I woke up from a lengthy exhausted travel jet-lag sleep.  I would not say refreshed, but better than the day before and ready to explore.  I have no expectations really from Scotland.  I love that the opportunity presented itself for me to be here and see some of the old country.

My grandfather was born in Glasgow.  My parents have been here and explored some of my heritage details.  what will the day bring?  What will happen between wake and sleep on this historic ground?  What will the day offer between Glasgow and our little hotel reservation in Tyndrum, Perthshire.  

We stayed at nice clean walk up spiral stairs hotel. So cute on the outside, so plain and lovely inside …. Sandyford Lodge.  Recommended and I would stay there again. 

Heading out to find gf groceries and Rachel is going to practice driving on other side of the road today as we head into the highlands for an adventure. Specifically we are looking for a place to swim in the cold water!!!  Yup. That is the intention.  

We check out and walk to Eurocar where Rachel has reserved a car. She specifically is looking for small car with automatic drive to rent. She gets a black large Mercedes Benz with sunroof, 4 doors, low and wide, computer screens and lights, cameras and sensors all over it.  Once she figured it out, and started driving on the left side of the road in the city … we popped in to the Lidl cheap clean grocery store.

We purchased some great salad fixings, snacks for the day, water and some cheese and olives.  Getting used to the size of the car and the traffic patterns is a challenge and she does very well.  We head out noticing a few things.  Yellow lights follow red lights and predict green.  Huh.

Navigation in feet and sometimes yards …. Interchangeable.  Lots of roundabouts … we head out of the city to the highlands. Rachel has a few prepared play lists and we start with Scottish music beating through my seat back – vibrating from the speakers and kind of like a massage… only on my seat.  

Big stone architecture is beautiful.  I love the use of stones for the homes, fences, guardrails, bridges ….. 

No clouds. Blue blue as far as I can see.  We find a song we love and we put on repeat as we are driving towards loch lomand!  On Dumbarton Rd. 

Listening to the song …. Loch Lomand!!  Goose bump moment. Happy and feeling what I wanted to feel. “You take the high road and I will take the low road  and I will be in Scotland afore ye “….  On repeat.  Over and over.  Wow.  Tears on my cheeks, I feel the song and the precious moment of being in and near this place.

We pull over to stop in parking lot at Luss. A quaint little town. We bring our bathing suits, towels to help us change on the beach and fixings for a picnic lunch.  Baby ducks with their mom practicing their swim off to the side.  Trees hanging with spring colours and lots of folks there to enjoy a Saturday at the beach.  We swim, we float, we laugh and we enjoy our joyous water experience surrounded by the greenery that is Scotland on this beautiful day.

After the beach, still aglow, walking through town a man stopped us saying the lives of Jersey cows he preferred to young women these days with their fake this n fake that. What a character … an old guy watching the world go by his front step.  

Then we see a sign to “the firkin point”. We tried to find it. lol. The parking and manoeuvres required are beyond us. So many people on this fine sunny warm day. We never discover the firkin point!  Ha ha

Stone buildings and castles through argyle forest greenery. Loch long is beautiful setting   Stone bridges   Big green hills   Some trees. The highlands.  

We spot sheep in the fields … and keep our eyes out for the cows.  

Double dip swimming in the loch Restil.  The spectacular green mountain surroundings.  The rail road and train sounds, the actual train out on the hills. It was wild and fun and far away from any town.  

We were late to go in, but walked Argyle Inverary castle.  Seeing some tourists on a bench I quickly tried wifi and posted some pictures on Facebook.  Missed the woolen mill in town too … just missed closing time all over.  

On the next leg of the drive we stopped to walk around the abandoned and in disrepair castle of Kilchurn.  Magical.  We spy more cows and take a lot of pics as the sun starts to set. The castle is located on Loch Awe!  

Now settled in to our Ben Doran hotel for the night, we are sharing supper, wine, and highlights.  

Highlight #1… time spent together in magical surroundings.  

Till tomorrow, good night from Scotland