Dear Glen Elg: I will live in your green hills one day even though you make my shoes go 'schloss schloss schloss' with mud and water.

Been back from the Highlands for 3 days so far, am still recovering, and am definitely missing it already. There was nonstop hiking, and story-telling, excellent food from Eddie's (our tour guide) wife, Donna, and from a variety of townspeople from Glen Elg, a cozy pub to relax in and adorable cats and dogs at Eddie and Donna's house. All in all too much to recount, so here is a punctuated recap of the week:

Castles we visited: 4

Eileen Donan Castle
 (most famous Scottish castle though it is not the original, was rebuilt by a McKenzie in 1920's.
 Has appeared in a variety of movies including
Highlander, James Bond films and Maid of Honor )

(Also visited Uruqhart Castle, Armadale Castle, and Fortress of Warrior Goddess Aoife)

Organic Farms Visited: 1

Yerba Loca is run by LC graduate and alum of the
first Highlands trip (with Eddie) Amy, and her husband Neil.
I told her to expect me as a woof-er next summer.

Brochs Visited: 3

Inside Dun Telve, the Broch where Donna and Eddie were married
(because people can get married anywhere in Scotland)

Beach visited:1 

Sandhaig--that's Eddie swimming.

This yellow moss is everywhere and I am obsessed with it.

Rope Bridges Crossed: 1

That's Aoife, Eddie's dog, being a boss and fording the river
(she is 12 years old).

Boat Trips: 2

Seal Watching trip out of Plockton
 (looks just like the glacier tour in Alaska)

The Glen Elg--Isle of Sky ferry that is community owned and run.
(this was by far the day we were poured on the most, we looked like we had been swimming)

Food Carts Visited: 1

(owned by Amy, the LC grad, surprise surprise a Portlander has a food cart!)

Battlefields Visited: 1 

Culloden. My friend Libby standing where her clan fought.

Highland Cows: MANY

Nights at the Pub: 5 

Vampires befriended: 1 (Zultan, the bartender who is from Transylvania)

Awesome Photos with Eddie: 1

Things I learned in Glen Elg/The Highlands:

1. Rain an fall horizontally, vertically, and any way it wishes all at the same time.

2. Hiking boots are helpful (this is what I surmised from NOT having hiking boots)

3. Smartwool socks made feet very happy despite my waterlogged shoes.

4. There is a point when a rain jacket can no longer help you.

5. Wind is cold.

6. The 2.5 mile walk home from the pub always feels much shorter than the walk there.

7. I will someday name my dog Aoife (EE-fa)

Oh yeah, and this is Glen Elg.