3 More Days of Wandering

Sorry for the huge back-log, we've had lots and lots of adventures and little time for documentation!

Doug, Sandi, Castle!

The day after our marriage, we visited the majestic castle of Eilean Donan.

Thank you Meredith and Dorothy for sponsoring our visit!!

Although only built in the twentieth century, it has long been used for a variety of different fortresses, and the tour mentioned how it was first a site of Celtic habitation, and later served as protection against the Vikings and later still as a spot for clan warfare.

After the castle, we went to a weaver's shop and ordered a scarf in Doug's family tartan and a blanket in the tartan of the family who controlled the land on which we got married to comm. Sandi also got a wool bag that she is immensely fond of.

We left our Bed and Breakfast at Dornie on Sunday to continue onward to the island of Skye proper. Our first destination was a metal-smith/jeweler who does Celtic designs. The drive was wonderful, but the jewelry itself was very expensive and a bit underwhelming, so we continued on toward Portree. We stopped at a gas station for the essentials--$80 worth of petrol, fruit, knock-off candy jelly babies and homemade candy called "tablet." The jelly babies just were not the same that you can get in the city, so that was a disappointment (Thank you Jessica for introducing me to the wonder that is Jelly Babies!), but we discovered the overwhelming wonder and brilliance and height of culinary excellence that is tablet. Basically, tablet is non-chewy caramel that has the texture a bit like flaky sugar cubes. Like caramel, it is basically just heavy cream and sugar, but so so wonderful.

Our place in the little harbor town of Portree is an absolutely fabulous British inn. There is a bar downstairs where they serve food and have live music, and our room is upstairs. (Thank you Jim and Lynn and Nancy!) After getting settled, our adventure continued in climbing to the Old Man of Storr.

This is what the Old Man of Storr is supposed to look like:

This is how it looked for us:

Doug, Sandi, and the Foggy "Old Man" of Storr

But we were more than happy with the mist, and although we lost out on some of the views, it was the first time we really felt truly cool and coast-like on our whole trip, so that was quite welcome. We got back and toured Portree for a bit. It is full of tiny little shops and is quite cozy and snug. We ended the night back to our inn for some Olympics (in real time!), some local beer, and live music.







The next morning, we continued our walking tour by hitting a series of falls in the Cuillins. Too sleepy and tired for actual rock-climbing, we got ourselves overwhelmed in a very wide and lonesome glen:

Thank you Doug's Mom!

Then on to the highlight of our day: the Talisker Distillery!

Our tour guide Allister was a very theatrical and natural story-telling Scot and told us how the whiskey was made, including the part where it soaks in giant barrels made from Douglas Fir trees from Oregon! Apparently, only Oregonian Doug Firs are large enough, straight enough and tasty enough for the Talisker Whiskey. Doug felt quite proud that his trees were there and were making something yummy. He also felt quite home-y. Which is very important for him. Mostly because we were unable to get onto the tasting tour, so we had to settle for the normal tour instead. To compensate, we bought a tasting pack in addition to our standard bottle. Thank you, Grandma!

Then back to Portree for some brie and bacon and red wine vinegar onion chutney sandwiches and more drinks and live music. And rest for tomorrow's adventures!

Here is a video of some of the music in our pub.