October 1 we picked up the rental car, which turned out to be compact vs the full size we had reserved. That was not a bad thing as the roads were so narrow a small car was just fine. Discovered roundabouts, cars parked just about everywhere, left handed shifting, red and green lights at the same intersections...just the joys of international driving. Drive to Loch Ness |
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Almost got the hang of left sided driving on the drive up the coast to Anstruther and the Scottish Fisheries Museum. Nice little museum, and had some great fish & chips in this quaint village. This is the museums's Reaper, an 1890's dipping lug rigged Fife fishing vessel. |
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The Cameron Cottage at the start of Loch Ness would be our home for next 4 days. The cottage was on the marathon course at mile 16.5, which really wasn't ideal. Not so much for tempting a break during the race, but for the fact that it was right at the base of a nasty hill that continued for 2 miles. So every time we drove from the cottage we groaned as we made our way up that hill. |
Here are some views of the Loch, always changing, dead calm on our arrival. Sometimes we'd think we see things in the distance, breaking the surface, probably just a fish, or branch. (mouse over) |
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We explored Inverness on Friday and Urquhart Castle which was on the other side of the Loch. Built in the 1300's and fought over by various clans and the English until it was destroyed in 1660 |
It wasn't all hiking and sightseeing, as Holly demonstrates how to enjoy a cup of tea while relaxing at the cottage. |
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And next to the cottage was the Dores Inn where they had a nice menu featuring a selection of local produce and ales disproving the notion of bland Scotish food. (But none of us attempted the Haggis, Neeps and Tatties.) |
And next to the Dores Inn was the "famous" Loch Ness Research trailer. (Well, we've seen it on the telly anyway.) The guy lived in the trailer for 15 years until he met a lady with a pad in Inverness and hasn't been seen much since. So now we know why there hasn't been a confirmed sighting of Nessie--blame it on a woman! |
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Highland Sheep, gives new meaning to being horny |
The day before the marathon, the Loch got nasty. Reported wind gusts to 70 mph, white caps with foam flying. Rainbows would decorate the sky between the squalls |
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The winds died down just before dawn on race day as the full moon set behind the last remaining clouds. |
Race day was about as perfect as it could have been weatherwise. Other than sitting for 2 1/2 hours on the bus to the 50 minute late start it was great. The most scenic course we've ever run with not a flat section to be found and a few decent hills. We all finished and have race stories to tell. If you click on the photos above it will take you the offical race photo site where they have short videos of the finish, just enter our last names to get to our finishes. (Notice Susan smiling, guys gasping, how does she do it?) |
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Once Steve quit chanting "never again," we drove back to the cottage and had our last meal at the Dores Inn. Monday morning we repacked and headed south for Glasgow. |