We had a wonderful 4 days near Iona and joined the Iona community for worship on Sunday and then again for a walk on the Tuesday when they take people over the island and show them the historical places. Towards the end of that the weather deteriorated and we cut the walk short. It was interesting to meet ladies from Shepperton and Ripley and we collected some telephone numbers and addressess to make contact when we get home. The early start from Mull was the beginning of the most gruelling day of driving so far. WE took a single-track road for around 4 miles - it was very windy and crossed over wild moors and beside sea-lochs. We eventually arrived at Tobermory where we did battle with the extra traffic caused by the BBC film team. By the time we had finished our shopping we found we had missed the ferry by 9 minutes. My timetable (the winter version) led me to believe we had a tedious 4 hour wait before us but thankfully Philip had a more up-to-date copy which told us the next one was in two hours. So we enjoyed the sunshine and the sailing boats and ate bread and cheese. ONce over to Ardamurchan we headed West to go to the most westerly point of the British mainland. We followed the single track road (even narrower than the morning one and much more windy and up and down) for about 7 miles to arrive at the visitor centre where we had a look round the lighthouse. It was thrilling to discover that this was an Alan Stevenson lighthouse (we are reading the 'Lighthouse Stevensons') and the last major one to be built in Britain. Next we had the grim prospect of not only the 7 miles of single track but a further 20 of just the same and then it improved a bit (not so narrow but still single track) until we were almost at Fort William. We decided to stop there for the night and within 1 hour of arriving at reception we had the 8-man tent up, dinner cooked and eaten and 2 of the children already in bed! The midges were a trial at that site and we were glad enough to get out at 7am in the morning. The man who was camped nearest to us commended me on how quite the children were whilst a miserable (Scotsman as it happened) character who had the misfortune of having his caravan pitch opposite the toilet block breathed fire in the passenger window and told me he hadn't come across such a noisy lot - I could have suggested a few families he might like to meet to offer him a bit of perspective but instead told him that if he would let go of the van we would be gone and it would be quiet - he insisted on telling me a few more things (as well as insisting on seeing my reciept!!!!) before eventually letting go and I wished him, in parting, a 'nice day'. I guess he must enjoy keeping company with midges - I don't and was never more glad to leave a site.

Now it was Thursday - the day we were to meet up with other home-schooling families from the Highlands. We visited, first, 'Neptune's Staircase' - an impressive collection of over-sized lochs - part of the Caledonian Canal which Telford had a hand in. When it was first built it saved the hazards involved in shipping travelling via the west-coast of Scotland but now it is used by pleasure craft. We next stopped off at a cantilever bridge which was over 100 years old and the Lord so arranged things that the swing-bridge at that point opened to let through a couple of 'floating caravans' - it was fun watching how it worked. Our next stop was Fort Augustus but we didn't get out there - we were heading for Urquhart Castle. Arriving just before Lunch we especially enjoyed the film presentation which gives a dramatised history of the castle and ends with the screen rolling up and the curtains drawing back to reveal the remains of this once grand and mighty stronghold of Highland cheiftans. Our next port of call was the tourist information in Drumnadrochit where we found a picnic bench to enjoy our cold sausages and bread (and make a cup of Rooibosch!). Still having time before the appointed hour for meeting the home-schoolers we 'did' the Loch Ness museum. I consider it was a waste of £14.95 - one was really having information forced into ones face as one flocked, on cue, with the other tourists, through a labyrinth of rooms. Some of the information was useful but much of it was mere speculation and the whole idea of the 'loch ness monster' and its real appearance is left up to each of us to judge . It seemed like if we wanted to beleive it was real that was fine and if we didn't that was also fine. Those who know me will understand how intensely aggravating this was.
We arrived at Rebecca's at about 10 to 2 and put some washing on before heading of to the hall where we met with Liz and Tim Nixon and a dear lady by the name of Myra who had brought along her 87-year-old mother (as well as the daughter she means to home-school). Meeting Mrs McQueen will go down as one of the highlights of my visit to Scotland. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for her Godly parents and for her wonderful husband, now gone before her into Glory and was a wonderful role-model for contentedness and joy.
Scotland is, as everyone knows, a tremendously beautiful place - it defies description. WE have loads of pictures and hope to be able to send a few with this message.
We have just enjoyed a (welcome) taste of Christian hospitality at the home of the De-la-Hayes' in Wick. Also we luxuriated in the first WARM night for 3 weeks. Since we arrived here we have had the washing machine running almost constantly (and the dryer) and we hope to leave in about an hour to visit John O'groats and other northerly points 'on the way' to the ferry at Scrabster.