Scotland

“I am sitting here, packing my bags. My flight to Glasgow leaves tomorrow morning. Instead of being all happy and excited about my walking holiday in Scotland, I rather feel like crying. I just discovered that I have lost my treasured little candle lantern. The value in money is neglectable, but it was a very cherished keepsake, because of the place and person with which I associate it. And now, just befor my holiday, I had to discover that I stupid muddlehead have lost it. How sad is that!”

“It's not lost, I'm holding it for ransom. The price is you have to take me with you. jk

Have a great trip, wish I could go.”

“VBG. Yes, I would pay quiet a ransom to get it back. It was very dear to me. Got it in Denver and in big bold letters was REI written on it.
:-)

Well, maybe I better change the CD - out with the Dixie Chicks and in with Runrig and sing along '...ah bonny banks of Loch Lomond'. Maybe that gets me in the mood for Scotland.

thx”

“you know, you'll probably find it once you're home, and start to unpack, so don't even let it phase you. enjoy the trip! Go neirigh an bothar leat, and all that. ;-)”

“'Air do shlàinte' I think that's what they say, just befor they down a Whisky, but who knows...I can't even understand Glasgow english.”

“hope you have a great "walkabout"!”

“Yes, thanks, I am sure the trip will be good. I love Scotland. It's not my first time. I even love the weather: you can count on it to be totaly unpredictable :-)
We're going to do the West Highland Way, with an average mileage of 12 miles per day (ough!). Will start just north of Glasgow, along the bonny banks of Loch Lomond. Always northbound towards Ford Williams, passing classic Highland scenery at Rannoch Moor and Glencoe. On the last day, when the weather is favourable, walking up Ben Nevis, the highest mountain in all of Britain, heaving it's great bulk up to a mighty 4406 feet (how sweet).”

“Now I'm jealous. Scotland is on my must see list.”

“...like me. LOL!

just kidding

Yeah, um, I'm having a hard time finding sympathy for you and your missing lantern considering that you are going to soon be ON YOUR WAY TO SCOTLAND. Geesh. If it'll help you recover, I'll go in your place? :) What do ya think?

I think you're just getting your romantic sensibilities all hyped up to overdrive so that you can fully enjoy the crazy romanticism of the Scots. This after all is the country of folks who've built a memorial to a dog after totally 'Wuthering Heights' 'ing the legend of the pooch...the land of folks dropping dead throughout history from being broken hearted....the land of chop-chop and boo-hoo.

LOL!

Have fun!


..maybe the ghost of your lantern will haunt you on your travels....luring you deep into the highlands where you'll be rescued by your true love...the real lantern...not the imposter ghost lantern...but your love will be short lived because you'll both be done in by a vicious Cat fiadhaich...however, you and your lantern will then be together forever in backpacker heaven...or a peat bog.

;)
last edited: 5/11/07 4:30:02 PM”

“It's a given. You will find your candle lantern after your trip, sitting out in the open or someplace obvious.

Wish I could go too, but I'm afraid of running into some relatives. ;P

Actually, the good relatives are probably still in Scotland. All the rotters likely came here.

It's friday and I can't spell.
last edited: 5/11/07 4:49:17 PM”

“Almost done with packing. I wonder what I might have forgotten? (Looking around the room)
Still haven't found my candle lantern...sigh.

Apart from the scenery I also love dropping in to a teashop for a afternoon cup of tea with scones. And the pubs are just class. Not just because of the beer. Most pubs will serve simple, straight meals, usually such all time goodies like fish 'n chips, jacket potatos, shepards pie, or lamb shanks with mint sauce. I wonder if we might get some real good haggis too (scottish dish made from sheep's oval, oatmeal and suet, boiled in a sheep stomach).

