Long Ride to Inverness

Our day started early since we had a lot of ground to cover and a few places we wanted to stop and see.  We left Seahouses England on the first leg of our journey to St. Andrews, Scotland.  For you non golfers, St. Andrews is considered the birthplace of golf, so for Ellen, it was a must see.

Looking back from the green on the 18th hole, a scene we’ve seen many times on TV, it was pretty neat to live it in person.  The 1st and 18th holes are side by side so it looks like the world’s widest fairway.  I think even I could hit that!  Beautiful setting with a lot of history.

The famous bridge on the trip down the 18th fairway, lots of well known golfers from all around the world have crossed over this bridge, a special place!

On the road again to our next stop at Balmoral Castle.  The farther north, the colder it got and the smaller the roads!  Just an incredible drive and I’m guessing the first of many more over the next couple of days.

Pretty nice little garden.  Goes with a pretty nice house ……

Balmoral Castle, the Queens summer place!  She spends 10 weeks a year here between August and October.  We left our names, maybe we can get an invite!?!  It actually is a very nice castle, not too big and enough room for a few guests.  In 1848, Prince Albert bought the castle, then restored it, been in the family ever since.  It also comes with a bit of land too ….50,000 acres!  A truly stunning setting.

I walked back to the carpark along the river, I guess it’s the queens river too.  A really fun, long day.  We put in a bunch of miles to make it to Inverness for our over night stay.  Tomorrow we head south a little to the Isle of Skye.

Puffin picture of the day!

Yes, they’re so darn cute, I just have to slide one in every day!!