TRAVELING HOME

Hi All,
It is the end of our trip and it is the beginning of the trip home. It has been a great adventure and we have spent time with family, old friends and made heaps of new ones. Walked lots, and kept up our fitness routine with weights (carrying our bags), cardio (walking and going up flights and flights of stairs). But we have lloved every minute, hope you have en joyed traveling with us through our blog.

Dunkeld train station. This was the last train station where Queen Victoria would get off when going to her castle Balmoral in Scotland. Me on the bridge at Dunkeld station

Alison and I at Dunkeld train station- standing where Queen Victoria probably stood at one time. The station is no longer maned, so the train only stops if people are on the station waiting, and random automatic messages played re not leaving bags unattended and when the train is due

Cider from a cask - not good. Whilst at Edinburgh airport we decide to get a last cider - apparently you can get cider with bubbles (sparkling) and no bubbles. If you are asked always get cider with bubbles.

Alison and I at Edinburgh airport just before we leave

Alison and I at Bangkok airport - yes this is us after traveling for traveling for about 18 hours, since we left Jenny and Dougie's in Scotland. Only 8 more hours to go.

Well only one more post in this series and that is us getting  to our homes
Missed you from all those places.
Karen & Alison



Scotland Day 5 & 6 at Jenny and Dougie's in Dunkeld

Hi All,
Photo taken in Pitlochry of the mountains- told you it snowed last night- see it on the mountains in photo below. Now this was exciting for us (Alison & I) not so much for the locals. One of the band members Pete told me that this meant winter was early not good for them. Politely informed him that it wasn't it about him it was about Alison and I and we wanted to see the snow.

Snow in the mountains near Pitlochry

Alison & I on the bridge in Dunkeld

View from the Dunkeld bridge- beautiful countryside



The cathedral in Dunkeld. It was burnt down in a fight between the catholics and protestant. It has a new church built behind, but there was a funeral on so we couldn't go in and look around.

The last lot of photos are taken in Dunkeld, Jenny and Dougie were very nice and put us up even after 10 days of running and performing at the festival and surrounded by heaps of people.

Dougie, Alison & Jenny at their home in Butterstone

This is outside Jenny and Dougie's house in Butterstone. Amazing house, in fact was the old school where Dougie and his dad went to school. They have done heaps of work and have their office and recording studio with in the buildings.
We had a great time hanging out with them, including helping get cd orders out with Jenny and daughter Jules- we sang songs using the people names who were getting a cd, whilst Dougie was playing tunes on the piano. Now I am sure you all know Alison and I are not singers but they were ok with our slightly off tune singing. Good times

Missed you from there
Karen & Alison

Scotland Day 2,3 & 4 in Pitlochry at the Perthshire Amber Dougie MacLean Festival

Hi All,
We caught the train to Pitlochry and got settled at our bed and breakfast. The town is very cute. Thankfully the walk to the festival theatre was short but we did have to walk across a suspension bridge in the dark- very challenging.

Funny when we got there Jenny took a couple seconds to recognise us. The concert was great. After the concert we were standing outside when Dougie came out for a cig, we waved and he looked at us trying to figure out how he knew us, then the penny dropped. Turns out Jenny hadn't told Dougie we were coming so we were a surprise. Turns out we look different rugged up in coats, hats and scarfs.
Went to the bar at their hotel and drinks with everyone after wards which was a great night.

We got to go to gigs for the next night and the last one at the distillery on the Sunday, drinks with them all each evening. It was as the Irish say a craic.
To have a look at great professional photos there is some up on face book at:
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=520928584#!/pages/Perthshire-Amber-The-Dougie-MacLean-Festival/130180963703717

Alison in Pitlochry - not snow just frost. But it did snow in the mountains the next day Have the photos to prove it.

MM Alison and I decided to walk to the distillery on the Sunday morning to check out where the last concert was. After we had walked between 2 signs we remembered it was miles not Kms so stopped walking at this sign - got a cab to the concert



Alison on the suspension bridge we  had to walk across to the festival theatre. Very bouncy

The festival was brilliant and everyone was fantastic it was so much fun. The music was amazing.

