Road Trip

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I took a bus tour today, which involved getting up way too early and driving (well being driven) 640km up to Loch Ness. The answer is no, I did not see the Loch Ness Monster (Nessie). I did however see many sheep, hairy coo (highland cows, including the famous Hamish, with his 'wife' Heather and their daughter Honey), Urquhart Castle, Larch trees and many rolling hills.
Fran, our tour guide told us many interesting stories, such as how the Larch tree got introduced into Scotland. A Larch tree is a deciduous pine tree which was introduced to Scotland by a guy whoses name I don't remember. He had learned while in Venice that the tree's were more resistant to water and he thought 'great we should build ships out of this'. Unfortunately he died before the tree's were matured, it didn't really matter though since by the time the tree's had matured ships were being built out of steel and there were no more wooden ships.
Went for a lovely walk by Loch Ness. It was a nice day, it only rained when we were inside the bus and it quit by the time we were ready to leave. We had dinner at a place named Bankfoot...any relation to Bankhead?
All in all a very nice, informative if a long day!

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Photos

Tour Guide
Fran, our tour guide who regaled us with tales, stories and history during our 12 hour trip.

Sheep
Sheep grazing in the countryside

More Sheep
They are so cute.

Hamish & Heather
Hamish (on the left) is too busy eating for a photo op.

Heather and Hamish
Heather (on the left) and Hamish. Hamish is a very famous Hairy Coo.

Honey
The baby of the family.

The Three Sisters (Left)
Scotland also has a Three Sisters mountain range.

The Three Sisters (Right)
The middle 'sister' is in both photos.

Wee Jacobite Church
Just in front of the man's head you can see the wee Jacobite Church, not in the photo but just out of sight to the right is a larger Protestant Church.

Loch Ness
Me at Loch Ness.

Loch Ness 2
Loch Ness in the background. (No Nessie)

Hiking Trail
This is the beginning of the hiking trail beside Loch Ness.

Hiking Trail
This reminds me of the scene in Anne of Green Gables when Matthew is taking Anne to Green Gables and they pass a place like this, which Anne names 'White Way of Delight'.

Wild Blackberries
I think... I was not sure enough to eat one, but they looked and smelled like blackberries.

Mushrooms
There were a lot of interesting mushrooms along the hiking trail.