I was cleaning out my desk and I found an old travel journal I had kept during a trip to the UK and Ireland and Scotland from a few years ago. This had been the first time I had returned to England after being expelled for working without a permit back in the late ’80s. (I have been back a few times more since) But I thought I would share the journal and some pictures with you all.
Had so much fun in Liverpool, I so wish I could have stayed longer, but I only have a few days left and I really want to see Scotland. The plan is to take the train to Edinburgh and switch trains there and head to Fort William. I’ve heard so many travelers talk about how beautiful the Isle of Skye is and would like to see it. The problem is, I only have four days left before my flight out. I know I am possibly doing a disservice by trying to cram so much into such a short time. But I may never come by this way again and slow travel is just not in my budget. There were a couple of attractive women my age on the train who set right by me, but I was much too scared to chat with them so I just spent the time reading.
Edinburgh looks really interesting but I just don’t have the time to check it out now but I want to spend my final day here before heading for London and my flight home. I purchased my ticket for Fort William and grabbed a veggie burger from the BK at the train station and took my seat. I was very tired and dozed off as my train pulled out of town. I perhaps should have stayed awaken because when I woke up, I wasn’t at Fort William but Oban instead. It seems some of the cars were going to Oban and some were going to Fort William and I sat in the wrong car. There wasn’t a way to reconnect so I chalked it up to fate and went looking for a B&B to stay the night.
Oban is on a harbor and is very hilly the roads all run uphill and I was a bit winded by the time I found a room for the night. There was a pub close by where I had dinner. The man at the B&B said some ferries ran from Oban to the Isle of Mull. My plan is to get an early start and explore Mull in the morning then take an afternoon bus to Edinburgh. (they say my chances of getting to Edinburgh are faster if I go by bus) It was getting dark when I got to Oban, but the next day with the light of day I finally got a look at the city. She’s definitely a looker.
I wasn’t able to spend to much time on the visit to the Isle of Mull, I figured less the ferry ride, I might be able to have a couple hours and still catch a bus to Edinburgh. So I would have about two days to explore the Scottish Capital before flying out. I am glad I took the ferry to Mull, but upon arriving realized the island deserved much more than a cursory glance.
I think I am starting to get a cold, my cough which started a couple days ago is getting worse. I hope it doesn’t ruin the rest of my trip. I got some hot tea and some antihistamine tablets at the concession area at the Bust Station and nodded off as soon as I got on the bus. I had to change buses at Glasgow and conked out again until I got to Edinburgh. I am glad I made reservations for a room in advance. Once I get to Edinburgh, I am taking a cab to the B&B and calling it a night.
