Castle hopping.

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Mikey is shot down
Rachel is seeing someone
Drowning in his tears.

I didn’t realize Dee was in town last night! I quickly said hello to her on her bus and almost got “trapped.” Bummer, I didn’t realize she was in the Isle of Skye because it would have been cool to hang out one more time. Oh well!

Took off about 9AM and went for a grocery stop. We’re currently heading off to another castle after a quick brekkie stop at the Murchison Memorial.

A castle stop at Eilean Donan Castle. The Macray’s are still living in the castle but they have tours running through the castle - dining room and bedrooms - and it is quite nicely decorated. The kitchen was pretty cool and creepy at the same time. Cool in the sense that you got a feel for what it’d be like in the kitchen but creepy with the mannequins and waxy foods. Learned a bit about Bonnie Prince Charlie and that the Fraser and the McDonald Clans are quite close unlike many of the feuding clans of Scotland.

Speaking of clans, I was looking at a rack of key chains with Shannon who was looking for the “McLean” keychain. Then I say, “I wonder if they have mine, the McEng Clan?” Shannon: “I don’t know, let’s see. Wait a second…you’re Chinese!” Haha! She fell for it!

After a grocery shop for this evening’s meal we’ll be off for an afternoon hike. Change in plans. There are a few people feeling a wee bit ill and the rest of the bus a little lethargic so we headed to a beach and hung out there for about 45 minutes instead. The beach was quite rocky and had a lot of flat smooth rocks. Great for skipping stones but I can’t seem to throw them at the right angle and get one “plunk” instead. It was nice to chill out and be entertained by Hayley and Jean. Those two are hilarious. They are able to make anything fun. It is just hilarious to watch Hayley pose for the camera especially since the two of them got matching plaid Scottish hats. Lol

Another hour before pulling up to our hostel at Carbisdale Castle! Plunked our junk down and explored the grounds with Shannon. Some pretty spooky paintings and statues out there! There are actually quite a few nice big rooms to relax in like the library, TV room and games room. You can easily get lost just trying to find your room! We’ll be walking to the pub tonight through a field, over a fence and over railroad tracks. It will be an interesting walk back in the dark. Mind you the sun sets pretty late…past 10PM and it was still sort of light out around midnight.

It’s another group meal tonight. The boys seem to like to take charge of the cooking so I’ll volunteer for clean up because you know what they say about too many cooks in the kitchen! Plus Mike seems to be very particular with his food, dress, hair etc…he’s a metrosexual man! Plus he’s been putting a lot of the moves on the girls on our bus…especially Natialia! lol

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Photos

Lunch break!
Cate, Gary, Jean and Hayley.

Cool reflection!
As seen from the bridge on the walk to the pub.

At the pub.
Shannon, Cate, Rebecca and Melissa.

Still at the pub.
May, Bon, Shaifali, Gary and Madhuri.

Intense drumming boy.
I heard that he was only 7 years old. Pretty good drummer!