcOu_VCbFbwqOxTAyObLL_P31e4UAq-FNLkMkl7bPbOdUQ/s3648/IMG_20220415_144033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKlo7JTtJRvzJAgLN5mVMljuyAQfid_fXToAcOvNDbKkOOs90gasBUMG3pqaVJsm3sqVBpIS8xg5KPz3JKYV2kVbwjvJduyz9_nvmERqFFC3rVl4J9Siu7baKa6fnHMMSpRPvlEef9UggOtcOu_VCbFbwqOxTAyObLL_P31e4UAq-FNLkMkl7bPbOdUQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_144033.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoUw3-8egpV37ICrKCRIrgNmEA2xCBVhrcg0fDzdMbq7E85EUhXFL294mWX1BVacD8LEG8IaxJg0WsK069LkB9aNqjWVI9qrRpoWeVTaSp1R3oGN9CAcv9kw60G0_gl44qMlukT4QlBUPdYYC7GxtdSJ22Ak9NN2wmFgQc8kF1JTy5qvYe9hFZ-Gn-A/s3648/IMG_20220415_104424.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGoUw3-8egpV37ICrKCRIrgNmEA2xCBVhrcg0fDzdMbq7E85EUhXFL294mWX1BVacD8LEG8IaxJg0WsK069LkB9aNqjWVI9qrRpoWeVTaSp1R3oGN9CAcv9kw60G0_gl44qMlukT4QlBUPdYYC7GxtdSJ22Ak9NN2wmFgQc8kF1JTy5qvYe9hFZ-Gn-A/w480-h640/IMG_20220415_104424.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>remains and reconstruction of a segmented cuirasse, Corbridge</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBzLUG0-tOJPCYYqG3VrCJtBvbIVA-nKDg6MitNm5CeQvv8JBPLpITo6P1CKfJUvQGgfzPrdXmcs4XdQoeHbCvDCsnuhvLCFQoF7ZzIf9nEiP8Z-MV0K4yOMF049kQ-LOWtyfj9C8Eh_BF73qWmRDHXZPq-fQxR9C_k05B5RsNPQLLgLQkumV1kfJOw/s3648/IMG_20220415_105822.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnBzLUG0-tOJPCYYqG3VrCJtBvbIVA-nKDg6MitNm5CeQvv8JBPLpITo6P1CKfJUvQGgfzPrdXmcs4XdQoeHbCvDCsnuhvLCFQoF7ZzIf9nEiP8Z-MV0K4yOMF049kQ-LOWtyfj9C8Eh_BF73qWmRDHXZPq-fQxR9C_k05B5RsNPQLLgLQkumV1kfJOw/w400-h300/IMG_20220415_105822.jpg" width="400" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>the Corbridge Lion, late 2nd or early 3rd century</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpjLO7SrbDDAjGizb6_my7kvmtCYUIKohD9jtMkML8rkzGWg33GNkzIzzTsbIOkK2c4DpIHxd4NhV-FpnzOlyPu1RJCBL3ZL1eAeOfmUjorB-1G0D3KFuGcSZTRRYl2Osw7-yYcNn8JRDDCG2Cx2c0t6u7Ag0G7FWt86RE5DsD2SgGvCIpD3-WfYHHQ/s3648/IMG_20220415_111612.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilpjLO7SrbDDAjGizb6_my7kvmtCYUIKohD9jtMkML8rkzGWg33GNkzIzzTsbIOkK2c4DpIHxd4NhV-FpnzOlyPu1RJCBL3ZL1eAeOfmUjorB-1G0D3KFuGcSZTRRYl2Osw7-yYcNn8JRDDCG2Cx2c0t6u7Ag0G7FWt86RE5DsD2SgGvCIpD3-WfYHHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_111612.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>find 'Waldo Marie', Corbridge Roman town</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>T</b></span>he next stop along Hadrian's Wall was Chesters Roman Fort near the village of Hexham, nestled in the valley of Chollerford. It was built to house a Roman army garrison of 500 cavalry troops guarding the nearby bridge across the River Tyne and has unusually well-preserved baths and steam room which looked like they could be easily put to use today. Abandoned after the Romans left Britain the fort was excavated by the pioneering archaeologist John Clayton in the 19th century. The museum of collections he discovered was worth the visit, as was the views of the beautiful countryside of the valley and Tyne river. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKHhiV4nUIvLXRSRje9PSvApQwKtalGVMxEwlM8FJC12YxrzRBF1tPkOOOtPzQO5WKarhSUwmlkVDfvDVqpwy1P0th3MemVxYbLwSUOnazRBhsNnuF7Xcgz9lIqNi_8dsLg7WZhcIbsBdc6qJsGfw50mWzNFeSULMmCGLSph_-Ig2zImT2G9j-Zp7CA/s3648/IMG_20220415_124352.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidKHhiV4nUIvLXRSRje9PSvApQwKtalGVMxEwlM8FJC12YxrzRBF1tPkOOOtPzQO5WKarhSUwmlkVDfvDVqpwy1P0th3MemVxYbLwSUOnazRBhsNnuF7Xcgz9lIqNi_8dsLg7WZhcIbsBdc6qJsGfw50mWzNFeSULMmCGLSph_-Ig2zImT2G9j-Zp7CA/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_124352.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3pk22fHPPH35P2KbkMJzoR92rsgnwhOkYepCE05Mm-u2HMSudQorTdYJKEEXBFmsAP9JGnAKsBVpVNy37tUbr8nH2yvaMm5LemPdROzwTYp2hS9TBwHPWlyFWG3Z44bfXvZuWKeBkbGlQhIBSIgsYmZ3Y7bwFMRbt0dQQ2blk6bgj22h9Gdoxc3ssw/s3648/IMG_20220415_125020.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg3pk22fHPPH35P2KbkMJzoR92rsgnwhOkYepCE05Mm-u2HMSudQorTdYJKEEXBFmsAP9JGnAKsBVpVNy37tUbr8nH2yvaMm5LemPdROzwTYp2hS9TBwHPWlyFWG3Z44bfXvZuWKeBkbGlQhIBSIgsYmZ3Y7bwFMRbt0dQQ2blk6bgj22h9Gdoxc3ssw/w480-h640/IMG_20220415_125020.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>steam bath, Chesters Roman Fort</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Shz6VHXCe95mI9zirEGdlStlikT5zoMn_gCio4OuRS76OlasNvdsW3wlkHE7QpONaR-q1lP2oZ4GbmP84-dDPhrnCPSnzu866g40wysTV_8Eoko6ikfTpClxoxLPRlstVdV8XGlaecM-U2J00bBRTg0w-O8kbIdzYgtRNXc1qmuTbnToo02BKoozQ/s3648/IMG_20220415_130033.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF5Shz6VHXCe95mI9zirEGdlStlikT5zoMn_gCio4OuRS76OlasNvdsW3wlkHE7QpONaR-q1lP2oZ4GbmP84-dDPhrnCPSnzu866g40wysTV_8Eoko6ikfTpClxoxLPRlstVdV8XGlaecM-U2J00bBRTg0w-O8kbIdzYgtRNXc1qmuTbnToo02BKoozQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_130033.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>b</i></b><i><b>y the River Tyne, Chesters Roman Fort</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvo03BPcYMvBYVmzd2ucGZ8GKuNsa6DRzQMGAYESkT3XCpiSVu9gyRsvroMUoIElsi8i3Y7cHPzHKpxqPMH7-ADnIxNT9IP3ZWALjSrtjZKlLWPbqgwGy6nRUUwGt8hHIvvxl_-rEtNyvkykE8MguIEF23L8WTyjw89DY8VxbtbX7dw7lXjOJCaKK7Q/s3648/IMG_20220415_135623.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQvo03BPcYMvBYVmzd2ucGZ8GKuNsa6DRzQMGAYESkT3XCpiSVu9gyRsvroMUoIElsi8i3Y7cHPzHKpxqPMH7-ADnIxNT9IP3ZWALjSrtjZKlLWPbqgwGy6nRUUwGt8hHIvvxl_-rEtNyvkykE8MguIEF23L8WTyjw89DY8VxbtbX7dw7lXjOJCaKK7Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_135623.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>highway B6318 near Housesteads</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">O</span>ur last stop was at Housesteads Roman Fort, one of the 16 forts along the wall and the most complete example of a Roman fort in Britain. Here was garrisoned an 800-strong infantry regiment from AD 122 to the end of the 4th century. The walk up to the dramatic hilltop location in that wild upland landscape, once the edge of the Roman Empire, took 20 minutes. The sun was trying hard to breakthrough the low clouds, but one could still imagine the quiet and solitude of this place almost 2000 years ago. Like most empty spaces in this part of England sheep grazed on the hills in all directions and the horizon seemed to go on forever. Carlisle, and just beyond the western edge of the Wall beckoned, so we left this last amazing place for our next AirBnB, a bit footsore but thoroughly pleased with the day's discoveries we have long wished to visit. One last stop in the nearest local pub and goodbye to England tomorrow. <b>GWS </b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljOpksZRysHl-3KqQlaYqatbWLWf9ijOzcyinuPyxpQ5j2EO3Yswh0cUpRMouQIUx7FX0OWZHZwiHXpIfrsWIqjKUTHkQpXuPGWW405mTS0D0lkPsxlJ8fFx1QQaoKHem5lmclIxEikcJJm5rGBMkiKfReiUpTyK3VPJrN1b9aMYD57QA9FEWAUS-Rw/s3648/IMG_20220415_143025.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgljOpksZRysHl-3KqQlaYqatbWLWf9ijOzcyinuPyxpQ5j2EO3Yswh0cUpRMouQIUx7FX0OWZHZwiHXpIfrsWIqjKUTHkQpXuPGWW405mTS0D0lkPsxlJ8fFx1QQaoKHem5lmclIxEikcJJm5rGBMkiKfReiUpTyK3VPJrN1b9aMYD57QA9FEWAUS-Rw/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_143025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBXXy4jcU7rt0VuoFUoyaiQjlmKs_Fg1nbWw-96KzLUTmJBt3c5LW8cXxUrwjdDZmxopfhN7XDJv2clu1s6iiqPVBZEIKrmuBtmY_GdhUx3fDZvl9ZrV90kTZeJa89QwX3ae-T5GChPQi7nsqe0iAG4jEFDffLmB5CmpLJ94fdtTKuuI6W7M2cjeUyQ/s3648/IMG_20220415_143123.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHBXXy4jcU7rt0VuoFUoyaiQjlmKs_Fg1nbWw-96KzLUTmJBt3c5LW8cXxUrwjdDZmxopfhN7XDJv2clu1s6iiqPVBZEIKrmuBtmY_GdhUx3fDZvl9ZrV90kTZeJa89QwX3ae-T5GChPQi7nsqe0iAG4jEFDffLmB5CmpLJ94fdtTKuuI6W7M2cjeUyQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_143123.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNnhcqy5RJUo9E-4PX0Xq5DUXB7yKxzhBW22RtohE0Ajmjeh9z5hS2XCuqTxKhokFBDdVuMfTplG_ywqitm9MADmHa2rk1LSWvbhbiz2R2eXIwZNRAo5MsonQpPw9jzwRikfGNGf0TFLZfWz-mAmtjs54VAHs4lHEa3XuKRmxzfyP8b9LO0SSdvH7ow/s3648/IMG_20220415_140909.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKNnhcqy5RJUo9E-4PX0Xq5DUXB7yKxzhBW22RtohE0Ajmjeh9z5hS2XCuqTxKhokFBDdVuMfTplG_ywqitm9MADmHa2rk1LSWvbhbiz2R2eXIwZNRAo5MsonQpPw9jzwRikfGNGf0TFLZfWz-mAmtjs54VAHs4lHEa3XuKRmxzfyP8b9LO0SSdvH7ow/w640-h480/IMG_20220415_140909.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOA-dNirmIFBHIQg5HzXLQgYYU_UpOm7hU6Ff3CVaTWMuOT9mrY1cNJ5hHtKK27rxmLYJnontS30rgE_1NSKYVpZGUnreur-aWff5V0ZkV98NSHYGa-P01nTnanpSVL_sZyh_IGIZp7umnWYOfqIJMYz_i68O7htWs6iDLSinvEkJ3YU2dP9XrnjsYA/s2048/IMG-20220415-WA0007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1723" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieOA-dNirmIFBHIQg5HzXLQgYYU_UpOm7hU6Ff3CVaTWMuOT9mrY1cNJ5hHtKK27rxmLYJnontS30rgE_1NSKYVpZGUnreur-aWff5V0ZkV98NSHYGa-P01nTnanpSVL_sZyh_IGIZp7umnWYOfqIJMYz_i68O7htWs6iDLSinvEkJ3YU2dP9XrnjsYA/w336-h400/IMG-20220415-WA0007.jpg" width="336" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>our last pub stop in England (Carlisle)</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-73107813994298053702022-04-14T23:55:00.000-07:002022-04-14T23:55:40.936-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 22-23 Pickering/Whitby, North Yorkshire/Newcastle, Northumberland, England)<p></p><div style="text-align: center;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>S</b></span>aying goodbye to our latest host Andy, a musician, bar ow<span style="text-align: center;">ner and all around nice chap with whom we had some great conversations with over the past two days, we headed east on the A64 to the town of Pickering and it's 13th century castle. This crumbling place, a mere shadow of it's former self, was once used as a royal hunting lodge and stud farm by a succession of medieval kings. It was built by the Normans as part of the suppression of Northern England and although it saw little military action it was a popular location for English Kings due to the proximity of the adjacent Royal forest. It eventually fell into ruin by the 14th century. (By the Tudor period it was being plundered for its </span><span style="text-align: left;">materials). The only thing we could recognize was the Outer Bailey Towers built by Edward II between 1323 and 1326, the chapel, the only surviving roofed building begun in 1226 and the The Coleman Tower added by Henry II. There were a few people about so we had the place to ourselves, the North York Moors off in the distance, just the sound of a few playing children and pigeons nesting in the surrounding trees. </span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxFoDL8PG7Hy3WqNC1w4jBw3lzwMlk551oxk99kRl2_d3CjCL86EqjlJtpOPNLOain89FZX81pMx7uXON58-LvtjHvecOXlu6rH_MbNEyYkehzLtAwPsm-uBFDfNdRqZBbty4i0uvaOtTxVjDlzL8hjsmyuj_3QD4mQCCozJz1DDxnpJt5vJsewaGEQ/s3648/IMG_20220413_103835%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYxFoDL8PG7Hy3WqNC1w4jBw3lzwMlk551oxk99kRl2_d3CjCL86EqjlJtpOPNLOain89FZX81pMx7uXON58-LvtjHvecOXlu6rH_MbNEyYkehzLtAwPsm-uBFDfNdRqZBbty4i0uvaOtTxVjDlzL8hjsmyuj_3QD4mQCCozJz1DDxnpJt5vJsewaGEQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220413_103835%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZiOnrbn1_nQ0TkR5ELHdONXWYaQZPoD46xFnbkgBq-nmNlBEbQkwkrgjihtrLq1XWZ5jgvZeCxzbFEX2TkS_FYEa9tbLpWtiwxrxL3TkJ1hKQkFQ5MWZ_Ppu9tCqz3CVOIfXEI6DpusBkgopLJY4tFJ9YFb_KBwU2Fi9IhDB7-6JsUmdo1JA0BtUgg/s3648/IMG_20220413_105649%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtZiOnrbn1_nQ0TkR5ELHdONXWYaQZPoD46xFnbkgBq-nmNlBEbQkwkrgjihtrLq1XWZ5jgvZeCxzbFEX2TkS_FYEa9tbLpWtiwxrxL3TkJ1hKQkFQ5MWZ_Ppu9tCqz3CVOIfXEI6DpusBkgopLJY4tFJ9YFb_KBwU2Fi9IhDB7-6JsUmdo1JA0BtUgg/w640-h480/IMG_20220413_105649%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuOKGYvhEizyuh_BwOuddxPJRn9scJ7MCNZsLE9ytMJ0GC4H2IEtQxWru1HHPwtV42A4eYdsJ3QlqpnDvnnDP1oFSI5Nte-Z7vvxgEgSjitTld-PmisBOX2fm7Y3Ms10OJ9hY1p8DAUCjhdFohe5VuEspKLqAshbcl5_r_sO8Wb0GDlIGW1VJgFsOiA/s2048/IMG-20220413-WA0009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXuOKGYvhEizyuh_BwOuddxPJRn9scJ7MCNZsLE9ytMJ0GC4H2IEtQxWru1HHPwtV42A4eYdsJ3QlqpnDvnnDP1oFSI5Nte-Z7vvxgEgSjitTld-PmisBOX2fm7Y3Ms10OJ9hY1p8DAUCjhdFohe5VuEspKLqAshbcl5_r_sO8Wb0GDlIGW1VJgFsOiA/w400-h300/IMG-20220413-WA0009.