Scotland, ye Scotland (Coast near Ullapool)

This being the 3rd day driving, it got better. My route took me past Inverness and through a beautiful country side.

I stopped at an Labyrinth, and even though my mind was way too restless to meditatively walk it, I did force myself to slow down, to walk it slowly. To sit in the center and breathe and find gratefulness for the sunshine, the place and my ability to experience this.

After some more driving I stopped for lunch at a quaint little place, marveling again at how friendly everyone was and letting time just be.

I had planned to see a Mansion, but unfortunately it was closed. But I still snug up the tree lined path to it and snapped a picture.

Arriving in Ullapool rather earlier than planned, but having time to walk along the bay, smell the salty air, sip coffee and watch a sail boat dock.

I love seaside towns and will forever feel drawn to them. There is something so familiar to me, that makes me feel at ease.

I got some groceries, determined to have better provisions for the next day hike and settled into my room. The view from the window being gorgeous. Over the bay with mountains as back drop.

The next day marked my dad's 1st Anniversary of him passing away. Taking a hike on the coast line seemed like the perfect way to spend the day. So I drove 50 minutes on a roads, that were indeed too small to have two cars pass. Every so many feet there was a widening so cars could pass. And every so often one would drive over cattle gates, to prevent the livestock from escaping.

Again I was struck by how few cars and people where about. Here the surroundings seemed edgier, more rocks showing through the ground cover. I could smell and taste the salt in the air. The drive was lovely and I just wish I had Emma with me to snap pictures and see what I was seeing.

This hike was an easy one, no steep incline, instead on one side the hill going up and on the other side the inlet of water, still and deep blue, almost black on the other side.

I allowed my thoughts to run and amiably walked on the path.

At some point I entered through a gate into the land of an off-grid community, but saw nobody around. Just a few houses here and there. I ate a few black berries, that grew along the path, wondering if that was stealing.

Then I came up on this new wooden bench. It was set a little higher than the path and I went up to it.

The plaque was remembering Winnie and there was a box with a rock on the bench. Opening it revealed a book to leave a note and that the community hopes I enjoy my rest on this bench.

The view was over the land that gently sloped down to the water and the whole bay with mountains tall on the other side.

I thought my dad would have loved this. Vast, salty, void of people. Nature at it's best.

Eating my lunch I stayed longer and decided I had walked enough, just wanted to find a way to the water and then return back.

So I did, found a path down to the rocky beach. Stayed there a while too, feeling content and free.

I got back to town early enough for a slice of cake and coffee, sitting next to a Dutch couple that told me about their kids and grandkids and wished me that my daughter would settle near me one day.

The next day I had booked a sea kayaking tour. Again I drove on small empty roads to the meeting point, marveling at the beauty all around.

My tour consisted of a local couple and two siblings from England, plus our guide. Who was funny and knowledgeable.

The sky was clear, it was sunny and warm. The water was calm and it turned out to be one of those prefect days. We paddled around little rocky islands, into a cave, saw a sea urchin, cormorants and quite a few different jelly fish.

Conversation flowed easily and in between one could let the mind run too.

Being on the water in this way is deeply gratifying and peaceful. I will never understand the lure of big speed boats and loud motors. When the alternative is this way of moving across the water, feeling more connected to the water than separate from it.

We stopped for lunch on a rock formation, where much to my delight the tour guide heated water and served the worst tasting and best tasting coffee you can imagine.

At the end of our day, we had to paddle a bit harder through a spot more open to the current, and had to get out and carry our kayaks a stretch due to low tide.

But that allowed us to see a Spider crab disguised in sea weed. It's hilarious to notice sea weed moving intentionally and then to discover it's a disguise. We observed some anemone floating in the little puddles and saw some sea lions on a near by beach resting in the sun.

The day left me renewed, happy and off course a bit red from some sun burn, despite my best efforts.