http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from Europe , United Kingdom , Scotland , Aberdeen en-us Thu, 10 Dec 09 11:16:03 +0000 Thu, 10 Dec 09 11:16:03 +0000 Well been a while since i seen me old mate colin greig But he is arriving from Sweden on the 31st Of August.I am making my way down to Blairgowrie tonight for a couple phone interviews about the trip.Thenwe are leaving on the 3rd From Blairgowrie around 6am and heading towards John O Groats. Be good to run the Scooters in a bit before we do the long journey ahead. RAIN STAY AWAY http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-431598.html Had to run up to Aberdeen for a site visit so thought this was the perfect excuse to see a bit more of Scotland. This is the kick off for UK travel frenzy and in the space of 3 weeks have managed to fit in visits to Scotland North England Lake District and Wales Pembrokeshire.Scotland is at this stage in my journeys my favourite part of the UK for scenery. I love the drama of the highlands http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-428900.html So needed the rest after the three full on days we had in Paris it was nice to get home and relax for the day. Jase Becc I all went to their local gym worked out for an hour this gym has fantastic facilities this is what we need in Tanunda.....but it wouldnt happen. Felt invigorating just to run on the tread mill lift weights do floor exercises... my trainer back home would be very plea http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-422565.html As our Friday afternoon flight touches down wersquore feeling excited about being in Edinburgh again. Itrsquos our first visit back since getting engaged here in November and also in an hour or so wersquoll be meeting up with James and Kylie for three dayrsquos travel around the highlands. Canrsquot wait... From the airport the double decker bus takes us into the city centre an http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-421803.html Had the best 10 hour sleep and felt great as yesterday the drive took alot out of me so today was all about getting rest before I fly out to Paris tomorrow. Ready for the next instalment..........Paris Adventure with Becc should be great fun. Went with Becc to get some pampering done at the beauty salon had a fabulous massage which I nearly fell asleep felt well relaxed less tense great al http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-420792.html Left the hotel headed down to the ferry back to Scotland around around 9.30am. Now the big 9 hour drive home begins on our way back to Aberdeen. We drove through Loch Lomond shores beautiful scenery breathtaking photos do not do it justice you have to experience it for yourself. Went to a small town called Balloch Town quaint little street guest houses pubs. Now another 2 hours to go to F http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-420784.html Woke up and went shopping in Aberdeen with Becc for our road trip to Troon. It was another beautiful day 18 degrees cool and cloudy. Packed bags for our four day trip to Ireland and had homemade pizzas on the back deck. Left Aberdeen around 4.00pm travelling east to west across Scotland to a suburb of Glasgow called Hamilton. The road trip was fun felt like the Griswoldrsquos driving around fo http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-420546.html Friday 10th JulyOnwards to the NorthEast coastToday its time to move on from Edinburgh up the the northeast coastline and eventually to the Highlands and the west of Scotland.Our stay in Edinburgh over the past week has been great and we have seen all the attractions that we wanted to from here and achieved more in family research that we could have hoped for.Our accommodation has been perfect and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-418910.html Spent today getting packed for our road trip to Ireland for 5 days. We are driving out to the west side of Glasgow to a lttle town called Hamilton to stay overnight then catch the ferry across to Ireland.Our dinner at The Simpsons was delightful had to open a bottle of Moet champagne which was awesome. Jase and I tried a Scottish dish called Cullen Skink which was a thick milky fish soup was http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-418871.html Really daylight here from roughly 4.00am until 10.30pm at night not that good if you are wishing to sleep fro at least 8 10 hours but it could be worst. Had a great meal outside in the beautiful weather with Jase Becc it's so nice to be around genuine friends who love their life. They are so well rounded and honest its wonderful staying here with them and Will. He is such a little man who i http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-418523.html Today Becc took me to my very first castle about 20 minutes outside of Aberdeen. The drive was spectacular windy roads forests and a small fishing village. Arrived to this huge castle of ruins on the edge of a cliff top called Dunnottar Castle. Well breathtakingly beautiful in everyway. probably in describable walked down a long path and a young boy had his bag pipes out playing them with gust http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-418226.html There's no better time there's no better place. It is what we keep telling people and its the truth Mongolia beckons many mysteries and unknowns are to come all whipped up by the spirit of adventure survival historical power deserts mountains and mutton. So we've signed up there's no going back see you all in mongolia. First round of mutton dumplings on usIts taken 5 months of preparati http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-415945.html Wednesday afternoon we did a historical walking tour of Dublin. Tour was lead by a PHD grad from Trinity college so she new her stuff. We walked through Trinity College which is one of the ancient Universitiesestablished in the late 1500s. Then its was off to the old parliament Dublin city hallwhich completely puts to shame any city hall I've ever seen Dublin castle and then Christs Chu http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-405519.html Our day was full and enjoyable. We woke up early to have breakfast with Alex Christina Xavier and Theo. Toasty warm blueberry scones with marmalade and French press coffee. So good Jer and I woke up a little latemdashdespite our exhaustion we both awoke for about an hour in the middle of the night. I had just drifted off when we had to get up for the day. Our preparations for the daymd http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-399546.html We are here. In Scotland.The clock on my computer is set for home which marks the time as 135pm. It is 935pm in Aberdeen. The daylight is finally filtering away despite the birdsrsquo best efforts to keep the day going through song.I donrsquot recall the last time I had an ldquoallnighterrdquo and the journey to get here reminds me and Jeremiah that we are too old for such activiti http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-398448.html Here is the link for my Isle of Skye pictures...httpwww2.snapfish.comthumbnailshareAlbumID623733008a7532282175322821otscSHRotsiSALBlinkCOBRANDNAMEsnapfishI have been TRYING to upload all my photos to Photobucket to make it easier to view but it is taking a lot longer than I thought. I can't get the bulk uploader to work so I have to upload 50 at a time. UGH.Sorry I haven't writte http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-398329.html Hope you enjoyed the entries I know they were long but now you should cheer up because it is picture timeI wish I could share them with you in person because many of them have stories that go along with them. I'll have to do that back home...I didn't have time to caption all the pictures on Snapfish so basically you're flying blind. There were over 2100 pictures when I first started editing http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-392129.html It feels so good to be back in my own room here in ScotlandI had an irreplaceable time backpacking throughout Europe for the past three weeks. It really makes me appreciate all the blessings that I have and how much family and friends mean to me back home in the statesI have some great stories and pictures to share. Hopefully I can get those uploaded tonight. I actually have time to do it alth http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-391641.html HomeSo........... we are home in Westhill Aberdeenshire and it seems a long way from the mountains of Italy. We drove from Italy to Val D 'Isere where we had a great final ski of the season with our friends Andy and Ingrid. We then headed across France and broke our journey up with a night in Reims Graham ran Reims which was apparently very nice Next day we caught the Dover to Calais ferry t http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-391186.html I start my wonderful 5 country journey tomorrowI am very excited but scared at the same time...I know it will be a blastI am planning on bringing my computer but just realized that my converter might not work where I am going so I will probably have to buy an adapter. I am debating now if it is worth it...I'll probably buy one. Can never have too manyI am able to fit everything into my hiki http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/United-Kingdom/Scotland/Aberdeen/blog-385022.html