Well missed you from there
Karen & Alison

Scotland Hotel

Hi all,
Well we checked into a hotel for the night- 2 main reasons
1. a good nights sleep
2. not to have to lug our bags upstairs
So how did that work out for us- mmmm for some reason neither of us slept well. Maybe we have become to used to sleeping in crappy bunk beds.
Next guess what wasn't working- the bloody lifts. We were on the first floor fortunately the porter turned up and carried them up for us. However we had to carry our own bags down the next day.
At least the hotel was in the centre and close to the shops.

Scotland- Edinburgh Day 1

We are off to Scotland. Freddie from the tour in Ireland is also going for the weekend. Alison and I took the risk and flew Ryan Air again. This time we got a great deal and had printed off our boarding passes (once bitten). We got to Edinburgh with no extra charges- yah us.

Alison, Freddie and Karen on the bus in Edinburgh on our way in to town

Food envy shot- Elephant cafe



Elephant Cafe - where the first Harry Potter was written




Edinburgh Castle- soooo pretty, The very early history is somewhat vague, but in the 11th century Malcolm III and his Saxon queen lived here.

 

That is our first day in Scotland. Edinburgh - it is such a beautiful Gothic city. It is one of the most amazing cities I have ever seen. So have to go back and spend a lot more time there.
Missed you when we were there
Karen & Alison

Day 10- Last day and back to Dublin via the Guiness factory

Hi all,
Well kind of cheating but here are the last of my blogging- so last day in Ireland we stopped at Killkenny at were as the nice people that we are the whole bus chipped in and we got Mark our favourite guide presents for being so great.

And how can we go past what he has told us about over 7 days. We settled on the things closest to his heart- the movie 'The Quiet Man' filmed in Cong Ireland and a cook book with 300 hundred recipes for potatoes - including in chocolate cake.
The book was called 'One Potato, Two Potatoes'- yes it is a real book- below a copy of the front cover of the book for all those who are interested (which is everyone we know especially Scotty).
 



Cook Book for Mark



Quiet Man - Marks favourite movie- filmed in Cong Ireland

Killkenny Hibernian- where we had lunch when in Killkenny OMG it was amazing food- see below

Food envy shot- there was pies (Sheppard's, Guinness) but I see only the drinks seem to be prominent in my photo sorry about that chief.



From left-  Rachel, Kyra, Karen, Katie, Alison, Lyndon at Killkenny pub in front of the open fire (which they put on for us I am sure)





No trip to Ireland is complete unless you have done a trip to the Guinness factory. Karen and Alison at the top of the pint at the Guinness factory - over looking Dublin.

 Well that was the place we visited on our tour of Ireland. And the one place I had planed to buy a particular beanie- which to my devastation they no longer make that kind any more. Went to Ireland for one lousy beanie and all I got was an awkward turtle tee shirt (Awkward turtle what you say at a moment when the conversation has gone quiet following awkward conversation)- From Kyra, Katie and Lyndon thanks guys
Awkward Turtle Moment 
 http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4229414/11363286
 

We are so sad that we have finished. It has been a great tour and we have made lots of new friends.
Thanks guys for all the laughs and giggles (Kyra) over the 10 days.

Okay next blogs are from our time in Scotland which will be coming over the next few days as I add photos and have time to type them.
Miss you from here (even though technically we are now here)
Karen and Alison

Crap I have run out of time

Sorry folks will try if we can find another cafe after we have moved.
Miss you all from here
Karen & Alison

Day nine- Serendipity or the day our bus was possessed

Hi all,
So finally the Internet store is open and we are heading soon so I am trying to get in as much as I can- the downloads take forever. So may just type 2 days at this point.

So our last day in Killarney (my favourite place). Went out the last night with Alison and Renee we went to see Pete Fagan - after we had drinks at O'Donoghues bar. Traveling between the to bars we found a shop - Serendipity (meant to be). Now it had the ring that Alison wishes she had got when she saw it at the Cliffs of Moher souvenir shop, and has regretted it as it was not anywhere else on our travels. It also had an amazing necklace that I really really really wanted. MMMM dilemma we are leaving at 9am- what are we to do.

Well after several drinks and numerous plans on how to convince Mark that we needed 20 minutes in the morning to complete an emergency chore, we decided to call it a night and see what the morning brought in ideas.