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaALikkF8LIjRjdoF8eEu95oaNe4j6ziFtWsyGbFGDQwoqIeOI8ImYMZnniaX5nO7oaaEHeI-UCRKBmO_yAsOuBpziutXWvVSCgZ52qyJ1LDChQJzupPz9YddTkGEKqWpavxRW17_sLFEqjsYEQJRm3N8-A-xiRJEhM039iSnaVVh6DrfQ_ryQ3SaChw/s3648/IMG_20220413_121242%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaALikkF8LIjRjdoF8eEu95oaNe4j6ziFtWsyGbFGDQwoqIeOI8ImYMZnniaX5nO7oaaEHeI-UCRKBmO_yAsOuBpziutXWvVSCgZ52qyJ1LDChQJzupPz9YddTkGEKqWpavxRW17_sLFEqjsYEQJRm3N8-A-xiRJEhM039iSnaVVh6DrfQ_ryQ3SaChw/w640-h480/IMG_20220413_121242%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>hitby Abbey, set on a headland high over the popular seaside town overlooking the North Sea was our next stop. A 7th century Christian monastery that later became a Benedictine abbey it was a centre of the medieval Northumbrian kingdom. The abbey and its possessions were confiscated by the crown under Henry VIII during the Dissolution of the Monasteries around 1540. Since then these ruins have been used by sailors as a landmark at the headland. I found it had the most atmosphere of the many ruins we had seen up till now and the gloomy skies and scudding clouds only lent a Draculian air to it. Perhaps this is why Bram Stoker set his 1897 story here among the brooding stones. But once the sun came out we had grand views of the town from the Church of St Mary graveyard adjoining the site. We could see small boats making their way out of the River Esk past the Whitby Harbor East lighthouse into the deep blue water of the North Sea. We reluctantly had to leave so headed back to the car park for our two hour drive into Newcastle upon Tyne where we were staying for the next two days.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxivVWwq1WiMNrdSPtbU2Ds1vKOUCfkSdCUviI0BfqDOijgImtIvCgRPaNeoiIX_f-_P8AbEnntpRQuRpIcFC45t3wmXlMEfS4seHZ6yv2BarP2xywn1hvOqWxBIJwKZOpCE0w5s-iL4T4VucsWhbsRN4GpiFeGFo070JAqp07d0NadSIm2a-QzMuHqg/s3648/IMG_20220413_121341.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxivVWwq1WiMNrdSPtbU2Ds1vKOUCfkSdCUviI0BfqDOijgImtIvCgRPaNeoiIX_f-_P8AbEnntpRQuRpIcFC45t3wmXlMEfS4seHZ6yv2BarP2xywn1hvOqWxBIJwKZOpCE0w5s-iL4T4VucsWhbsRN4GpiFeGFo070JAqp07d0NadSIm2a-QzMuHqg/w480-h640/IMG_20220413_121341.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCST1Kw7Ow9jhBiieZgcDlfMlJOxaBvyz-yd4cJd6kUZzS8HLnJr_2J0NcgeDp1U-XdhYspEmup_LeIlEX4LBSkKNQNcQf2JjEoOh1KKFgW6hBtnNGtlIyVjg98c1Ojglk0By3O0xAlAbrpYdc8FXfvnrIWtHbwqbnqaiKw8CEOKHrDap-LBNux1h6eA/s5632/IMG_20220413_121055%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCST1Kw7Ow9jhBiieZgcDlfMlJOxaBvyz-yd4cJd6kUZzS8HLnJr_2J0NcgeDp1U-XdhYspEmup_LeIlEX4LBSkKNQNcQf2JjEoOh1KKFgW6hBtnNGtlIyVjg98c1Ojglk0By3O0xAlAbrpYdc8FXfvnrIWtHbwqbnqaiKw8CEOKHrDap-LBNux1h6eA/w400-h300/IMG_20220413_121055%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjj6QSNCoq348oxlFN-Ub4Pt2rsVYZXMRb9tElNtMHqt8oyNjOeushHdtB7MN-r8to44gdHKECfNhNFVhYo9Y5k_oX-M1oS15bltCIsWdVhYJYJ4P_nig6_liwOwiRa5PXyYtz5qiFH2JopYqkGkRBPVUuCXT3AWuw145lq8TGSAthG-yvEPn5YlqVQ/s3648/IMG_20220413_122526.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggjj6QSNCoq348oxlFN-Ub4Pt2rsVYZXMRb9tElNtMHqt8oyNjOeushHdtB7MN-r8to44gdHKECfNhNFVhYo9Y5k_oX-M1oS15bltCIsWdVhYJYJ4P_nig6_liwOwiRa5PXyYtz5qiFH2JopYqkGkRBPVUuCXT3AWuw145lq8TGSAthG-yvEPn5YlqVQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220413_122526.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Whitby Abbey</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCVVKaXjn9s-QdnFvPaRZK38atCFPV4LrzD0ze-591b8zgKPof8JR8Ylpzg0QwOmx6i-OXqIWrY3TArlcXYCMpC61NtAFFlk6Vt2xhVerrMC3mKQ1ExarLhEa8_C0JtLUXwM-xLZGV0rqtUzE9rPQHeEV0XLFRP9nFch1TjhKtQVd1q5PFsfTDnrXqw/s3648/IMG_20220413_130845.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSCVVKaXjn9s-QdnFvPaRZK38atCFPV4LrzD0ze-591b8zgKPof8JR8Ylpzg0QwOmx6i-OXqIWrY3TArlcXYCMpC61NtAFFlk6Vt2xhVerrMC3mKQ1ExarLhEa8_C0JtLUXwM-xLZGV0rqtUzE9rPQHeEV0XLFRP9nFch1TjhKtQVd1q5PFsfTDnrXqw/w400-h300/IMG_20220413_130845.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv66cjUraD-dYouA0zk49z6OLm17j5_DOZ0FzrRVfjR2xEb9EX2xmI09L23wfAI0YM7iZ7-CUGILGtJdtMQq4Rbq5-XvhNVxe-uPTFUkZrkhm6X0fqqQz_uBVQ-5n_go4VaFX6uQmKMzX2zUB70Lh2GHRK5_KVfF8QBEAuW4rCxwHkGsttA7N0Wcjew/s3648/IMG_20220413_130604.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqv66cjUraD-dYouA0zk49z6OLm17j5_DOZ0FzrRVfjR2xEb9EX2xmI09L23wfAI0YM7iZ7-CUGILGtJdtMQq4Rbq5-XvhNVxe-uPTFUkZrkhm6X0fqqQz_uBVQ-5n_go4VaFX6uQmKMzX2zUB70Lh2GHRK5_KVfF8QBEAuW4rCxwHkGsttA7N0Wcjew/w640-h480/IMG_20220413_130604.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Whitby, Yorkshire</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtzGdpSnPyTI_ciq69xIAs9jDzl-5fk6DE4kE0MhsXngP629AUeifCB9LOg3V422vPmCfoyFSTQvLKJ7cB2gsNaGkXNA4CkN4rvyI3heyozSTAmW2zus3EzM9yHr4awhC2TP1QvhWfL6uz33tDY_3Xu173oQDlgoTX0xFr9Kf5a2V05Kif9aUWRjJ6w/s3648/IMG_20220413_131338.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJtzGdpSnPyTI_ciq69xIAs9jDzl-5fk6DE4kE0MhsXngP629AUeifCB9LOg3V422vPmCfoyFSTQvLKJ7cB2gsNaGkXNA4CkN4rvyI3heyozSTAmW2zus3EzM9yHr4awhC2TP1QvhWfL6uz33tDY_3Xu173oQDlgoTX0xFr9Kf5a2V05Kif9aUWRjJ6w/w480-h640/IMG_20220413_131338.jpg" width="480" /></a><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>e were now further north, almost at the border of Scotland, but the weather was holding and it felt very springish here in Newcastle. This city on the River Tyne was once a major shipbuilding and manufacturing hub during the Industrial Revolution but is now the centre of business, arts and sciences. We weren't sure what to expect of a city we knew little about but so far everyone we met here was very friendly. Next morning we took the closest Metro from our AirBnB and started exploring this old Roman settlement, starting at the Priory in Tynemouth, a twenty minute ride on the train. It was a lovely day and almost summerlike when we arrived in Tynemouth, just north of Hadrian's Wall frontier. The old Roman fort of Arbeia stands almost opposite it on the southern headland of the Tyne. Tynemouth Priory, a once magnificent monastery sacked by the Danes in 800, was rebuilt and destroyed again in 875, then rebuilt again. Jump ahead to the early 16th century when the Priory was a rich and powerful monastery, but like other religious sites we have visited recently, this priory fell victim to the nationwide Dissolution of the Monasteries and monastic life at Tynemouth came to an end. It was used as recently as WW2, one large gun placement still facing the sea. The views were lovely and the sun warm as we walked back into the town. After a light lunch of delicious chips and vinegar (in a fish shop that Jimi Hendrix ate at in 1967) we took the ferry over the Tyne to South Shields and then the Metro into the city centre. We visited the Castle, an old Norman fortress in the city heart, the most prominent remaining structures the Castle Keep, the fortified tower and the Black Gate. A lot of history passed through these walls but too much to get into here. Well worth a visit though. Before returning to our AirBnB we walked along the river to the Millenium Bridge, the first tilting bridge ever to be constructed. From our vantage point back towards the city we could see most of the other bridges that crossed the Tyne here - the Tyne Bridge, Swing Bridge, High Level Bridge, the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge and just beyond that the King Edward and the Redheugh Bridges. Quite a sight. From here tomorrow we will follow the 73 mile long Hadrian's Wall to Carlisle and discover the wild northwest frontier of the Roman Empire! <span style="font-size: medium;"><b>GWS</b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCisyXvH81YdSFFbmZqrM-j2ZvtfNLHEKd3xh_9aHauLVol-f0RdnSCai3qmAJZyFGJS3j5w1r7ZOcmYefW7MxMUnlwlq7YThM2Zsrmn2Dy538ys6TPLtkeruwES7Zu92FVv7fkOI4najkCcwK0aByxOogRAlo_GVNAa1621073clmecB0M6KvINhXw/s3648/IMG_20220414_100102.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqCisyXvH81YdSFFbmZqrM-j2ZvtfNLHEKd3xh_9aHauLVol-f0RdnSCai3qmAJZyFGJS3j5w1r7ZOcmYefW7MxMUnlwlq7YThM2Zsrmn2Dy538ys6TPLtkeruwES7Zu92FVv7fkOI4najkCcwK0aByxOogRAlo_GVNAa1621073clmecB0M6KvINhXw/w400-h300/IMG_20220414_100102.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Waiting for the Metro to Whitley Bay</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1eVwBAcJjNEFqKe96gOP-Z3gM9dVrWN4W0a5pAB-gVN2pLdTTbwq_-qvnkmVTLNAnfe4fhPg2h68Wyb_u1yXjxj9DSBnSid5XU88wcoE6J3s2xuObcwCxhINjAzDzizctkaqx-pkxRO8Iz91VkWJoePJmjN-eZ33jU2C4p-QVGD_cjN6MZ9voJC9Jw/s3648/IMG_20220414_102217.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb1eVwBAcJjNEFqKe96gOP-Z3gM9dVrWN4W0a5pAB-gVN2pLdTTbwq_-qvnkmVTLNAnfe4fhPg2h68Wyb_u1yXjxj9DSBnSid5XU88wcoE6J3s2xuObcwCxhINjAzDzizctkaqx-pkxRO8Iz91VkWJoePJmjN-eZ33jU2C4p-QVGD_cjN6MZ9voJC9Jw/w480-h640/IMG_20220414_102217.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AVxyq2uv7vLzXwXvSQuy0QvnDEW0WcNBlEvI-5XomHamOJ-LgPJl9oCQgNms8_WIlcPRy7OfAiLhyjvOntBzjDtbtOp2OxzoozfNGHEOXXPDn8WIG26JikocATroCgMm9FJdz7XR0l2CK7rlbeU2BD3ki1Di92iLv5Dp5SFZRU0y9iqIIZTsYShqYw/s3648/IMG_20220414_111653.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_AVxyq2uv7vLzXwXvSQuy0QvnDEW0WcNBlEvI-5XomHamOJ-LgPJl9oCQgNms8_WIlcPRy7OfAiLhyjvOntBzjDtbtOp2OxzoozfNGHEOXXPDn8WIG26JikocATroCgMm9FJdz7XR0l2CK7rlbeU2BD3ki1Di92iLv5Dp5SFZRU0y9iqIIZTsYShqYw/w300-h400/IMG_20220414_111653.