Seals, Freezing Waters, and Lessons Learned.
Days 6-8 – Road Trip to the Tip of Scotland.
Today was about driving to the northern city of Thurso, where our dear friend, Michelle, lives.
Google Maps said a 4.5-hour drive and 210 miles. That sounds reasonable. But when you take into account traffic in narrow lanes, amazing views and the effect of driving on the left side in narrow lanes on your body, you end up being tired and stressed more than expected.
That meant that instead of 4.5 hours, it took me 6 hours! BUT… I had the time of my life… got to see amazing views on the way, and ended up watching an incredible sunset on the coast of Thurso… What else can a gal ask for!
*****
I woke up to the sound of rain. It wouldn’t be Scotland if it didn’t rain, would it? And the best time for rain is when you’re asleep, so I enjoyed hearing it while snuggling in my warm bed.
After a while, the rain stopped, the sun came out, and it turned out to be another glorious day. I first did a walk in this incredible place where my friend lives,
called Olrig House, which was probably built somewhere in the 17th century, and the gardens around it are even older. Her gardener showed me apple trees that
he says are from the 12th century and rose bushes just as old… I’d call that HISTORY!
After a light breakfast, Michelle suggested we go for a hike to a small beach not far away. That sounded brilliant. Put on my hiking shoes and off we go.
However, Michelle is the most unpredictable person there is, so she remembered she had a few more things to do first. Like… speaking to the Head Gardener
in Mey Castle, so we ended up having the full tour of the royal gardens in Mey’s Castle.
By the time we finished the tour and had the appropriate tea and scones at the place, the skies turned dark, and it was pouring rain… not the best time for a hike to the beach. We returned home, and I found the library room with a fireplace and snuggled up on the sofa with a good book. I’m on vacation after all, isn’t that the definition of VACATION? Time to rest and not be obliged to do anything but what fancies your heart.
Scotland, being Scotland, the weather changed again after a few hours, and the shine came out as if it never rained. That’s why they say you can get 4 seasons in a day here.
My restless friend said, “Let’s do that hike now”. So off we go into her car, and this time we end at the start of the trail. A lovely hike, the cliffs full of heather,
walking along the cliffs in a trail that leads down to a hidden white sandy beach on one side and at the end of a rocky one. Not only that, a small freshwater fall
that comes down the cliffs serves as the best source of drinking water. MAGIC!
Without any warning, Michelle takes off her clothes and walks into the water for a swim…It’s the bloody freezing cold North Atlantic sea,
but she’s into it, like we are on a Caribbean beach. Now, I’m known to do crazy stuff too, but it took me a few minutes before I dared to do it.
After a few attempts, I finally dared and plunged into the ocean. As I swam toward Michelle, I got my present: a friendly seal approached us and played with us…
Isn’t that a gift and a reward for doing the unexpected,
After a while it was time to return. We washed ourselves in that spring water, which served as a shower to wash the salt off our bodies. I was too warm to put on my sweatshirt, so I tied it around my waist, and we started our climb back to the car. And then it happened…
I was attempting to climb one of these rocks. I could feel that I didn’t have enough strength to pull myself up. Instead of asking my friend to give me a hand so
I could do it, I was determined, like a small stubborn kid, to do it on my own. I pulled myself up only… to slip back down on the rocks in my bum (on my tailbone,
which was broken already 23 years ago and is very sensitive till today). Being embarrassed, I bounced back to a standing position as my friend rushed to me,
blaming herself for not helping me.
I told her, “Don’t be an ass”; I should have asked for help – the story of my life – having to learn when to ask for help. Life just reminded me.
So as we continued to the car, she looked at me and said, “WOW, you look so beautiful; I have to take a photo of you.” I reached into my pocket, handed her
my phone, only to discover it is all broken!!! In the fall, I landed on my phone. So now I need to find a shop that can fix it for me, as my “whole life” is on that phone!
How sad that is…
I mean, I’m from the generation that lived happily for nearly 50 years without a mobile phone. I was 10 when my parents first had a telephone installed
in their house. In my 20s and 30s, I always had those special coins for the phone box in case I needed to call someone.
Even today, when travelling, I still print all the documents, even though people tell me: “But you have it on your phone, why print?” This was the first time I chose to
listen to it and didn’t print anything because “I have everything on my phone”!…. I guess another lesson – learning to trust my gut feelings and not listen to what
is “common sense”. So, I’m off tomorrow to find a mobile phone repair shop in Thurso.
*****
Didn’t do much today. Or, some would say, did the most important thing on a vacation… Doing NOTHING!
I realised that most of my life I operated under the assumption that the more I DO, the more important and valuable I am to the world. Each time I would catch
myself NOT doing, I felt bad about it, embarrassed and even guilty. In the last few years I realised that though DOING is important, learning to just BE,
and NOT DO, is just as important and vital for the soul and our well-being.
So, today I practised it. Well, attempted at it. After finding the shop in Thurso that fixed my phone, I was back online. I sent the essential messages
I needed to do and then set myself for a day of just BEING.
It shouldn’t have been that hard in this incredible place that I’m staying, but after a few hours it was too hard to just sit in the sun and read a book. I’ve explored the property as much as I could. I had to move.
So, I popped into my car and decided to drive without any destination planned. I ended up crashing a royal wedding in one of the castles in the area, meeting
the local cows and having great conversations with farmers and gatekeepers.
Not bad for a day of NOTHING. Tomorrow off to my next adventure – visiting the Orkney Islands for the first time.
