Oban sunset
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Monday, August 10, 2015
Friday: More at McCaig Tower
When we were done exploring the tower, we noticed a bustle of activity.
The Lion's Club was sponsoring a performance of the local high school pipe band as a fund raiser.
We found a place to sit, and watched the performance come together. Here we see pipers waiting for the other pipers.
I hadn't realized that one tunes pipes.
This was a warm-up piece. Drummers were still preparing in the background. And some tuning continues.
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The Lion's Club was sponsoring a performance of the local high school pipe band as a fund raiser.
We found a place to sit, and watched the performance come together. Here we see pipers waiting for the other pipers.
I hadn't realized that one tunes pipes.
This was a warm-up piece. Drummers were still preparing in the background. And some tuning continues.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Friday: McCaig's Tower in Oban
One of the strangest landmarks in Oban is a circular Colosseum-looking structure that looms above the town. Built in 1902, partly to employ stonemasons, it was never completed.
We walked to the top of hill to explore. Here's a view of Oban.
And a view from the outside looking in.
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We walked to the top of hill to explore. Here's a view of Oban.
And a view from the outside looking in.
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Monday 1: More Islay, and scotch
Islay the island is home to, I think I heard, nineteen distilleries. We tasted the Bowmore scotch while visiting Ann on Sunday on Kentyre. And we passed two or three distilleries on the road to Bowmore.
But it was a striking ride past the fields where the peat is cut for making scotch:
Here's a view of the small pub where we sat before dinner.
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But it was a striking ride past the fields where the peat is cut for making scotch:
Here's a view of the small pub where we sat before dinner.
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Location:Scotland
Friday: cycling from Oban to Taynuilt
We managed to have a biking day without a drop of rain! We biked from Oban to the small town of Taynuilt, twelve miles away. Most local traffic was routed along the coast, so this single track road was through a series of sheep pastures, with cattle guards separating where the fences met the road.
Harriet with the road rolling away behind her.
Rough coated Highland 'coos'.
A couple of sheep tolerating my close proximity. Camera click scared them away.
This sign warns drivers that at the top of the hill, oncoming traffic can't be seen until you're over the top.
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Harriet with the road rolling away behind her.
Rough coated Highland 'coos'.
A couple of sheep tolerating my close proximity. Camera click scared them away.
This sign warns drivers that at the top of the hill, oncoming traffic can't be seen until you're over the top.
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Sunday, August 9, 2015
Thursday: travel to Oban
Just the two of us took a quick trip to Oban by train. Brought our bikes so we could spend a day cycling near Oban.
Here's what our bikes look like after being correctly placed in their carefully reserved cycle slots.
A view of Oban's main, ocean-facing street from the train station.
And the Oban distillery, our first stop.
Instead of a tour, we tried a couple of single malts in the Oban tasting room.
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Here's what our bikes look like after being correctly placed in their carefully reserved cycle slots.
A view of Oban's main, ocean-facing street from the train station.
And the Oban distillery, our first stop.
Instead of a tour, we tried a couple of single malts in the Oban tasting room.
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Wednesday 2: Rest in Glasgow, Burrell Collection
A few more highlights from the Burrell Collection:
A portable shrine:
A snapshot of an intricately carved chair. Furnishing from Sir William's castle.
And a cup from Lady Constance's favorite tea set. Note bug glazed in the bottom of the cup.
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A portable shrine:
A snapshot of an intricately carved chair. Furnishing from Sir William's castle.
And a cup from Lady Constance's favorite tea set. Note bug glazed in the bottom of the cup.
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Wednesday 1: Rest in Glasgow, Burrell Collection
Spent a rest day in Glasgow, doing laundry, adjusting bicycle gears, and taking in some local sights.
We toured the Bunnell Collection, a collection of art and artifacts collected by Sir William Bunnell between 1901 and maybe 1954, and eventually donated to the city of Glasgow.
Chinese Buddha figure, 1840's.
Egyptian stone bowl. Predynastic, late Gerzean period. 3200 BC. (Breccia)
Animated 'Jack' clock, made in Germany or Belgium, (can't remember era).
A medieval cabinet for weaponry or armor.
And, no collection is complete without a set of armor.
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We toured the Bunnell Collection, a collection of art and artifacts collected by Sir William Bunnell between 1901 and maybe 1954, and eventually donated to the city of Glasgow.
Chinese Buddha figure, 1840's.
Egyptian stone bowl. Predynastic, late Gerzean period. 3200 BC. (Breccia)
Animated 'Jack' clock, made in Germany or Belgium, (can't remember era).
