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Saw Trump was in Scotland...

Were they impressed?


Had a lively conversation with a Scottish gentleman today about that very thing.

Trump is viewed inside Scotland as a buffon and a bully, largely because of his attempts to co-opt the sacred institution of golf. I forget what estate he tried to buy on the East Coast here where locals refused to sell despite being offered 10x the market value of their properties, or so the story goes.

On the estate he DID buy, he has had the temerity to actually alter two holes on a fine old course, which my source informed me should only have been done if dictated from Heaven by the Almighty Himself grin

So ya, right now, Trump has 'em PO'd and my impression already is that I don't think folks here get un-PO'd all that easily.

Meanwhile the Brit press openly ridicule Trump and the readers believe it.

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Be interesting to see how that stretch of GB compares to the Meth West...err, Mid West here in the USA.


Southern Scotland looks like somewhere in the US... lots of open, rolling country, not many people.

They have Rednecks there, Scottish Rednecks, who have quasi-legal car races involving both pavement and mud where guys flog these little imports half to death leaving various parts scattered along the course. Family and friends line the course, sitting in vehicles so they can leave if the Cops show up. Seen it happen.

Someone needs to do an anthropological study on this, Lowland Scotland is where America originated, at least those parts of America we here cherish.

JMHO,
Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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The Scots lowlands are where the Southern culture came from. Find a copy of "The History of the Scots Irish People" . Univ. N. Carolina press I think; a stunning read.

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Quick Recap:

Day Four, 65 miles across the Scottish Borderlands, was blown away by the unexpected beauty of the place, and the space. Lots of open farmland, grazing land and forests here. GREAT conversations with the locals en route. To me it felt a lot like being in America.

Finally quit and pitched in a quiet spot just outside of Crawford in Lower Lanarkshire, became acquainted with the Scottish midge, hordes of 'em, tiny little guys. I dunno which is more.... the total number of stars in the universe or the number of midges in Scotland around any given campsite.

Day Five (today), Glasgow is a whole 'nother world. An all-White city for those interested, but lots of hard folk, reserved and taciturn with outsiders.This in sharp contrast to the Scots in rural areas.

Like any big city, go through the wrong areas and problems are readily evident. I was advised not to let my bike or my gear out of my sight for a moment, anywhere in Glasgow, and I'd believe it.

Met some friendly folks there too, including some tatooed druggies, and quite a lot of middle aged guys walking home drunk from pubs (was there a game on?).

I did notice that Scottish women are pretty.

The people who put up the bicycle route signs need to be shot (metaphor), four hours lost in the city today, trying to follow them signs through a maze, including places where ya REALLY didn't want to leave your bicycle, or even ride it while still sitting on it.

I survived, finally whipped out the ol'iphone and opened the app instead of trying to do it old school. Shoulda done that much earlier. Found downtown about 5:30, checked into a hotel around six. I still had to navigate back out of the city while losing light and in the rain, so I opted for a hotel. Fifty miles of useful distance today, at least another ten of wasted meanders.

Prob'ly best to avoid big cities from here on in.

Was blown away looking at the map that Edinburgh is only SIXTY MILES east of here, and the road that leads through the boonies down the remote Kintyre Peninsula I intend to ride down begins just fifty miles away to the Northwest, I could be there tomorrow. Amazing.

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Makin' some time now! (miles)

Glad you noticed the Scot women. I agree. smile

But, may be a bit prejudiced as both sides of my family are Scot. If you get my McLeod Castle, I'd grin if you took a pic. wink


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Heading our from this warm and dry refuge in a little bit.

Looking ahead it does appear I'm gonna be wet as a futhamucker (old Celtic term meaning "a lot" or "really") these next few days.

I gotta say doing this bicycle thing does skirt the fringes of homelessness. Being dripping wet everywhere ya go all the time doesn't help that impression any.

'nother thing is, here in the UK the tents are all fabric with only small amounts of screening. My REI Quarter Dome is all screening with only small amounts of fabric. The former is for a cool, wet climate, the latter is essentially a bug shelter, coverable with a fly. What you want for most of the US in summer.

Means that in the rain, in the short interval 'tween pitching the tent and setting the fly, the inside of the tent is getting wet. Oh well, I got wool, pretty sure I can stave off actual hypothermia crazy

Anyhoo.... once I clear Glasgow navigation gets a whole lot easier.

See ya when I have both time and the 'net together in the same place again.

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Glad you noticed the Scot women. I agree.

But, may be a bit prejudiced as both sides of my family are Scot. If you get my McLeod Castle, I'd grin if you took a pic.


My students are like 80% American Mexicans....

What I tell them quite often is....

"The women in Mexico are very good-looking.....

