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The United Kingdom of Great Britain
In October, 2006 we drove 1,719 miles (2,766 kilometres) throughout the U.K. Our route, as is typical of us, was unplanned and unscheduled - resulting in maximum spontaneity and enjoyment! Along the way we got a really close-up look at Wales, Scotland, England and everything in between - including the beautiful Scottish Lochs (Lakes), the lovely Welsh countryside, and a bit of "Beatlemania" at Liverpool and Abbey Road in England. As has been our experience around most of the world, the people of Great Britain treated the two of us with courtesy and kindness everywhere we went - we hope to return someday soon! |
Click Here for my pictures from England |
Click Here for our overnighter to Dublin... |
Click Here for our daytrip to France... |
Brexit
On Thursday, June 23, 2016 the people of the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union!
Eire and the United Kingdom |
Cymru (Wales)
We drove the width of Wales and found our small sample of their country a beautiful delight! Of course, Holyhead provided us access to Ireland and our final departure through Colwyn eventually took us up to Liverpool (the Beatles!) and then on into Scotland. Coincidently, Wales' largest city, Cardiff (Caerdydd), was declared the capital the very same year of my birth (1955). Wales is 20,779 km² (8,023 square miles), or slightly larger than Massachusetts. At the time of our visit the total population of Wales was just under 3 million, or about the same as Iowa or Mississippi at that time. |
Eire and the United Kingdom |
Alba (Scotland) Scotland was interesting on so many levels for us. Being from Colorado, we thoroughly enjoyed the more open spaces and natural Loch environments north of Edinburgh and Glasgow. Not to burden readers with too much controversy, but it was interesting to note that the Scots complained to us, a couple of times, that folks down south in England didn't always want to accept the Scottish Pound even though it's the legal equivalent of the English Pound. Also, some Scots advised us that they would like to have all of of Berwickshire back (located on the southeast coast) - an ancient county that has since been carved up into four districts of the "scottish Borders" region with a portion of the land left on the English side in the area of the River Tweed. |
Scotland Referendum
September 18, 2014
In an historic vote, Scots rejected independence with an unprecedented voter turnout of almost 85 percent. 55.3 Percent of Scots were against independence to the 44.7 percent in favor of it. This once-in-a-generation decision prevented a rupture of a 307-year union with England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Edinburgh Castle:
According to their official website, there's a thousand
years of history on Edinburgh Rock with a million visitors per year through the castle! While we were
there they began preparations for the filiming of the movie Death Defying Acts. Because
of the production the castle's famous lighting was kept off at night while we were there. As a result, we
believe it had a more authentic look - that's probably what they wanted for the movie!
Hiking:
We were hiking near Loch Long
and Loch Long - a bit wet but both were very enjoyable!
By the way, the song Bonnie Banks O' Loch Lomond
(You Take the High Road) is about this area!
Here's the first verse:
By yon bonnie banks, And by yon bonnie braes, Where the sun shines bright on Loch Lomond, Where me and my true love Were ever want to gae, On the bonnie, bonnie banks of Loch Lomond. |
Okay, here it is, months later, and I can't remember if this photo is of Loch Lomond or Loch Long! I'll research it further but would appreciate anyone's help if they can recognize the shoreline! |
Driving and Washing Clothes:
Yes, your humble webmaster did help (a little bit!) with the laundry!
John Muir's birthplace (Dunbar):
John Muir was the founder of America's Sierra Club and directly
responsible for saving Yosemite Valley and a lot of Wilderness!
Click Here for pictures of the Torness Nuclear power plant we visited in southwest Scotland (10 pix on the bottom of the page)... |
St. Abb's Head Lighthouse |
I also have some additional photos of the St Abb's Lighthouse, in southeast Scotland, near the bottom of my Maritime page... |
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