Staying in the Highlands

When I signed up for the 9-day tour of the Highlands with Rabbies, I had two choices for accommodations:  hotel or bed and breakfast. I chose the latter. Not only cheaper, but more personal. I was booked into a hotel in Kirkwall (Orkney). Not sure why.  

Alltavona Guest House (2 nights in Oban)

My room was lovely

Hillview Bed & Breakfast (2 nights in Plockton)

Another lovely room

Braeside Guest House (1 night in Inverness)

Breakfast table

Albert Hotel (2 nights in Kirkwall)

Harbour House B&B (1 night in Ullapool)

For the first and last nights of my trip I stayed in Edinburgh. I chose a youth hostel (the CoDE) on the Royal Mile (Parliament Squre), near the Adam Smith statue. It was a sleeping pod (capsule), with shared bathrooms and other areas. A hostel was a new experience for me, though it was similar to the City Hub, where Lara and I stayed last year in Reykjavik. 

The CoDE (1st and last night in Edinburgh)

The CoDE is inside a 19th century former courthouse and jail in the heart of Edinburgh's Old Town. Besides price, I chose it for its location, close to the castle. I was attending the Military Tattoo (in the castle) and didn't want to have to walk far after the performance. My room (all female) had eight sleeping pods. I had a top bunk on the first night, a bottom bunk on the last night. All in all, it was a pleasant place to stay. The pod offered privacy, the bed was comfy, and the place was quiet.

Old jail

My sleeping pod (capsule)

At long last, the Scottish Highlands

After having to cancel my 5-day tour of the Scottish Highlands (in 2024) due to Covid, I finally got to see the Highlands. I took a 9-day Rabbies tour that included Isle of Skye, Iona, Mull, and the Orkney Isles. It was actually two tours in one. Halfway through (in Inverness), we switched guides/drivers, said goodbye to some of our travel mates, and welcomed nine new people for the journey north.

First group with tour guide Dave (3rd from left, back)

We traveled in a passenger van that seated 16 people. The seats were narrow, but otherwise it was comfortable. The first group of travelers included 5 solo travelers, including myself, and people from Australia, China, and Germany, as well as the US, including those with diverse ethnic backgrounds such as Singapore, India, and China/Vietnam. The second group included eight Americans (from the South) who already knew each other, as well as a nice widow lady from New Zealand. 

Second group with tour guide Andrew (R)

We had two good tour guides/drivers. The guide for the first half of the tour was Dave. I really liked him. He had a bold, assertive personality. He was an exceptional guide, really knew his history. Andrew was the guide for the second half of the tour. He was more soft spoken and low-key. In his spare time, Andrew liked to sit on the beach and do nothing. Dave liked to climb mountains. That sums up how different they were.

Stopped along Loch Ness (no Nessy!)

Getting off the Glenelg Ferry onto Skye

On the big ferry from Orkney

Seven of us did the whole 9-day tour and developed a good rapport. Overall, I preferred the people from the first half of the tour. The Indian couple (from California) seated in front of the picture below were especially nice.

Our last night together

Selfie at Eileen Donan castle

It's a scam!

Recently, I almost got scammed out of $2499. The scam started in Facebook market place and moved to PayPay, actually someone claiming to be PayPal. While I did some stupid things, I stopped the scam just in time and didn't lose any money.  But, I had to close all my bank and credit card accounts, open new ones, change passwords, etc. Eventually I closed my PayPal account, too. The whole ordeal was very stressful and inconvenient. 

Everybody needs to watch the 2024 movie The Beekeeper -- and learn from it. I had forgotten the lessons. In the movie, Jason Statham kills all the bad guys. In the real world, scammers usually get away with their crimes and the legal scams continue without oversight or consequence.

Seventeen years ago, I paid to have leaf guards installed over my gutters. You can see the leaf guards on the garage gutters, but they weren't visible on the house (unless you climbed on the roof). I assumed they had been installed. But they aren't there. Where did they go? The company (Gutters for less) said the roofers probably took them off. I had a new roof installed two years ago. The roofers didn't remove the leaf guards. Where did the leaf guards go?  Perhaps, they were never installed. Did they scam me!

Fourteen years ago, my dumb-ass brother talked me into investing in gold and silver. He directed me to a company in California. Recently, I got an appraisal to see how much my investment was now worth. Well, not much compared to the initial investment, especially when you consider it's been 14 years. My investment would have earned much more if I had invested the same amount of money in the stock market. Even just keeping the money in a savings account would have yielded as much, if not a higher return. 

The main reason for the poor return is because the company charged me way too much money for the coins I purchased (in 2012). In other words, they scammed me. The California company went out of business several years ago. Surprise! Hope my brother suffered the same fate. Should have never listened to him. Stupid on my part. Being in love with money (him) doesn't make you knowledgeable about the financial markets.

Now I think everything is a scam. Of course, there are plenty of legal scams out there (e.g., tipping, credit card fees, etc.) to go along with the illegal ones. Government and business are just as guilty of scamming as the "criminals." My radar is up. Trust nobody and nothing.

Battle of Cedar Creek

Before today, I knew nothing about the Civil War Battle of Cedar Creek -- or at least nothing I could remember. Mom and I had seen a sign for it when we were driving 81 North after having visited the Manassas (Bull Run) Battlefield last week. So, we went today. It was a fairly scenic drive through the Virginia Countryside. On the way, we stopped and ate at a tasty Greek restaurant in Berryville. 

