On our last leg before heading home

by Johan - After that awesome hike with Andrea and Steve it was clear that "bike-fit" doesn't really cover "Munro-fit"... on day two after the hike we could barely walk and any hint of going up or down stairs would make us flinch... fare to say we avoided hiking for a few days.

We headed south towards Mull and across to Iona to visit Deborah's old stomping ground from the time she worked in Scotland for a few months. Mull has some beautiful sweeping valleys and the roads are pretty much all of the exciting 😳 single lane kind.

This is the cottage Deborah lived in with here fellow restaurant workers during her time in Iona (to the best of Deborah's memory anyway 😅)  Very idyllic indeed, right across from the beach. We could live here except the grey skies and horizontal rain that came in a few minutes later put me off somewhat.

We had lunch in the restaurant Deborah used to work in. It's right next to the ferry. We had to hustle because the ferry man had told us the seas were expected to get too rough to cross after 4pm. Apparently, although the ferry ride is only 10 minutes or so, the island gets cut off regularly due to the very fast currents and big waves that you need to cross.

Iona is a very small island with a small historic settlement that includes a famous Abbey; first built in wood around the year 500 (!) and then replaced by a stone building in 800. It was extended and upgraded a few times over the years and still standing strong. There is also a nunnery which was built in 1200 (so I guess it took the monks about 700 years before they got too lonely). Unfortunately it didn't venture as well as only some ruins remain.

It was time to be heading back to Aberdeen so we made our way back east via Oben and the Glencoe valley and Glencoe Mountain Ski fields. There is some pretty awesome scenery here. The Valley is steep and very impressive. Unfortunately no photos here because unfortunately the weather gods were against us and we choose to stay in the car and the ski cafe instead.

From Glencoe we continued East to Callander. We visited the Falls of Dochart and drove up into the high lands to visit the magical place of "Craigh na Dun" where Deborah wanted to step in Clair's footsteps and be whisked away back in time to meet Jamie Frazer in the 18th century.


There she is, waiting to be whisked away... unfortunately the real magic stones were only props used for the Highlander series. In reality there are only a few small natural stones but you can totally see why this site was chosen for the movie.

In Callandar we visited "Aunty Susan" and "Cousin" Lindsay.  Not our aunty and cousin but Catherine's and Graeme's. It was great to catch up with them again after meeting them in New Zealand some time ago. Susan treated us to some wonderful Scottish hospitality.

In Aberdeen we caught up with Andrea and Steve one last time for a dinner party with some of their friends and to pack up our bikes before the long trip home. 


A last glance - a surprise scenic flight around London as the plane from Aberdeen to Heathrow did a nice slow 360 turn around the City.

- - -

What an adventure this was. It had everything we wanted; adventure, scenery, exercise and good times with friends and family. After 4 and half months we looked forward to getting home and catch up with the kids and to give Ellie (our dog) her full flock back - for a little while anyway 😀.






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