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsK2ozQKKVcilokMc4cuXm5x5H-ywWQgUcim_blv8_UaiRUwsp72RGCK-bF7eeQCy9uKi8Q4Rgyy2SCSE1w7OA98rdmUbtsIFZ39hsCia8-iT8UpKqOsLN8wv5ouBBGq8s6PXKe8GitEJK3YSBD5uRq2r8Sy7jpNdtftABjSm_nOVRdx8uy48OA0b-g/s3648/IMG_20220414_105225.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsK2ozQKKVcilokMc4cuXm5x5H-ywWQgUcim_blv8_UaiRUwsp72RGCK-bF7eeQCy9uKi8Q4Rgyy2SCSE1w7OA98rdmUbtsIFZ39hsCia8-iT8UpKqOsLN8wv5ouBBGq8s6PXKe8GitEJK3YSBD5uRq2r8Sy7jpNdtftABjSm_nOVRdx8uy48OA0b-g/w640-h480/IMG_20220414_105225.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Tynemouth Priory</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzbd5FwAEAyEb0GbsUeUPSGnRIeJ2yRCcY7wuHFdOKvJkNCgdJwkKS1XVUwinLjX1WExosqxR70EETadYLjPq-aTHcJaRG0vcpzUAaTyOsrLPAKX2wnLRIpXrESulBgClMsF-fJ6Z24w_8YoVgF1ppLPialXyWA4S91HyzC5Fl17hjKcFNvMrP4DkrQ/s3648/IMG_20220414_110704.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><i><b><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWzbd5FwAEAyEb0GbsUeUPSGnRIeJ2yRCcY7wuHFdOKvJkNCgdJwkKS1XVUwinLjX1WExosqxR70EETadYLjPq-aTHcJaRG0vcpzUAaTyOsrLPAKX2wnLRIpXrESulBgClMsF-fJ6Z24w_8YoVgF1ppLPialXyWA4S91HyzC5Fl17hjKcFNvMrP4DkrQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220414_110704.jpg" width="640" /></b></i></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>view of North Sea from Tynemouth Priory</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl2Hyu0tSMQaoqk7B9-yoBj6OFxafic2FNugGG1l7mIkxX9yJBaJoK-M_-GsbI3AvEneGhZ1LEWusOG2o6umNNPVbXwxfLKOjEK4RExnBWGQKc25vIMFeDlBV4cqb1UxWbEU5Bsqj01IDTcbP3mUNFKgE0FiL972XHNe9y79lhFiG-ApW68AuVWo8Cg/s3648/IMG_20220414_120135.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGl2Hyu0tSMQaoqk7B9-yoBj6OFxafic2FNugGG1l7mIkxX9yJBaJoK-M_-GsbI3AvEneGhZ1LEWusOG2o6umNNPVbXwxfLKOjEK4RExnBWGQKc25vIMFeDlBV4cqb1UxWbEU5Bsqj01IDTcbP3mUNFKgE0FiL972XHNe9y79lhFiG-ApW68AuVWo8Cg/w480-h640/IMG_20220414_120135.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sa-171m5-8Ey33REoFict35-1KMiF0fFcigL_XVe4ywoBwMaVEaIqg96GKVp5VG2l5s3UOPuzQEM38ty3c2WPg00gpi2471UZyVyrvrhPmjuhjsv0ZYxRBfcL3Y4h09LpIbXN-I33XDOExDR3fFiMW3Mn18TFXCrf4M_Ya7oj0J1uyJYehPF1gWUNg/s3648/IMG_20220414_125515.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9sa-171m5-8Ey33REoFict35-1KMiF0fFcigL_XVe4ywoBwMaVEaIqg96GKVp5VG2l5s3UOPuzQEM38ty3c2WPg00gpi2471UZyVyrvrhPmjuhjsv0ZYxRBfcL3Y4h09LpIbXN-I33XDOExDR3fFiMW3Mn18TFXCrf4M_Ya7oj0J1uyJYehPF1gWUNg/w640-h480/IMG_20220414_125515.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>ferry to North Shields</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Nj6Lqisj6gPuHthRSUZUPPIUDKlTefIg9IfBP86BCmUpNxXPwiC6iMCuZA7kvBPprVgzf0VnAevmZYo64LJckZpDbcAjR3LqIcxquwLkFYCMGj1Egc2SQ_84j8CixYH2PRJRXEuca3vL1NUG86zjvfIPB58d_z8AsQKgH7UitWcGEtBExjAkhAQyA/s5632/IMG_20220414_154934.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo4Nj6Lqisj6gPuHthRSUZUPPIUDKlTefIg9IfBP86BCmUpNxXPwiC6iMCuZA7kvBPprVgzf0VnAevmZYo64LJckZpDbcAjR3LqIcxquwLkFYCMGj1Egc2SQ_84j8CixYH2PRJRXEuca3vL1NUG86zjvfIPB58d_z8AsQKgH7UitWcGEtBExjAkhAQyA/w300-h400/IMG_20220414_154934.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Millenium Bridge, Newcastle</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEtr8X3uvSNTCZCQz-pSUWaYAM3kPvXg9oAZCwFNxJCBXBYx2-hbq2-43ngKE3PPP-23hOEBYOby9pGrfpxCEMqyHlYyW265Elrqf3BbNEoijpIBdCKO5NUFwNQPLC5_xXG3zMppp3FYq_LzqRiL6elIFc1xQ_fP5rWi3ib6YhFlVEUbLL-7vMg7AIg/s3648/IMG_20220414_153913.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidEtr8X3uvSNTCZCQz-pSUWaYAM3kPvXg9oAZCwFNxJCBXBYx2-hbq2-43ngKE3PPP-23hOEBYOby9pGrfpxCEMqyHlYyW265Elrqf3BbNEoijpIBdCKO5NUFwNQPLC5_xXG3zMppp3FYq_LzqRiL6elIFc1xQ_fP5rWi3ib6YhFlVEUbLL-7vMg7AIg/w640-h480/IMG_20220414_153913.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZB8gj7-GSsRTNxeoHZ7AsHnaemf3uN1wTsMHnJNpVe4mz4Lc9yfEbthIyVcVCciTp6o9egGMQ7wAr1uwwHk2oFYwid3XMvPHKyuY_k1uDiyAnYqHKRJkH84gyWqybZI9adVeZYtbv8YiBp7-YNzXKkIh3aSwP6DLiLiI9U0fpURqyXYKguBOvYscIw/s3648/IMG_20220414_150000.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxZB8gj7-GSsRTNxeoHZ7AsHnaemf3uN1wTsMHnJNpVe4mz4Lc9yfEbthIyVcVCciTp6o9egGMQ7wAr1uwwHk2oFYwid3XMvPHKyuY_k1uDiyAnYqHKRJkH84gyWqybZI9adVeZYtbv8YiBp7-YNzXKkIh3aSwP6DLiLiI9U0fpURqyXYKguBOvYscIw/w640-h480/IMG_20220414_150000.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWRuOh8fiB9xYP-7_WieF0048tULGPOGknr0DT4SkxMiQhVo31sbNeqAHD76TRgV8JyM6IkKjMTYR53zlYU1Kib-S-hDs35TCPhlgHL3QR4_wskpZi55AJSLGdBFu1QR2ZirAp6eR5d3Hm1Ez0OVIOrN-yLuennecoJTnC0pMoPMjw8CSiO_ykDRXMA/s2048/IMG-20220414-WA0010.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQWRuOh8fiB9xYP-7_WieF0048tULGPOGknr0DT4SkxMiQhVo31sbNeqAHD76TRgV8JyM6IkKjMTYR53zlYU1Kib-S-hDs35TCPhlgHL3QR4_wskpZi55AJSLGdBFu1QR2ZirAp6eR5d3Hm1Ez0OVIOrN-yLuennecoJTnC0pMoPMjw8CSiO_ykDRXMA/w480-h640/IMG-20220414-WA0010.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>atop Newcastle Castle</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-43975635176959002132022-04-12T09:38:00.002-07:002022-04-12T09:38:16.925-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 20-21 York, Yorkshire, England)<p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_n1D213FM62b7UkD4I7VgS-ntIl4-ZfyLXlBCk4RLChkX8lF3coLA8MvqyQxRsWS_ie6PNntReSFBbRi15BPINzrcLiDQYaNzGqWVa_eSf9UOdnQffBN2ykGq2dFcOgyEMDItn9i_XlpvLPluD0wf3cYmHAAE0aT11-w4jyF7musqRgQQQjky9Q4zQ/s5632/IMG_20220411_141650.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS_n1D213FM62b7UkD4I7VgS-ntIl4-ZfyLXlBCk4RLChkX8lF3coLA8MvqyQxRsWS_ie6PNntReSFBbRi15BPINzrcLiDQYaNzGqWVa_eSf9UOdnQffBN2ykGq2dFcOgyEMDItn9i_XlpvLPluD0wf3cYmHAAE0aT11-w4jyF7musqRgQQQjky9Q4zQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220411_141650.jpg" width="480" /></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Y</b></span>ork was about 100 miles away, east on the motorway to Leeds and then the A64 to our stay for two nights. The sun continued to bless us again and thankfully it was a dry drive through the heaviest traffic we had yet encountered on this trip, even though we took the ring road around the city of Manchester, the most populous in North West England. York is a fairly small city but when we got there I was sure most of Manchester had decided to visit at the same time. After dropping of our luggage and parking the car outside our AirBnB we walked downtown along a well worn dirt pathway by the River Ouse. York is a walled city that was founded by the ancient Romans, its huge 13th century Gothic Cathedral, York Minster, dominating the low skyline. Before going over to see if we could get in to the Cathedral we stopped off to visit Clifford's Tower, an 800 year old landmark recently renovated. It is the largest remaining part of York castle, once the centre of government for the north of England. We had a good view from the top of the city but didn't linger as a cold wind had sprung up. We went over to the Minster but found out we had to prebook. Planning to return tomorrow morning we strolled through the Shambles on the way home, an old street with over-hanging timber-framed buildings that go as far back at the 14th century. Now it is a cobbled, narrow touristy place full of cafes, quirky boutiques and masses of people out on this long Easter week.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-t1wOFBmNW6TesyxTTZ5zGTPdhN_SPqu6neGY9RQR9Yj2DKJWXgPxBxSWe9bBkQxJF9l6yZlUAmK6lqyGIUveORhs40JHy4zBiAT00sjAdsouXyl1VexHfwywWfLMm6k4nvOf6Zy7MXI9vhPbwucz76uTevg8mwxFzjZIKj77RMFcwFzuVrluAPuBg/s3648/IMG_20220411_123501.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8-t1wOFBmNW6TesyxTTZ5zGTPdhN_SPqu6neGY9RQR9Yj2DKJWXgPxBxSWe9bBkQxJF9l6yZlUAmK6lqyGIUveORhs40JHy4zBiAT00sjAdsouXyl1VexHfwywWfLMm6k4nvOf6Zy7MXI9vhPbwucz76uTevg8mwxFzjZIKj77RMFcwFzuVrluAPuBg/w480-h640/IMG_20220411_123501.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Clifford's Tower,York</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTJOMkDx9ZobnyQVnbXvFf0Ham2A0N-QuUzdIgpF_2hz46Nng60v9saG7S-wQjevXVKS7IGfFXI72r2FjNGwlCBJfS3LPG5X_z_5R3Jt7kGjZ6LY1i4_EQ2vyf9_cFhGKVgA_U7QX5Su-dReNv-61bd3JBtE8cZqK785gaQfjqqWRb0UR7pC29BC7xw/s3648/IMG_20220411_135947.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTJOMkDx9ZobnyQVnbXvFf0Ham2A0N-QuUzdIgpF_2hz46Nng60v9saG7S-wQjevXVKS7IGfFXI72r2FjNGwlCBJfS3LPG5X_z_5R3Jt7kGjZ6LY1i4_EQ2vyf9_cFhGKVgA_U7QX5Su-dReNv-61bd3JBtE8cZqK785gaQfjqqWRb0UR7pC29BC7xw/w640-h480/IMG_20220411_135947.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>York Minster</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx5mtzxPnmYPsTy5wPb_FirhXBgDf_uo0jYdC7GFbDlsaPRVI01bvL_05DBSXpwnwqPNlYlMbNMOVma7xeco3ASuBOw5a1H_7R0D79f0SgbBn-60tSgchbXrwZ_CU5m3b01f6FU4AbtYCxFg9Bg81CB2P57tsgXP1NIAhCxFQuYPSTul_I-4F1MlYMA/s3648/IMG_20220411_135011.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHx5mtzxPnmYPsTy5wPb_FirhXBgDf_uo0jYdC7GFbDlsaPRVI01bvL_05DBSXpwnwqPNlYlMbNMOVma7xeco3ASuBOw5a1H_7R0D79f0SgbBn-60tSgchbXrwZ_CU5m3b01f6FU4AbtYCxFg9Bg81CB2P57tsgXP1NIAhCxFQuYPSTul_I-4F1MlYMA/w640-h480/IMG_20220411_135011.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"><b>T</b></span><span style="text-align: left;">he next morning smelled fresh and inviting as it had rained overnight but we felt alive and ready to return to the heart of the city. We headed straight for York Minster for the 10am opening and spent over two hours admiring this wonderful old cathedral, from its exquisite, handcrafted stone through to the unrivalled collection of medieval stained glass. This place has been at the centre of Christianity in the north of England since the 7th century, the second largest Gothic Cathedral of northern Europe. We saw the largest single expanse of stained glass in England, created between 1405 and 1408, the magnificent Grand Organ, the statues of kings from Henry III to Henry VI on the 15th century King's Screen and the famous St Cuthbert Window, one of the largest surviving narrative windows in the world, currently undergoing a 5 year conservation. In the Crypt we discovered the Doomstone, a carved limestone relief of hell from the 12th century. It is a gruesome scene of lost souls being pushed into a boiling cauldron by devils and demons - greed and lust well depicted! Before leaving we climbed the 275 winding steps to the Central Tower, getting fine views from the highest point in the city. A stroll back along the river to plan for the next days drive to Newcastle. Should be a fun time as it's nightlife has been voted by Tripadvisor the third best place in Europe after London and Berlin. <b>GWS</b></span></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdNjYQ-fS8OyIlJl9FDsq7aqtmXlFfrhV__zot6uwnxr3NQMkhL4Izo-2w111o2Zk8kACH9CO1qBxvM4-1RKeh8Rg8KVoesxgJP-eaa6MKoH4puVjw9NyGoyaLJarMbhfYtHqPqOT-o6PKMlChLajFn3SSkc2xB4kQYxkujh3gAXui0iuyCfwpE7M2g/s5632/IMG_20220412_092152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdNjYQ-fS8OyIlJl9FDsq7aqtmXlFfrhV__zot6uwnxr3NQMkhL4Izo-2w111o2Zk8kACH9CO1qBxvM4-1RKeh8Rg8KVoesxgJP-eaa6MKoH4puVjw9NyGoyaLJarMbhfYtHqPqOT-o6PKMlChLajFn3SSkc2xB4kQYxkujh3gAXui0iuyCfwpE7M2g/w400-h300/IMG_20220412_092152.