Stop #4 Greenock

 Day #6 Sept. 21, Sunday

Oh dear, today is Sunday and I completely didn't realize it! We've been away from home for so long, I've lost all track of time. LaVerl stayed up most of the night, until about 4:30am watching the BYU football game, so he is definitely tired today. (but we won, so it was worth it!) We are in the room, LaVerl is sleeping. We got off the boat this morning for our 9:30am tour. We did "Easy Scottish Lochs".  It was about a 5 hour drive through the Highlands and we saw 5 different lochs, which are lakes. To get back, we rode a huge ferry across one of the lochs.We paid $175 each, which seems like a lot, but if you don't pay to get off the boat, you don't see much. There were lots of tours much more than we paid, but I wanted an easy and short one for LaVerl today.

Our first stop along our tour was Loch Lomond and a place called Luse Hills. It's in a National Park. The sun was shining today, but still cold enough for a coat. That's why it was surprising to see swimmers.

They had this little memorial place to put a lock with your loved one's name on it. You lock it onto this cable and then throw the key into the lake. A lady we were talking to said that her lock for her mother has been there 6 years.

This was the line for the bathroom (they call them toilets) and we had to pay, so our driver told us when a person pays, get as many through the gate as you can before it closes. Four of us got through from the lady ahead of us paying!

Both Scotland and Ireland have blackberries growing everywhere, just like Oregon.

Scotland has huge stands of trees that they cut for timber and then they replant those areas.

The little stakes on the hill side are where there are new trees planted.

They put up these fences to help control avalanches.

We passed at least 6 castles, but didn't stop at any of them.

Water, water everywhere, just seeping out of the mountains!

Our final stop was the ferry to take us back across the loch to where we started. 

LaVerl bought a hat, but didn't want the full Scottish outfit! "Mr. Legs" would look good in those kilts!

Tonights show is Charlie Caper, a Magician that won Sweden's Got Talent. 

3rd stop--Belfast, Northern Ireland

Day 5 Sept. 20, Saturday

Today we are in Belfast, the capital of Ireland. The sun was actually shining a bit today, but later it rained on us a little. We slept in a bit, we were up late talking with Reed on how LaVerl can try to get the BYU game tonight. We had a tour "Belfast Highlights & Hillsborough Castle" at 9:30 and were happy to see the Tammie & Clifford were on the same tour. We got on another coach that took us all through the country side and the city, showing us all the highlights. Again, lots of green countryside, lots of beautiful old buildings and the castle was really interesting and the gardens--amazing!!

We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the Castle. It was beautiful and elegant, but the gardens were spectacular!

They make the trees grow against the wall!!

After touring the castle and gardens, we drove through the city of Belfast.

Belfast was the city that built the ship 'Titanic' and they have a really nice memorial by the government buildings.

We found 2 Crosby names among the thousands that died.

This building was built to show the depth of the ship.

Once back on the ship was saw that there was 'River dancing' going on with a live band playing the music they danced to.

Today was a good day, not too strenuous for LaVerl and we saw some wonderful things here in Belfast. I think LaVerl looks really great in his little Irish hat!!