Monday, 27 September 2010

20 Sep -- Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness, Fort George and Clava Cairns, Scotland

Day three...

 Urquhart Castle on Loch Ness.

 Lean into the wind...



Maybe we will use the umbrella later.

Charlie spots some peculiar ripples in the water!

Henry gets onboard with the search for Nessie.

Most impressive.

Oooh Charlie.

Oooh Daniel.

 At Fort George, Charlie took up patrol.






Do not adjust your screen...these colors are for real.


 Nap time.

 ...or not.






 The Clava Cairns are from about 2,500 B.C.  Crazy.

19 Sep -- Elgin Abbey, Spynie Castle, Balvenie Casle, Scotland

Day 2 in Scotland and not a moment to lose.

Elgin Abbey.



I asked Charlie to give me a kiss and this is what I got.  Love it.


Why buy water when it rains?



 Spynie Castle was a couple miles from Elgin Abbey and well worth the stop.


 Charlie loved picking flowers and handing them to Anna and me.

 Jane's expression here looks like a teenager.

 Charlie and Jane do battle.


 Third stop of the day...Balvenie Castle.

 Time to dry off...

 ...and jump for joy.

 On the way back to our place, we stopped for a roadside pic...

...and then some.

Back at the lodge we had time for a game or two.

Sunday, 26 September 2010

18 Sep -- Caerlaverlock, Craignethan, Stirling and Elcho Castles...Scotland Day 1

After driving to just south of the Sottish border, we woke up and drove north to one of our favorite castles of the trip, Caerlaverlock Castle. 

Castle #1 Caerlaverlock Castle.  Sweet moat.


 Charge!

 This was the usual--we had the castle to ourselves...except for Stirling Castle.


 Henry blended right in with the flag on his head wrap.
 Castle #2: We continued north onto Craignethan Castle.  Craignethan Castle was cool because it was divided into three distinct sections.


 Charlie reenacts the crazy stuff that went on this basement.

 He let his imagination get the best of him.

 I helped Jane's imagination a bit.

 So cute.


 Henry spent most of the days in a carrier, kept warm a by a custom knit hat from a friend and Anna's fleece.

 Castle #3: Stirling Castle.  It was very impressive as we drove up to it.

 The view from the top was awesome.  We feel the castle didn't really have to much to offer our family other than the view, one large main hall, and ice cream.

 Jane isn't camera shy...

 ...while Charlie prefers to dash.

 Castle #4: Elcho Caslte.

 Nice quiet area.

The drive to the north to our lodge was breathtaking.