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yEhIppy2LGktlLtMTHEzELxxFaEgrHoto5hT220MTG6RcGL-8r-G1b9f6kCgPcVBMzMqn4U0HaAup_RufO-EK7d_ZR3mdLrRycRLj16Mh3bpi95SH_vW6PBzBy-TVFMoPt3jvJnueWiGzdY34s0TdvGIrL2I6HkHn9ovudWia7fPRBGBPot9wmNtxA/s3648/IMG_20220412_092205.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yEhIppy2LGktlLtMTHEzELxxFaEgrHoto5hT220MTG6RcGL-8r-G1b9f6kCgPcVBMzMqn4U0HaAup_RufO-EK7d_ZR3mdLrRycRLj16Mh3bpi95SH_vW6PBzBy-TVFMoPt3jvJnueWiGzdY34s0TdvGIrL2I6HkHn9ovudWia7fPRBGBPot9wmNtxA/w640-h480/IMG_20220412_092205.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>No. 9 Ambrose, our AirBnB, York</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAOkezIn6snFXU4a3JFV7mjlr_7vxEKWTFTPQPvGBTKuTFUenD9M1kcez_B2XBxj-WBJKU6RUge_0ui0diQGUcgxRikP0dMEBoNI8u6QooFNi_1nWTrXqdJApm3QUDO9Tj1iAgCpKlRy4mH59Llt4yHy_VgphvsZ3UvfVYW-pErxZ1Rm8yTvrqQnovw/s3648/IMG_20220412_094937.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAOkezIn6snFXU4a3JFV7mjlr_7vxEKWTFTPQPvGBTKuTFUenD9M1kcez_B2XBxj-WBJKU6RUge_0ui0diQGUcgxRikP0dMEBoNI8u6QooFNi_1nWTrXqdJApm3QUDO9Tj1iAgCpKlRy4mH59Llt4yHy_VgphvsZ3UvfVYW-pErxZ1Rm8yTvrqQnovw/w480-h640/IMG_20220412_094937.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTtWo5jjIH6atiutekEBIZPE3FbCm5UGZQNuUJHIY3rcjeU-lTzWE52DL7spYP5a5L1PdRPyDwaviWKf_nop-vcAg31RqRmJwfIM6XJhzgeTpTyET24CF31IP_l1O2mR6WFdm2KUHKERpgvHVgJw5Nj5Hf2006K6IKEEi8azCUwD8w1c5sbM6UlGwaQ/s3648/IMG_20220412_095452.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfTtWo5jjIH6atiutekEBIZPE3FbCm5UGZQNuUJHIY3rcjeU-lTzWE52DL7spYP5a5L1PdRPyDwaviWKf_nop-vcAg31RqRmJwfIM6XJhzgeTpTyET24CF31IP_l1O2mR6WFdm2KUHKERpgvHVgJw5Nj5Hf2006K6IKEEi8azCUwD8w1c5sbM6UlGwaQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220412_095452.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-kcHvOuKpxNyN_nVkSSVBc84hJHGIG3P6RarSvg2lkz7I6E8kBPEstTj8eVr5LKzKDyjy8vz9WVu5ga1FMXWWrYcpw2-3waf-oWgK_S4NnGdlbvTItvNzAn_oVS4h7wqJ5tGEPhyhyEa94PwIC5IgtwPyuIqHKjszjhkIDGh0Lkl_jL-GmT1MNhPsw/s3648/IMG_20220412_101351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-kcHvOuKpxNyN_nVkSSVBc84hJHGIG3P6RarSvg2lkz7I6E8kBPEstTj8eVr5LKzKDyjy8vz9WVu5ga1FMXWWrYcpw2-3waf-oWgK_S4NnGdlbvTItvNzAn_oVS4h7wqJ5tGEPhyhyEa94PwIC5IgtwPyuIqHKjszjhkIDGh0Lkl_jL-GmT1MNhPsw/w640-h480/IMG_20220412_101351.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Kings Screen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK9iwsjgQCxzm4vExc122wchRdmaQ8CPcHBZOnHvIu3-PfEenHRiH0k2xhB-qZftyVCoVM00BPiKiR7Mqw3oqKltG3wOyaOSb_4z-htUR8LX6Fp6QxdJX9uiuooBdwYA59EyZZ_uWuBcbNBga5X7eWFSKiQbXUb7IYYlkHxgvpLEm_M47O1usgQZIHw/s3648/IMG_20220412_101717.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEK9iwsjgQCxzm4vExc122wchRdmaQ8CPcHBZOnHvIu3-PfEenHRiH0k2xhB-qZftyVCoVM00BPiKiR7Mqw3oqKltG3wOyaOSb_4z-htUR8LX6Fp6QxdJX9uiuooBdwYA59EyZZ_uWuBcbNBga5X7eWFSKiQbXUb7IYYlkHxgvpLEm_M47O1usgQZIHw/w640-h480/IMG_20220412_101717.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsX-JjapoOh2OwFPKXrpMuzftrnz0iBVNAUwkoV1StNYWqGOl_8NJW9yQ25pHH3IBtzJ5Cy0NyYyA4mPpK-2NRjLWhIjI47tImeU8-h57jwxOzCHekQ2HC2zyCiJOP3uh3Wzr9wNp4-qTb6cybKfFxcqZ1u7U3ojihD7HaZdAHxsvT0hJyH_-8osbmQ/s3648/IMG_20220412_103040.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzsX-JjapoOh2OwFPKXrpMuzftrnz0iBVNAUwkoV1StNYWqGOl_8NJW9yQ25pHH3IBtzJ5Cy0NyYyA4mPpK-2NRjLWhIjI47tImeU8-h57jwxOzCHekQ2HC2zyCiJOP3uh3Wzr9wNp4-qTb6cybKfFxcqZ1u7U3ojihD7HaZdAHxsvT0hJyH_-8osbmQ/w480-h640/IMG_20220412_103040.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Great East Window, York Minster</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUAiCj83kwZUMFv3WXGjJnVLBWKAJ1UiPJa0zDWCFZ9-Ac-M41ff8-y16TdufsWUblITpEyc0wASzieyXRYhjKuftPzOx_NCQYzpGIdQVufOZuxlaJSvctO7GlX-XDeBIQ0EEj6evCvKhWo52F6o3-YXzvB8qsBj1mXvah7Ipv1UX4eGVCXHIhVsS8w/s3648/IMG_20220412_110118.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUAiCj83kwZUMFv3WXGjJnVLBWKAJ1UiPJa0zDWCFZ9-Ac-M41ff8-y16TdufsWUblITpEyc0wASzieyXRYhjKuftPzOx_NCQYzpGIdQVufOZuxlaJSvctO7GlX-XDeBIQ0EEj6evCvKhWo52F6o3-YXzvB8qsBj1mXvah7Ipv1UX4eGVCXHIhVsS8w/w480-h640/IMG_20220412_110118.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbSVa1gor8OY3iQWOaca-kGnD8OnUGVdhVePoxT1p7nO5nJs7VEMapJqtDvLLGcLz-HCw_uvWHCgGoL_jBxLcwvN2Guu3iR3iT-6udqtZrLYOro_QriKIdKlGngmp01EnoD_aLvSuk5SuXsraIrzhg-a7P64mJnoXrDL3JfGGUDKL80hJJMZhISlItQ/s3648/IMG_20220412_110901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilbSVa1gor8OY3iQWOaca-kGnD8OnUGVdhVePoxT1p7nO5nJs7VEMapJqtDvLLGcLz-HCw_uvWHCgGoL_jBxLcwvN2Guu3iR3iT-6udqtZrLYOro_QriKIdKlGngmp01EnoD_aLvSuk5SuXsraIrzhg-a7P64mJnoXrDL3JfGGUDKL80hJJMZhISlItQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220412_110901.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Chapter House</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzglXLGN5VU8t8opJeswKCrzNsBll5Z1fTgc6XabvDupqjEVfUHVTVnzKhqizdMPLAxfkeBdUjLvwJPRn6Rx2JGZt-QDrertVVH8VG38mYTQ-t9ukv0MdX_lmVBv8VfMhwnlZPoZe8N-BiQahvcA7sIPAeE3E9c9q6c7yEKUJNzflUCV88ehKJjmJvg/s2048/IMG-20220412-WA0002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCzglXLGN5VU8t8opJeswKCrzNsBll5Z1fTgc6XabvDupqjEVfUHVTVnzKhqizdMPLAxfkeBdUjLvwJPRn6Rx2JGZt-QDrertVVH8VG38mYTQ-t9ukv0MdX_lmVBv8VfMhwnlZPoZe8N-BiQahvcA7sIPAeE3E9c9q6c7yEKUJNzflUCV88ehKJjmJvg/w640-h480/IMG-20220412-WA0002.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>The Doomstone, York Minster<br /><br /></b></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XbdkPUbfHddrCJoot3v7mNeMl-nmcx3FFwQGGao9uNWt5RxZ_GiEJapJpQvPi0SKPTknNQwP7ZXJIbt5xUWXoPTtqMwrndKlRP8G99zgup4nay9eR1LMwrLPrKCegm57ug1J5dNelnps_2n8fSfblbh9W900Faahq9gHZYq6ga3oyWda71we9QvUEg/s3648/IMG_20220412_114811.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2XbdkPUbfHddrCJoot3v7mNeMl-nmcx3FFwQGGao9uNWt5RxZ_GiEJapJpQvPi0SKPTknNQwP7ZXJIbt5xUWXoPTtqMwrndKlRP8G99zgup4nay9eR1LMwrLPrKCegm57ug1J5dNelnps_2n8fSfblbh9W900Faahq9gHZYq6ga3oyWda71we9QvUEg/w640-h480/IMG_20220412_114811.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5lDFJ_Nl4YobktregDWBizjb4iJJCzv3EHmf31yrxZIc24XGURP2G3-okSXzN6ojWhtmyv_yu9epVMJZTQveCusg__DR8wBDCuHkU8kRFqw2KyfxlAMq5T2IulyZLd6SDWnGjz1JR91mkgx5TUz1I914HeoGrvNDaRR5FshrPKKtaRmBet4kk71eAlw/w480-h640/IMG_20220412_123159.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-49275209261633214602022-04-11T09:34:00.003-07:002022-04-11T09:34:50.048-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 18-19 Liverpool, Merseyside, England)<p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01WHA5ifEe0k8lQJcCjKipD0uIi5_5en-HDBsaPc0g5xA_b068UgVjEer27XKlHm7pOqK5Z0nN4CY-fiFiTltXgcb9ieBJ_9XhQfrvluse0JqOhhgQF8le57w1sanHjvSo9Hodb_fclidebNLs4AZ3dpFkvYKAZRZMshlHSEigPW0O1ahrzWu6GZqVA/s3648/IMG_20220409_123958.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh01WHA5ifEe0k8lQJcCjKipD0uIi5_5en-HDBsaPc0g5xA_b068UgVjEer27XKlHm7pOqK5Z0nN4CY-fiFiTltXgcb9ieBJ_9XhQfrvluse0JqOhhgQF8le57w1sanHjvSo9Hodb_fclidebNLs4AZ3dpFkvYKAZRZMshlHSEigPW0O1ahrzWu6GZqVA/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_123958.jpg" width="640" /></a></b></div><p></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">L</span></b>iverpool was only a 90 minute drive west from Llandudno - along the A55 for 40 miles, then through the Kingway Tunnel beneath the River Mersey and we were there! The little Nissan Juke was running fine still after almost 1300 miles since we had picked it up in Dover two weeks ago. It was very good on gas and extremely comfortable, a bit noisy at high speeds on the motorways but handled well on the winding A and B roads. Going finally to Liverpool was a real thrill for me, my first visit to the home of a lot of music I knew growing up and a city that survived the second worst bombings of the Second World War. Before connecting with our host for the next two days we parked downtown and headed to the famous Albert Dock. We walked by the the Royal Liver Building, pride of the heart of the city's iconic waterfront, to the Merseyside Maritime Museum, a fantastic display of everything possible from the earliest beginnings, the trauma of the last war to the economic depression of the 80s and the resurgence of the city now, highlighting the shipping heritage of this iconic city. It seemed every Liverpuddlian was out enjoying the Saturday sunshine, including many different groups of Morris dancers entertaining the crowds on the sidewalks, cafes and along the waterfront. Tomorrow it will be more of the same, starting with a ferry 'cross the Mersey! </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PcsflHNDk6jmjYnjAYQ0yaAGCHy3KhYvF5VkFRsam7o3PdM_SZE5Uy95p1LefWxV-s5DY2efi0ZW_O4LTSokdOljfp5xjuSWmxGGuK4owaPZOzdWVQwLkwrKhWK1ms21IcysGiQYxa3AdAKAq_bMsvbVSPEGXtz9rprTsSKhyHDYsAfrI7_ekTbeYA/s5632/IMG_20220409_171304%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8PcsflHNDk6jmjYnjAYQ0yaAGCHy3KhYvF5VkFRsam7o3PdM_SZE5Uy95p1LefWxV-s5DY2efi0ZW_O4LTSokdOljfp5xjuSWmxGGuK4owaPZOzdWVQwLkwrKhWK1ms21IcysGiQYxa3AdAKAq_bMsvbVSPEGXtz9rprTsSKhyHDYsAfrI7_ekTbeYA/w400-h300/IMG_20220409_171304%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>24 Malvern Rd, Liverpool</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcaOu7kaQnY2M5T_khdhHQW40qLecpiFn3UuBvXpI_HwXckBN8HL7H8OsiLx9PqGgUAY6iSlOd1GN8WHV7g24wkSeW8UU8Zneofr5XNrEfL3BRrJDrLsGEQdUBtILs1Uzrr_u3Ze_K5IlV1hkLbxP3g7C1Huso3PzOqatylCNfc5tKAUNjbwnknr6uQ/s1600/IMG-20220409-WA0005%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1599" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihcaOu7kaQnY2M5T_khdhHQW40qLecpiFn3UuBvXpI_HwXckBN8HL7H8OsiLx9PqGgUAY6iSlOd1GN8WHV7g24wkSeW8UU8Zneofr5XNrEfL3BRrJDrLsGEQdUBtILs1Uzrr_u3Ze_K5IlV1hkLbxP3g7C1Huso3PzOqatylCNfc5tKAUNjbwnknr6uQ/w640-h640/IMG-20220409-WA0005%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttjg567acweJ74eYWr8NGgo0FPR_THI6ZixW8iw_8VliAlsQ-aSzEQPjgWYzmE8eWhUnaMV4IkqjaIT8R7_yBKB8Ezd6AbMOpDUUOR2OLNLeyrP11JQc5JENKAN3Tffr1yM_Bnr-KZ_1tl7MejoKOL10-UKrhcssAksPCUYjy45_B1m05-D5R5Y6zsg/s3648/IMG_20220409_120106%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgttjg567acweJ74eYWr8NGgo0FPR_THI6ZixW8iw_8VliAlsQ-aSzEQPjgWYzmE8eWhUnaMV4IkqjaIT8R7_yBKB8Ezd6AbMOpDUUOR2OLNLeyrP11JQc5JENKAN3Tffr1yM_Bnr-KZ_1tl7MejoKOL10-UKrhcssAksPCUYjy45_B1m05-D5R5Y6zsg/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_120106%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Morris