End Of The Road

Edinburgh, Scotland - One last look before heading to the bus that will take me to London to catch my flight home. Home. Sounds sweet right now. Back to blue skies and sunshine and a deck with a cat on my lap and a book in my hand. A refreshment perhaps. Then... who knows. The road that I've been on ends here and there isn't a plan beyond this point. So... onward I must go. Come what way. Eye on the step before me. Eli Camino.

Watching The Worlds

World Highland Dancing Championship, Dunoon, Scotland Aug 26/17 - The top dancers from around the world have gathered to see who is in their best form today. Emerald's teacher (in red) from Canada is one of the 20 finalists in the adult group. It's a tough competition. They all look exceptional to me. In the end, there's a tie, and the reigning champ (from Canada) is defeated by a margin in points by a young woman from Scotland. The locals are pleased! It's quite touching to be a witness. This was our day.

Cowal Ceilidh

Cowal Highland Gathering, Dunoon, Scotland Aug 25/17 - We're out after a rigorous day of highland dancing... And enthusiastic spectating. Time now to chill and enjoy the hum and drum of the Celtic sound. Complete with fiddle, whistle, and bagpipe. The band has geared it up and the tent has filled with locals out for a night of fun. Ready to raise "heel and toe" in the ceilidh. We've joined them for a wee bit before heading back to our cozy cottage, and placing our feet in the reclined position - heels down, toes up. 

On Firth For Fling

The Cowal Peninsula, Scotland - On a wee trip via taxi, bus, train, bus, and ferry to cross the firth (aka "bay"). On our way to the Cowal Highland Gathering and World Highland Dancing Championship where Emerald will be dancing. A rest day first. Time to relax before the big dance day with fling, reel, seann triubhas (Gaelic for "old trousers) and sword dance. The bagpiped songs on repeat for the 64, 12 year old competitors. Not to mention other age groups. So taking today to enjoy the view of the great hills all around. The Cowal Way is out there calling for walkers like myself. Sadly it will have to wait for another time.

Highland Photo Shoot

Arthur's Seat, Edinburgh, Scotland - Had a fun afternoon climbing to this high spot overlooking Edinburgh Castle and the stadium where we would sit later in the evening for the Royal Military Tattoo. It was a good spot for Emerald to dress up in kilt and tutu to do a few poses for the camera. Afterward we would enjoy "high tea" in Palm Court at the Balmoral and a ride on the giant Edinburgh Festival Wheel. A day full of high points, not least of all the mass gathering of pipers, dancers and marching bands to close the day.

Great Scott!

The Scott Monument, Edinburgh, Scotland -  The first order of business upon arrival was to join my niece, Emerald, in climbing this 287 step, 4 level tower. See that area right around the point? We were there. It was like climbing out through the hole of a sea shell. A fitting entry into the highlands. I love heights! All around the city I see hills. Tomorrow we climb up upon Arthur's Seat. Sounds like a good place to be.

Completing The Circuit

York Racecourse, Yorkshire, UK - Came full circle today, not a horse in sight. Mostly just dog walkers making use of this 2 mile track. It's massive. I can imagine how exciting it gets here on race days. I'm feeling a little less excited about coming to the finish line of my own race, a.k.a. Camino. Stories continue and so will mine. Off to Scotland in the morning for a wee week with my wee sister and wee niece... And then...?

Evensong

York Minster, Yorkshire, UK Aug 19/17 - What better way to experience a massive old cathedral, with a sordid history, than to sit in its inner chapel and hear the songs of evening prayer. Voices echoing in the vaulted ceiling. Organ with its stops pulled and pipes full of a sound that can only be truly appreciated in a grand space like this. It's hard not to look up and all around and take in all the workmanship of the building, 240 years in the making... And more recently 300 years in an ongoing process of restoring.

Weekend In York

York, Yorkshire, UK Aug 18/17 - Home for the weekend. Just having a quick peek at this "must see" place in northern England. Spent most of yesterday on the bus getting here. Time to process all that's gone on in these UK days. London, Cornwall, Devon, Wiltshire, Bath, Somerset, The Cotswolds. Art, beaches, cliffs, countryside, history, mystery, architecture, friendship, beauty, blackberries, biking, flying, walking, pubs, theatre. Harry Potter, Jane Austen, Zombies, Poldark. English bliss.

Night At The Theatre

Theatre Royal Bath, UK Aug 17/17 - One last evening out with two of my favourite mates from the Camino. A play called Lady In The Van by Alan Bennett. An older, cantankerous, and slightly delusional woman parks her unsightly "home" on the author's front garden for what turns out to be 15 years. Bit of a laugh. I've parked myself here outside of Bath now for two weeks and it's time to go. Best not get too comfortable as it would be easy to stick around. Bye for now Corsham.

Biking To Bath

Bradford-On-Avon to Bath Spa, UK Aug 16/17 - Enjoying the scenic beauty of the English countryside. Christian and I on our borrowed bikes. The canal boats quietly coming and going. All of us moving along at our leisure. No one wanting to hurry up this perfect summer day. I count my blessings, pushing aside the thoughts that my time for leaving comes soon. Today I simply ride. Our destination, the Roman Baths. More beauty to discover.

