27 September 2001
The Bouwhuis's took this trip immediately following the Reunion on 15 September 2001.
It is going to be difficult to succinctly describe our 8 days in Scotland, but I'll be brief as possible. (who wants a long travelogue)?
Scotland was everything Elouise and I expected and much more. Our weather the first three or four days was perfect, clear blue skies and warm temperatures, 17° C, or 63° F. The tour went up the west side of Loch Lomond, gorgeous! We heard the story of "You take the high road & I'll take the low road and I'll be in Scotland, etc." The Bonny, Bonny banks of Loch Lomond.
The guide interspersed his dialogue with Scottish tunes from a couple of tapes. As we toured the Lochs and Glens he (the guide) told of the history of the Highlands, the bloody Campbells, the McGregors and others. Fascinating!
When the Scots were not fighting outsiders, notable the English, they fought each other. A fierce people inhabiting a fierce land. But, they were so warm and friendly to us.
Our first night on the road was in a small country hotel on the Isle of Skye. Our window opened out on the bay. We could hear the waves breaking on the rocky beach just at the base of the hotel's patio. Elouise & I watched the dawn coming from our window and sun rise while we ate breakfast in the dinning room just below our room.
After Loch Ness on the way to Inverness, we encountered showers. But even when the hills were crowned with clouds it was lovely. The clouds lent a mystic feeling to the tales of ancient deeds. The only monsters we saw were in gifts shops. Oh, shopping. Shopping was fun, Elouise loved that. (so did I.)
We stayed a night in Inverness, one in Braemar, a small village and two in Edinburgh. Toured castles, palaces and kirks (churches). More history and lore, and legend. [Brave Heart was a much bigger man than Mel Gibson. I have to rent that movie again]
On the way back to Glasgow the tour stopped at a woollen market. Great bargains in wool goods. Saw a show with sheep dogs, but no sheep. The collie herded ducks. Sheep couldn't be brought close to tourists, foot baths and more would have been required because of foot and mouth disease. Even so we saw many of the 30 million Scottish sheep in the country.
The entire tour group spent one final night in Glasgow, a few of us stayed one more day. Elouise & I went by train back through Edinburgh on the way to London Gatwick. We left with brains crammed with great memories, hearts warmed by the people we met.
It was a great time in be in the UK. The British in East Anglia treated us as well as anyone, anywhere I have traveled. I know we, personally and as a Nation, have true, fast friends on those sceptered isles. I will always remember singing a duet "We'll meet again" with the wife of the Mayor of Woodbridge.
Thank you Britain, thank you all.
Chris & Elouise Bouwhuis
PS. At no time did I experience fear because of world events. I felt some anxiety over cancellation of our flight home but our return went smoothly. Although check-in was lengthier, we had no problems. The USAirways agent even managed to get us onto an earlier flight (one hour) that came back through Pittsburg instead of Philadelphia. The aircraft had few empty seats, and the flight to Denver was full. Air traffic was heavy at Gatwick and Pittsburg. I was surprised by the tomb like atmosphere at the Denver airport. It was all but deserted, more like 3am instead of 8pm on a Tuesday night. This nation, our people need to get back to normal! If you change your habits or your life they have won!