Day 1609: Scenic Skye

What a spectacular day!  From our hotel in Broadford, we traveled east back over the Kyle of Lochalsh via a new bridge to Eilean Castle on the Scottish mainland.  It's a restored castle belonging to the McCrae clan.

From there, we returned to Skye where we visited the Fairie Pools in the western highlands.  Snow melt has rushed down the mountain over centuries to carve gorges and create modest waterfalls.  There is no comparison to Niagara Falls, but this was so charming.  I can see how the miniature container gardens were inspired by these pools, rock formations and spouts.

The final leg was around the northernmost peninsula of the island.  I took many photos of this breathtaking scenery that will be added when we return home.

There is so much more to write about, but we are so weary from our travels, that it will have to wait for tomorrow.

Day 1608: Isle of Skye

Visiting the Isle of Skye again was Mary's dream and now we're here!  Thirty years ago, she and her mom traveled through Scotland and fell in love with Skye.  I can see why.  It's a rugged, wild land, only forty-eight miles long and ranging from three to twenty-five miles wide.  We took a train from the Queen St. Station that was clean, comfortable and on time.  The scenery along the way, including lochs and the Glenfinian viaduct that appears in Harry Potter films, captivated us.

After five hours, we arrived in Mallaig, a tiny, picturesque coastal village.  We had lunch in a delightful restaurant called The Tearoom.  Several of us had the traditional fish and chips and strawberry cider.  Then we were off for a 30 minute ferry ride to Skye.  Beautiful!

We had an incredible dinner at the Claumore Inn that Gus recommended.  We will all gain ten pounds on this trip!

Our tour guide, Gus, met us at the dock and told us there are 15,000 people living here now.  They've actually had a population surge recently.  Tomorrow, he'll be transporting us all over the island to the fairie gardens, a castle, the shoreline and a few other sites.

We had an incredible dinner at the Claymore Inn that Gus recommended.  We will all gain ten pounds this vacation at the rate we're going!

On the ferry traveling toward the Isle of Skye

The coastline across the road from our B&B

A little shop nearby

A stream entering the sea

Sticky pudding

Day 1607: Glasgow

A lovely woman working at information booth shared with us, "I love this city.  I came here from Poland nine years ago and now it is my home."  We feel right at home here, too.  Of course, we are visitors and do not have to make a living here, but it is welcoming and friendly.  All except the man who stepped on my ankle and left me bruised and hobbling without saying a single word.

We wandered this city till my sisters could not walk any more.  Clanadonia, the drum and bagpipe band was again performing in the main square.  Steve asks if they had a new album out because he already has their first two.  They were really pleased to meet an American fan.

Two new, unobtrusive entrances to the underground subway system have been added to one of the main streets.  Build of glass and steel, they blend into the style of the city.  Nancy commented that she would hardly know she was in a foreign country by looking at the store fronts. All the big name designers and stores have a strong presence here.

After the girls went to bed, my brother, Steve and I went to Waxy O'Connor's for a fantastic dinner.  It was an odd Alice in Wonderland type pub with twisting staircases and hidden rooms and bars.  When we finally found a bartender, he told us to find a table with menus and give him the order.  Well, they had a Sunday dinner just like we had growing up.  Roast beef, creamed potatoes, roasted potatoes, Yorkshire pudding with a little ball of stuffing in it, peas, carrots, broccoli and rich brown gravy over everything.  Delicious!  Just what we needed after 24 hours of travel.

Arriving in Scotland

Highlights of Glasgow

Clanadonia performing on Buchanan Street

Waxy O'Connor's

Our first spectacular dinner!

Day 1606: Endless travel

We love to experience new places and cultures, but traveling has become so stressful and long!  We left the house at 6:50 am for an uneventful drive to Buffalo.  Flight to NY was also easy.  We spent a couple hours with Justin in terminal seven waiting for our 8:20 flight to Iceland and then Glasgow.  But, we didn't know there is a strike among the air traffic controllers of Iceland.  Everything got delayed by two hours.  The terminal was jammed with noisy people eager  to start their vacations.

We finally arrived in Glasgow about 12:30, just about 24 hours after we departed.

Too tired to write anything else.  More on Monday, if there is wifi available on the Isle of Skye.  Wll fix the dates when we return. Time to finally sleep.

Waiting for our flight to depart late Saturday night.

Day 1605: All ready to go!

I swam a hundred and ten lengths today!  It felt wonderful in water of 79 degrees!  Also finished all the outside work including pulling or cutting down all the onions, planting lettuce and beans and watering all the flowers.  Then the five of us went to Yokoso for hibachi.  It was delicious! We're packed and have taken care of every detail we could think of.  Hope it's enough!
Tomorrow, we get to see Justin in JFK! Haven't seen him since Christmas, so we should have a nice visit.