Last time I was in Scotland we hiked on the Isle of Rum. Tiny island, just off the west coast. I was vomiting all the time, while the ferry rolled through a heavy sea. At the Island we stayed in a real scottish castle, that now belonges to the Scottish National Trust. The servant quaters are used as a hostle. Crikey, the whole building was in various stages of disintegration, because the National Trust can't afford getting it properly restored and preserved. In the masters quaters silk tapestry was peeling of the walls, and the fine fabric of most furniture was faded and merly held together by a couple of threads while the canvas of old oil paintings was rotting away. The perfect place for any ghost of good standing to persue his haunting business!”

“The west highland way pases to the East of Glen Coe

Along the North side of Glen Coe runs the Aonach Eagach Ridge a day hike with some of the greatest views in Scotland.

I hiked a little South of Glen Coe. From Crianlarich down to Loch Katrine. Followed the top of L.Katrine to the Trossachs back North and returned to Crianlarich passing the ruins of Rob Roy's homestead at Inverlochlarig.

Did this late fall (Trossach colors) / early winter one day ahead of the snow.

Also walked the Larig Ghru from Coylumbridge near Aviemore to White Bridge about 5 miles west of Braemar in mid winter, that was beautiful.”

“say hi to nessie for me”

“Will say hi to Nessie. Not sure if we pass by Loch Ness though?

...bye-bye. Talk to you in two weeks, or so.”

“Sprekenzee Erse??”

“No, I am afraid I am not speaking any gaelic, celtic or norse (in case that was your question?)

:-)”

“I only know that Erse is a Scottish language from crossword puzzles.......a habit of mine.”

“Anyone fans of their fiercely Scottish prose?

Can I have fifty pounds to mend the shed?
I'm right on my uppers.
I can pay you back
When this postal order comes from Australia.
Honestly.
Hope the bladder trouble's getting better.
Love, Ewan.

- Oh give to me a shillin' for some fags and I'll pay yet back on Thursday, but if you can wait till Saturday I'm expecting a divvy from the Harpenden Building Society...

There seems to be no end to McTeagle's poetic invention. 'My new cheque book hasn't arrived' was followed up by the brilliantly allegorical 'What's twenty quid to the bloody Midland Bank?' and more recently his prizewinning poem to the Arts Council: 'Can you lend me one thousand quid?'

Och! raises the hairs on the back of me neck, like a few wee drams of the salty peat licquor, with a hint of sheep, at the crack of Dawn, aye!”

“There's always hope!

My favorite Swiss Army Knife turned up the other day after being 'on vacation' for six years under the car seat! (I really should vacuum more often ---)

You should be safe from werewolves until the evening of May 31/June 1st... (I've always associated Scotland with werewolves since that crazy movie)... (and you'll see this after you get back!)”

“No sheep for yoo, El Bobo!”

“Doubleshot of woolite?”

“Luckily, you aren't going to be touring with "The Last King of Scotland" :). I just watched that movie (about Idi Amin) and that crazy mofo is the last dude I would want to be on a tour of anything with.”

“Euro, you can have mine. I only use a headlamp now.

Cheers and have a great time.

Doug”

“Guess who’s back from Scotland. Made it back home late last Monday night, with a flight from Glasgow via London Heathrow.

