Wrapping up our Scotland trip at Arran

We spent a few days on the Isle of Arran, a lovely island near Glasgow. It is peaceful and so beautiful. They say it is like "Scotland in Miniature" since you can experience a variety of sights here.

There were a number of the friends and family spending some time here. Some were in a bed and breakfast, or a rental house, and a couple was camping (Robin and Celia Cook). We started out two days in a bed and breakfast we loved, then went to a hotel (since the B&B had a prior reservation).

We had great fun with 'the gang'. There was a cookout behind a rental house, and later we played Quizzies, which is used with the British version of Trivial Pursuit, but just two teams (men vs women) answering questions. Because it was the British version, I was stumped on many many questions, but when something came through with an American twist, they all turned to me or Bill! Lots of laughs.

We toured a whiskey distillery there, and took a drive around the island thanks to Jim and June Maitland who were so kind to us.

Here are some photos:

Playing 'quizzies'. The men's team. It was a close match!

We saw sheep everywhere. This was a sweet mom/daughter.

'the gang'... Mark and Alison Cooney at back left, Robin and
Celia Cook at front. In the back right table, Jim Maitland is
standing and his wife June is at the far right. The couple in the
center are Alison's parents, 

Mark and Alison Cooney

Celia and Robin Cook, who visited Pana last year

Hugh and Ann (Alison's parents) in the middle, and June and
Jim Maitland, their long-time dear friends, on the
outside. Hugh and Ann kindly let us stay in their flat while
we visited (and they were in Arran); and Jim and June
shuttled and toured us around. We were so well-cared-for!

Arran Distillery:

Local deer:

Sheep were everywhere. This was a sweet mother/daughter!

A sign in a hotel restroom:

The last day:

Mark and Alison

Mark and Alison, Bill, and Robin and Celia Cook

a sweets shop

We toured Brodick Castle. Photos were not permitted inside, but it's an amazing history!

And Scotch whiskey is not the only beverage consumed here:

We stopped for a bite and a beverage before saying our goodbyes:

Menu

Bill and Nancy

You know them by now... such fun!

Bill and Mark

Nancy and Bill with Alison

But we were SO GLAD to be home!

Bill with Jasmine, Alison's cat that we are
'cat-sitting'. We love her! 

Our 'haul'. The tea-towels are fun, with Scottish sayings. Several
bottles of Scotch and some yummies. 

When we got back, I was so exhausted for a few weeks. I'm just now getting back to almost normal (written on July 14, a month after returning). Maybe it was the altitude here (5200 feet above sea level) or travel exhaustion or some bug, but I just crashed. So I'm happy to have a bit more energy now, enough at least to catch up!

But we'll treasure our memories of Scotland. We made dear friends and loved the beauty there. We'd love to go back to see a bit more of Scotland, including going up north to see Inverness (and Mark's parents near there!) and other adventures. We'll be back sooner or later, Scotland!