Just to begin, I’ve been sitting in my car at a standstill for about an hour now. My google maps is downloaded and offline, so doesn’t know anything about traffic and it sent me this way but we (I’m including google) didn’t understand that there’s construction going on — which can severely delay traffic! And there was an alternate marked just a few minutes slower, which I obviously should have taken. Oh well, I’m next to a Loch, there’s a big waterfall next to me, and there’s nothing I can do about it. And all the cars around me are surprisingly chill.

Well, after an hour’s wait, I moved on but it made my 3-hour drive to Inverness take 4 hours. The good thing is that I have no schedules or obligations (except to my Airbnb host) so I read stuff on my phone, admired the scenery, and snacked on in-car munchies. There was even a port-a-potty ahead of me (for the construction workers no doubt) though for once I didn’t need to go! And funnily, after all the construction was a sign apologizing for the construction delays. The Scots are polite!

In any case, today I started my last day on Skye at the fairy glen in Uig. They may call it fairy glen but it totally looked like a hobbiton to me! I don’t see that Tolkien spent time in Scotland but I’m definitely getting a hobbit feel — except that everything was wet and slick and hobbit holes are supposed to be dry! Regardless, it was pretty and I climbed a smallish hill called Ewan Castle (even though it’s a natural edifice — no Ewan created it) to get these views. Underneath the “castle” it was rocky but also spongy…This spot actually reminded me of the trolls in Frozen (perhaps I watch too many movies?). The whole area was quite variable and different than its surroundings — they said it sort of represented, in miniature, an area called Quiraing. And for some reason tourists are convinced that if you arrange rocks in a certain way, fairies will grant your wishes. Apparently this is pissing off the locals because they keep removing the rocks. But a few were there today. You have to look hard but there are a few “crop circles” in this photo and some rock piles spelling a name I think.

I took a lot more photos there (it did have a mystical quality) but the last thing I want to highlight for now was my encounter with sheep. Five to be exact. I started stalking them around this one hill. One did not look pleased to see me though nothing really stops them from just chewing. I think their motto is KEEP CALM AND CHEW ON. I mean I saw them on the sides of roads, actually on roads, and in pelting wind and rain (which I was told gusted up to 50 mph yesterday while I was out battling the elements) — and they never looked perturbed nor stopped chewing. Although I did see one slip today which was pretty funny. It was quite muddy but I didn’t think a 4-legged native would have any problems! Perhaps I was distracting him. And to complete the sheep photos, I did stop to take this one as I was driving by — it was a good view of the outer Hebrides — though the photo of the islands didn’t work, here’s the one of the sheep just before they crossed the road. Finally, I made two quick stops on Skye before leaving — on the most northeast side of the Isle. There are quite a few waterfalls and cliffs that apparently are lately producing Jurassic-era fossils. Footprints more than bones. But interesting nonetheless. I think there’s a museum with some of the findings which I’ll have to see at a future visit! Here’s a few of the final Skye photos of Kilt Rock (named because it looks like it has a kilt pattern on it– though I think you’d see it better from the water) and both Mealt and Lealt Falls. Lealt goes into this huge gorge — the end of which has some beach area and weirdly, a dynamiting station– ok I’m not sure about this cause there were a lot of people at the sign and I wanted to move on. You’ll have to look it up but if you look at the photos there are old stone structures below. I don’t know why. I did get to Inverness and walked around a bit but I think I’ll add it to the blog tomorrow. It’s not even 10 pm and I’m falling asleep as I type! I was up late last night (too much strong tea!) so it’s time for bed!! I can’t even think straight so I’m not proofing this post.

Good night and sweet dreams!!