scenic Scotland

aye, it's scenic alright...

we took the train to kyle of localsh on the west coast, just across from the isle of skye

a two hour plus train ride from inverness, but a country apart in scenery...

the hebridean sea, the islands, and of course, the mountains, the latter covered lightly with heather and bracken, wearing it like the lightest cloak, it smoothed out the edges, adding a softness to them you just can't find in our rocky mountains

we spent the better part of five hours hiking up to the lookout, walking the path that followed the highway, going halfway to the top of he bridge before my nerves gave out - crazy high with no guard rail between the sidewalk and the roadway, with cars and trucks blasting by at highway speeds... beautiful views though!

i find i can't get enough of the heather... so glad there is still some in bloom... if 

i had to pick only one symbol of scotland, it would be the heather

half-way through the day the sun came out, and we sat looking out over the water, watching the various ships and boats, and  feeding tidbits to the little guys below... aimless enjoyment of a beautiful afternoon with nothing more important at that time, on that day, than just to be there

i think of all the days we have spent here in Scotland, that was the one where i felt like i was seeing scotland as i imagined it would be  

so far...