Category Archives: Ullapool

Wednesday, May 13

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We are home quite late after a long day, but I’m going to do my best to write and post everything tonight. Otherwise I fear I might forget things (if I haven’t already.)

We woke to some of what I call “nothing music” on my phone. Turns out that when I put my sleep watch away it then plays the alarm on my phone. Normally it’s just the haptic thing I feel on my wrist. (One of the reasons I do like to use that watch and haptic is because if I’m sleeping on my side and my left ear is what should hear an alarm I simply won’t hear it — silly almost deaf ear!) We took a bit of time rising, but the noise below us was growing louder: we are right above the breakfast room, it seems!

We dressed and went down and Dan had the Scottish while I have the vegetarian breakfast. I neglected to take a photo of the breakfast room or our thrilling breakfast. You will have to use your imagination. But here — have a menu.

The four men behind me were in heavy garb and we heard their motorcycles later: the NC500 is a popular ride for motorcyclists, as Dan had told me.

After breakfast we went up to prepare for our drive. We will head south a bit today I think. The blogs and articles I’ve read suggest at least a week for the NC500, and some suggest even longer. I’m sure we won’t do the all of it, but we’ll certainly hit a lot of spots. (The actual map for the drive begins and ends in Inverness and we do end there since that’s where we return the car on Saturday, and we did start out from there as well: we just inserted Isle of Skye into the mix.)

The first map I set up for the car was to Gairloch.

We started out by heading down a street here we hadn’t yet been on.

From there it was out of the village, and while I’m not sure I should bother naming all the villages I’ll start by doing so. (I may run out of energy.)

Lochluichart:

Dundonnell (the small plant caught my eye … no clue what it was):

Laide:

Poolewe:

I’ve seen these “Elderly People” signs a number of places. They bug me. But sort of crack me up, too. Sure, I think an elderly woman who is hunched over should follow and hold on to the back of a man who also can’t stand up straight and must walk with a cane. Makes perfect sense.

We arrived in Gairloch, where we wanted to stop for what we now call “non-lunch”. We found this rather interesting coffee shop/bookstore. Lots of things about John Muir. A lot about Bob Marley, too. And a lot of anti-Trump things. We ordered scones (that didn’t really seem scone- like) and coffees. Then we found (finally) an actually NC500 map in the bookstore so we picked that up as well.

And now I’m confused because the next photos also say we are back in Poolewe. Hm. Maybe we did turn around for a bit. Or maybe my brain is befuddled. Or maybe both. You choose.

It started to rain while we were driving by Loch Maree. What a shock. Who knew it would rain in Scotland?!

There were lovely trees as we drove by Kinlochewe.

We stopped in what the iPhone says is Annat due to a mountain with snow on top that was lovely. It’s interesting to see the snow-topped mountains here. I also have seen several signs that say “Private Fishing”. No problem for us as we most definitely don’t fish.

Here are shots from Kenmore:

Arinna (assuming the iPhone is correct, but that’s the case with nearly all these images and who knows for sure?):

And we reached our next goal: Applecross. Yes, I was scared of the road, but it turned out to be mostly okay going to the place. And we say more hair coo! One even came running up to the fence, but I wasn’t yet out of the car so I missed that, as well as the running all of them did at one point. And those beasts are speedy! We also saw deer.

We thought we might get dinner in Applecross but there wasn’t much there and the one restaurant that had indoor seating had no openings at all. So instead we opted to find our way back to Ullapool. Little did I know that that was when the drive would get scary for wimpy me! I will post photos and videos below, but please know they look like a breeze. But on a skinny road with drop offs on the side and the occasional car or van coming toward you on a one lane road is SCARY. Honest! But there were also pretty views at times. So there’s that. Some of this is from the area called Kishorn, and some Sutherland and Ross

Dan indulged me and stopped (ON the road) so I could shoot this rhododendron, but I MUST get more shots of some plants, as some are so covered in flowers you can’t see anything but a big poof of color. Truly amazing. This one, though, was just so tall, so I put my phone out the window and shot looking up.

In Ledgowan we spotted a rainbow. (Later there was a double rainbow but I could easily shoot it.)

After about 1 1/2 hours we reached Ullapool. Whew. One incredibly day with scary drives and all. Dan is my driving hero!

Once we put things into our room we walked down to dinner. Nothing super special, but I told Dan he deserved his beer (and more, but he stuck to just that).

Tomorrow we again move on. We will still be doing the NC500, though. Stay tuned!

