Highlands and Islands

The first half of my trip has begun: hiking the Highlands and Isle of Skye for 5 days. Met all the people. Not one person who doesn’t call the US home. Barely any who aren’t from California! I’d hoped for a more diverse group. I do lament that Backroads stopped doing the camping trips. They were a different vibe. But the guides are unfailingly amazing and the people are kind and motivated to get the most out of life.

Our hotel the first two nights is a converted manor house. The grounds are incredible. The food is amazing. And today we did an 8-mile hike through hills with amazing rock formations. Life is good!

Random observation: Turning right from a left-hand lane is disorienting and a bit scary.

And now, photos (click to enlarge):

Gorgeous views of the Torridon and the moonrise, on our first night.

Views of Beinn Eighe Glens and Bens. 8-mile hike with spectacular weather:

PS. There’s a “famous person” in the group. I had no idea who she was when I first met her, but now I’ve looked up her Wikipedia page. Especially after all the name dropping she did during the post-hike beverages the first night. And other people in the group asking me, “Do you know who that is!?” I’m the person least likely to be impressed by fame. And I’m fairly repulsed by pretentiousness and conspicuous consumption. I’ve never asked for an autograph or to take a selfie with … well, anyone, really. Hmmmm, have I ever asked to take a selfie with anyone?? Maybe Anna. But I probably asked her to take it. I’m terrible at taking selfies.

So that’s all I plan to say about that. And definitely not going to say who it is. The Wikipedia page did NOT impress me. She’s just another person on the trip. The only other solo person, so I might be seated with her at the dining table again. Maybe I’ll be impressed by something other than the fact of her being “famous.”