National Park stamps

The visitor's center was located in a strip mall (that was a first). Sadly the AC was on the fritz -- and it was a very steamy day. The park ranger on duty was very friendly and informative.  We enjoyed talking to him. There were few visitors so we were able to monopolize his time. An electric map detailed the battle. The battlefield itself spans several counties. We did a bit of the driving tour. 

Electric map of battlefield

Sheridan arrives

Important spot

The Battle of Cedar Creek (also called Belle Grove) was fought on October 19, 1864 near Middletown, Virginia. It was a decisive victory for the Union. After a surprise dawn attack from Confederate General Jubal Early put the Union army into a chaotic retreat, Major General Philip Sherman rode in from Winchester, rallied his regrouped troops, and launched a powerful offensive that crushed Confederate forces. The battle proved to be pivotal, as it ended Confederate resistance in the Shenandoah Valley, crippled Southern supply lines, and provided the morale boost needed to get Lincoln reelected. 

Fatal halt

Miller property where Confederates made their last stand

Belle Grove Plantation served as Sheridan's headquarters. The property was at the center of action during the Cedar Creek Battle. Initially, Belle Grove was the home of Revolutionary War Officer Major Isaac Hite and his wife Nelly Madison Hite, sister of President James Madison. Today it is part of Cedar Creek and Belle Grove National Historic Park.

Belle Grove Plantation, c. 1797

Belle Grove was the largest slaveholder in the Shenandoah Valley

Historic mansion influence by Thomas Jefferson

Enslaved burial ground

Historic marker:  Pioneer settler of the Shenandoah Valley

Two Civil War Battlefields in One

The year Dad died, Mom and I visited many Civil War sites. We've been back to Gettysburg many times since and Antietam once or twice. Not sure why we hadn't visited Manassas National Battlefield Park (in Virginia) yet. It's not much farther than Gettysburg. So we went today. Unfortunately it's not the most pleasant drive (maybe that's why) since it's so close to DC. I tried to go back roads on the way down, but took a wrong turn. We took 66 and 81 on the way back. We had dinner at the "world's oldest" Long John Silvers. Ugh!

National Park stamps

Also known as the Battle of Bull Run

The visitor's center was nice, though not very accommodating to people with disabilities. There was an informative museum, gift shop, and 45 minute film. We learned much. I left Mom in the gift shop, while I explored the grounds (Henry Hill) a bit. Afterwards, we drove to a few places. I'd like to go back to do the whole driving tour. Maybe, take Ty with me. 

Henry House (built after war, c. 1870)

The Henry House on Henry Hill was the epicenter of battle in the first battle of Manassas. Refusing to leave her bed, an 85-year old invalid woman (Judith Henry) became the first civilian casualty of the Civil War. Her grave site is in front of the house. The original 1812 dwelling was destroyed in the war. A new structure was built on its foundation in 1870. It served as the park's initial visitor's center.

Henry Hill

Judith Henry grave

Honoring the dead

First Civil War monument

The First Battle of Manassas (Bull Run) was the first major (land) battle of the American Civil War. It was fought on July 21, 1861, just months after the start of the war at Fort Sumter. Troops on both sides were naïve and poorly trained and led. Their uniforms were all different colors. While people traveled from Washington DC to watch the war (from about 5 miles away), expecting a Union victory, it was after this battle that both sides realized that the war was going to be longer and bloodier than anyone thought. The human cost ended up being more than anyone could have imagined: 1.5 million casualties.

Henry Hill

Where he fell

Can you imagine?

The stone house survived the Civil War and was restored to its war-time appearance in the 1960s. During the first and second battles of Manassas, the house provided combat cover and shelter and served as an aid station and field hospital.  It was built somewhere around 1848 as a tavern for wagoneers and travelers. 

Stone House, c. ~1848

Old Stone House marker

Casualties were significantly higher in the Second Battle of Manassas. It was a decisive victory for the Confederates and cleared the way for Robert E. Lee's invasion of the North. Of course, we all know how that turned out. Union victories at Antietam and Gettysburg changed the trajectory of the war.

Site of fierce fighting in the 2nd Battle of Manassas

One of three monuments to New York troops

The Stone Bridge is one of several historical landmarks on the Manassas National Battlefield. Originally built in 1825, it was a critical crossing point and escape route during both the first and second battles. It was destroyed in 1862 and rebuilt in 1884.

Stone Bridge signage

Stone Bridge (c. 1825, rebuilt 1884) over Bull Run 

The other side of the bridge

The Sons of Confederate Veterans established Manassas Battlefield as a Confederate Park in 1924. Their purpose was to glorify the Confederacy. They turned the land over to the National Park Service in 1936 on the stipulation that the state of Virginia be allowed to erect a monument to Confederate General "Stonewall" Jackson.  Jackson earned his famous nickname at the first Battle of Manassas, as his brigade made a firm stand against Union forces. The statue is considered to be historically and physically inaccurate.

The war over memory

Like a Stone Wall

This was the first southern battlefield I've visited. There are many more battlefields in Virginia to explore. Approximately 43 percent of all Civil War battles were fought in Virginia, due to its proximity to Richmond.