Another long day on a bus, but without an auto like Blanche we must depend of the kindness of strangers. In every shop window in Inverness there is at least one kilt, one lovely shawl and the heartbreaker, a stuffed or carved red Hairy Coo or cow as we say in Texas. Today was our day. Yesterday we squandered some pounds on refrigerated magnets. Today the real thing. We stopped at a display of three wonderful, well fed and totally movie star red Scottish cattle. They never glanced our way. Just kept their heads down and continued eating. Everyone was star struck as we got up close and personal with a cow for Heaven’s sake. The original breed was black and one was gifted to Queen Victoria who announced she hated it and nothing should be in all black except her. They knew enough about selective breeding to create the red ones that are so popular now. We saw many more coos in pasture today, but these were my favorite. The next stop was Eilean Donan Castle which is straight out of the Middle Ages. Like so many structures it was destroyed by the British Navy during the Jacobite uprising. Many years later the members of the McCrae Clan restored the Castle and still hold the title to it, but technically it is part of the National Trust. You have all seen her many times as she pays her way by being used in Hollywood films and television shows. They are fussy about photos being taken by tourist. Only want to the big bucks from Hollywood. Who can blame them. For a lot of money you can get married in the gardens for another special room. We saw some photos and they were gorgeous. Doubt the average Scottish bride would walk down the castle aisle. More winding roads, more sheep more hay fields and we are still loving it. A special people live in this wild and lonely place. From many of the villages school children must take a ferry and then a bus and reverse their travel in the afternoon. A long day for them. Tourism brings in a tidy sum during the warmer months then the islanders have them home back. Quaint B and Bs Old but beautiful hotels, you can even rent a tiny aluminum dome beside the road that sleeps two. We spotted deer as we drove back and a weird little cafe called the Midges Bite. Fun day with more to come.