Dancers, Liverpool</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODDhgCcF6QOp47Q-mBhblGvyuZ1c16vhRvj3yCMoq4A888eKwBUtv4emlq7e4TJcFhT2YcBXEHe8jFVPoVf0vsUyP9hxDrU7ST5XPTUY9V4cX1kVqAl5gDtumnHA8ygup1L49YJ46tru54fbW81qo42oZyTEw_-Gz0tngLp0sXt5j_PRHE_C0IVicew/s3648/IMG_20220409_123746%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhODDhgCcF6QOp47Q-mBhblGvyuZ1c16vhRvj3yCMoq4A888eKwBUtv4emlq7e4TJcFhT2YcBXEHe8jFVPoVf0vsUyP9hxDrU7ST5XPTUY9V4cX1kVqAl5gDtumnHA8ygup1L49YJ46tru54fbW81qo42oZyTEw_-Gz0tngLp0sXt5j_PRHE_C0IVicew/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_123746%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic3qY9gSvbOUEKqphON8qOIUPbttziBG977EyH3YQuxC-hlfJIyIG-DJld86DkcKO84cZn3PP1YpknFKTohqsFLDaZ5zIe_tbobYJ7lU_owLtmLN6lDrxqtB31lXfq-pDxpFzoimOEKv691-pfz_yP5e_o3gmdoaKXxVGlQl3_RHZyKhb5ptmWKgL0Yw/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_125308%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZd2ZTX0c4g10NTa5uaPNMRCipIc6QwgFsp-Kdnp2MAN2tXWyeHiOHhgGWLDth-VNjPdW2YzAGgYpPhDTmHvlbjk7JUFVdQ3A-FxKmNGwZ20eBH_q_GER11f66UEmEukK1-6lq4JWgzsPW8Sx8VOz7OZ0_CMMPaDCW33BvP0nvEH_HnGRR-zxXBnVyg/s3648/IMG_20220409_125612%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmZd2ZTX0c4g10NTa5uaPNMRCipIc6QwgFsp-Kdnp2MAN2tXWyeHiOHhgGWLDth-VNjPdW2YzAGgYpPhDTmHvlbjk7JUFVdQ3A-FxKmNGwZ20eBH_q_GER11f66UEmEukK1-6lq4JWgzsPW8Sx8VOz7OZ0_CMMPaDCW33BvP0nvEH_HnGRR-zxXBnVyg/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_125612%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7MFAJVZSeBlzBDrfAU_IJyTHwQ6YTsWi-DMcJUbrOCDGlKJ9xB6Q5Yd3QXv-0ZAJnsqxdDWyjTdrADQKKj0UG7qzxoAPt5zR8xJUAPpHlUU9cpUZg6s6MH3QAHBIyFaV5R9a6DQ7T9vAAxa6UOsV2S5thx3k7tD8WLOQs0RgAPDMIOz635kizPniS2A/w400-h300/IMG_20220409_131514%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>chamberpot from Titanic debris field</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnF9bGgOys_IcoHoMgYC2vWnstJ5KoGE6e-DtAtZbWO8G9PyBp2B5rFFc5AvaWzGiiOOmlDw_I90QY6QcQhwhss30sNSkVkUqWyu6S5DR59TJ7JHJax19YPCsByCTGZnlCLDlysevqKEv7mkSdJiXudUdcQ6iQrDXCKr2unodmCm6k4k3ZXMA3MWWNQ/s3648/IMG_20220409_140407%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBnF9bGgOys_IcoHoMgYC2vWnstJ5KoGE6e-DtAtZbWO8G9PyBp2B5rFFc5AvaWzGiiOOmlDw_I90QY6QcQhwhss30sNSkVkUqWyu6S5DR59TJ7JHJax19YPCsByCTGZnlCLDlysevqKEv7mkSdJiXudUdcQ6iQrDXCKr2unodmCm6k4k3ZXMA3MWWNQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220409_140407%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O1AaXMBZfKiNuCWBC9xEnrLei-qHvs3LNM3GJRNz8067z32Nlyb1FKfIN9fOFZwgkMFdVjnErDMkZ54z7kgsBkhyKmR7dKSHQvDIxO-DHQt4_J-lfos3MTD3Ftn2luxmpkCVnwGdlifaOfTZ-tR_wzt2snNqrFXC1aknr62J0jIhqqyiBmv-JvhriA/s5632/IMG_20220409_151156%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-O1AaXMBZfKiNuCWBC9xEnrLei-qHvs3LNM3GJRNz8067z32Nlyb1FKfIN9fOFZwgkMFdVjnErDMkZ54z7kgsBkhyKmR7dKSHQvDIxO-DHQt4_J-lfos3MTD3Ftn2luxmpkCVnwGdlifaOfTZ-tR_wzt2snNqrFXC1aknr62J0jIhqqyiBmv-JvhriA/w400-h300/IMG_20220409_151156%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">S</span></b>unday was nice and sunny, a bit warmer and promised a great morning along the river. We drove into centretown, parked then walked across Mariners Wharf to Albert Dock where the Mersey River Cruise ferry <i>Snowdrop</i> was ready to take us on a 50 minute tour. With the music of Gerry Marsden singing his immortal song to welcome us aboard (a bit cheesy but I expected nothing less!) we got under way and learned a little more about the waterfront, its history and regrowth on either side of the river. The ferry has been painted in an eye catching and colourful dazzle design in honour of the patterns first used on WWI vessels - designed by Sir Peter Blake, yes the Peter Blake who is most famous for the Beatles Sgt Pepper album. We had noon tickets to <i>The Beatles Story </i>which we had debated seeing but were pleased we finally did, spending two hours looking at Fab Four memorabilia, hearing through our headsets their rise from the Silver Beatles and the Quarrymen to the greatest band in the world in a few short years. Listening to the music our grandchildren now love today in the city it all started from certainly left us with a very special feeling. After tea and scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam from Essex we rode the big Ferris wheel a short walk away, the Wheel of Liverpool, to get unsurpassed views of the city. We were ready to call it a day but first had to visit the Liverpool Cathedral. It was dark and brooding, although a thoroughly modern building compared to the ancient sites we had seen already this trip. The 331 foot Central Tower was only completed in 1942, the first ringing of the bells in 1951. Victoria, our lovely and amazing host had invited us for supper so we hurried back to her cozy flat for drinks and introductions to two of her very interesting friends. She had prepared a delicious dinner, and afterwards much interesting conversation ensued - a memorable evening that, although we retired later than usual, we won't forget any time soon. Thank you Victoria and Ali again for the very special gifts! <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> </div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_M3r05UAp_ooDbB3rlrLdPN39swTLP6a1_xNjQo2UTa92h2hH_g1DuS7470WI91YXkFryB072qqHC_pC1rRNiZIH3S6Zg66eF0Q1mScC52V51HWXKjiVtFek-OCkSiCldQZN5IFFWinPd7I55W9xw9WwFQNq_BvzhduY8poLSAwy4mYMcMjgMq7Q1g/s3648/IMG_20220410_094641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG_M3r05UAp_ooDbB3rlrLdPN39swTLP6a1_xNjQo2UTa92h2hH_g1DuS7470WI91YXkFryB072qqHC_pC1rRNiZIH3S6Zg66eF0Q1mScC52V51HWXKjiVtFek-OCkSiCldQZN5IFFWinPd7I55W9xw9WwFQNq_BvzhduY8poLSAwy4mYMcMjgMq7Q1g/w480-h640/IMG_20220410_094641.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Liverpool's Love Locks, Albert Dock</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyWgM1pWvXb0a77oZ-6-XTlQX22ijce3vYtrzGtLDrhf3SYlWJB4_gwnl3tbGETUb1-_ZEBox7uGeq9elAxQa5-A1zdxK5KQlPci1omwa611CaMVLDiIBNrEAZpQRCZAunmVTSRY3SnehXRfbJ70RoGU2oXa0Rvn18OSnB5N0RgNHwco7FERwtS2K5w/s3648/IMG_20220410_100049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzyWgM1pWvXb0a77oZ-6-XTlQX22ijce3vYtrzGtLDrhf3SYlWJB4_gwnl3tbGETUb1-_ZEBox7uGeq9elAxQa5-A1zdxK5KQlPci1omwa611CaMVLDiIBNrEAZpQRCZAunmVTSRY3SnehXRfbJ70RoGU2oXa0Rvn18OSnB5N0RgNHwco7FERwtS2K5w/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_100049.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Dazzle Ferry (Snowdrop), Mersey River</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2xmRHCdsi-GOVyj8BXu0VjliBcVQTYB3hXxzm_LrJ5xByt93LWrymYuxUBZCu7bWZMOms6khHt-wkQTklpYWQz_Cv1n_VCQpTdyyMOPPPjiXfRbsq-W_7QuDK9QB4mvNVsbV5w6pqa6MpAVmrbIp8DpHrupX-4yJXW-nhzaeraqdilTKh1Aqiyr8Mg/s3648/IMG_20220410_101818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP2xmRHCdsi-GOVyj8BXu0VjliBcVQTYB3hXxzm_LrJ5xByt93LWrymYuxUBZCu7bWZMOms6khHt-wkQTklpYWQz_Cv1n_VCQpTdyyMOPPPjiXfRbsq-W_7QuDK9QB4mvNVsbV5w6pqa6MpAVmrbIp8DpHrupX-4yJXW-nhzaeraqdilTKh1Aqiyr8Mg/w400-h300/IMG_20220410_101818.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvMTaCkvzMI3WRnWvZhcRKyHnjOqtia5PwJpk2hnlve9lR2gfv0cYqHUe2b3oEj0fpSpTtm1TjVosgxoQUUCnOj8Q27uDOnOs7pmqDm07LSfVLp0Ha84ITdKpo44k3w-K8h8GMTscP_LeY_7Q1DGIYV_iJ9vEN1AdvoNMOyOskzOzgEyiQISBuB8j0Q/s3648/IMG_20220410_103241_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvMTaCkvzMI3WRnWvZhcRKyHnjOqtia5PwJpk2hnlve9lR2gfv0cYqHUe2b3oEj0fpSpTtm1TjVosgxoQUUCnOj8Q27uDOnOs7pmqDm07LSfVLp0Ha84ITdKpo44k3w-K8h8GMTscP_LeY_7Q1DGIYV_iJ9vEN1AdvoNMOyOskzOzgEyiQISBuB8j0Q/w480-h640/IMG_20220410_103241_1.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EsAuziljq1I3dZKlmg26RTl5Qqtf7O4C86iJTrF_pDToiGvRFq7wwBIEFsw55rIPVDL0vqlg9WT4JhHfcIR4BMY6WkPEbOO6U40jtJa9JTtz6-2S-x2PlvNojpDmV1NSl8E1nypVDuLLJrN2KuS-pURn7zYgvgOCxw0jybL2q1UwhWD0iKa1NH6-dQ/s3648/IMG_20220410_104054.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7EsAuziljq1I3dZKlmg26RTl5Qqtf7O4C86iJTrF_pDToiGvRFq7wwBIEFsw55rIPVDL0vqlg9WT4JhHfcIR4BMY6WkPEbOO6U40jtJa9JTtz6-2S-x2PlvNojpDmV1NSl8E1nypVDuLLJrN2KuS-pURn7zYgvgOCxw0jybL2q1UwhWD0iKa1NH6-dQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_104054.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3A7_zbcKPDcfAWlsjTqYRiNfqVBndK3ws3p0ER2fJJxVVENNXAbnPNPGw_UBg7vY15LjUL3OFOSsfhMGCO6DiNrP_LfRFE0vHypC-iN5v8xgXRnH5EkxqvJBN_sCPkodbTsV41S0DrziiZVnjMrdXjdUHTKJLiE557bqoIrwUxHGVl-aIs5JSRzuvg/s3648/IMG_20220410_122505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY3A7_zbcKPDcfAWlsjTqYRiNfqVBndK3ws3p0ER2fJJxVVENNXAbnPNPGw_UBg7vY15LjUL3OFOSsfhMGCO6DiNrP_LfRFE0vHypC-iN5v8xgXRnH5EkxqvJBN_sCPkodbTsV41S0DrziiZVnjMrdXjdUHTKJLiE557bqoIrwUxHGVl-aIs5JSRzuvg/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_122505.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z1ZgwXzBC5VGCo0k5z3Bllp5q67NmzHxx7qwG2x9m0ENWbTd3QyzwEXHMydT1HZNxRpbwP1kYlqNLEa6xUYzrYuBT2unsIlsnlMxdDiedToX2DkEX1aclF9tZgikSGY76xpYs66LaUe5apyZlye-DJKVPkjnxa-06BKLAwOygs6YRtcTNvaaeYm-8A/s3648/IMG_20220410_133839.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Z1ZgwXzBC5VGCo0k5z3Bllp5q67NmzHxx7qwG2x9m0ENWbTd3QyzwEXHMydT1HZNxRpbwP1kYlqNLEa6xUYzrYuBT2unsIlsnlMxdDiedToX2DkEX1aclF9tZgikSGY76xpYs66LaUe5apyZlye-DJKVPkjnxa-06BKLAwOygs6YRtcTNvaaeYm-8A/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_133839.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Imagine</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S0MCbIs9JQ_9oZF6bfHOZKfz_rGG1GmSm621NmwvTT6Mr3gfXlAEHnS7dJV9PtxeS-EzKk3RIR8aLl780aOxyaZceWFsFVcGC1cyxgQ7mdAKYKJbl5BeSt0Qhb2gi6dqWxaU1SJ_Y1bR57wLg2kJLizAyKENuiTiHO7VL7SxGlsu5LE0lBKS-TppHA/s3648/IMG_20220410_135851.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9S0MCbIs9JQ_9oZF6bfHOZKfz_rGG1GmSm621NmwvTT6Mr3gfXlAEHnS7dJV9PtxeS-EzKk3RIR8aLl780aOxyaZceWFsFVcGC1cyxgQ7mdAKYKJbl5BeSt0Qhb2gi6dqWxaU1SJ_Y1bR57wLg2kJLizAyKENuiTiHO7VL7SxGlsu5LE0lBKS-TppHA/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_135851.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmGfDOplapEUtHlVHV4oN863X2UsG3J6_uCj6hgCapi8666bJklz9DFgeul8wrp1HLXZTFz--Xv1yB_tMdnBnCqykplz1Czb_FrfVuyEZj9PSZUaTW2wIEct4JZE1oCDA8Aad1W-Qu2QEkRf922Eq8YdHki25xtHFIDMnTny3kgp4VH9IaO3biWfJtQ/s3648/IMG_20220410_145753.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvmGfDOplapEUtHlVHV4oN863X2UsG3J6_uCj6hgCapi8666bJklz9DFgeul8wrp1HLXZTFz--Xv1yB_tMdnBnCqykplz1Czb_FrfVuyEZj9PSZUaTW2wIEct4JZE1oCDA8Aad1W-Qu2QEkRf922Eq8YdHki25xtHFIDMnTny3kgp4VH9IaO3biWfJtQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_145753.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Liverpool from the Big Wheel</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDBN5VnAM8CGgRWxefBRl85RFXVklAEj1DN_zOtZGU0SqezPCDCDkU7xhYRqh5Z_n6A-LFmVyjCPV9p6d7sjZAQzhmhRj0Co8ZqhIwFM6mVBMnX2O4tfh7_EiLb_psYYskGznVGJh7mK2MYuVYGw0XqY7f5RItPmC6uC-8MpbNEMq8Wdk8gdQJ-dmlw/s3648/IMG_20220410_150241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrDBN5VnAM8CGgRWxefBRl85RFXVklAEj1DN_zOtZGU0SqezPCDCDkU7xhYRqh5Z_n6A-LFmVyjCPV9p6d7sjZAQzhmhRj0Co8ZqhIwFM6mVBMnX2O4tfh7_EiLb_psYYskGznVGJh7mK2MYuVYGw0XqY7f5RItPmC6uC-8MpbNEMq8Wdk8gdQJ-dmlw/w400-h300/IMG_20220410_150241.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM2us0-IAG-Pne0C93cUzMgtc-HbuzMhHtXjBoELyAI0lOB5RxaEdY6oiWsfCgqsekI9e4sGIt0_95ucKm8cB92aL5hnCHdnSUOvGwp4E8WEaBnJ_v_bO3-A3NzACkh38FSIYBH5PqJ5ev0pRFGMK4dy_ekmVuBe8kglaqLnLcRr5h8nQjfdM9cbqkQ/s3648/IMG_20220410_153904.