....because they send all the ugly ones here."
grin


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Glasgow, 2.1 million in the metropolitan area, overwhelmingly White, but White as I've always said never counted fer much over here in a World where everybody was White. Glasgow is Irish Catholic and Scots-Irish Prod. Tough people there, the appelations "White and Nerdy"do not apply. Its tribal; Celtic. Tough people with pinched and stern expressions, where most of the men look like they've been around a fight or three and still could, and where the women look the same.

The Scottish are even more crazy about their dogs than the Brits, and I didn't believe that possible. Most everyone walking a dog here, and that universal marker of the dumb thug underclass, the pit bull, is much in evidence. Got in a conversation with a couple of pretty and tough women, Scots, mother and daughter with a pit on a leash, and told 'em about the problems here... "Och nooo!" they laughed "he wouldna hurt a fly!" I wanted to say "until he does" but just let it go.

But things is getting much better in Glasgow, formerly the "murder capital of Europe", the "booze and blades" culture.I credit the internet and travel with much of that. In the UK of my youth, travelling even a 100 miles was a big deal, you spent most of your life on your own street.

Seems like Brits travel now more than we do, I ain't been in any gathering where at least a couple haven't been to America. And for better or worse the 'net has gotten us all out of our regional funk.

Where savage hatred within Glasgow still goes, or so I'm told by the locals, is between the fans of Glasgow football. There are two teams here; Glasgow Celtic, supported by the Irish Catholics, and Glasgow Rangers, supported by the Scots-Irish.

At Rangers' Ibrox Stadium, the Union Flag and Ulster banner are often displayed, whilst at Celtic Park, the Irish tricolour prevails.

In the past decade the Rangers had declined to a lower league and so the two clubs played each other less often, lately however the Rangers are coming back up. Matches are still police-heavy events, be interesting though to see the effect of these moderating times.

Met a triathlete on the bike path through Glasgow, a Prod from Belfast who teaches overseas.we talked bikes and travel and politics for more'n an hour. He's had two bikes stolen in as many years and he's careful with his bikes, can't train as much in winter on account of danger of assault. But Glasgow didn't scare him he said on account of he was raised in Belfast.

I told him how I understood the slap in the face felt by the British Subject Ulster Prods when the Irish flag is flown on certain days over the Ulster seat of government. Yes, he said, but people gotta realize the world is always changing, and ya can't go though life trapped by the past.

Words to live by. Meanwhile I'm just grateful never to have been a part of it.

An easy day yesterday, getting out of Glasgow to the west was a whole lot easier than coming in from the east, and pretty Loch Lomond less than 25 miles from downtown. Easy ride too, along the Clyde and Forth Canal and then up the River Leven maybe five miles to the main lake. All the fishing I have see in the UK is catch and release, and there were fishermen along the Leven too, after salmon but able to keep sea trout if they caught 'em.

On the way I met Leon, a retired Royal Marine and a couple of teachers and a bunch of teenagers doing what called part of the Prince of Edinburgh challenge, in this case for cross country bike travel. Turns out you can ride that canal all the way across Scotland, which is only 60 miles 'tween Glasgow and Edinburgh.

We shared a congenial campsite, the kids as part of the test have to bring their own provisions, but us adults went to a fine restaurant where I had chicken stuffed with haggis (drossauch??? I forget the name), it was very good.

Eating a late breakfast here in Bollach, at the foot of the loch, surprisingly quiet being as its only 25 miles from a major urban center.

Into the highlands proper today, where the distances ain't that far but the grades are steep, the midges many, and the services few.

I learned that the ferry to Ireland from Campeltown ain't run in 20 years. Hence I will be forced to take the ferry from the Kintyre peninsula to Arran, past all them distilleries, and then across to the mainland by ferry again. 60 miles above the Belfast ferry near Stranraer.

I have been advised to stock up an everything I need while here in a reasonably supplied town.

So looks like the next few days I really will be off of the 'net.

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Well dang, had to turn around to find the 'net again to pay my bills back in Texas.Might be after the 1st when I can get back online.

Besides the uncertaintly around the Brexit consequences, the UK is reeling right now...

The European Cup right up there with the World Cup around here, and like the World Cup is played every four years. So every two years its either the World Cup or the European Cup.

Scotland didn't even qualify but England, Wales, Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland did. The Euro Cup was even pushing Brexit off of the front pages in the weeks before that vote.

Wales knocked out Northern Ireland.

France knocked out the Republic of Ireland.

...and England just got beat last night by ICELAND!!! shocked shocked



Iceland (pop. 330,000) is like the size of Cleveland and shouldn't be still in it at all, but it is cool Musta been some serious celebrations in Reykjavik last night.

Next up for Iceland is playing the home team France in the quarter final, Sunday 2pm central time.

I'm pulling for Iceland.

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[Linked Image]


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Originally Posted by ingwe
[Linked Image]


Thread title Root. This picture. I think we won't comment.


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Thread title Root.


"Roots", there's a difference.

Stopped to eat in Tarbot near top of Loch Lomond, wifi again. Travelling on a bike its all about the calories.

