20140504 Return to Edinburgh

So the car tour part of our holiday ended with a long rainy day's drive from Tobermory ("Western Isles") to Edinburgh "The Dunstane"). It wasn't much of a day for pictures, but we had a few memorable events along the way.  Allen is certainly relieved to be done with driving, as the left-handed side business never got to feel easy, even after 700 miles of practice!

We had a really rainy day most of the way.

Before taking the ferry from the Isle of Mull, we were lucky enough to get onto the grounds of Duart Castle, home to the clan Maclean.

A huge group of scouts, both girl and boy, had been camping there for the weekend and seemed to be managing well despite the weather.

Just loved seeing these two residents of the estate running around in their PJs.

Then onto our ferry for the 45-minute foggy-rainy journey to Oban.

Made Allen stop just to take this photo of this enormous hill of bluebells.

Railroad bridge along the way

Lucked out again in stopping at a wonderful family-run restaurant full of locals at Balquhidder, somewhere in the Trossach mountains, near where Rob Roy's grave is located.  Lots of googling to do. I have no idea about most of what I just wrote ;-)

Allen perusing desserts.

Gosh, not another photo of food, but I want to remember this wonderful sandwich I'd never have thought of on my own - blue cheese, avocado, roasted walnuts grilled on hearty farmer's sourdough.

And I just liked this image.  Five minutes earlier this table had three generations sitting there.  Nice.

Castles, schmastles.  We're getting pretty nonchalant about seeing them or their ruins around ever mountain or bend in the river.

And then.....THIS!  What the heck is it???

It's brand-new public art along the highway just outside Edinburgh.  "Kelpies" was completed in April, and even the visitors' center isn't open yet.  There's lots about it on the web. www.thekelpies.co.uk   I'm planning to go there tomorrow to see it up close.  Even some of the wonderful staff in our hotel didn't know about it!

A reward for the driver at Ryries pub near our hotel.