By the Beautiful Seaside

The two days we spent on Islay were the most beautiful of all. We could see a beach from the old parish church where my Currie's worshipped back in the mid 1800's. So we went out to enjoy. Of course I had to stay fairly covered to protect my skin from the sun. But I loved just watching the water come in. I couldn't go exploring with Dennis on the rocks as the feet neuropathy was unpredicable. I hadn't packed enough meds for it so I was on 1/3 dosage the entire trip.

The water was so clear. I wonder if my ancestors ever had the time to enjoy this great view?

Dennis found some great plant life on the cliffs (just for you, Aaron).

Picking up the algae brought back wonderful memories of tidepooling along the Washington coast. Some of the specimens I recognized from previous experiences. Others would need to be researched. No, I spared the passengers on our return flight. I left the samples on the beach. (Oh, if only Mom would have been so kind when we travelled in the van! :))

Wouldn't my first graders had loved these samples as we made our mural of the sea in April?

"Oh, those were the days, my friends, we thought they'd never end...." Yes, Alison, we sang a lot on this trip.

All roads lead to>>>>?

Driving in UK was an adventure. We got a small car with just enough room in back to carry our camping gear and suitcases which had more genealogy materials and food than clothes. Dennis found it challenging to drive on the right side of the car and shift with his left hand. The gear shifts were the same as in US but the feel just wasn't the same and he often found himself not sure which gear he was trying to get in. We thought that the smallness of the car would make it easier to get around but we hadn't counted on the narrowness of the roads.

No, this is not a sign showing you where to take great pictures of the countryside. This is a warning that there is a hidden camera. If you are speeding you will get a ticket in the post. Speed on, tourist, speed on! Though we could never understand why we were always being passed till we realized that we were always under the speed limit. We didn't realize that the double signs (like 30 30) meant we were suppose to add the 2 numbers and go that speed. :)

These were curve signs. I got the biggest kick out of the fact that first we'd see 3 arrows, then 2 then 1 then you hit the curve. 3-2-1 you're there!

It seemed like every intersection was a roundabout. Tiny ones and big ones. Sometimes we'd go around the big ones a couple of times until we found the street we wanted. It took awhile before we realized that it was more important to know the numbering of the streets rather than the street names. The numbers always showed up on signs but not so their names. Dennis really preferred roundabouts by the end of our trip. There was less stop and go. It was just go, go, go.

There are M, A, and B roads with digits after them. The fewer the digits the wider the road. M's are the equivalent of our freeways. A's are usually our 2 way streets. B's scared us. Dennis was sure we would be returning a trashed car since many of the areas we visited were on B roads and we scraped along stone walls and high folliage.

The scenery was beautiful along this M.

Sometimes I think they thought that if you see a white line in the Lakes District you would think you were on a better road. Sometimes they even helped you along with that misconception by marking the road as an A or B2 (B with 2 digits) when we were sure it was really a B3. We had to hug our side to share this B2 road.

It was really fun driving behind this delivery truck. It had the right of way when it came to passing and since we were behind we got to go along, too.

The US could take some pointers from the UK about handling road construction. The US wastes money widening roads. It's much more economical to put up a sign warning you that the road narrows and be courteous enough to take your turn. Sometimes they add a light so that you know when it is your turn.

B3 roads are the narrowest of all. We decided the only reason for B4 roads is to assure you that the gravel or dirt path you are on is really considered a road.

Some B 3 roads warn you that the road is going to get very narrow. Do you see the pull over on the right? Who ever gets there first pulls in.

Too wide for you? Then let's narrow it even more. Our little car brushed the sides of the folliage you see ahead.

The difference between a B3 and B4 roads.

We realized that we were better off taking public transit and letting them do the driving for us in Edinburgh, especially, where parking is almost impossible to find.

Walk on the Wildside of the UK

A sheep eating while kneeling. Some even walked on their knees.

Following a sheep along a road on the Isle of Islay.
A couple of wooley's on the hill.

Sheep dog bringing the sheep to the Beatrix Potter farm in the Lake's District of England.

You don't want to get near these unpredictable steer.

A stone creature in the Natural History section of the York Museum.

A bird in the water park in front of the Kew Garden Records Office.

While at York the Rotary Club was having their annual Dragon Boat fund raiser. Each team dressed up according to their chosen theme.

Go, Elvis, Go!

While enjoying a ghost walk in York, we came across a stag party. The Hens were not as crazily clad.