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCM2us0-IAG-Pne0C93cUzMgtc-HbuzMhHtXjBoELyAI0lOB5RxaEdY6oiWsfCgqsekI9e4sGIt0_95ucKm8cB92aL5hnCHdnSUOvGwp4E8WEaBnJ_v_bO3-A3NzACkh38FSIYBH5PqJ5ev0pRFGMK4dy_ekmVuBe8kglaqLnLcRr5h8nQjfdM9cbqkQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220410_153904.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Liverpool Cathedral</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-4111323298549434682022-04-07T12:05:00.002-07:002022-04-08T09:44:29.479-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 16-17 Snowdonia National Park/Llandudno, Wales)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-pm02aujmz-sC071_KhOvbjrUUjGw7yNx41qmuNaXHhHhW0Ej1X24vULLq-dpnyM68UUiQolrh6aTe9nWq-AVFc9JCNWpL0jGQk52f8arUcmrBYZLeN2cMf-SgvQyEhFmG_g40fXiUkhvNCtDCF5J4hEEiLEos1YSaoCnTUIRTEzJUzenPjWJdERSg/s3648/IMG_20220407_093148%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0-pm02aujmz-sC071_KhOvbjrUUjGw7yNx41qmuNaXHhHhW0Ej1X24vULLq-dpnyM68UUiQolrh6aTe9nWq-AVFc9JCNWpL0jGQk52f8arUcmrBYZLeN2cMf-SgvQyEhFmG_g40fXiUkhvNCtDCF5J4hEEiLEos1YSaoCnTUIRTEzJUzenPjWJdERSg/w480-h640/IMG_20220407_093148%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Machynlleth Townclock, 1873</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>F</b></span>rom Aberystwyth we took the A487 to Machynlleth in rain and fog about thirty minutes north, stopping there to pick up a few extra warm clothes before continuing on to Snowdonia National Park. The scenery as we climbed was absolutely breathtaking and it was almost impossible to concentrate on driving and take in the stark beauty of the Park at the same time. The narrow road clung to steep and bleak cliffs of rock, stunted trees and gushing streams, then sudden open areas of brown grass where sheep and cattle were seen in the drizzle and occasional gusts of hail. Oncoming traffic either gave way or let me pass with inches to spare, my hands gripping the wheel like grim death the whole way. It was altogether an extraordinary sight and not what we had pictured Wales to look like. The Park, like our Mt. Megantic Park at home in Quebec, was designated an International Dark Sky Reserve in 2015. We were disappointed the rail car to the top of Mt Snowden was not running (due to circumstances beyond their control - which I assumed meant the high winds. The Severn Bridge we had just crossed yesterday was closed today as well). We walked along Llanberis Lake to the Blade of the Giants, a 20 foot steel sword sculpture placed in a huge rock to raise awareness of the history of the Princes of Gwynedd and their contribution to the area's Welsh heritage. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn46vpxYGtjB1dGWQbPl9fGEGgrp08e3jdRKeHAklA7gApgOirOCuxraW8da-B_u0hLZeIp4R8q8sBDkN5nBXk2PnFtwHbLNH0H1fallrnhfyJeD_y7PeMXbdWLt43be7-5uZz-YsbGklSYt9vuZshdwRGueWOEJ0zD-LHwneauVr-dnuLD0QiQWfXA/s3648/IMG_20220407_121509%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnn46vpxYGtjB1dGWQbPl9fGEGgrp08e3jdRKeHAklA7gApgOirOCuxraW8da-B_u0hLZeIp4R8q8sBDkN5nBXk2PnFtwHbLNH0H1fallrnhfyJeD_y7PeMXbdWLt43be7-5uZz-YsbGklSYt9vuZshdwRGueWOEJ0zD-LHwneauVr-dnuLD0QiQWfXA/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_121509%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Blade of Giants, Llanberis, Wales<br /><br /></i></b></td></tr></tbody></table></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">L</span></b>eaving Snowdonia we continued on to the coast, crossing onto the island of Anglesey over the Britannia Bridge. We stopped for fuel in the town with the longest name in Wales, Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogochto, just to say we had been there, and crossed back over the Menai Bridge to the mainland. The name by the way means 'The Church of St Mary in the hollow of the white hazel near the rapid whirlpool and the Church of St Tysilio near a red cave.' Our step stop was Conwy Castle 10 miles up the coast, It is a huge medieval fortress that has towered over the town Of Conwy for 700 years, built by King Edward I in just four years between 1283 and 1287, containing the most intact set of medieval royal apartments in Wales. He only stayed there once, trapped by a Welsh rebellion in 1294 and was said to have spent a miserable Christmas with just one barrel of wine in the castle cellar for comfort. If it was anything like the bitter wind howling around the towers and stone walls when we were there I can feel for him. I don't think I had felt so cold the whole trip. Our next stopover for the next two nights was the resort town of Llandudno, on the Creuddyn peninsula, just over an hour drive east of Liverpool. We were certainly looking forward to relaxing for a few days and enjoying Llandudno's beautiful stone beach here on the Irish Sea, walking along the 19th century pier, weather permitting, and seeing if it lives up to it's renown as Queen of the Welsh Watering Places. </span></div><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zFfYKV_b7IF0Zp_aZ5Ead68oNUtZ2gI2nCbHrKIitmVHLW_Yq6R3kFudiU4wR7HDmTCi3AueAf1q4OMG_YTUqsb0HN8RoLHP8syOF3MYY4k1-FBhrKMW4ElbosLzy-IG39W7IyfQnQxG3Tpdd10yK9hLDTRjmZNRsU6FqhtU4bbokxF0ZJEv7dk8CQ/s3648/IMG_20220407_102043%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3zFfYKV_b7IF0Zp_aZ5Ead68oNUtZ2gI2nCbHrKIitmVHLW_Yq6R3kFudiU4wR7HDmTCi3AueAf1q4OMG_YTUqsb0HN8RoLHP8syOF3MYY4k1-FBhrKMW4ElbosLzy-IG39W7IyfQnQxG3Tpdd10yK9hLDTRjmZNRsU6FqhtU4bbokxF0ZJEv7dk8CQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_102043%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI77X0sd42HTJED4LMA2_EcOuVgfB0tZFjDRY8uSATJWnQbrFOCsjjAwJANl-HKgEJm-3oSsB6ZGJit82Mkk3D_A_n7hCLkw2vOaX8yH9EEP5tFohYBTXCf_mOGp8LFczqBSUyy0zbMHmztXZPP1wN6aUvj72QOoyNRB-xUz4GtLRSW80fr318zUC7A/s3648/IMG_20220407_115731%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoI77X0sd42HTJED4LMA2_EcOuVgfB0tZFjDRY8uSATJWnQbrFOCsjjAwJANl-HKgEJm-3oSsB6ZGJit82Mkk3D_A_n7hCLkw2vOaX8yH9EEP5tFohYBTXCf_mOGp8LFczqBSUyy0zbMHmztXZPP1wN6aUvj72QOoyNRB-xUz4GtLRSW80fr318zUC7A/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_115731%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY-cFWMLKb5DqXS7Ai9Zi9gIsYiIhyowGdeTSvOSvjPmVcyALihUckB9Uc875jNYsWvcM1_30DegckeohBm7nZ9WW1fu_syt1gyKSEIO9faax4OotlYz1Tp-eS5RvvchnGuimWI92k7SYZlcwsdqIEPSENyeTAxf-yJqqpOX4wrWr5BUYJ14VARENHQ/s3648/IMG_20220407_113811.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAY-cFWMLKb5DqXS7Ai9Zi9gIsYiIhyowGdeTSvOSvjPmVcyALihUckB9Uc875jNYsWvcM1_30DegckeohBm7nZ9WW1fu_syt1gyKSEIO9faax4OotlYz1Tp-eS5RvvchnGuimWI92k7SYZlcwsdqIEPSENyeTAxf-yJqqpOX4wrWr5BUYJ14VARENHQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_113811.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Snowdonia National Park, Wales</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP2fGQKbG-Zsy40w1MvyDt1mEr4V5qR1YjeXTHC5RIv2g_3oTHAZBCjskKhztdYQtPuZC9RT3rWpAnl2NfE0lp7KdNQKIgr2DVGFxXI9IgMKKY2MWa3BMcq0p6K1NWFmOowyubvi2LWDP3gzGKkQZxvZF5Im9sxQ4CJO02hXW_A-BvF-S6L5QtZcK6Q/s3648/IMG_20220407_134624%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsP2fGQKbG-Zsy40w1MvyDt1mEr4V5qR1YjeXTHC5RIv2g_3oTHAZBCjskKhztdYQtPuZC9RT3rWpAnl2NfE0lp7KdNQKIgr2DVGFxXI9IgMKKY2MWa3BMcq0p6K1NWFmOowyubvi2LWDP3gzGKkQZxvZF5Im9sxQ4CJO02hXW_A-BvF-S6L5QtZcK6Q/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_134624%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMca60nhEDxibC_mXI039lcDkMxPDZN3pEaguWLHoPXC5BrAIULf7bOe8QsqDuw3jTgWskBhWMigCEdti7m1vV2ZDI_b8r9vPSIJl52A0DxgUwJH2go62ZGU_So-tc5wFUwH3jUb6YcfHT8Qqhbw9kVptlyOY9aXDjMhVdVNzpy3P4EJEbRTzdYR8uyw/s3648/IMG_20220407_135334%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMca60nhEDxibC_mXI039lcDkMxPDZN3pEaguWLHoPXC5BrAIULf7bOe8QsqDuw3jTgWskBhWMigCEdti7m1vV2ZDI_b8r9vPSIJl52A0DxgUwJH2go62ZGU_So-tc5wFUwH3jUb6YcfHT8Qqhbw9kVptlyOY9aXDjMhVdVNzpy3P4EJEbRTzdYR8uyw/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_135334%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbO52gKK9Nd7wiWdbBk47Q7FiMQ99k1BMLM7CyMNlIsOKkfcds5W6Ykte7Xwpchb_bj52hoto65R_laULD5EXIG3HcafxfA_92b0-yDXzQ4OKLpJw6FlHsw1ALQMUC5dgeShKSIRMTYCwTmgozI5V0b1DeP8t1EffH03sLnz8em1f2acZ1n7Yn0_fvw/s2142/IMG_20220407_144140%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1902" data-original-width="2142" height="568" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCbO52gKK9Nd7wiWdbBk47Q7FiMQ99k1BMLM7CyMNlIsOKkfcds5W6Ykte7Xwpchb_bj52hoto65R_laULD5EXIG3HcafxfA_92b0-yDXzQ4OKLpJw6FlHsw1ALQMUC5dgeShKSIRMTYCwTmgozI5V0b1DeP8t1EffH03sLnz8em1f2acZ1n7Yn0_fvw/w640-h568/IMG_20220407_144140%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Conwy Castle, Wales, by W. Turner!</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq19ThpNQi28M2ZHzeuvQWI55BmYF2Y9VTzdtcA8uAyKS-aV2NZhYXnCzomULi6VOYKqTylfRcjNEL9GhuYJNu87zObNPlbMtPi5Ey5oEhgnbDu7eZx_pcs7ep81N3Q4Zd6XjCF01Ao12W_9qNcSge6715WXy6N9B8ORn9MnV5lnDoyW-N_MHlVD4Yw/s5632/IMG_20220407_160827%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5632" data-original-width="4224" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMq19ThpNQi28M2ZHzeuvQWI55BmYF2Y9VTzdtcA8uAyKS-aV2NZhYXnCzomULi6VOYKqTylfRcjNEL9GhuYJNu87zObNPlbMtPi5Ey5oEhgnbDu7eZx_pcs7ep81N3Q4Zd6XjCF01Ao12W_9qNcSge6715WXy6N9B8ORn9MnV5lnDoyW-N_MHlVD4Yw/w300-h400/IMG_20220407_160827%20-%20Copy%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>AirBnB, Vaughn Street, Llandudno, Wales</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4gEzs5dC7PWT1tmBF2HB3BuHLhWoxt0tgGtZ7bYCxdxFiIHC5LJ-0RxErgyziqP4yX68i7T7VnpDt4J2biuhAFVUyjTWrsHxvgMO9fs2SJU8W_3415Zd3xPESKkfW8PmdPTcY5RrIrqAoaaNR-OiLpZ5CmaZr_T8aWvykRqcywfw-g677wN4yd1_vg/s3648/IMG_20220407_161006%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiV4gEzs5dC7PWT1tmBF2HB3BuHLhWoxt0tgGtZ7bYCxdxFiIHC5LJ-0RxErgyziqP4yX68i7T7VnpDt4J2biuhAFVUyjTWrsHxvgMO9fs2SJU8W_3415Zd3xPESKkfW8PmdPTcY5RrIrqAoaaNR-OiLpZ5CmaZr_T8aWvykRqcywfw-g677wN4yd1_vg/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_161006%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxXRNVXLuS8KIriZBxxIia0oXcmcnInZgl3NRK067aAwhgRkuRUwbVK4n-uzVf-3WTaLjTGp2YtPojKqiw0jyPHToDRJCNdd71d24TEFxq2ydqhB61VO1iUY4-QhyIQnRCJxh4l21MXQG4jPw3S7z1wcTAjtF-k5c8p3eMz5BSIFGEhVtciMooHaf_w/s3648/IMG_20220407_161123%20-%20Copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxXRNVXLuS8KIriZBxxIia0oXcmcnInZgl3NRK067aAwhgRkuRUwbVK4n-uzVf-3WTaLjTGp2YtPojKqiw0jyPHToDRJCNdd71d24TEFxq2ydqhB61VO1iUY4-QhyIQnRCJxh4l21MXQG4jPw3S7z1wcTAjtF-k5c8p3eMz5BSIFGEhVtciMooHaf_w/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_161123%20-%20Copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91uqMjxkO_CUc-12SXBbuzWEvZMWEUY50YVw6qdpN9wCcxwGpLlQIh7J-wvCgEEeGoBGlSzAbgG8D-Ok66E8Lugt1f3ByJOu0ivGxkvBdJwaPZSksZ0s7ytF_JvHG3TjANjRcQLem9wGXGiQYNfN7bJiuFC-Y6qxn0_EsdeQIgN3kIqRKd_naZWNfDg/s3648/IMG_20220407_161153.