Ottawa at Large

Wandering about Ottawa . . .

Today we set out to wander around Ottawa . . . with a sense of game day anticipation in the air.  Ottawa was quite obviously an American city for the day as everywhere we went we saw people wearing red, white, and blue.  We found a trail behind the government buildings that led to a lovely walk along the St. Lawrence where we climbed over some locks on the canal, checked out the outdoor exhibits at the National Gallery of Canada, and ended up at the high point checking out the views of Ottawa and Gatineau by the Champlain Statue.  We then wandered through the ByWard Market area until finding a pub, that was really like five pubs sharing the same building.  We also discovered that the pub complex had at least one set of washrooms for each member of our party.  After eating we did a little shopping in the open air stalls on our way back to the hotel to prep for the big game!

Hear no, See no, Speak no . . . Did you Really think J wouldn't peak?

The fellowship of the football.

Canada Bound!

Last night we collected J from the airport and headed north! Five exhausting miles later we reached Center City Philly our not too ambitious goal for night 1.  We grabbed a few drinks and crashed with K to charge up.  

Today we set out early and after finally making it out of Philly traffic began making real progress in our northward trek. 

Riding our noble steeds northward.

We were briefly side-tracked in rural PA by signs advertising the world’s largest General Store and had to investigate.  After more than an hour, we found our way out of the maze of dollar-store items, Halloween decorations, Michael Jackson statues, and assorted Americana before finally making our way outside . . . to spend another 30 minutes in the barnyard maze.  Overall an interesting experience. 

General store fun.

Parliament at night.

First Ottawa views.

Back on the road, we made good time, crossing New York and into Ontario in the Thousand Islands   area (worthy of a followup visit).  Eventually we found our way into Canada’s Capital, and with some strong navigation work from J and K (overtones of “Men in Black”) drove right up to our home for the next two days, the Ottawa Marriott.  After grabbing glasses of whiskey and getting the lay of the land from the balcony in the Concierge Lounge, we headed out on the town checking out the Parliament Building and a few assorted sights, before settling in at a local microbrewery for some poutine, dinner, and yes a few beers.  One last stop at the hotel bar delivered nightcaps, the end of a jazz set (part of the Ottawa Jazz Festival), and some “interesting” company (sorry J).

Busy Day!

End Credits

Thanks to:
New Garmin GPS- for always taking us down Interesting roads we may not have discovered on our own, even if you disagreed with our choice of scenic routes to St. Anthony. Also, thanks for automatically re-routing us around snarly traffic on the way to the airport.

Our Ford S-Max rental car- for the nice ride even on challenging roads and wet conditions. If they made you in the US (with the steering wheel properly on the right) I would consider driving you.

Apartment/cottage rentals - you were cozy AND had washing machines!

Bus number 8 - For allowing us to see more of Edinburgh than our feet were willing to take us.

The folks at Radio 2 - You were brilliant, with your completely random music selections, all request Fridays, and silly quizzes.  Thanks for being very entertaining, even when you weren't playing music. 

Cameras - All four of you for documenting the good times, the beautiful sites and for providing proof that yes...we were there.  Thanks also to the camera phones.

Shawn- for being our designated driver and staying on the left.

Candy- for being an excellent travel companion and for doing all the dishes while we were on Skye. You're awesome!

Things I Will Miss about Britain

Shawn's List

- Sausage and Mustard Crisps (where have you been all my life)

- Hand-pulled Beers

- Fish and Chips

- Paralympics Coverage

- Single Malt Whiskey Fudge

- Diesel Cheaper than Gas

- Cask-conditioned ales cheaper than Budweiser

Best of...

Best brew - Organic Porter from Black Isle Brewing Co. (Inverness)

Best Fish and Chips (also best split peas) - Masons Arms Pub (Warminster)

Best Overall Meal - Red Skye Restaurant and the Claymore (Skye)

Best local experience - watching football at the Heron pub (London)

Best Castle - Edinburgh Castle

Favorite accommodation - Rental cottage on Skye

Favorite Inn - Dalesway Hotel

Favorite Hotel - Breadsall Priory

Most unexpected experience - Seeing memorial to Ianto Jones
Seeing Dr. Who premier in Britain

Most challenging road -....England....