Up, Up In The Air

Over Avebury Henge, Wiltshire, UK - First of all, I'm flying! And if that were all I could say, the day would be complete. But it continues on with a tour of the Cotswolds. A beautiful walk through English countryside. Visits to hidden away churches and villages untouched by the tourist trade. Horse whispering. Sheep encounters. Berry picking. And basically just continued bliss, that I'm frightfully aware will soon come to a close, ending this chapter of the elicamino. For now I will bask in the glory of this day.

MacMillan Way

Castle Coombe, Wiltshire, UK - No matter where you look in this part of England, you see a town or landscape that reminds you of a movie set... And chances are it has indeed appeared on the big screen, like this little village used in the movie War Horse. Surrounded by beautiful countryside with "public foot paths" that cross over brooks, walk you up hillside and along tree covered paths. We got our hiking shoes on, with map in hand and maps.me on phone and had a mini Camino day. A fun walk down memory lane... while feasting on blackberries.

Aleandri Tour

Bath, Somerset, UK Aug 13/17 - A return to this lovely Georgian style built city. Now joined by Camino pal Christian from Copenhagen. And lead by our most gracious host Mark. What tour would be complete without at least a pass by this g&t enthusiast's establishment. (Try to say those two words quickly.) No stopping to indulge. Just peeking in the windows. (Helped that the lights were out and the doors locked.) Ended the day with Shaun Of The Dead in keeping with all things English... add a smidgen of zombie.

Poldark Anyone?

Corsham, Wiltshire, UK - I'm afraid this is what my time on the Camino and now visiting the UK counties of Cornwall, Devon and Wiltshire have amounted to. G&T and Poldark marathon. There's very little more I can say about that. Just a natural progression of events. Along with the combined effect of stones, henges and lay lines. I'm up to 4, 2 minute spurts of jogging in the morning. Life is a weird and wonderful concoction.

Croquet Anyone?

Wells, Somerset, UK Aug 10/17 - A perfectly English day, (this one's for you Jude) with a game of croquet about to begin on the lawn outside the Bishop's Palace, adjacent to the Cathedral (in background). And something new since arriving in the UK - the sun was shining! What more could one ask for? Shopping for a new dress and shoes? Tickets to the theatre? A chance to go flying? Pinch me! On second thought, please don't wake me up.

Stonehenge

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK Aug 9/17 - Rain and mist set the stage for a soggy visit to this prehistoric site. Not the spiritual experience one might expect, but captivating nonetheless. There remains no explanation for the ongoing time and effort gone into this massive stone structure, except to highlight our continuing fascination with the universe and our relationship to it... As small, yet highly significant beings. Even the sparrow does not fall to the the earth without notice. (Matthew 10:29)

Ethereal Moment

Bath Abbey, Somerset, UK Aug 7/17 - It's one of those moments when time stands still. Lost in the beauty of this old abbey. Caught up in a display of butterflies, promoting the uniqueness of the individual within a group. Each with our own design and form. Moving together as a swarm in the gentle air currents that help us to migrate from where we are to where we are going. It's easy to lose sight of the single butterfly.

Lesser Known Henge

Avebury, Wiltshire, UK Aug 6/17 - I'm in the land of mysterious stone formations and encircling henges. This one in Avebury is actually the largest in England. And one where you can still get up close and personal with the stones... Walk along a higher than imagined mound, built up from a deep ditch... Encounter a few sheep and Druid like characters... And ponder like generations before the reason behind it all. Nothing mystical to report other than the urge to get up and go for a run today.

The Structure of Things

Lacock, Wiltshire, UK - I find myself in a new county with a new story... And my own little part of that story evolving. I'm with a "mate" from the Camino exploring this old Abbey... turned home... turned museum... turned set for some scenes in Harry Potter. I wonder if the nuns, who came to this room faithfully each day to read one chapter from the bible, had ever contemplated such an eventuality. I wonder at my own series of events that brought me to this place... and the chapters to come.

Sand, Surf, Sun

Paignton Beach, Devon, UK - The essentials for the start of a good day. A bright, wave slapping, coastal walking kind of a day. Add in a thatched roof village, an art centre with working artisans and a woodland stroll. Top it off with over the top amusements including giant Ferris wheel and old fashioned merry-go-round and the day is done. Take out chips and one last walk on the beach while the sun goes behind a cloud and it's good night English Riviera.

Just Another Rainy Day

Kingswear, Devon, UK - What do you do when your head aches and it's pouring rain? On the south coast of Devon, you could go out, get soaked, hop on a bus, cross a river by ferry, go to the very pretty town of Dartmouth, visit the shops dripping wet, dry off and warm up with a latté and chocolate twist pastry, cross back on the ferry, and wait for the bus to take you back to your cosy room with the best hot shower. While waiting you could capture this shot of an old steam engine with a car with your name on it. Zoom in! "Elizabeth"... This was your day!

Evening Stroll

Goodrington, Devon, UK - Not everyday is a grand event, but everyday is new. Today I fell into pace with the name of my guesthouse, Lazy Days. Taking a gentle walk along the coast after feeling poorly early on. Very sad that my beautiful scrambled eggs and smoked salmon breakfast went mostly uneaten. Tragic! Hoping tomorrow's start will be better. Being well cared for here, nonetheless. Thankful for my comfy bed.