Up the coast - Monday 10/2

There is no short drive in Scotland. Google maps will tell you one thing, but the reality is that the time estimate does not include not driving at the speed limit (yes, it’s me saying that), being behind slow vehicles with NO passing room, and/or having to stop in a “passing place” so that you don’t run head-on into another vehicle. 

Todays drive was from Nairn down around Moray Firth and up the coast to a place just outside of where we will catch the ferry to the Orkneys, and it took all day - albeit with stops along the way. 

Included in today’s adventures was Dunrobin castle, built over several centuries around the original stone tower (circa 12th century). It is on the market for a cool £25M, in case anyone is interested. It comes complete with a falconry area, gardens modeled after Versailles (alas, there is not an orangery), a museum with stone carved by the Picts and lots of animal heads (the giraffe made me turn around and leave), and lots of fancy-ass rooms inside the mansion itself. 

We had a quick picnic on the grounds…

… and then we were off to see lots of old stuff. :)

These had to be short little people. This was taken at my eye level. 

Does this count as old stuff??? 

Not a safety fence or rail to be seen here. 

And the 22nd (I think) rainbow of the trip:

We are staying tonite in a B&B hosted by a fascinating woman - our age - is ready to “hang up the tea towels” to travel and spend some time doing what she wants to do. She has the place on the market, if anyone is interested in living on the coast of the North Sea and running the place. The B&B is built around an ancient croft (the current dining room and kitchen).  Louise said that the house didn’t like her for a long time because she is English, but she says that things have settled down.There are been times when she walked into her kitchen and all of the knives were out and pointed at her. She has also seen a Viking ghost. 

That would send me back to England, but Louise is one tough cookie. 

Tomorrow, we take the morning ferry to the Orkney Islands. 

And Cody still doesn’t have his suitcase. :/