Lochcarron Scottish Highland Games

We were disappointed that we had left Inverness a couple of days before their Highland Games but would you believe that we found some only 20 minutes drive from where we were staying on the Isle of Skye.

O what a fun day mixing with all the Scots enjoying old fashioned country games.

Let the games begin!!!

What does a Scottsman wear under his kilt?

If you look hard there is a trail of runners going up the hill climb.

Saying 'Goodbye' to Maia and 'Hello' to Scotland

It was sad to have our last day on Maia after 4 months of her being our home away from home. Marine Cruisers was a wonderful company to deal with, everyone was most helpful.

We caught a train from Crewe up to Edinburgh on Saturday 13th July, would you believe that at Crewe Station on a platform that we could not get to were a couple from Raymond Island who had been in Holland handing over their boat which had been sold to some other Australians. They didn't see us but we took a photo of them from where we were.

In Edinburgh our accommodation was at Leith a seaside suburb, the Royal Yacht Britannia could been seen out the window. We enjoyed spending time on this beautiful old yacht that has now been decommissioned and available for the public to see what they have missed out on over the years.

From there we travelled up the East Coast visiting - The Secret Bunkers, the Verdant Works Museum (Jute, Linen and Hemp), St Andrews Castle and Cathedral parts dating back to 700AD, Discovery Ship from Arctic Exploring from 1905, a 24 hour Bakery (The butcher, the baker, the candle stick maker).

Chester

On our way we stopped off for an ice-cream and this is what we found.

We walked the city walls of Chester, saw the bustling city centre, were amazed at the ancient Roman Amphitheater.

Ellesmere Port was another step back in time as we saw more of what life was like on the canals in days gone by.

B

Anderton lift and Middlewich Branch

Over the last week we have been treated to ‘Songs of Praise’ at Lymme, a boat trip on the River Weaver and Up the Anderton lift then a leisurely meandering along the Middlewich Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal.