Mom and Dad in Scotland!

Thanks again to the wonders of standby (and 20+ years of flying), mom and dad spontaneously made it to Scotland! We spent a week after my race exploring the hilly countryside, castle ruins, highland cattle, and sheeeepiiiess!

From Kinlochleven and Glencoe, where the race was held, we headed south to Oban and Isle of Mull in search of whiskey and seafood for dad’s birthday!

• 

• 

• 

Dad’s seafood dinners in Tobermory on Isle of Mull

• 

• 

I think all of our favorite day of the trip was exploring Isle of Mull by driving around the north end of the island. We visited Glengorm Castle and hiked through the cattle fields down to the coastline. Dad got to relive his apparent rally car glory days (ask him about the 2-way, SINGLE LANE, windy countryside roads!), mom got her castles, and I got to swim in the ocean!

• 

Interestingly, the area we hiked in are all all private lands that are part of the castle estate, but visitors come and explore these areas the way we use public lands in America. Thus, among the castle teashop and gift store is the conservation center, which works year round to do research to protect these areas and their inhabitants while keeping them available to visitors like us.

Before taking the ferry back to the Scottish mainland, we visited Duart Castle. The current living descendent and clan chief of this castle, Sir Lachlan Maclean, has put his life’s work into restoring and maintaining it, and lives there today. In fact, his family name is of the same heritage as our friend and neighbor in Stillwater! We were lucky enough to meet and chat with Sir Lachlan, who told us that he keeps warm in the damp and drafty castle thanks to a certain Mr. Bean out in Maine – L.L.Bean! This friendly old chap also not-so-subtly shared his opinion with us that the next chiefs are always the firstborn son (his son has an older sister); a tradition he thinks is due for a change.

• 

• 

After leaving Mull, dad drove us north to Mallaig, where we caught the ferry to Isle of Skye, the most famous and popular island in Scotland. Not surprisingly, this part of the trip was a slight let down due to the extreme tourism after our time on Mull, which had a more local, small town feel. Skye is still beautiful, and highly visited for a reason though. We also appreciated having our own little home to cook in after all staying in a teeny one-room bed and breakfast!

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

In the last few days of our trip we drove up to Inverness, through Cairngorm National Park, Dad left his phone on top of the car upon giving mom a hug after she handed him a cracker, stopped at the cutest little riverside cafe mom found, and headed back to Glasgow.

(Above) Bought and tested out dad’s new waterproof hiking boots so he could be a big time hill-walker in Cairngorm National Park.

(Below) We drove through the cute little waterside town of Pitlochry and mom navigated us to this historic Port Na Craig Inn for lunch. Here, we had my favorite classic scone served with fresh jam and cream, the best chocolate cake I’ve ever had, and met some new friends. As 89 year-olds, Mr. and Mrs. MacDonald live outside of Edinburgh, spend the summer in their caravan (camper van) near Pitlochry, and annually visit Glencoe to honor their clan, which was almost destroyed in a massacre in 1692. Mr. MacDonald informed us that he would not be here if a few clan members had not escaped the attack. The couple was incredibly friendly and chatty, exuberantly sharing stories of their lives and travels. They reminded us to live in the moment and make the most of life. Before we left, they toasted us to friendship and openness, two characteristics I admire in my parents and hope to emulate.

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

Mom has a knack for finding the most lovely little hole-in-the-wall places, and dad has one for meeting friendly strangers and coming away as best friends.

As Mr. MacDonald said it, cheers to friendship and good people who still know how to have a face-to-face conversation.

Happy to have the best parents and shoutout to Katie in Colorado!! Both of us had our first parents-only vacation this summer! Hopefully a sisters only one is up next??..