Scotland was awesome, but our trek on the West Highland Way was much tougher than I had expected. Not that the trail itself was difficult and there wasn’t much up and down, very gradual ascent, as the trail kept to the valley, but it was the length of the days that made it strenuous. It started with three 14 mile days, before we eventually had a shorter day. By that time I had trouble with my left knee (cruciate ligament?), it was very painful and swollen. Another day on and the achilles sinew on the right foot suffered the same condition. I was the second youngest in our group and I was wrecked. The oldest lady was 69, half a head shorter than me and corpulent and though she wasn’t the fasted she would never slow down. How frustrating is that, when the oldtimers on the trail keep running away from the younger folks.
The West Highland Way passes along the banks of Loch Lomond and we enjoyed many beautiful views across the lake. At many places bluebells covered the undergrowth like patches off purple-blue carpets.
One night we stayed at the old Drovers Inn at Inverarnan. One of its guest rooms was a haunted room! No wonder, the place was crowded with stuffed animals (including a two-headed lamb) which were all badly withered and faded.
And Haggis. The best Haggis I had was at the Bridge of Orchy hotel, at Bridge of Orchy: Haggis with tatties ‘n neeps on a fine cranberry sauce….mmmh!
For those traveling the West Highland Way the rather long distances are dictated by the need of accommodation. There isn’t much choice along the trail, so make your reservation well in advance.
We met many other walkers, from all over the world, and often would pass the same group again and again along the trail, or see them again in the evening at the hotel or the pub.
The scotish weather had been exceptionally fine most of the time, but at the last day, on our way to Fort William, it threw the worst at us that Scotland has to offer: incessant rain, freezing wind and hail. The wind pressed the rain through our high tech fiber jackets until we were soaked down to the bones. Nowhere a wee hut or coppice to shelter for a rest and so we had to keep on walking or else we would have been freezing.
We have been an all ladies group. 10 plus our guide. Our luggage was transported from place to place, so we could walk with day packs only. Each day we got a lunch pack: sandwich, fruit, chocolate, biscuit and a juice. We weren’t the only ladies group on the trail. There were many women, usually two to four, walking the West Highland Way.

Scotland is awesome, wild and beautiful. Go and do the West Highland Way.”

“Returned To The Scene Of The Crime, have we??  LOL  Did you bring us all presents?

Sounds like a bit of a workout! I must say that I don't remember many trips where people said it was easier than expected! [G]  How far and how many miles was it, altogether?

I know the Southern American states have their share of different foodstuffs, but the Haggis does give me some trepidation (probably all due to tales from people who've heard of it third or fourth hand).

And the banks of Loch Lomond were actually quite bonny, you say?”

“Thanks for your trip report.

"Our luggage was transported from place to place, so we could walk with day packs only."

"One night we stayed at the old Drovers Inn at Inverarnan."
"Bridge of Orchy hotel,"
"Each day we got a lunch pack: sandwich, fruit, chocolate, biscuit and a juice."
"There isn’t much choice along the trail, so make your reservation well in advance."

However, you do recognize that this is a backpacking forum! And we do plan most of our own trips. LOL.

Please keep posting. I may need your assistance if and when I get ready to hike in the Black Forest. In fact, any information including links related to the area and subject, that you can send me, will be appreciated. Thanks. My trip will be mostly, or all, backpacking.”

“Good grief.”

“Brings back fond memories.

Did not actually go to the hotel.

We went fly fishing on the Orchy and visited that area.

Visited a distiller or two, (or ten) while we were in the south.”

“Only place I really kicked around was Royal Dee Side outside of Aberdeen...and in town with some side trips across the Furth of Forth to Edinburg. Perhaps I'll make it back someday.......who knows.....”

“Hey Gremlin, thanks for offering your candle light. I still haven’t found my lamp :-(
Let me know where and when I can come to pick it up :-)

Haggis is not bad. I had it three times during that trip and the one at Bridge of Orchy definitely was just class. Have a Haggis at Bridge of Orchy, Tilt and you won’t be disappointed.
Unfortunately I can not upload any pictures of the bonny banks of Loch Lomond, as this function always creates error meassages :-(

Black Forest and backpacking?
Backpacking in Europe is a totally different experience from that in the US. At least here in the central european countries you are never really far away from the next road, a hut or a village with a guesthouse.
Scotland was actually pretty much wild for european standards. Some of the long distances along the trail were set by its sheer remoteness: 14 miles and no road, tea house or pub to have a stop over for lunch or to warm up. That is remote for Europe. Only in the Nordic countries will you find larger stretches of wilderness.
What’s your plan Nowslimmer? Backpacking the Black Forest with full camping gear, tent, cooker and all? If you hike around there you will always pass through places, villages and small towns.
Let me know what sort of info you need and I will try to help you out.
I think the most breathtakingly beautiful landscapes in Europe are not so much about true wilderness, but about nature and a cultural landscape, that is in fine balance with traditional farming, patchwork of fields, meadows, hedges, forests and small villages. If I want to experience real wilderness backpacking…well, than I go somewhere to North America.”