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj91uqMjxkO_CUc-12SXBbuzWEvZMWEUY50YVw6qdpN9wCcxwGpLlQIh7J-wvCgEEeGoBGlSzAbgG8D-Ok66E8Lugt1f3ByJOu0ivGxkvBdJwaPZSksZ0s7ytF_JvHG3TjANjRcQLem9wGXGiQYNfN7bJiuFC-Y6qxn0_EsdeQIgN3kIqRKd_naZWNfDg/w640-h480/IMG_20220407_161153.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Llududno, Wales</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">T</span></b>he Gods were smiling when we awoke the next day to brilliant blue skies and a gentle wind, so after wishing our wonderful and delightful host Maria a good day, we decided to stroll along the promenade to the pier, then walk up the road to the limestone headland known as the Great Orme. <i>Orme </i>(named by the Vikings and meaning serpent) became the common name for this headland during Llandudno's burgeoning tourist trade in the 1800s, the majority of visitors arriving by sea and the headland the first sight in their three hour journey from Liverpool by paddle steamer. Tomorrow we will due it by car in one. It was yet one more magnificent piece of scenery to greet our eyes since we arrived in Wales. We were also delighted to see, directly below us on a large sand and gravel patch among the rocky shore, close to a hundred grey seals lying just out of the water. A definite highlight of our trip so far. Then, after another half hour, we clambered up off the road onto a barely visible trail that ascended to the very top. Here in the short grass we encountered a few grazing sheep who ignored us and even more spectacular views. From there it was a slow walk down the other side into Happy Valley Gardens, the town's public park and back onto the promenade to rest our legs. As I mentioned tomorrow we are off to see John, Paul, George, and Ringo and cross over on the city's lifeblood, the River Mersey. Yeah, Yeah, Yeah I cannot wait! <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiirmtTVqMuZC4l4SSYV9rulIXR9JJarKTenQ0Gqn0pWt9uKcHx62SCcnbmg8oF80-wUD2IG670hOvgMJ6mkGwVcaTDIMaQV1G8gRTh7dEnz_jaSmqUwp9O2zrUhXREjrTLXDG5n1FmMKl9wfTGCGy8vVEYi781NwmlDBIgzj3UqvDHcXC0_uOBPKDA/s2179/IMG_20220408_154731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2179" height="522" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCiirmtTVqMuZC4l4SSYV9rulIXR9JJarKTenQ0Gqn0pWt9uKcHx62SCcnbmg8oF80-wUD2IG670hOvgMJ6mkGwVcaTDIMaQV1G8gRTh7dEnz_jaSmqUwp9O2zrUhXREjrTLXDG5n1FmMKl9wfTGCGy8vVEYi781NwmlDBIgzj3UqvDHcXC0_uOBPKDA/w640-h522/IMG_20220408_154731.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5IV8gj_nKpEuTPd4mICm1CMW-7T3z2f8u7XdQW07sNlqsMwtUJ7qzbVHbt0Bn1UPEtwxByeLq0SqbJOdOPhyTeOiEzXeelyP5YRhqOGP7IsFlzdd1NSSDsVTV8-L9buc6_LOLJVbOJRJHMEU8F7meXl90uC_S0ExnFXYxRF1kx6ZlY4xXf9AhbKkbQ/s3648/IMG_20220408_104423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ5IV8gj_nKpEuTPd4mICm1CMW-7T3z2f8u7XdQW07sNlqsMwtUJ7qzbVHbt0Bn1UPEtwxByeLq0SqbJOdOPhyTeOiEzXeelyP5YRhqOGP7IsFlzdd1NSSDsVTV8-L9buc6_LOLJVbOJRJHMEU8F7meXl90uC_S0ExnFXYxRF1kx6ZlY4xXf9AhbKkbQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220408_104423.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>view of Llandudno's pier from the Great Orme</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DGWecL074vcdlrHby3nfM8AEouiCXzTycVAViZ1DhVHijYEg4AeqZ317be3AlnByt-RnEbXFvZkM6xAhHE-T-DV9U7u3r9op-V_r5t1bCXb_jCLs64Z0_I1q_eJVdVZDNUiGvlCtDbrsvCSVn5UdVnRpxGjD5IgCGDMK8rlpyNZ4wKjRf6YDxrIcIw/s3648/IMG_20220408_111310.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1DGWecL074vcdlrHby3nfM8AEouiCXzTycVAViZ1DhVHijYEg4AeqZ317be3AlnByt-RnEbXFvZkM6xAhHE-T-DV9U7u3r9op-V_r5t1bCXb_jCLs64Z0_I1q_eJVdVZDNUiGvlCtDbrsvCSVn5UdVnRpxGjD5IgCGDMK8rlpyNZ4wKjRf6YDxrIcIw/w640-h480/IMG_20220408_111310.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1x9r2jF7Jy8PuuedHINChFgsVWOqk0Lj348cNt_58jNgaTPelLWCD61C-0WuJ6haw80i1TfjD_WkANKI5mUdOiycZjRFztskEXPWT8NqA7q-IbL_3AmfGonCeZbYXY8GDhjDX4e3Ku2i9dQ7XCf3IiEcH_oeuabKu83tRTR-i-xXviVmy6NqPSLUgQ/s3648/IMG_20220408_111810.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir1x9r2jF7Jy8PuuedHINChFgsVWOqk0Lj348cNt_58jNgaTPelLWCD61C-0WuJ6haw80i1TfjD_WkANKI5mUdOiycZjRFztskEXPWT8NqA7q-IbL_3AmfGonCeZbYXY8GDhjDX4e3Ku2i9dQ7XCf3IiEcH_oeuabKu83tRTR-i-xXviVmy6NqPSLUgQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220408_111810.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxxt7JWIaYELK9njQ8_kqcB11h5z2sTvu4HjmGErQpLtBarb5FqB8uA5HUXKpIgQxRpz2K6Q6oaYuY1-vKETi1FRAJRTjiSlQQvqpAxpbATveeon46_Naf-0jrapO_yKkdTHBOiMhU8s29JCOyiCyDUORDf8AJckXe7Coxv8JdVEJufmn3h2nTuLRkg/s3648/IMG_20220408_112808.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlxxt7JWIaYELK9njQ8_kqcB11h5z2sTvu4HjmGErQpLtBarb5FqB8uA5HUXKpIgQxRpz2K6Q6oaYuY1-vKETi1FRAJRTjiSlQQvqpAxpbATveeon46_Naf-0jrapO_yKkdTHBOiMhU8s29JCOyiCyDUORDf8AJckXe7Coxv8JdVEJufmn3h2nTuLRkg/w640-h480/IMG_20220408_112808.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>wanderings on the Great Orme</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-60532392151868804172022-04-07T00:07:00.004-07:002022-04-07T00:13:35.932-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 15 Abergavenny/Aberystwyth, Wales)<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEidCc21oWRL7tgjFWYqDRtv0_KyIf3mZ8mjnU25UlAoZKeIUrDN_iz57PxelaRhpL2i1Cfw9zQ35Lf1XjFs5wwizOUZgCBPW8OpWJBmLerP49JyawTplWrmccDv1gZt9WGIGimWzrUdVR69HQgIKrdXLQlllI4ajhxfC-2o6U2FIr790iWEpsol3WPA/s3648/IMG_20220406_124059.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEidCc21oWRL7tgjFWYqDRtv0_KyIf3mZ8mjnU25UlAoZKeIUrDN_iz57PxelaRhpL2i1Cfw9zQ35Lf1XjFs5wwizOUZgCBPW8OpWJBmLerP49JyawTplWrmccDv1gZt9WGIGimWzrUdVR69HQgIKrdXLQlllI4ajhxfC-2o6U2FIr790iWEpsol3WPA/w640-h480/IMG_20220406_124059.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span>fter leaving Huish Champflower we headed north for a few hours, crossing the Severn River Bridge on the M4 motorway into Wales. The sun broke through the clouds and promised a good drive into Aberystwyth, our next destination. Getting onto A449 we came across two castles, one at Raglan which unfortunately was closed due to filming, the other just past Abergavenny called Tretower Court and Castle or in Welsh,<i> Llys a Chastell Tre-twr, </i>an 11th century Norman castle built by the family Picard. <i></i>We looked about for half and hour, climbing into the tower, sat in the great hall set for what it wood have looked like in 1470, and took pictures before continuing on. We took a shortcut through the Cambrian mountains on a very narrow and precipitous road sometimes just wide as the car that wasn't marked on our map. The scenery was breathtaking, the drive hair raising, the memories forever - the drive of my life I will never forget. At last Aberystwyth and the grey water of St Georges Channel came into view beyond the green hills of countless sheep and we descended into the town.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeezKuaFxfaW9As2xzxS-A70iJeB5qrThQL9nAHQcHkAoPRF2sRPGrmkVIYzfxe1CRa_mU2bU8jtdGOhxDQcytUEsAQngC7kXX49cBYoyNVtWQ9XRuMXhUv96aS7Ds4MVBQQUPlXcUTTazv9gpLpDVjwW2qSGXHmdZ4KuqOXdjijUL3jycnaoGJTzMg/s3648/IMG_20220406_125156.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoeezKuaFxfaW9As2xzxS-A70iJeB5qrThQL9nAHQcHkAoPRF2sRPGrmkVIYzfxe1CRa_mU2bU8jtdGOhxDQcytUEsAQngC7kXX49cBYoyNVtWQ9XRuMXhUv96aS7Ds4MVBQQUPlXcUTTazv9gpLpDVjwW2qSGXHmdZ4KuqOXdjijUL3jycnaoGJTzMg/w480-h640/IMG_20220406_125156.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>view from Tretower Castle</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdM7t6mC5ow0hc0XfmAy02w-qu-utjDuExkvUsHVkQGw2lznhvfn5b0phClsc_oqCHyTidP6j8pWG_6wkf__IFa7wKwqsj_5MPl0agQxPArFmozITHCuRiLnYi76BLpGu6Sz1TqfdSsxHy5fF_S-mtpYY0hjZckAOv3hg9MGhra9sfk_NJLLHf1zlCw/s3648/IMG_20220406_141746.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrdM7t6mC5ow0hc0XfmAy02w-qu-utjDuExkvUsHVkQGw2lznhvfn5b0phClsc_oqCHyTidP6j8pWG_6wkf__IFa7wKwqsj_5MPl0agQxPArFmozITHCuRiLnYi76BLpGu6Sz1TqfdSsxHy5fF_S-mtpYY0hjZckAOv3hg9MGhra9sfk_NJLLHf1zlCw/w640-h480/IMG_20220406_141746.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzF--kMcNwT1jbwQPNGFS79vkWKpKkhjY2tWsCEvyuq1wJa1DnBWH7k7i7zOaXXaT5cMWJxJZGRUA_ya7aL-HFMFPMtfW3aCepJWAIdloRPasAPMcD3ANYKu64DGACPHxuBEYmWEvElWNb5aG25_pKlEyOZRRivs8mQFy2f9mR78vGLQz6KVIswKtYQ/s3648/IMG_20220406_163256.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDzF--kMcNwT1jbwQPNGFS79vkWKpKkhjY2tWsCEvyuq1wJa1DnBWH7k7i7zOaXXaT5cMWJxJZGRUA_ya7aL-HFMFPMtfW3aCepJWAIdloRPasAPMcD3ANYKu64DGACPHxuBEYmWEvElWNb5aG25_pKlEyOZRRivs8mQFy2f9mR78vGLQz6KVIswKtYQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220406_163256.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; 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margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr-obXfRkMnYA0_EDoeHnh2nMyuAdd8w1Coum3MvKA6LCrsTT0nIlUaKXJ6I7-ooH47O2Z-dQz9GOkMI5AY5KbVaU2zH62uHxWPInL1hF6vKnL3zy_W2jm-yWIGdu1Hyn7XrCeZcQc_3XfQmfmaMNHBTQzZADxvMsjY3seUrtFO6nuvQh_qySjGBPhw/s3648/IMG_20220406_162000.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZr-obXfRkMnYA0_EDoeHnh2nMyuAdd8w1Coum3MvKA6LCrsTT0nIlUaKXJ6I7-ooH47O2Z-dQz9GOkMI5AY5KbVaU2zH62uHxWPInL1hF6vKnL3zy_W2jm-yWIGdu1Hyn7XrCeZcQc_3XfQmfmaMNHBTQzZADxvMsjY3seUrtFO6nuvQh_qySjGBPhw/w640-h480/IMG_20220406_162000.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Aberystwyth</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A</b></span>erystwyth, meaning the mouth of the river Ystwyth, and commonly known simply as <i>Aber </i>sits smack bang in the middle of the rugged Ceredigion coastline, the biggest town in Mid Wales and home to the University of Aberystwyth. Marie and I walked along the mile long Victorian promenade with the oldest pier in Wales, built in 1864. The wind had picked up now and blew in strong and chilly from the water, the waves now crashing loudly on the sandy shoreline. Ireland lay off invisible in the distance. We climbed up Pen Dinas Hill to see the old Iron Age hillfort and got a closer look at the 1850s monument erected as a memorial to the first Duke of Wellington. Before returning to the AirBnB we shopped at the big Tesco supermarket for our supper, a short walk over the cycling bridge crossing the Afon Rheidol flowing quickly below and then home. Our host Lee greeted us warmly on our return and made us feel completely welcome, letting us have the apartment to ourselves for the night. It was a fine end to a wonderful day and a wonderful introduction to our first day in beautiful Wales. <b>GWS</b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBqb8O02YiHrZAb6UltTw_lMt4LIpWokVH-8PF6H4Vwd41Nv2tqtJt_RNBPbDoJI73vhDFlzfYN78Xm7DolYAU9kpulQA3yCB29dKNF-FBAl4TwuzcVdof2zuEPQVx5ps8iYRJJrrUX_yHoINp1V4afET-B6Ey27m2AqE7WvMo4A8dUxk2iZti37FHw/s5632/IMG_20220406_160611.