On the way we saw a Heilan Coo.
It was supposed to be .8 miles to the monument by the straight path. We checked it out, but the way looked like it was a marsh and we didn't want to walk through that. The other way was longer, but we took it. We ended up having to walk through a pasture past cows and sheep. We weren't sure it was the right way, but we spotted a marker post with an arrow on it in the pasture. If we hadn't taken this path, we would have missed some of the most impressive scenery yet.
The Highlands were scenic, but this was spectacular. The pictures do not do justice to the views we were seeing. You had to hear the waves crashing on the rocks.
We spent too much time gawking at the views along that path and spent an hour getting to the monument. The monument itself was erected by the American Red Cross to honor the American sailors who died after their ships were sunk by U-Boats during World War I.
It was here that Bill did the second of the 3 headstands that he has planned (still don't know why).
The tower sits on a point that is a sheer cliff down to the ocean. This picture was a little hard to do, looking straight down.
On the way back we spotted the markers for the short way to the car park and took that. It was wetter, but not too bad.
From there, we went back through Port Ellen and east to the Ardbeg distillery. We ate the sack lunches we got from the hotel at the picnic tables outside and then went on the distillery tour and the tasting that followed. It was very interesting and tasty.
Continued north on the single track road to the Kildalton Cross, circa 800 a.d. The church walls are still standing, but there is no roof to protect the dozen or so so stone markers on the ground and in the wall "inside" the church.
Dinner tonight: baguettes with cold cuts, cheese and a wonderful mustard from the Bowmore Distillery, fresh tomato and cucumber slices, semi-cold beer from Islay Ales, and a dessert of fresh blackberries with shortbread and creamy yogurt. Sitting in Katie's Bar now, the Calders 70 is cold and smooth.
No comments:
Post a Comment