“I agree with Euro, haggis is delicious sereved wi' tatties (potatoes) and bashed neep (mashed turnips) and a wee dram.

I've never heard of cranberry sauce on anything Scots - we certainly never had it - but it might just be a good idea, one to try.”

“Thanks for the clarification on those 'tatties' ---- don't want to wind up on the the out-of-context thread.

Perhaps growing up in a region with the constant threat of chit'lins and pickled pig knuckles has made me somewhat less than adventurous in that regard, VBG.


Scotland always makes me think of Robert Burns and perhaps a wee dram of whiskey.

No werewolves this trip, eh?”

“No werewolves. But a two headed lamb at the ol' Drovers Inn at Inverarnan. And one of their guest rooms was 'haunted'. Our guide slept in it, but she didn't report anything suspicious.”

“Euro, You can pick up^my headlamp in Rockburn - a tiny corner of Paradise in the southwest corner of Quebec, Canada right, by the Ney York State border.

Rolling fields, stone fences, farms, orchards, maple forests and fields full of deer, turkey, geese, ducks, North American turkey vultures, every kind of song bird and the Rockburn Pub with English beer and local cider on tap and a fine collection of malt whiskies.

On the other hand, I could mail it to you; my e-mail address is on my profile.

Doug”

“Gremlin are you aware you would have to mail it to Switzerland (small country, high mountains, good chocolate and plenty of cheese fondue)?
That would be a long way for a little lamp :-)
Well, only other options is I have to pick it up later this year, when I am on my way to the NOLS Wilderness Course in WY.”

“Bring plenty of emmenthal for the fondue ---

I considered melting some Toblerone on a BP trip once, but the experiment with freeze-dried strawberries was a disaster, LOL”

“Toblerone is great as is, IMHO, and stays edible in the hottest weather - well hottest for a Canuck.

Euro, Switzerland is not much further from me than Wyoming. UK is definitley closer.”

“What's all this headlamp stuff?”

“Heck, ice doesn't even melt up there [but that might be changeing, (gulp)].  And why mess up a pot? Just alternate bites: apple, Tobler, strawberry, Tobler, sip of cognac,(repeat).


And who put that H in emmental??  grr”

“Duh same mooks what put duh H in Neanderthal, ya BIG DUMMY!”

“did you misplace your Fred Sanford .jpg?”

“Marko, just before I left for Scotland I discovered that I had lost my little candle light lantern. I was incosolable as it was given to me from a friend.

For real good cheese fondue you need cheese from Gruyer. Not so much Emmentaler.
Does anybody know if it is allowed to take cheese through US customes? Probably not.”

“I usually go with 2/3 Emmental (maybe Jarlsberg) & 1/3 Gruyere [wink]

There's a local store that has really good sourdough bread, too ---”

“Maybe there's a limit on amount of cheese.........hmmm, 10 kilos or less?”

“10 kilo of fondue cheese? That would be enough to feed 40-50 TTer with fondue!”

“~22 pounds... and a one pound batch can usually knock out about 4 people... I think that'd be more than 50! *G*

How many cases of white wine do we need? How much garlic?”

“A schit load, please!”

“Yeah, I want to see how I get through immigrations, rolling a big wagon wheel size Swiss cheese in front of me: "...uhm, no officer, I have nothing to declare, why?..."

Do you have any idea how scary those folks at the immigration desks are nowadays, when they interrogate you with their cold, cold voices (shiver)

We would need a couple of cases of white wine. Do you have Kirsch Schnaps?
I can not imagine how much garlic that would be.”

“Sounds like we'll need two cases just to go IN the fondue. And of course we'll need a few bottles to wash it down....”

“Kirshwasser? yep!”