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiBqb8O02YiHrZAb6UltTw_lMt4LIpWokVH-8PF6H4Vwd41Nv2tqtJt_RNBPbDoJI73vhDFlzfYN78Xm7DolYAU9kpulQA3yCB29dKNF-FBAl4TwuzcVdof2zuEPQVx5ps8iYRJJrrUX_yHoINp1V4afET-B6Ey27m2AqE7WvMo4A8dUxk2iZti37FHw/w400-h300/IMG_20220406_160611.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Glanrafon Terrace, Aberystwyth</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-726572105463831847.post-70271262575395156882022-04-06T10:57:00.003-07:002022-04-12T01:02:23.429-07:002022 Trip to the United Kingdom and Ireland (Day 14 Watchet/Huist Champflower, Somerset, England)<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZomvlBk4g0xHABaTfV1hu_2VhqnEv3awvwO5bpDI5-dir6fXhwsJPAQ8VxjNE0znCwOiDcGWUtWlk4rgf1Dr6dAOlUaDdi2PLhg_kXJrt0dFOEkJyY-kdh8G49Z8Aoa_UNs2ujl5ozhtVa7-jEHogMCJGspmZiewQm5i11zyJcKSUr3jZXJU3LsJ4g/s3648/IMG_20220405_131929.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3648" data-original-width="2736" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBZomvlBk4g0xHABaTfV1hu_2VhqnEv3awvwO5bpDI5-dir6fXhwsJPAQ8VxjNE0znCwOiDcGWUtWlk4rgf1Dr6dAOlUaDdi2PLhg_kXJrt0dFOEkJyY-kdh8G49Z8Aoa_UNs2ujl5ozhtVa7-jEHogMCJGspmZiewQm5i11zyJcKSUr3jZXJU3LsJ4g/w480-h640/IMG_20220405_131929.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Two old Mariners</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>W</b></span>e left Cornwall after a lovely breakfast cooked up by our Host Rebecca and, with the sun breaking through, headed east to our next stop near the Bristol Channel. After passing through Exeter again we turned north to follow the wooded and rolling countryside at the edge of the Quantock Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty in Somerset county. I found it the most pleasant of scenery since we left Kent and could live here for sure! Shortly after noon we parked by the wharf in the coastal town of Watchet as we had a few hours to explore before reaching our destination. This old Saxon port was highly valued by Alfred the Great as he successfully defended it from three Viking attacks. Coins minted in Watchet have been found in Scandinavia, suggesting that they even tried to buy off the Viking raiders. On the Esplanade is a statue of Samuel Coleridge's The Ancient Mariner, put up to pay tribute to Coleridge who lived for many years nearby. The harbour here inspired him to write his most enduring poem, <i>The Rhyme of the Ancient Mariner, </i>the first lines written at the local Bell Inn. Another interesting tidbit I discovered while we were here was my favourite English artist William Turner came here to sketch in 1814. Maybe that is what drew me to come here at the last minute.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgED7wJu0G_NwBLTGJeAsdpaVVHUqDekqWWB6h6zyl3XcGzl_z7TyQ3xoRoS1kdfyBNN1KV9wtzRgMAiVGXrRR2aVX01qiygif16_92Hzv9qEOR7y4l-JNlKeFTqaAXsWDzwOO976_nztR8u7YEGAATSx3Kz9R4tYLu0yxXCkq97vvYyvwFQ7fY0fEDQ/s3648/IMG_20220405_131952.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgED7wJu0G_NwBLTGJeAsdpaVVHUqDekqWWB6h6zyl3XcGzl_z7TyQ3xoRoS1kdfyBNN1KV9wtzRgMAiVGXrRR2aVX01qiygif16_92Hzv9qEOR7y4l-JNlKeFTqaAXsWDzwOO976_nztR8u7YEGAATSx3Kz9R4tYLu0yxXCkq97vvYyvwFQ7fY0fEDQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_131952.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T9-8x_I8cE9ekS-g8WERBi0fzHmhtgjO8cx9YuwpUFSAJ7CSX99fZKRbbjJxETR03yMq0CBaSNyi_jAKeP9QQvCkJZepY4X2XC2Ntc4gjclAphPXqhkQCVFHZZjZZwdqh51fDVGMqY65DpkITdF8mBJsgJsWVGmOcF4Pr7FWEqq_jeyBcRmqgi8xwA/s3648/IMG_20220405_132154.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6T9-8x_I8cE9ekS-g8WERBi0fzHmhtgjO8cx9YuwpUFSAJ7CSX99fZKRbbjJxETR03yMq0CBaSNyi_jAKeP9QQvCkJZepY4X2XC2Ntc4gjclAphPXqhkQCVFHZZjZZwdqh51fDVGMqY65DpkITdF8mBJsgJsWVGmOcF4Pr7FWEqq_jeyBcRmqgi8xwA/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_132154.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Watchet harbour</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><b><span style="font-size: large;">W</span></b>e followed a coastal trail (South West Coast Path) from the harbour to Helwell Beach where over the years beachcombers have picked through the mud at low tide for old iron treasures and chipped off the cliff walls bits of 200 million year old fossils. We didn't find anything of interest but the walk was nice all the same. Before leaving we stopped of at the Watchet Boat Museum which celebrates the maritime heritage of the area, especially the local <i>flatner </i>boats that plied the shallow waters along the coast. One prize display is the last seagoing <i>flatner</i> boat ever built, but there are other varieties of boats including turf boats made for transporting peat. Getting to our next AirBnB from there was a challenge on the narrow, winding roads and small ancient stone bridges. But we arrived safely at the little house in Huist Champflower where we were staying and wandered about the church grounds just feet away. The early history of this church is obscure, as is often the case when the history dates back to the Norman times and beyond, but there has been a church community in this village since early medieval times. Someone named Thomas de Huish Champflower was the Patron with the responsibility for providing a priest for the church up to the year 1297. The church was unlocked and empty but a wonderful little retreat for the occasional passing visitor. Then it was time to do our ritual unpacking of the car and meeting up with our host Terri. She suggested for food the Black Bear Pub in Wiveliscombe, a few miles away. and we once again did the pub thing for supper. Great pub fare and friendly people to remind us of our short visit here in beautiful Somerset! <b>GWS</b></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBCtTHnKW61BtV1TgbGo4IGSJ67R2WRefvt3iyaP62qvwO2eR1PJIToyHi8xT7nEOlcLTkNrMk6mmqAIrDsI6ns9R4HkWqvs7AaZEqKCo8xvYyxIyg8L1twCtGB27sECojRNkAgqIpsYvTNhAHJKe2VpP74w9JCJZEYmgrq7Bh7TczpeWJvuXkY7gsA/s3648/IMG_20220405_133010.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVBCtTHnKW61BtV1TgbGo4IGSJ67R2WRefvt3iyaP62qvwO2eR1PJIToyHi8xT7nEOlcLTkNrMk6mmqAIrDsI6ns9R4HkWqvs7AaZEqKCo8xvYyxIyg8L1twCtGB27sECojRNkAgqIpsYvTNhAHJKe2VpP74w9JCJZEYmgrq7Bh7TczpeWJvuXkY7gsA/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_133010.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M5VAXMGimAEiMF0nsxEDiH4QyPkiFsUWZtlgNYt_mV9ucMkFgnW1Hr59KdC3WiZpGalunR0uLT6_HKicQIsJ99MsMxM_AmMw1HW0WkehbzJLrvJ6sHciTFJhdoFwZN5tPhcLZKlJz19rumPJkWAr_gL3qP1ZEoeJrnPULe4fvbReUd2aBafrLZu3Bw/s3648/IMG_20220405_133839.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8M5VAXMGimAEiMF0nsxEDiH4QyPkiFsUWZtlgNYt_mV9ucMkFgnW1Hr59KdC3WiZpGalunR0uLT6_HKicQIsJ99MsMxM_AmMw1HW0WkehbzJLrvJ6sHciTFJhdoFwZN5tPhcLZKlJz19rumPJkWAr_gL3qP1ZEoeJrnPULe4fvbReUd2aBafrLZu3Bw/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_133839.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63rDJyBrZsB0jfBMBB4G9IGNua-atp_w8DufhZ07VNtKl5UIURxH8nYUwBiP06WAzmSjLAVGP15Q8SiD0isNjUQsk8YpFyJfZ4wp0h9fTOIkK5JAh4jeaF67ZED5lIuSIb5958-MKNMD3RBU0Vgmczjd99xisb2DrTM0SdUxygZaS5CCLsYAki0DHdg/s3648/IMG_20220405_133912.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi63rDJyBrZsB0jfBMBB4G9IGNua-atp_w8DufhZ07VNtKl5UIURxH8nYUwBiP06WAzmSjLAVGP15Q8SiD0isNjUQsk8YpFyJfZ4wp0h9fTOIkK5JAh4jeaF67ZED5lIuSIb5958-MKNMD3RBU0Vgmczjd99xisb2DrTM0SdUxygZaS5CCLsYAki0DHdg/w400-h300/IMG_20220405_133912.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWGK5XHghDXrPnUtQoKbxEScck6nnaWzU8BKyKf1uzjgc8nSeMjvs_s1jzd8Yj9sD5UNsxYK9aspIuTGm-fQq_tshh3aEx73vr85-GGvT_joMbZHYyz_1IR7zDxrAwUf6qiA1Axyj5d8q5E7P15JIgOozwvMP3updQS8dffD1lV4ifiJzsAhSfLx2-g/s3648/IMG_20220405_142643.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHWGK5XHghDXrPnUtQoKbxEScck6nnaWzU8BKyKf1uzjgc8nSeMjvs_s1jzd8Yj9sD5UNsxYK9aspIuTGm-fQq_tshh3aEx73vr85-GGvT_joMbZHYyz_1IR7zDxrAwUf6qiA1Axyj5d8q5E7P15JIgOozwvMP3updQS8dffD1lV4ifiJzsAhSfLx2-g/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_142643.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><b>Peat boat, Watchet Boat Museum</b></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl5SRAy9o4Xkp-shZsB-eYeAgcCrEvoaOv6sAsI1bw0_nS0PMqpzhvkx9EPQ5MCojn4tQDlgYiJ9nBjGMVOcjvjyHhYMWL9iAjbPBwILoWFMeYLib9Bn6PodN0lQmETSRC7V7YtHPEPI9fPy1rup0KJ9ujzrTTP5XuXUqugb3kGPpimzS8Xvsb1rtPg/s5632/IMG_20220405_153211.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4224" data-original-width="5632" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitl5SRAy9o4Xkp-shZsB-eYeAgcCrEvoaOv6sAsI1bw0_nS0PMqpzhvkx9EPQ5MCojn4tQDlgYiJ9nBjGMVOcjvjyHhYMWL9iAjbPBwILoWFMeYLib9Bn6PodN0lQmETSRC7V7YtHPEPI9fPy1rup0KJ9ujzrTTP5XuXUqugb3kGPpimzS8Xvsb1rtPg/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_153211.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>AirBnB, Huish Champflower, Somerset</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pbIWMNGV2LyBGpV7kkBzTziqNYQkZRrP1WlP7gL5Tk4QeUmF4O9LWsMh2S6LKotpCYZGNFHQYB9zS3y2GBWlzRK_3M4Kn6Az6VyW_gXY3f4j8XJQfa8jZLum0pOVeCjUqmmS8wnawCXb7mDu_UtahGLSPKNvFpXbc7bO7EmHI_MfPaQqrh7N1mNBXQ/s3648/IMG_20220405_153324.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2pbIWMNGV2LyBGpV7kkBzTziqNYQkZRrP1WlP7gL5Tk4QeUmF4O9LWsMh2S6LKotpCYZGNFHQYB9zS3y2GBWlzRK_3M4Kn6Az6VyW_gXY3f4j8XJQfa8jZLum0pOVeCjUqmmS8wnawCXb7mDu_UtahGLSPKNvFpXbc7bO7EmHI_MfPaQqrh7N1mNBXQ/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_153324.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX855ynvx1gnq5rNL8zi1j8DVVhc5BG-v2IduckpMaHbyDEXbXpnPJMYCSKJB2Kca1eBn7IbQuZn3l5n95kbfkXBmMI3S9j1Swwb7LFJQFiFTaojMiAh1ygMmV8gSyX_pH8g4Znfzrk9x9ywUHiG03ch6--0LiTyFmNODkrbVtnx7vmanr878kzl78-w/s3648/IMG_20220405_153620.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX855ynvx1gnq5rNL8zi1j8DVVhc5BG-v2IduckpMaHbyDEXbXpnPJMYCSKJB2Kca1eBn7IbQuZn3l5n95kbfkXBmMI3S9j1Swwb7LFJQFiFTaojMiAh1ygMmV8gSyX_pH8g4Znfzrk9x9ywUHiG03ch6--0LiTyFmNODkrbVtnx7vmanr878kzl78-w/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_153620.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>St Peters Church, Huist Champflower, Somerset</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPYLIwpB8pRtifa3TFPz3qFWfbhpVKc9Je0oqhFhwWJ1NWrxQc583whu0c_3fKNnF3wT00hdXxDoaBC26ezaxX-jp-c30pTtBiZyZ-Wr4wvT0DW-YWqNzamBTYylwjIvCw1pffWLqjmKtaUo8lBOmn5zM1oQrkMdby0WLITslMxmwlUkpl_xhxRrNFw/s3648/IMG_20220405_171541.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="3648" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwPYLIwpB8pRtifa3TFPz3qFWfbhpVKc9Je0oqhFhwWJ1NWrxQc583whu0c_3fKNnF3wT00hdXxDoaBC26ezaxX-jp-c30pTtBiZyZ-Wr4wvT0DW-YWqNzamBTYylwjIvCw1pffWLqjmKtaUo8lBOmn5zM1oQrkMdby0WLITslMxmwlUkpl_xhxRrNFw/w640-h480/IMG_20220405_171541.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b><i>Bottoms up!</i></b></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /> <p></p>Garyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17968852948517577685noreply@blogger.com