Drumnadrochit Hotel

... br>Some other info Ross gave us.

- Scotish flag is based on a vision that St Andrew had while fighting the British a white cross shining against a blue sky.
- golf is actually illegal in Scotland, William the IV declared it illegal as it stopped the young men practising their archery, the law has never been changed.. lol

Back in Edinburgh, food and sleep,early start in the morning!!!!! oh no..

Finally back at home. It's been 15 weeks and 12 countries (14 technically, but a stopover in Sydney and stepping on Zimbabwean soil whilst Bungy jumping don't count). There's been highs and low's throughout, but on the whole, the experience has been fantastic and completely and ...

... was a real delight.

The last day we were able to witness "The Great River Ness Raft & Duck Race" - which has been staged annually since 1978. Teams of four built their own rafts and paddles - and raced them down the river Ness. It was a laugh to see people padding with large tennis racquets and all sorts of strange things, on rafts made from all sorts of paraphernalia - one of them empty beer barrels strung together ...

... so I collect a big bag for dessert/breakfast.

My lodging for tonight is the Great Glen Hostel at South Laggan, which has free internet on computers in the rooms and where I'm writing this now! Must go, the blackberries await!

What made me smile today:

The glorious sunshine

The Coldstream Guards flautists' who sponsor me in return for my donation

... a quick stop, I realise that someone has left their wild campsite, just off the path, in a real mess.  They've left an empty gas can from a stove and plastic packets everywhere.  Suddenly I turn into a Womble - I can't bear it when people leave litter like this, especially so obviously - and get a spare plastic bag to pick up the worst.  Having tied to my pack, it then bangs about and annoys me the whole way ...

... What made me smile today:

The End-to-Enders - John Arris and friends.  It was great to hear their stories and get their advice.  One of them even gave me a donation for my charities.  Good luck with your next stage!

The eccentric Rory and his thieving chickens.  He runs the Abriachan Forest eco-campsite and cafe halfway along the path today and I stopped for tea.  One of his chickens actually jumped into the air to steal shortbread out of my hands!

Spent yesterday walking through Scottish terrain. Unfortunately the weather wasn't sunny but it wasn't raining so since coming to the UK I have come to know that as 'a good day'. I have to admit it, but any day that doesn't rain I consider a good day of weather too. How quickly standards change..

Time has flown by here in Scotland. Back down to London tomorrow and off to India Wednesday. This is quite possibly the most boring blog entry ever, but the photos should at least be ok

... access and hot showers!

What makes me smile today:

More blackberries - these ones were really ripe

The family picking berries on The Black Isle who told me that there were some "really big blaeberries" just down the road and asked if they were safe to eat.  Having found said berries I felt it would be cruel not to go back and tell them that they were sloes and that the kids might not want to eat them raw! 

I arrived in Drumnadrochit around 8pm, and checked into a hostel. The lady who owns it asked me if I was just passing through (must have been the accent!) and did I actually want any info on the area. I replied that I was here to find Nessie - convincingly enough to be funny, while allowing her to know I wasn't a strange freak. She replied almost instantly with "oh, you should talk to that gentleman there then. He's ...

... and Island of Skye. We had done some research and comparison of prices of all the other car rental companies around Inverness on the internet and settled for this one because we find the rates to be very reasonable, coupled by the fact that they were very flexible with our travelling arrangements. They were able to provide us with an automatic car of good quality (which we found was hard to come by in this ...