Huge rain, lightning, thunderstorm pelted our Ship Inn last night and put off the idea of walking the next stretch. I awoke early and found the rain wasn’t due to hit until mid morning, so I took a 6 mile round trip to a local castle; Dunnottar, where the Earl Marischal held off Oliver Cromwell and English troops for 8 months and saved and protected the Scotish Royal gems and seal for Scotland. Unfortunately, I didn’t bring the iPad because of potential rain.It is a most impressive castle, and it sits high on a peninsula and looks out at the North Sea.
I headed from the Ship Inn at 5:15 am. One heads southwest out of the little Stonehaven harbor and climbs up a fairly steep hill. It was only three miles, but I began to sweat pretty good minutes into the hike. I arrived at the rocky base of Dunnottar and excited to climb around to the sea side I climbed on a wet rock and fell back 6 or so feet. I fell on my left side and all my weight came down on left hand. My hand hit a jagged rock which left a one inch C shaped cut to the bone of fleshy part of my left hand between the thumb and first finger. Ouch!
It bleed like crazy. Fortunately, a Scotish hiker with his dog came to the rescue. He had tape and gauze and taped me up, but said, “You need to visit the hospital, mate!” So instead of Balmoral Castle, and a few quaint towns like Dufftown, I opted for an infirmary in Stonehaven and emergency at Aberdeen Royal. The medical services were outstanding. I saw a hand specialist, and emergency MD and and LVN, Jill, who was absolutely marvelous!
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