We thought we had put Quest to bed, but parents intruded into our holiday preparations.  One of the many incidents from last Wednesday prompted the assistant principal to take action in school.   The parents of one child decided to wait till today to send an inquiry.  It's resolved now, but I wonder why they waited so long.  Then Marie discovered her tent is not the one in our possession.  That means that someone else has the wrong tent.

Spectacular growth in just 24 hours.  

Day 1604: New preparations

We put Quest to bed today when the last pieces of equipment were delivered.  They still have to be tucked away in the storage space, but that can wait.  I finished an email interview with a student from Brocton who is writing an article for their student newspaper.

We started packing for the next adventure: a journey to Scotland on Saturday.  Although I want to go, I wish we hadn't planned the trip for so soon after backpacking ended.  There's just so much to do in  a short time.  I mowed again today, but if it rains while we're gone, the yard will be a mess in a week.

Spectacular lupines!

Day 1603: First swim

Fifty lengths, the first swim of the season!  Slept till 7:30, eighty degrees, gardening, and the annual Fire Chiefs Banquet.  It feels like summer!  There are still a few backpacking items out, but we are now on vacation, so they will wait.

Day 1602: Almost done

Most of the equipment has now been returned.

The last of the Fredonia tents was delivered by a mom at 4:30.  We called the boys to the office twice, but they did not dare to show their faces.  They left the job to mom.  One more student leader has a pack that belongs to us so I will have to call him tomorrow.

Marie arrived about 4:30 with everything from Brocton except one rain suit and that suit was delivered about 8:00 tonight.  So they are the first school to complete their returns.

Josh arrived from Silver Creek at 8:30 with all gear except for one backpack, the one that was damaged by a broken bottle of sunscreen.

Kelly stopped by at 9:00 with a few more items, but she is still missing one backpack and one rain suit.  Pretty close.

We finished the thank you notes for the landowners and mailed them.  Tomorrow,  I hope to write other more personal notes to folks who did so much, although it promises to be another very busy day.  

It was such a pleasure to create several beautiful container gardens today.

Day 1601: Collecting gear

Clean up is always a drag.  Forty-three students borrowed equipment from the club and were directed to return it to our home yesterday or to school today or tomorrow.  Seven followed through on Sunday, five more today and four from Cassadaga.  So, we have a long way to go before we can close Quest down for this season.

I bought three flats of flowers to plant over the next few days.  Pretty ambitious, I know, but I couldn't help myself once I got to Harvestview.  I am enthralled by vibrant colors and sweet fragrances.  It's enough to create five or six container gardens, plus a few herbs.  I should be getting ready to fly to Scotland on Saturday instead.  At least get the suitcase out, throw a few things inside.  We've had the arrangements made for months, but now we have to pay attention to details.

Too tired to think anymore.

I passed my still camera off to Zach, one of the Cassadaga boys, and he took this photo of me while I was recording the kids' bushwhacking journey between Center Rd. and Park. 

Day 1600: Clean up duty!

Too busy and tired to write, but here's five new posts for the last few days with photo highlights of our adventures! 

The best backpacking partner!

Dear friends!

Day 1599: Saturday's hike

Molly, always cheerful, making breakfast!

Inventory is serious stuff for these two!

Helping hands!

Michael and Susan's adopted daughters from Cassadaga!

Yes, we survived Quest 2016!

Pigpen's philosophy

Going home, with new hike group leaders Vince and Jake leading the way!

Day 1598: Friday's hike

The ladies were so excited to see us!

Climbing Dibble Hill

This!  This is what Quest is all about!

My view, the one time I sat down on Friday

Hiking Canadaway Creek Gorge

Our Silver Creek Student Leaders

Day 1597: Thursday's hike

Early morning frost

Zach, Mack, Rachel, Shane, Molly and Mark

Margaret's group

A new beaver dam

Rachel holding Emma

Day 1596: Wednesday's hike

The Bandana Boys

Traditional photo at the Olmstead Farm

On the way to Cockaigne!

Tyler, at peace

Swimming at Cockaigne

The start of fancy cheesecakes

Camping with our friends

Day 1595: Swamped on the eve

Moved six loads outside so we could load the two vehicles.

Grateful for the two Brocton volunteers who helped out today.

People in Fredonia turned their backs on us, too busy to lend a hand.

Lovely lilacs outside the school

Still so much to do tonight before our departure tomorrow morning.  

Today was wildly busy and we worked from 9:30 till 6:00.  Texts and calls came in

all day with questions and news of more absences.  The worst came from Maddie, student leader from Brocton, who had a serious leg injury and won't be able to hike.  So, we're down two student leaders and one hike group leader.  However, we gained one college student and one exchange student. Not a bad deal.  Unfortunately, we have already begun our countdown to when it's all over and we are freed from these responsibilities.