ljm22

June 4th , 5th   
    
    
    
    
        

     
    
       

  

  

  

  
   

June 3 &4 

    

    
   

   
    
    
    
    
      
 

4+ hour drive to SF with some nut job closing the Bay Bridge to climb. 4 movies on Air France + champagne, after dinner drinks…cognac… And absolutely no sleep for 30 hours. Slept soundly after dinner at Branagher with Cheryl’s family. Staying at a 300 year hobbit house “The Shire”in Branagher. Clay and I took the girls to get their “fascinaters” on and then we had traditional Irish breakfasts after checking out River Shannon Lock. Pics include…Dublin by bus to Heuston Train station, “The Shire”, Brangher, and the Shannon River. (June 1st thru June 3rd). 

“Mike, There are cool T-shirts in the foyer.”  (Cheryl). “Sure, I’d like to see a Cultural Forium.” (Me) 

 “Hey, look, The Doolin Folk Festival!”( Me) “I wasn’t at Fault! I was on my side of the road.” (Clay)
“Don’t stay ate the Cultural Forium long, we have to go. (Betty).   ” aahh, I won’t!” (Me)

     
       
              C 

  

    
      

     
    
    
  
  
  
  
   
       
  
    
   

Awesome weather, city, sites, pubs and our flat is spectacular with views of cathedral, castle and Hogwarts out front and back windows!!!!  I definitely could live in Edinburgh! A special thanks to my dear cousins who make visiting the UK like coming home in so many ways! Helen and the girls rock! Chou got into Buckingham Palace, where we made quite the impression. Vic passing out caused quite the spectacle; so much so Chou left the country before we made good on her Holyrood Palace passes. Honest, nothing noteworthy happened.

Not to be outdone by my brother Vic, not only did I fall from a rock at Dunnottar Castle in Stonehaven, (but it was rainy and slick.) One of my favorite tours was a literary tour at night with two Edinburgh actors, Phillip and Stephen. They focussed on Robert Burns, Sir Walt Scott, and Robert Louis Stevenson: homes, pubs they frequented, and general hangouts. We ended the tour at a fabulous pub in New Town, and I promptly rolled down the marble stairs to the collective gasp of the hundred or so patrons crowding the place. I came to stop with my feel propped up at the bar between two shocked gentlemen drinking their pints. Unscathed but mortally embarrassed.

 

  
   
       
    
  
    
     
    
   
  
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
    
 

   

  
  
     
    
    
    
    
     

   

  

  

Checked out the city of Oban, famous for its whiskey. Toured the city by foot and bus.Castle, Oban Distillery, pubs, and ultimately the Oban Bay Hotel.        

   
     
   
    
    
   
    

 

“Werewolf.” ” There wolf! There Castle!” Loch Ness, Urquhart Castle, Eilan Donan Castle, Old Man of Storr rock,  Cullin Hills. Breathtaking! Day 14th, Saturday, July 24th

     
   

  

  

  

  

   
    
    

  

  

  

  
   

   
 

A walk about in Inverness… I’ve been here 3 times now; 21st birthday in 1976, peace corps trip 1983, and now 2016.    

   
        

The drive was a scenic, windy beautiful trip skirting the Cairngorm National Park. We saw some “hairy Coos” along the way, but the gem was the castle and grounds themselves! Simply gorgeous! Especially the gardens, but overall the self sufficient nature of how it is run and fits into the area in general. All 2oo castle employees who work on the grounds live on the Balmoral estate. 

The queen will arrive tomorrow and stay between two weeks and a month. She still rides her horses at age 90, and reportedly will go to greet them before anyone else. She also drives herself around the property in land rover. The rest of the Royals hunt red deer, birds of various species, fish, entertain in a few garden parties, and attend the August Highlander Games in Ballater and Braemar Royal Deeside.

Unwrapped my bandage and cleaned my hand and pleased to say it looks better with no sign of infection.