Oh … and NO stats for today. For one thing I forgot to even wear my watch but, more significantly, we simply walked very little and it’s not worth posting. So I’m not going to bother writing that I walked a measly 3,246 steps, went 1.37 miles, and climbed 3 flights. Because no one needs to know that.

Right?

G’night!

Tuesday, May 12 — Moving Day

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Rise ‘n shine, it’s moving day!

Last night I checked the map and did a bit of research to figure out our route to the next destination. One place we could drive to on our way might be one of those at the edge of a cliff drives. Something I’d never do, but something I could see Dan was tempted to do. I’m not one to say “absolutely not!” so I had to just breathe deep and let him decide.

But first, breakfast. Being here for three nights meant three breakfasts (see how fabulous my math skills are?) and I do something different each day. Today was my simplest: scrambled eggs and smashed avocado on toast. As it turned out, there were two pieces of toast, one with the avocado and one with the eggs. I wasn’t even tempted by the sweet rolls or croissants today. Yep, I was a good girl. For once.

As we were sitting at the table I noticed my watch band was breaking. Again. I had noticed a few days ago that it wasn’t in good shape, but managed to push things back together. Showing it to Dan he suggested I would lose the Apple watch if I kept attempting to use the band, so I had to switch to my “night watch” band. (Yeah, I brought both — I have been tracking my sleep.) Well, the night watch band is pink. PINK. I do not wear pink. Pink is not me. But I guess it is now, and I will stop tracking my sleep (which is probably a good thing anyway since my watch tells me I’m not doing a good job sleeping and I don’t like being reprimanded).

Okay … rambling over … as was breakfast.

Back to the room we went, to get ready to head on out. Packing this trip has been quite easy: when I packed at home I had room to spare which means that even as things in the suitcase get larger as we go (ever notice how everything expands when you travel? Not just one’s body, but everything in the suitcase as well!) I have no issue zipping it up. I was quickly packed, although I had to wait for someone to brush his teeth since I’m the Carrier Of The Toothbrush. (This is one very important assignment and I carry it out perfectly, just so you know.)

Packing done, we checked out of Redwood House and went on our way.

We had to stop one last time on our little 1 lane road to the Redwood House … I mean, really, how could we not say goodbye to a lamb or two, and the tree said, “Shoot me, shoot me!” so I complied. And that sign? Well DUH!

Goodbye Isle of Skye!

Well, sort of. We did have to get petrol (see how British I’ve become already — maybe they’ll let us stay?!). As Dan filled the tank I took a few shots of these little cars. Just because.

A few shots in what the iPhone tells me was Carbost.

One small waterfall image after a short bit of driving:

I had read about Lean To Coffee when I was planning our trip, so we opted to stop there. Besides, the coffee at the Redwood House was less than stellar. Now we are supposed to do a two meal a day thing, but a “tiny” pastry and coffee don’t count as anything at all, right? Um. Right.

And over the bridge we went.

We drove on. First it was Duirinish …

Then Plockton …

Then somewhere above Loch Carran.

Here we are, according to the iPhone anyway, at Ardheslaig …

And then Shieldaig, where I made another pink flower photo which the phone identified at Pedicularis Sylvatica or, commonly, small lousewort. Poor flower. I think it deserves a better name.

We pulled over at Benin Eighe and Lock Marie Islands National Nature Reserve. Now don’t worry, I won’t test any readers on the names of these spots later. But of course I’m sure you’re trying to memorize them.

Because our watch’s weather apps told us it wouldn’t rain it rained. This was at Lochrosque if my map GPS on the phone was correct.

Lochluichart was a bit before we arrived at our next village.

And then … hello Ullapool! Our room is very simple, with two small twin beds. We take what we can get, and if I can’t tell if the bed is queen size or larger I go for two twins.

After settling in, we went off in search of dinner. We headed down toward the water.

We could have done pizza, but that just felt oh so wrong when one is in a place that has seafood. The next place we looked at had no spot for us for over an hour. So we walked more, and finally landed at The Seaforth. We had a short wait, and that was fine. I finally had my Cullen Skink soup (thanks to a recommendation by my friend “DK” … thanks!), and Dan had salmon. It was all yummy!

After dinner we walked just a short bit.

And now we are in the little lounge area of our small hotel. It’s peaceful and quiet, and I can finish up this blog and post it. For me this is pretty early to get it finished. Whew!

As to walking … wellllll … I certainly didn’t do well today, and while we have the rental car who knows what will happen. So it goes.

Tomorrow I’m assuming we will do some of what they call the NC500 (North Coast 500). Stay tuned … and now goodnight!

6,568 steps, 2.71 miles, 5 flights climbed