In the end we settled for honesty- Mark was a gem he said yes - but don't think that he was too thrilled at the need for us to go shopping again. So off we trudge to the shop - we wait we wait and we wait, no one turned up so at 9.10am we walk back to bus heartbroken and devastated.

Any way off we go and as we try to console ourselves, Mark pulls over 10 minutes later for petrol. Well that begins the 2nd adventure into Killarney. Cause - first the bus won't start, after a quick look at the engine and another try it starts mysteriously. So off we go and then dun dun dun (sound affects music) the lights come on one by one, the abs, the power steering, the oil, the engine, the electrics- and to top it off the wipers stop working and it is raining.
 At this point Mark calls his boss and decides to turn the bus around back to Killarney. It will take about 40 minutes till they can get us another bus- this means Alison and I can go back to Serendipity to see if it opens at 10am- meant to be.

Well I would love to tell you there was a good end to this tale- but alas no, the shop was shut still at 10.15 so we gave up. The new bus arrived and we are still unsure what happened to ours - lets just leave it at it was possessed and tried to give Alison and I our meant to be moment but it didn't work out that way- Sorry about that Mark.

Our shop that didn't give us our meant to be moment, but alas we have discovered that we can shop on line with them. So will do so upon our return.

We went to Blarney- this is a photo of Alison at the top of the castle. I kissed the stone that is meant to give you the gift of the gab- I know my brothers are saying 'Karen you already have enough of that - why do you need more' I brought the photo of me kissing it, but waiting for Lyndon to email me the photos that he got off the monitor of me doing it to add to this adventure log.

Blarney Castle form the bottom

Sea side at Cobh,such a pretty view of the street leading to the seaside, I just loved it.

Alison and I also went to the Titanic exhibition - for John Bolack Lees- we photographed it all for you John. Miss you all from here Karen and Alisoncj

Day 8 - Still in Killarney- Ring of Kerry trip

Katie and Kyra in the toilet - yes it is magnificent

 All right Day 8 the Ring of Kerry tour for the day. So off we go with Mark and learn lots more  fabulous fun facts.
Unfortunately when we got to the first Waterfall Kyra, Katie and I need to go to the toilets and the public ones were closed. So the others got of and walked to the waterfall - whilst Mark drove us to the pub. Mark said we better get a picture of the toilet as a scenic view- and we did.

Photo at the monastery it was so beautiful with all the Autumn leaves and the ruins- just had to share with you all.

Hi all- have run into a small technical problem which we are trying to amend- my cord for connecting to the computer has lose wires. Currently using Alison's card reader but I have run our of time and not able to upload her photos of the day or the last two days. The Internet place not open till Monday will do then.
till then
Miss you from here
Karen & Alison

Day 7- in Killarney for Halloween

Hi all,
Finally in a place where it doesn't cost the earth and we have more than five minutes- so able to sit through slow process of download times- Crap Alison just told me I only have 45 minutes till they shut. So I am going to try and complete all the tour photos of Ireland (just for you Kyra) and then do the Scotland ones on Monday.
So one of the many things that has come up for the tour is - FOOD ENVY (when you like what others have ordered better than what you have) so I am doing a separate pictures of the great food we had in the last few days hopefully today.

1st night in Killarney- Halloween. These fab outfits were purchased with only 2 hours of shopping time available. Now for those of you who are not up on your Irish history (not like our group cause Mark knew everything and quizzed us each morning on what we learnt the day before). So as a surprise we all dressed up as legends, fables and movie characters that we had learnt about over the last 7 days.

Bottom Renee is a Banshee, Karen - Grace O'Malley Pirate Queen, Kyra- Fairy who sleeps with men and has Leprechaun's as children, Katie- Headless horse man, Rachel- St Bridget, Lyndon-the ghost of a leprechaun (no suits left), Freddie- son of the Pirate Queen, Alison- Mary Kate from The Quiet Man (aren't you proud dad)

The Pirate Queen and the Fairy plotting in the pub.

So that is just a small amount of the photos from Halloween. To let you know how pretty we all looked on the night.

