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Scotland

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18-23AUG2004 One of the things driving my schedule was my desire to see the Edinburgh Tattoo.  Three years ago in Rarotonga, I saw the final local presentation of the islanders of the show they would put on in Scotland and then shared the plane with the youth group on the first leg of their journey.  I decided then to see the show.

Checking on the internet I discovered the entire three weeks of performances were sold out.  But, they said, check the ticket office for last minute cancellations.  I managed to motor to the ticket office by luck and then my luck continued when I got the very last ticket for that nights performance.  True to form, it was raining when the performance started, but by mid-way through the drizzle stopped and the show went on.  I love pipes and drums and really enjoyed myself.  Trouble was, every budget bed in Edinburgh was booked and when the performance ended at 11pm I had to find a spot.  It was 40 miles north of Edinburgh and past 1am before I found a caravan park.  I pitched my tent and found out, to my chagrin, that the nightly charge was almost $22.  For a tent and a shower it seemed a bit steep.

The Highlands of Scotland were wild and beautiful and I did find some bargains.  A very comfortable B&B, with a full Scottish breakfast including haggis (don't ask) and black pudding (tasted like hush puppies) was only $30 a night.  

The highlight of my ride through Scotland was my visit to Applecross, a small town on the east coast.  The ride over the mountain on a one lane road was great and the food at the pub was good and the campsite by the ocean was free.  

I looked for the Loch Ness monster on the way to Glencoe.  No monster but some really beautiful scenery.  

I spent a long wet day riding to the ferry terminal south of Glasgow and caught the boat for Belfast.

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