Ah, the Port Ellen stop. Mother Earth at one of her finest. On that note, my daughter in Florida and myself in bonny Scotland showing solidarity with the marchers all over the world:

Kate and I in our matching shirts! #happyearthdaypotusandgoons

On the Island of Islay, where apparently whisky dreams come true. Smokier , peatier and ‘lots’ available. At Laphroaig distillery literally ‘pick your lot’!

Up early today to catch the ferry to another name I cannot possibly pronounce. ‘I’m sorry, what?’ Has been my saying here! I stayed at a B&B last night called The Trout Fly. On the phone he said; ‘thtrotf’. Literally couldn’t understand. Where are you located? ‘Jusawee’ oh! I get it now…..no. The lovely woman at the hotel translated. ‘It’s the trout, you know, like the feesh. It’s just a wee walk from here’. Sheepishly, I walk a wee bit and check in! 

What a lovely couple, Linda and Niehls. Almost full for the night, due to a wedding at one of the big distilleries, and a birthday party in town. I was ever so grateful. I did not get to meet their ‘wee one’ a 6 year old girl, Iona, who likes to put a pin on the world map where people are from. Linda said she will have her pop a wee pin in Pennsylvania, Lancaster county!

Suggestion from another visitor at the B&B: take a day and just enjoy yourself. Take is easy, take in the land, the sights and sounds. Now, that’s the plan. That’s kinda what I’ve been doing, but the driving does get a wee bit tiring.

Scenes from Islay. Pronounced E-luh, or I-luh, but definitely not Is-lay! Try and ask for this whisky in a pub!