Jun 2, 2012 - Feeding the midges in Oban

Copy and paste the link to view photos (available to all) https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151445359975707.825578.746395706&type=3&l=ddd87ae714 Thursday 31th May We clean up “left overs” for breakfast, and anything too heavy to carry we leave in the free food bins. There is no word from the hospital or Dena yet, but that is to be expected. It rained overnight, the first rain we have seen in nearly a fortnight. We just hope it stays dry for long enough for us while to hoof it to the bus station. A couple of kiwis that had been...

Jun 14, 2011 - Castle Stalker

Final castle of the day was Castle Stalker. This castle is privately owned and we could not enter it. It is set on a very small island (not much bigger than the castle) in Loch Laich. It was built in the 14th Century, around 1388. It sits idyllically in the bay, as romantic of a view of a castle as it gets. However, this was strategically placed castle that was important in a number of battles. It withstood many an attack.

Jun 14, 2011 - Dunstaffnage Castle

Later we stopped to see Dunstaffnage Castle near Oban. This a 13th Century castle, built around 1220 that still retains much of its original form. A massive stronghold built on top of a rocky prominence overlooking the bay. Originally it had a curtain wall around the outside and a higher perimeter wall along the edge of the hill along the bay. The castle is relatively intact, and is well preserved (or restored). The gatehouse has had many additions of the centuries, including a major overhaul and addition in the 18th Century. Near the...

Jun 13, 2011 - Oban

'Wild & Sexy' here we come! Left today on a pretty yellow bus with 31 people (26 females, 3 males + 2 male tour guides) for a five day 'Haggis Highland Fling' tour of Scotland.  Once we got seated and settled on the bus we did 'bus speed dating'.  It was a great way to get to know the other people on the trip. First stop on the tour was the William Wallace monument in Stirling for a reenactment of freedom fighter Braveheart by Stevie B our passionate and very enthusiastic tour guide. A quick stop off at the first Loch, Loch Lomond where a...

Jun 4, 2011 - Seil Island - Oban, Scotland

We are sending you our information from Oban, Scotland on the West coast, as there was no internet or mobile phone coverage from Seil Island itself. We have had the best few days enjoying the wedding of Chantal and Donny, here in Scotland. We became famous as 'the neighbours' who travelled for the wedding. Before preparing to go to the wedding on Thursday, we did some sight-seeing first. We went up to Oban, which is the nearest large town to Chalchlan-Seil (the little village where the wedding was held). Oban was 12 and half miles away on a...

May 8, 2011 - Scotland - Prestwick to Oban

We began our morning with a flight on Ryanair to the Prestwick/Glasgow airport. Their motto is "Fly Cheaper." That catches your attention, doesn't it? The 30 minute flight from Ireland to Scotland cost €12 per person the day we flew. One suitcase costs €25 - and the weight limit is 44 pounds. Carry-on is limited to 22 pounds. Excess weight in baggage costs a lot. Shortly before the flight a one hour delay and a new gate were announced. But the adventure did not end there. During the flight, the stewardess sold smokeless cigarettes, phone...

Jun 18, 2010 - OBAN

Another great sleep again in Lucy's very comfortable bed. I was up earlier today so I could catch up on washing our clothes and make the most of the beautiful sunny weather we are currently having here. After a quick pit stop to the shops this morning and getting ready, we packed a picnic lunch for our trip to the Isle of Mull. By noon, Lucy, Darren, Courtenay and myself were on our way on the ferry to the island. It took about 1/2 hour to get there with fantastic photo opportunities on the way. Even a Scottish seagull flying above us has...

Jun 17, 2010 - OBAN

We went overseas today to Kerrera Island. It is a whole 2 mins boat ride away from the other side of the mainland. Lucy, Daisy & Connor came with us for the day and we walked and walked and walked. The walk to the boat was about an hour, but it was so picturesque and pretty on the way that it did not matter in the least. It was even a great opportunity to catch up further with Lucy and the way our have lives have gone since we last met. Over at the island, we walked along till we got to the Parrot Sanctuary and that was so interesting. From...

Jun 16, 2010 - OBAN

Had a major sleep in today and slow start. Courtenay has been given Lucy's daughter flora's bed which is a double one, so she thinks that is pretty good with so much space to sleep, especially having slept on a rollout for the past few days or so. Lucy spent a few hours at work this morning, so Daisy was our tour guide for the morning, showing us the best shops etc for clothes and souvenirs. Once lunch came around, we met Lucy and Duncan for lunch on the pier. It was seafood heaven for us and so fortunate that Duncan knew the owner of the...

Jun 15, 2010 - OBAN

Last day to day in Ramsbottom and what a sad day it was to the start of it, saying goodbye to Grandma. I tossed and turned all night due to stressing about it I think, but it went much better than I though it would. As it was, Grandma was booked to visit the Bury hospital for the day, so she was to be picked up by an ambulance sometime in the morning. So we headed up to the home first thing to say our goodbyes. When the time came, the ambulance had actually arrived for her, so weren't having lingering goodbyes as she had to go ASAP once...

May 10, 2010 - Honeymoon Revisited

Monday night; a wee site in Barcaldine, just north of Oban. While we went into the forest next door (next door!! I love it) to give Doug a good run, Ralph cooked up a storm on the Cob, and we were sitting down to chilli before we knew it. We'd had a good run with the weather so far, but it was feeling a lot colder tonight, and we had to give up eating in the awning, and came inside the van for the first time. Nothing that some red wine and a powerful heater couldn't sort out. I really love this van. We decided to go for a longer walk in the...

Aug 4, 2009 - Dunstaffnage Castle & Chapel

Many of the over 500 medieval castles in Scotland are maintained by the government under a program called Historic Scotland. As with the National Parks in the US, one can purchase a pass and this is what we did. We really enjoyed the castles, although they all sort of start to run together after a while. Some are located on tour bus routes and jammed full of jostling crowds all trying to go up and down the narrow spiral stairs of castle towers at the same. Others, which are equally magnificent, require some searching to find and often a...