I left us in Nairn. I talked about our breakfast, but being out of sorts and so many days away from our adventures, I apologize for not being as organized as I should be. I also apologize for not being able to keep up with daily blogs. This was a whirlwind trip and so worth it. Did someone say squirrel? Back to Nairn and the awesome breakfast Simon and Jen served, not to mention they waved us off as Ryan drove us away, just like family!
Our original scheduled departure time from Nairn was to be 11 am. Not wanting to lie around, Margeaux asked if we could spend some time in Inverness. On our way to Inverness, a quick stop was required to search the loch for the cryptid, Nessie. Before traveling to Scotland, I did not kow what a cryptid was. In fact, the spellchecker now underlines the word. Thank you, Callie, for introducing a new word to me and if you already know, skip on ahead to the pictures while I share that according to Mirriam Webster, a cryptid is “an animal (such as Sasquatch or the Loch Ness Monster) that has been claimed to exist but never proven to exist. There you have it- a cryptid! So a searchin we went for the fair monster. It was a cloudy, windy day and we had high hopes. We searched high and low, but no sighting occurred. The path from the gift shop to the viewing area is through a tunnel under the highway. We may or may not have left a “trail” behind.
We shopped and bought a gift or 2, bought a coffee. Okay I shopped, Jim bought the coffee, and back to the coach for our trip to Inverness. But wait!!! There’s more. I know we have Highland cattle down the road from our house in Jay, NY, but come on who doesn’t love these big old animals, especially when they are called coos? Wendy gave us 5 minutes to get off the coach, take pictures and keep trekking towards Inverness.
Ryan dropped us off as he couldn’t drive over the bridges to Old Town. Wendy led us over briefing us as we strode along. Inverness is one of the oldest towns in Scotland and sits on the northeast coast where the River Ness meets the Moray Firth. (Do not think there are eels in the Moray Firth because Moray is pronounced Murray). Interesting information about Inverness and its origins can be found on the Britannica website (scroll down and see the next bit of information). There are many hearts around Inverness as part of an art project. Thanks to Jesse for capturing mine!
Back on the coach and over to the Leault farm for a sheepdog demonstration. I had no idea what to expect, but wow! I was amazed. Neil Ross is one of a dying breed. He is a shepherd. He helps the sheep (with his 13 dogs) up 12 miles into the mountains and then in the spring back down again. He really was incredible. Neil showed us how he called his dogs, how they herd the sheep. Oh fun fact, Wendy and her husband have 100 or so head of sheep!
Then Neil had his dogs isolate a sheep from the group, so we could see him shear the sheep. Actually we all got to shear the sheep. The coolest thing, he hypnotized the sheep to calm it down to manipulate it while shearing. He did not rub his finger up and down its nose singing “go to sleep, go to sleep little sheepy” No he did not. He took his triangle whistle that has a hole in the center and showed it to the sheep. The sheep just went limp. Then he showed us how to use the sheep shears and let us all try our hands at it.
We weren’t done yet.. Nope not us. We were given bottles to feed the cows Neil had on the farm. Not Highland cattle.
The best is yet to come. Neil bred one of his dogs as he kept having people asking if he would sell his dog. He figured if he bred her, he could sell the pups. There were 4 pups and Neil brought 3 of them down. They were 32 days old and already responding to commands.
Everyone wanted to pet and love on the pups!
Back to the coach for our trip to Fort William. Actually 2 miles outside of Fort William proper to our hotel The Caledonian, where we will also have dinner.
After dinner, we all separated back to our rooms… well not everyone, There was an entertainer singing in the bar area and Francis, Angie, Margeaux, and I stayed around to listen. Ryan joined a little later as he said he could hear him in his room, he might as well be there in person. Margeaux got up ad sang 2 or was it 3 songs at the end of the night? It matters not! It was a fun evening.
Tomorrow we ride the Jacobite train to Mallaig after a couple hours shopping in Fort William! Sweet Dreams!
#HowFortunateWeAre #RetiredAndLovingIt #MakingOurOwnSunshine