Two more days of hikes--Cul Mor and Stac Pollaidh

Fog! We set off for Cul Mor not anticipating long views. Some days are like that.

We did get to see some of the lochs below through the damp. I think this is Loch Veyatie. Cul Mor is a challenge. I looked back to see the others scrambling up the rocks behind me. (How did I get ahead?)

...and ahead to see what was coming as we continuned upward.

This time I was among those at the top, as we gathered around the trig mark at the highest point.

I think this is Stac Pollaidh, our goal for the next day. I am not sure, as the most distinctive part of that peak would be hidden there in the cloud.

Friday's hike, easier in some ways--up to a certain point. You can see the top from here.

This is the top. Shaun knew not to ask me to take those vertical rock walls. Ranney and I remained to watch and look around.

We could look back to Cul Mor--you could actually see the top today.

While the mountains in the Torridon area were like a range--lots of hills and ups and downs, these rise up from the surrounding plain as individual monoliths. You definitely start at the bottom.

Here they come back down--a white knuckle experience for some. They could truthfully say they climbed Stac Pollaidh. I am content to say that I climbed ON Stac Pollaidh.

Where had they gone? Up there!

Highland Traffic Patterns

While major highways in the Highlands are two lane, many of the roads are a single lane for traffic going both ways. This car is pulled into a passing place to allow us to get by.

All the pictures in this post were taken over Shaun's shoulder through the front windshield (windscreen).

I figured out that if the passing place is on the left, then you wait for the coming car. But if there is one on each side one after the other--no idea who has the right of way here.

But I believe the sheep have the right of way no matter what.

A lot of history here...

cemetery in Gairloch

ABC Wednesday--F is for

F is for Funicular.

You can see it way up there on the side of the hill.  I've been holding these photos back for the letter F. On our way to Kinlochewe, we stopped in Aviemore for a break and tea, then went up to see the ski area of the Cairngorms National Park. Of course, being July, the hills were green, but we could see that in the snow, they would be great ski slopes. Despite the fact that the highest mountain in of Scotland, Ben nevis,  is only 4409 feet in elevation, skiing is very popular in Scotland. 

There it comes.

The Funicular.

 I will continue to try to post my ABCs this round from our trip to Scotland, England, and Wales. See what others have found for F here at ABC Wednesday.

Over the hill

Over the hill, a short hike away...











...is a beach.

There ready for enjoyment.

...of locals and dogs, and international hikers.

At Gairloch Loch

Up the hill behind the teashop (I think the white building at the near left is it) we looked back down at Gairloch Loch. Men at work is early this week--maybe I'll have another by Thursday.

Look closer and you will see the men at work--the fishermen and their nets.

I wonder what they will catch.

It's not my world every day, but it is the everyday world for those fishermen, and it was ours for that day less than four weeks ago. We've been home just two weeks. On Tuesday, Bloggers around the world show their part of the world, you can find them here.

Nature's Geometry

Does this seem like geometry to you? These blossoms or pods from a tree by the gates of the manor house from the last post seem to me like a natural exercise in solid geometry. They remind me of the dodecahedron models I tried making years ago while taking high school geometry, though I would have to count how many sides there are--many more than twelve.

Gairloch forest and farm stroll

Our day in the Gairloch area took us along a lovely pathway past a manor house...

...and a horse farm--there was a riding class in session.

Both homes shared in the abundance of wildflowers to be seen in the neighborhood.

We got beyond the inhabited area and Shaun pointed out the lone cottonwood (I think it was cottonwood) tree.

That one there on the hill. Once there was a forest.

As I mentioned, we were on our way to a waterfall. There it is.

Name? Waterfalls here don't have names.

We actually did take shelter --all of us--under this uprooted tree's extensive root system when a sudden shower came along. It was the only serious rain of the day.

It was there also that I changed memory cards in my camera, so the rest of the hike are in another folder. Up to this point I had taken 654 pictures. I have two more cards which will take us through the rest of Gairloch, the rest of the Highlands, our trip back to Edinburgh, down through Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, to Wales and finally London. The trip isn't over yet.

Gairloch Reflections

Our Wednesday hike was a breather. No climbing--stroll through beautiful fields and farms to a waterfall, down to the village to the tea shop and bookstore, up and around to the beach. I'll show more of that hike as there was lots to see, but for now, the reflections from the ponds we passed.

For more Weekend Reflections, visit James at Newtown Daily Photo.

Sunday's Psalm--21st Sunday of Ordinary Time

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

going out to the world in the modern way

to the cities

Praise the LORD all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

to the countryside

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.

Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.



Ps. 117:1, 2--Response Mk 16:15
Photos from the air from our recent trip