Highlights Candy - Skye and Dr. Who experience, roman baths

Highlights Shawn - hiking old man of Storr, sea glass beach, Bolton Abby

Highlights Sara - hiking the old man of Storr, Chatsworth, Stonehenge

Oldest site - Stonehenge

Favorite livestock experience - herding sheep

Most underwhelming experience - deep sea takeout (Edinburgh)

Best Paralympic show - The Last Leg (channel 4)

Favorite Loch - Loch Lochy

Best radio - BBC 2

Best mode of transportation - London Underground

-- Post From Sara's iPhone

Last Day in Scotland :-(

Sadly we woke today knowing it would be our last full day in Scotland.

Following last minute heroics to save our drying laundry from a surprise shower...we rushed about the house and located the various sundries drying on every hook and doorknob. Then packed up, waved good bye to our amazing rental and left Skye.

We made a quick stop at Dunvegan Castle to stock up on Scotch flavored fudge and made our way to Loch Lomond and The Trussochs. We were rewarded with wonderful views of the Loch and Mountains, but being a bit travel-wary didn't stray far from the car.

We arrived in Glasgow in the late afternoon, checked in to the Marriott. While Mom watched the Tele, Sara and I walked around downtown. Surprisingly we got to pose by the Olympic Rings, something we missed in London, walked the streets in a flood of happy kilt-clad football fans following a victory, and encountered and oddly dressed statue... I was very impressed by Glasgow and Hope to head back again.

We grabbed our final dinner F&C at a local Chippie and watched Dr. Who before settling in to rest up for our morning flight to Newark.

For Auld Lang Syne,
~Shawn


-- Post From Shawn's iPhone

Location:Glasgow, Scotland

High

This morning the sun was out again...mostly. We were all determined to take advantage of it to go hike up to the rock called the Old Man of Storr.

A few years ago, I read an article in a National Geographic Magazine, about the Hebrides. In true NatGeo style, the photos were stunning. There was one in particular, of the Old Man of Storr, that inspired me so much it has been the background on my computer ever since. I never get tired of it. So today, one way or another, I was going up that mountain. Happily, everyone else was up for the challenge as well.

When we got there, the evidence of yesterdays rain was on everyone's shoes. The first part of the trail was a convenient drainage route for the water off the mountain and we were wishing we had wellies with which to slog through the many inches of mud. "But it's just mud", we thought.

A forest restoration project was going on, which is nice, but it meant we had to share this part of the mountain with some heavy equipment. So while we thought we could slug through some mud, we we got to what could only be called a mud river, created by the tacks of the forestry vehicles, we had to take a few minutes to determine the best way of crossing. We WERE crossing. A few logs for crossing and a little mud later, we were over and the trail started to dry out.

The trail went up gradually sometimes, other times, not so much, but there were brilliant views at every turn. It was so nice to be breathing fresh air and getting some exercise after spending so much time driving and touring. I'm so proud of Candy who trooped up that mountain like a pro. We climbed until we got to the tree line and the rocky out crops the call the Old Man, were on display above us.

The trail from this point looked more like a stair way than a trail. Candy decided to enjoy the view from a nice rock near by, while Shawn and I made for the rocks above.

It was such a beautiful day and such a beautiful place. We couldn't resist climbing up all the way to the base of the Old Man, where I could use some of my new rock climbing skills. :)

Once there I looked out and saw the view I had been staring at on my computer for years. The rocks, the cliffs, the green grassy mountainside, leading to the forest...then the ocean. But we could see more. The neighboring Island of Rassay, and even mainland Scotland. There are not words to adequately describe the wonder of it all. But it is if all the beautiful things we have seen all along this trip were only previews of this place.

- Sara