Scotland - Part II
I was officially on my own. Headed northwest for
Inverness, I cruised along the motorway in my silver Ford focus weaving in and
out of traffic. A short two hours later I arrived at the capital of the
Highlands. The trip was off to a good start as the manager of the hostel showed
me where free parking was and gave me a small discount on my room.
Inverness is a small village nestled in the
mouth of the Great Glen fault. I wandered around, immediately acknowledging
this little town’s charm and allure.
Divided on either side of the Ness River, the town is filled with
historic legacy and tradition. Crossing over the first suspension bridge I
decided to go enjoy my meal of the day, as I was officially on backpacker
budget, at a delectable little bistro that overlooked the ebony colored river.
With a perfectly full stomach and light heart I carried on to St. James
Cathedral where I kneeled and asked for health and happiness for all my loved
ones.
As River Ness expands and evolves into Loch Ness
a few small islands are scattered throughout. Delicately decorative iron
bridges connect the islands together and to the mainland. I moseyed through
them, surrounded by tall pines and hanging lanterns. The mixed perfume of earth
and water was intoxicating. Leaving this
mini archipelago, I wandered over to the Inverness Castle with a clear view of a
lush valley and the distinctive river. There I took a few pictures for a
friendly French couples and chatted with an Italian family, taking in the
familiar dose of European company.
A dark cloud rolled in from the west, saturated
with rain and impatiently waiting to burst. Within the first few drops I found
myself next to Leakey’s Book Shop and entered for refuge. First came the smell
of well-loved books, and then came the sight of thousands and thousands of
books towering over a white haired man who sat next to a wood burning stove.
There, in Leakey’s Book Shop, time stood still for a few hours while I got lost
in the works of Robert Burns and J.M. Barrie. Perusing the shelves and admiring the old
maps, I imagined my library one day, hoping to encompass the magic that
Leakey’s held. I spent the later afternoon on a footstool with a pile of old
hard cover books, in my glory and perfectly content.
After Applecross, I was not sure if anything
could live up to that epic pass, but to my pleasant surprise, the Highlands
continued to impress. On an adrenaline high, I drove around Loch Carron,
finding myself in a curvy tunnel of blooming rodedendrums. As the thick vegetation
cleared, the one-way road led me to Plockton, a seaside village with palm trees
and crystal clear water in its harbor. After spending some time looking out
onto a lone island, I found a few shops selling local crafts and admired the
pottery and paintings. The pang of missed opportunity reappeared. Always
throughout my travels I find objects that I would one day love to have in my
future home –local artwork, plateware, garden pots, pillow covers.
Nevertheless, my life fits on my back and there is not much more room for house
décor. So I reason to myself that I will just have to return one day to
purchase that coveted sculpture.
When I reached Skye Bridge, the overpass arched
so drastically it seemed as though I was embarking on a roller coast ride. Finally
on the famed Isle of Skye, I went straight to Portree where the bustle of the
harbor town was a stark difference from the quiet, winding roads that led me
there. The capital town sits on a hill and overlooks the harbor where seagulls
loyally guard. Pastel painted houses enjoy the same view, as well as the
constant appetizing smell of fish and chips being made in the taverns below.
With the sun not setting until well after 10pm,
time was on my side so I followed the signs to the Fairy Pools. The steely Cuillin
Mountains met my gaze as they towered over me. A glistening stream poured out
from their heart center, their essence collecting in the pools at their feet.
The path to the Fairy Pools crosses a few
meandering streams with oversized stepping stones leading the way. The river of
Glen Brittle escapes the domineering Cuillin Mountains and transforms from a
silver riverbed to turquoise pools separated by small but mighty waterfalls.
Although there were a handful of tourists about, I was in my own ethereal world
while climbing up the mountain side. With every passing moment I was
transported to Thailand, Croatia, or New Hampshire. Thailand’s layered
waterfalls and pools, Croatia’s blue water, and New Hampshire’s White
Mountain’s landscape revealed similar nuances within Scotland’s Fairy Pools. I
climbed higher and higher, leaving the sparsely wandering tourists behind and
watching the evolution of Glen Brittle go from enchanted to eerie. Away from
anyone’s vantage point I found myself alone at the base of Cuillin, with the
sun poking through the clouds and casting rays of golden light on these
dominating giants.
