Toscaig, Applecross peninsula, NW Scotland

[Sundae]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Wow, watch that full screen, sitting close. I can see why Hadrian said, screw it, build a wall.

The pull outs (lay bys?) are on both sides of the road, wherever there was room I suppose. So do you have a choice of pulling into one if it's on your side or stopping next to one if it's on the other side, so the oncoming driver can use it to get around you? I suppose the natives have an understood protocall, probably unwritten, but how does a tourist know the proper etiquette?

You may only pull into the passing point on your side of the road, but yes, if you see another vehicle approaching and the passing point is on their side, it would be sensible to stop opposite it. Depending on the terrain (line of sight)and the observation skills of the other driver, they will already have spotted you and be looking for a place to pass.
If you both value your paintwork and wing mirrors anyway.
(I haven't bothered to look it up in the Highway Code, but I'm fairly confident about it from my driving days)

Limes may disagree, because she lives in a place descended on by tourists, but I've always found visitors to be more careful drivers. They don't know the roads, and they know they don't know the roads. So they don't hammer their cars around blind bends or assume everyone else knows where the passing points are.

Limey, that's a wonderful place for holibags. But in October? Really?
You and Mr Limes must need to have some really house-shaking sex in order to go to such a remote place...

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by limey

People think that because I live on a Scottish island I am "remote" from "civilisation". In reality there are many, many places on the Scottish mainland which are far more remote than we are. And that's where Mr Limey and I like to holiday

When I was in Bermuda, tourist destination, I asked our touring cab driver where residents go when *they* want to be tourists. "New York City!"

[Undertoad]

Originally Posted by xoxoxoBruce

Bringing home a stag now and then can't be compared with having a butcher shop down the road. So I imagined they farmed some food, and raised highland cattle, horses, chickens, and for those long winter nights, sheep.

And after a few hundred years of this, having to figure out how to use every single edible piece of the animal, the renowned national dish is "a savoury pudding containing sheep's heart, liver and lungs; minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach."

[classicman]

Wow - very cool. My heart was racing just watching that.

Did anyone else notice the biker at the 2:50ish mark? EEEEK!

[DanaC]

Originally Posted by Undertoad

And after a few hundred years of this, having to figure out how to use every single edible piece of the animal, the renowned national dish is "a savoury pudding containing sheep's heart, liver and lungs; minced with onion, oatmeal, suet, spices, and salt, mixed with stock, and traditionally encased in the animal's stomach."

And man, is it tasty.

[xoxoxoBruce]

The secret is the disconnect between the taste and thinking about the disgusting ingredients.

My mother refused to have anything to do with Haggis, so to placate Grandma when she came for Sunday dinner, Mom would make a concoction she called "scotch ham". No, there was no alcohol involved, ground up civilized(ham,shoulder,bacon) pig parts boiled in a cheesecloth sack. Of course keeping with the New England Yankee tradition, no spices. You get salt & pepper, and like it, goddamnit.

[limey]

Ahem.
Mr Limey and I went for a walk today. It started at "the car park where the turn off for the submarine testing station is." (I put that in for xoB's benefit. ) Because I am so unfit we only managed about a third of the intended distance but it did involve a significant climb of about 600 feet in less than a mile so I feel that I have achieved something.
I took a couple of photos which don't show the elevation (or the submarine testing station) at all.



Sent by thought transference

[xoxoxoBruce]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, you gotta take a break sometime. Eat, take a short walk to limber up, then back to business.
However, thanks for the pictures.

[Griff]

pretty

[fargon]

Moar pix.

[limey]

As you wish, Fargon!
Here is the little harbour down the road from us:

And here are a couple of shots from our walk yesterday. The land on the other side of the water are the Isles of Skye and Raasay:




Sent by thought transference

[Griff]

stunning

[xoxoxoBruce]

These pictures might inspire someone to volunteer for the Mars trip. At first glance it looks almost desolate, but with a beauty in the expanse and subtle texture/color, all it's own. Then looking closely there's a million details in the flora, mosses, lichen, and tiny plants striving for survival on every surface.
This and a friendly sheep, would be paradise for a writer, at least in the warmer half of the year.
Limey, in addition to all your other talents, you're one hell of a photographer.

[classicman]

Those are beautiful.

[limey]

xoB - the photographer was Mr Limey . He is also fond of sheep.


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