A medieval cabinet for weaponry or armor.
And, no collection is complete without a set of armor.
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Location:Scotland
Tuesday 2: Dundoon scenes
Last ferry of bike trip was out of Dundoon.
View of the road near Loch Eck:
View of sheep en route:
A city park, and welcome to Dundoon:
More, overlooking ferry terminal at Dundoon.
Someone, under the Scottish flag, overlooking me.
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View of the road near Loch Eck:
View of sheep en route:
A city park, and welcome to Dundoon:
More, overlooking ferry terminal at Dundoon.
Someone, under the Scottish flag, overlooking me.
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Monday 3: Cowel Peniinsula
Our third location today, twelve challenging miles, followed by twenty five easy miles along the coast of Loch Fyne (we had to bike hard to get to hotel, so no Fyne photos).
A view back from the top of the first hill.
Harriet at the top.
I was amazed be the rich, damp, mossy magical woodlands visible from the edges of the road (though the iPhone seems to filter out much of the green palate).
We saw a lot of 'managed' forestry, which constitutes clear-cutting and replanting. I did not take pictures of clear-cuts, but this forest edge was next to a clear-cut, and every tree along the road was knocked or blown over. A strange sight.
This day matured into a beautiful, sunny day. I saw my first glimpse of Loch Fyne, ahead, as road began to flatten and head down.
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A view back from the top of the first hill.
Harriet at the top.
I was amazed be the rich, damp, mossy magical woodlands visible from the edges of the road (though the iPhone seems to filter out much of the green palate).
We saw a lot of 'managed' forestry, which constitutes clear-cutting and replanting. I did not take pictures of clear-cuts, but this forest edge was next to a clear-cut, and every tree along the road was knocked or blown over. A strange sight.
This day matured into a beautiful, sunny day. I saw my first glimpse of Loch Fyne, ahead, as road began to flatten and head down.
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Location:Scotland
Monday 2: Tarbert, Kintyre Peninsula
After a two hour ferry ride from Islay, we biked an easy seven miles where we waited for the next ferry in the town of Tarbert.
My sister Allison, waiting for grocery - store picnic lunch. Tarbert in background.
And the view in the other direction when we bumped into Ann and her family while we waited.
Harriet waits for the next ferry with her Bike Friday.
And the ferry finally arrives.
Finally, here's a quick glimpse of roadside flowers on the way to Tarbert including the pink heather - just coming into bloom - which covers tops of highland hills.
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My sister Allison, waiting for grocery - store picnic lunch. Tarbert in background.
And the view in the other direction when we bumped into Ann and her family while we waited.
Harriet waits for the next ferry with her Bike Friday.
And the ferry finally arrives.
Finally, here's a quick glimpse of roadside flowers on the way to Tarbert including the pink heather - just coming into bloom - which covers tops of highland hills.
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Saturday, August 8, 2015
Sunday 2: Bowmore, Islay
After two ferries, and twenty miles of very pleasant cycling, we found ourselves in Bowmore, Islay.
Bowmore street scene.
Seascape/skyscrape.
Stone house at the bottom end of the main Street in Bowmore.
This looks like an abandoned synagogue, but may be some type of Masonic Temple.
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Bowmore street scene.
Seascape/skyscrape.
Stone house at the bottom end of the main Street in Bowmore.
This looks like an abandoned synagogue, but may be some type of Masonic Temple.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Location:Scotland
Friday, August 7, 2015
Sunday: Kentyre peninsula and Islay
Morning in Lacranza, Arran Island - after a great stay at a Youth Hostel. While waiting for our first ferry, we managed to get a photo of all four of us!
Two more ferries today, one for over two hours.
Allison
Full restaurant on board.
Visited Allison's friend Ann who is vacationing on Kentyre peninsula.
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Two more ferries today, one for over two hours.
Allison
Full restaurant on board.
Visited Allison's friend Ann who is vacationing on Kentyre peninsula.
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Saturday: Isle of Arran
From the Isle of Arran
A view from Arran across to another island- one of the outer Hebrides.
Cycling was on a mostly twisty two-lane road - and cars were very well behaved. They are told to assume that oncoming traffic will be in the middle of the road. Quite considerate of cyclists.
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A view from Arran across to another island- one of the outer Hebrides.
Cycling was on a mostly twisty two-lane road - and cars were very well behaved. They are told to assume that oncoming traffic will be in the middle of the road. Quite considerate of cyclists.
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Location:Isle of Arran
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