A chill came and never left, marking my time for
decent. I checked into Skye Walker Hostel where mixed nationalities and mixed
ages congregated in the outdoor dome to swap travel advice and quietly hope to
see the Northern Lights. After an evening of therapeutic writing and lively
conversation, I retired to bed with an alarm set for 3am. The owner of the
hostel received a Red Alert, noting that it was very likely that the Northern
Lights would be visible that night. I woke minutes before my alarm sounded and
silently slipped off the top bunk and tiptoed outside. To my shock, at 3am the
sky was still a glowing grey. The sun set a few hours prior and was due to rise
within the next three. Perhaps I missed the darkest point of night or perhaps
it never came, nevertheless I returned to my bunk for a few more hours of rest
before it was time to take off again.
I parked and exited my little silver car at one
of the most peculiar sights. A wispy fog brushed up against me as I stood in
the midst of Fairy Glen. Massive cones of layered earth were stacked around me.
Rogue sheep grazed along the hills, oblivious to the magic of the space. At the
heart of the glen was a placid pond with steam rolling off it. Fairy Glen is a
place from another world, filled with a mischievous energy.
I carried on North toward the Quiring without
seeing another soul on the road. Awake and invigorated from the magic of Fairy
Glen, I soared through the narrow roads to kneel at the foot of the massive
Quiring. A fog so thick it could have been a velvet drape enclosed the canyon.
Peaks of towering earth poked through the white curtains, daring the world
outside to enter its depths.
I was hesitant to leave Isle of Skye. I was
under its spell and utterly captivated by the island. I am an optimistic
realist and an extroverted introvert. My soul craves moments of recluse and
Skye mirrors this mentality. I quickly pondered not returning my rented car in
Edinburgh and hole up in a quiet village for the summer to write instead. Then
flashbacks from the past housebound winter left me yearning for adventure and
living on the go. I have found a few special places in my travels where time
and space align, creating an open well of energy and inspiration. I tuck those
places into the safe chests of my mind, knowing that I will return to them some
day.
So I drove on with the Isle of Skye fading
behind me and the mountains of Glencoe rising before me. Misty clouds hung
around the necks of green peaks. Crags and valleys branded the vast landscape,
allowing a lone farmhouse to share the land. I gasped with every turn, simply
amazed by Mother Earth. I stopped every few miles to walk along a river bed,
sit in front of a serene lake, or stand before the Three Sisters. Something greater
than science, greater than the coincidence of perceived Creation, formed a
landscape so pure.
Lucie joined me to collect Nick at the train
station who traveled North from England for the weekend to wander Edinburgh with
me. Masses of people scurried around us but time stood still as we three came
together, from separate worlds yet all connected by a small seaside village in
Croatia. After a night of swapping camp stories from respective years, Lucie
ventured off to a birthday celebration and Nick and I returned to the hostel.
My heart was full from friends meeting and my camp lifespan coming full circle.
Over the long weekend we walked the Royal Mile
at least a dozen times in search of homemade fudge and the best carrot cake. During
the day we climbed Calton Hill and Arthur’s Seat for sunshine and panoramic
views this quirky city. Museums, old cemeteries, and beer gardens kept us strolling the city for hours. Between alleyway cafes and hostel lounging, the
conversation flowed and we seamlessly fit back into each other’s lives. As we
layed atop Calton hill one night and watched Edinburgh light up below us, I
felt such comfort and surety in his presence and in our friendship. We departed
knowing that there would always be a next time and knowing that we will embark
on another backpacking adventure soon. Now I am in the process of luring him to
America with quintessential pictures of New England so we can start a
cross-country road trip from the North East.
A plane ride over the Irish Sea brought me back
to familiar Dublin where I was bunking for a few nights with the Original Camp
Mom, Carol, before my flight to Greece. As probably the kindest and most genuine
person I have ever met, Carol welcomed me into her home in true Irish fashion.
We met Clare one night for my first cheeky Nando’s, although I was lost on all
the hype. Then the following morning Carol and I set off to hike through
Glendalough. There we were attacked by pesky flies but silenced by the heavenly
views.
Ireland, Northern Ireland, and Scotland hold not
only some of the best landscapes I have ever witnessed, but they are also home
to some of the best people I have ever met. It is rare to enter a place and
immediately feel at home. It is rare to meet people and immediately know you’ll
be friends for a lifetime.
I am never ready to leave this part of Europe,
but this time the Greek Islands were calling and couldn’t be ignored.
Comments
Post a Comment