Dundarach Hotel Pitlochry

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 ...

A surprise - wasn't expecting to see this type of detail in a non-fancy church. Looks like a farmhouse on the outside, but on the inside a very detailed painted ceiling.

I would guess that not too many people actually make it out to this site.

... up on the A9 we went past the entry to the Monarch of the Glen – apparently the royals turned down this house and took up Balmoral residence so this was made available for the popular tv show. Going through the countryside full of drenched highland cattle, black faced sheep and ram and loads of Heather we later went through Glen Gloy which is meant to be known as the 'Great Glen'. Further on we went past the Well of the Seven ...

... background. First fridge magnet brought of the Cathedral!


Across from the cathedral Lynda explained Uncle Dave's ashes were scattered by the River Tay and on the edge of the Cathedral as this was one of his favourite spots. Plus we learnt Lynda is a dog rescuer! River Tay has a particularly strong current so a dog she was dog-sitting (few months prior) was very lucky indeed.

... We all rooted for a man from Poland named Sebastian Wenta. He was a large Polish man with a big gut and a black
bandana tied around his head. He looked somewhat like a really big pirate. But, the best thing about him was that he seemed to be having so much fun. Every time he would come up to do one of the events, he would grin at the 2000 or so onlookers and wave to them. Turns out, we found out later he's a two-time runner-up in the World's Strongest Man ...

... it was a definite case of vege envy. I asked him how he kept his neighbour s out of his patch and he said he just let them help themselves as there was plenty for his wife and himself! Village life you gotta love it....

We travelled west following our hosts suggestions and even though I had a Garmin to guide me I still managed to take a wrong turn. Meh thats life. We found ourselves near a small river with some rapids and the next ...

... stood facing the altar with his back to the congregation the way Catholic priests did before the second Vatican Council.
After that it was off to Scone Palace, where Scottish Kings have been crowned for centuries and where the Murray family (the Earl and Countess of Mansfield whose oldest son is the Viscount Stormont and the younger son the Master of Stormont – you know) still lives. The legendary Stone of Scone was where the kings were crowned and they have a ...

... breakfast in Kilmarnock , which is the home of Johnny Walker whiskey. All the shops had little posters saying “Keep Johnny in Killie”, obviously the distillery is planning on moving or is being forced to move. Other signs of economic recession were many shuttered shops, even in the main pedestrian shopping strips. Bit like sugar towns in north Queensland, really.
Soon we were back on the motorway and through Glasgow.
Auchterarder is ...

... you i would hate to have been a servant then wow all those stairs in the tiny towers hm they must have been short people as they also did not have much head room thru doorways but was told later that was to stop the enemy rushing in so they had to remove their helmets etc and that put them at a disadvantage. we were lucky as the sun was shining and had a good view of the entire castle or what was left of it. We then headed of to the falklands palace ...

... familiar from past photos. Of course they are all photogenic as well. The third set of photos are of today's outings! Paula and David took Katie, Scott and myself out to for a drive. Pur first stop was Moulin. It is just north of Pitlochry so there is a nice view. Next we drove past Blair Atholl. This is a castle with beautiful botanical gardens that I will go to some time over the summer while I am here. I was told ...