I cannot go another day without raving about the Scottish bacon.  Seriously--look at that thick and juicy and bacony goodness.  Heaven!

This morning, we meandered around the Isle of Skye, fighting gale force winds in order to take pictures over the edges of cliffs.  It was every bit as awesome and frightening as it sounds.

But when this is what you see, it's pretty much worth it.

Kilt Rock = amazing!

From there, we headed back to the mainland, spotting a fieldful of hairy Highland cows on the way.

Eilean Donan Castle was next on the docket.  This was probably my most favorite spot of the whole trip.

 

 Eileen Donan Castle is just full of nooks and crannies, places where your brain can run wild imagining kilted clansmen meeting to plot battles, massive swords at their sides.  In fact, scenes from the movie Highlander were filmed here--we know this because one of the guides inside the castle had photos of himself as a pointy-hat-wearing extra in the movie, walking beside Christopher Lambert on the path to the castle.  This guide was beyond delightful, pulling out a sword from the movie and letting us take pictures with it on the balcony (there were no photos allowed inside).  He was full of stories--both true and probably not--which he told to us in full Scottish brogue, his eyes flashing at all the good parts.  LOVED him!

Also, while we were here, one of our guides' walkie-talkies proclaimed that there were people at the castle scouting out locations for some show (!!!!!), and reminding all the employees to look out for them and make sure they didn't take any pictures.  Oh, my heart!  I can't wait to see if Claire and Jamie grace the hallowed halls of Eilean Donan!

After our fancies had been thoroughly tickled at the castle, we drove to this hotel on the Loch Ness.

This is our view of the Loch from the hotel.  It was a prime Nessie-spotting location.

 Becky and I were happy to see that our hotel hallway was carpeted in the Campbell tartan (Brad's and Becky's great-grandma who emigrated from Scotland was part of the Campbell clan).

After a lovely dinner overlooking the water, we called it a night.  

Another *sigh* magical day.

Today was mostly spent driving from Loch Lomond to the Isle of Skye.  There was a whole lot of driving, gasping at the scenery, and stopping to take photos.

All of the pictures up until this point were taken while we were in the Lowlands.  

The following pictures were taken after we'd crossed into the Highlands.  It is amazing the difference in the landscape--the Highlands are definitely more rugged and macho.

 Love the sign!

The adorable town of Portree, where we spent the night.

 

(click here)

By yon bonnie banks and by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond.
Where me and my true love were ever wont to gae
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

   

O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

'Twas there that we parted in yon shady glen,
On the steep, steep side o' Ben Lomond,
Where deep in purple hue the Hieland hills we view,
An' the moon comin' out in the gloamin'.

 O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

The wee birdies sing and the wild flow'rs spring,
And in sunshine the waters are sleepin';
But the broken heart it kens nae second spring again,
Tho' the waefu' may cease frae their greetin'

O ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland afore ye;
But me and my true love will never meet again
By the bonnie, bonnie banks o' Loch Lomond.

So, yes, we spent the day on Loch Lomond, and I may have spent the whole time with this song in my head.  I also may have sung it aloud more times than my traveling companions appreciated.  But, in my defense, HOW COULD I NOT????

(Incidentally, this song was written by a Jacobite soldier who was captured after Culloden--a fellow soldier was released and brought the song back to his friend's sweetheart in Scotland.  I KNOW, RIGHT??)

After a picture perfect boat ride on the lake, we wandered along the shore up to Balloch Castle.

 

 This garden was the site of Denise's reprise of her Most Awesome Figure Skating Moves Done On Dry Ground, first enjoyed on our Prague Girls' trip.

Oh yes, that just happened.

 The day was capped off brilliantly with a stay in our favorite bed and breakfast in the village of Craftamie.

 These were our rooms--adorable!

Once we'd checked in, we walked to this pub for dinner...

 ...where Susanne--the most courageous of all food tryers--had haggis with tats and nips (potatoes and turnips).  We all tried it, but Susanne ate nearly all of it.
Legendary, I tell you.

Then, we headed back to our B & B, where we lazed by the fire in our jammies and had tea and homemade cake graciously served to us by our host, Vickie.

A more perfect day has never been had in the history of the world.  Seriously.