Scotland, Spring 2016 #1

I AM BLESSED

I Am Blessed with the world’s most understanding wife.

Anne at Monifieth GC between snow showers.

One who accepts my foibles, 

will put on a down jacket to play golf with me in the freezing cold,

who is willing to try any hair-brained activity I think up.

I Am Blessed with a great family when I didn’t get a choice.

I Am Blessed with more friends who recognized my birthday than years I am old.

I Am blessed with the ability to look back on a career where

I got to touch positively dozens of lives.

I Am Blessed with the opportunity to travel to an adopted land,

It's spring in Sma'Glen about 10 minutes from our home base in Crieff.

visit my adopted family,

Anne and our adopted sister Jacky at the Lounge for dinner.

      just because I want to.

I Am Blessed with the chance to engage in a second career

where I can play a game,

write about it, 

and get to play more…for free.

Monifieth GC on Scotland's east coast.

I Am Blessed to have known some loving pets—

George, Myko, Waveet, Attica, and others.

And I Am Truly Blessed to have both the mental and physical faculties

       to still enjoy where life takes me. 

And Speaking of Blessed…

When in Dornoch in Scotland’s far north, Anne and I heard about a special local lad.  Michael, an energetic seven year old, was on his way home from chanter practice (beginning bagpipes) when he ran across a major road without looking.  He was struck and suffered severe head injuries.  At first it wasn’t known if he’d survive.  When his life wasn’t any longer in danger, it was questionable whether he’d ever walk or speak. Today, he is relearning speech and is starting to walk again.  The whole Dornoch community has been super supportive of Michael and his family—Michael’s mother works in the local school cafeteria.  

Michael flanked by his father and mother and backed by nine massed pipe bands.

        On the one evening we were in Dornoch on this trip our B&B host told us about Michael and about a pipe band march to be held as a fund-raiser for the family.   When we went out to watch the pipe band march we were surprise to see the town of 1200 filled with 3,000 to 4,000 people lining the main street.  

Dornoch waits for the bands.

Nine pipe bands from all over Caithness and Sutherland (the two Scottish northwest shires) were massing at one end of the street.  The combined bands marched down the street then turn back on themselves and marched back up to the top.  

And here they come. Talk about loud!

The pipe major takes his job seriously, seriously.

They did this for several sets of marches while volunteers walked through the crowds collecting donations.

It was inspiring to watch the broad community come together in support of a local lad.  And for us, it was absolutely thrilling to listen to and watch the combined bands.

The Weather

We picked up our rental Toyota Auris Hybrid at Arnold Clark’s near the Edinburgh airport and started to drive to Crieff where we spend most of our time when in Scotland.  We hadn’t driven but a few miles when it started snowing…on April 25th.  This was the start of our spring trip.  

Sma'Glen and the River Almond.

The next day on the golf course at St Fillans we were putting on the third green when it started sleeting.  The showers didn’t last long, but I had had on only a short sleeve shirt and vest.  

The Highlands

On the third day of our trip we were scheduled to play Monifieth GC on Scotland’s east coast near Carnoustie.  It was a day of take off your jacket when the sun was out because it was warm, put on your jacket when a cloud covered the sun, button up your jacket when it started snowing or sleeting, take off your jacket when the shower passed and the sun came out again.  

The Highlands, the next day.

Finally, as we were half way up the 18th hole it started snowing hard enough to pile up on the green.  We picked up our white balls and walked in.  

Glen Quaich

In Durness in the far northwest corner of Scotland we didn’t have any snow, but we did get drenching showers that came at us sideways from forty mile an hour winds.  And with temperatures about 4C (38F), the wind chill was well below freezing.  On the Orkney islands we had the same cold rain and wind. And then it changed.  

A small Highland village, Amulree.

We are now in the Highlands at our Aviemore time share and we’ve gone in two days from the low 40s to the mid 70s (which feels like 80s).  But who said anything about climate change! 

A Special Whisky Tasting

On our way from Crieff to the north we planned to take a special whisky distillery tour, part of the Speyside Whisky Festival.  We booked a tour of Speyside Distillery near Kingussie.  

Speyside Distillery

The distillery isn’t usually open for tours, but was opening as part of the festival.  Last year we had been introduced to the distillery’s product on a special whisky tasting tourist train, so were anxious to tour the distillery.  

A Copper Pot Still

Pot Still Details

The tour wasn’t as formal as most organized tours.  Instead, we got to wander the working distillery and take photos which is usually not allowed. At the end of the tour we got to taste five different Speyside Distillery products.  These are very special whiskies, absolutely not available in the US with only limited availability in the UK.  Most of the distillery’s production is sold in the Orient where it is very popular.  The rest is sold in Europe.  

The whisky served by the Royal Family.

Some of the most special of the whiskies are reserved for the Royal family who serve them at State functions and in their residences, such as Balmoral Castle and Holyrood Palace.  As I said, this was a special tasting.

Note: I've notice my hiccup pattern has recently changed, from three in a row to four.  Is the extra hiccup a perk of turning 71?