When we got off the ferry in Troon, we got on yet another bus with another driver.  This one was Colin and he was with us for our entire stay in Scotland.  We got kind of attached to Colin.  Colin drove us up to Loch Lomond.  The daylight was beginning to go so we first saw Loch Lomond in the gloaming (above). 

This is the youth hostel where the students stayed.  The students were pretty impressed and by morning, some were convinced it was haunted!  It was probably built during the Victorian era when the queen and Prince Albert made it fashionable to have a Scottish estate in addition to one's "real" estate.  (Get it?  Ha.)

Ben Lomond

Dean, Nancy, Tom and I stayed in a hotel on the water's edge.  This was Loch Lomond at sunset.   

Unfortunately, we had to leave really early in the morning and this was our only chance at Loch Lomond, but at least we had it.  As we wound our way out and over the mountains that morning, there was a thick mist over the loch.  It covered our view of the mountains, but was a satisfyingly Scottish morning. 

Bluebells were out in force all over the roadsides, making for a lovely blue and green carpeting under the forest shade. 

That day we traveled to the island of Iona and St. Columba's monastery there. 

Cloister

When we first arrived, we walked through a light shower of rain, but soon the sun came out and the day was brilliant.  Absolutely gorgeous.  You can see the many colors of blue in the water.

As always when I travel in Europe, I was impressed with a sense of history.  In the U.S., things are old if they are 100 years old, really old if they are 200 years old.  In the U.K., things are old if they are from triple digit years. 

That night, we drove to Fort William.  As we drove along Loch Linnhe, we looked out over the water to see an extraodinary moment in nature.  A huge black stormcloud was dumping gallons (since it was in the U.K., I guess I should say litres).  Immediately next to the torrential downpour, a cloud break of brilliant sunshine created a stark line of contrast between dark and light.  I had never seen anything like this dramatic display of weather.  I'm sure there are some great literary and theological possibilities in that sight, but I'll leave that stuff to you.  We passed Glencoe on our way, site of the famous massacre, but made it safely to Fort William and stayed in a youth hostel there.  Tom and I ate at The Grog and Gruel.  We shared an appetizer of haggis.  As long is one didn't remember whence came the haggis, it was quite appetizing. 

Tomorrow...on to St. Andrew's.  Fore!

Posted by Anonymous

We were in Iona not too long ago ourselves! (Well, over a year ago now.) It's gorgeous!

Christina