Folks keep saying there's no services on this route, ain't been true yet.

5:00pm, gotta do some serious Highland climbing to get over to the coast 14 miles away. Five hours of daylight plus two hours of twilight remaining. Nother 60 miles along the coast to Claonaig and the Arran ferry. Road quality unknown.

I plan to get over the pass and then push on along the coast of Kintyre until whupped tonight, arrive at the Claonaig ferry tomorrow.

Turns out the Campbeltown ferry to Ulster still runs, 12 passengers at a time. I'll call 'em from Claonaig where the Arran ferry docks and if I can get on the Ulster ferry the next day push on the final 30 miles to Campbeltown.

Picked up a headnet for the midges tonight, supposed to be ferocious on the coast.

Birdwatcher


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I know.... but I was playing...

Always enjoy reading your trip stuff!


We can keep Larry Root and all his idiotic blabber and user names on here, but we can't get Ralph back..... Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, over....
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Change in plans, hostelling it at Inveraray tonight, then two days to cover the 88 miles to the Campbeltown Ferry down the Kintyre Peninsula.

Scotland rocks.

Scotland has two kinds of weather; raining and about to rain, all courtesy of the Gulf Stream. Gives insight as to why Highlanders clung to edged weaponry so long; I'd have problems getting a flinter to go off too.

If you're good with 60F - 40F weather you'll like it here.

Currently I'm staying over at Inveraray, the tradional home of the Cambells and the Dukes of Argyl, towards the top end of the 40 mile long sea Loch Fyne. Friggin' beautiful as applies to most of Scotland.

...and strangely tropical. Due to the Gulf Stream and topography this area is less likely to freeze, and is home to a number of noted public gardens featuring some tropical plants.

The Highlands are not as steep or as forbidding as some mountains in the US, the weather is moderate, never extreme cold or heat

Coulda booked the Campbeltown ferry for Friday but I don't mind staying an extra day, I could easy spend the whole month in Scotland but I still got Ireland, Normandy and back up England on the table.

Will try and catch up on pics today.

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Day 9 Update, which was the 6/28 here.

In the afternoon the ferry called, said the Saturday ferry was cancelled due to the forecast. See the Cambeltown - Ballycastle ferry is small, only holds eleven passengers and no vehicles.

75 miles from Inveraray (rhymes with "Tipperary") to Cambeltown, might've been too much in a day here, so I had to head out same day.

45 miles by dark, finally stopped for the night at the Kennacraig ferry landing and wild camped, as one can do in Scotland. This here is a Hebrides ferry.

[Linked Image]

Rain in the night, 30 miles the next day along the coast into a constant headwind and intermittent heavy rain. Warm and dry in the hostel at Cambeltown now, but I'm fixing to get wet again in the morning.

50 degrees and wet is prob'ly gonna be my way of life for the next ten days in Ireland. Ain't fatal but takes a bit of getting used to.

Got lots of pics when I get time, but in the meantime.....

Scotland is a tiny country (six million??). Never mind how we popularly regard it, in reality its heavily socialist, far to the Left and going broke.

But, it still has the toughest money in the World... grin

[Linked Image]

Birdwatcher


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Day 1....

That used to be a Fish and Chip Shop fifty years ago, where my dad kept a baseball bat behind the counter for rowdy drunks, that window above was us lads' bedroom window....

[Linked Image]

Half mile away, North Pier. We used to build carts out of discarded baby carriage wheels and as well as use 'em to carry holidaymakers bags at the train station for tips we would lay on 'em and roll 'em down that cobblestone ramp eek, I left considerable skin there back in the day.

[Linked Image]

Eight miles away going north, the ferry at Fleetwood...

"Knott End" would be that sandbar right across the way... grin

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Day 1 crossing the Fylde....


[Linked Image]

English place names are very old, for example this is where....

[Linked Image]

runs into....

[Linked Image]

Maybe it was the site of an ancient Irish diversity celebration I dunno. Prob'ly ended in violence.


"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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Mike - you are twisted! smile

(In a good way)


I've always been a curmudgeon - now I'm an old curmudgeon.
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If you go see the head dyke and end up with a green dick, you'd likely end up at the pharmacy!


“Life is life and fun is fun, but it's all so quiet when the goldfish die.”
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Day 1, Lancaster to the Lake District....

Morecambe Bay fishing boats at Lancaster, the bay is wide, shallow and full of sandbars....

[Linked Image]

[Linked Image]


Canals are still the most beautiful and utilitarian legacy of the Industrial Revolution, this here is the Lancaster Canal getting me past Lancaster....

[Linked Image]

Seems like almost all the freshwater fishing in the UK is catch and release, for anything.

[Linked Image]

Finally to the Lakes.... a 65 mile day.

[Linked Image]



"...if the gentlemen of Virginia shall send us a dozen of their sons, we would take great care in their education, instruct them in all we know, and make men of them." Canasatego 1744
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