Miss you from here.
Karen & Alison

We are in Scotland

Hi All,
 I have 4 days more of the tour photos to add. But will not do now as this place also charges to use a usb. Needless to say we had a great time and all our new friends are awesome.
We have come to Scotland - and Freddie has also come for the weekend before he goes back to work. Katie and Lydon will be here later today, but we will have headed off I think to the highlands. However they will be here for a week so will probably catch them Mon/ Tues on our way back to Edinburgh.
Edinburgh is an amazing looking city and wish we were spending  more time here to get to know it. For those of you who are themselves or have children into it, we ate at the cafe last night were JK Rowlings wrote the first Harry Potter book- the Elephant Cafe. The food was beautiful- have photos to follow. Also they collect elephants, Freddie got the Elephant chair (wood chair carve as an Elephant)- which was a favourite for a little girl who kept running up to see the chair.

Well just a quick update today- hopefully find an Internet cafe tomorrow that is cheaper to upload the photos till them
Miss you from here
Karen & Alison

Photos of Day six on Tour on our way to Kilaney

Hi all,
Well dedication or what - firstly we remember and logged into Alison's betting account to bet on the Melbourne cup late yesterday afternoon our time. After working out the time difference we realised it would be 4am here when the race would happening. We didn't make any plans to be awake and watch it as we are leaving at 9am. However we did end up being close as we went out to see Pete Fagan preform last night- expecting him to start at 9.30pm- no like most of the live music it started later - much later midnight.

So being that we wanted to see him as Mark (our guide) had been yabbering on all day about how great Pete was, we walked back to the O'Donoghue's bar (cause their music was already happening) and ordered cider. The bar is attached to a posh hotel- yah us. And it was over loaded with (about 15) American tourists. But we also meet a lovely couple from Parkes (Australia) over for their daughters wedding in London. They were impressed that both Alison and I had been to Parkes and seen the movie "The Dish'.
Photos will come later.

Now on to the photo's I couldn't upload yesterday- I have got up at 6am so have only had 3 hours sleep so I could retry- so I hope you enjoy them. Also checked the race results- it started late due to rain and I didn't back the winner- so sad.

Mark (our Guide) feeding donkeys an apple. Heather thought you would like to see Irish Donkeys- do you want me to bring one home for you (or two).

How is this for a church- all hand built

This is Natalie (her first close up appearance on our blog) this was for her Nana to show that she went to church whilst in Ireland (she is inside the tiny church in the above photo) Good on you Natalie. 

Us all walking along the lakes edge at Dingle Harbour in the hope of seeing Fungi the Dolphin- yes a Dolphin. Apparently he has been hanging around here for 25 years all by him self. Whilst we saw him he was way across the lake and not close enough to get a photo- check out the following link for a close up. I was not popular when I mentioned life expectancies- taboo subject as the town thrives on the tourism of one dolphin called Fungi- mmm the name read the link for that story.

http://www.dingle-region.com/fungi.htm

Pretty lake at Dingle Fungi is in there some where (like Nessie)

Alison walking on the edge at lake in Dingle- look at the pretty blue sky

When we got to Killanery we went on a Horse and cart ride through Killarney National Park- best shot I could do on a moving cart sitting very close but opposite Alison, who is sitting next to Renee. The park is beautiful check out the link below for great scenery shots.

http://www.killarneynationalpark.ie/



A photo in the park whilst on the cart. Love this photo how pretty are all the autumn colours. Also 2 interesting facts in one part of the park they have cut down a large group of trees that are not native to Ireland and are replanting native trees. Next one is that one of the trees native to Ireland is used for breast cancer treatment- something in it is used in the medication- how great is that.


So I think I need to apologise as I think I spelt Killarney wrong in the last post - with only one L. Sorry about that peoples. Well it is now 8.20am and I have been at this one post for an hour and half with the down loads taking most on the time. Heading off now- we need to convince Mark to give us 15 minutes to get to a shop called Serendipity to look at the jewellery- here is hoping he says yes.
Miss you from here
Karen and Alison

Day Seven- more on the way to Kilarney and Kilarney nite life

Hi all,
Well I have just spent 10 minutes trying to upload more of our photos from yesterday, last night and today. I have lost patience in the process. So I will download at a internet cafe when I can.

Just quickly we are in Kilarney, here last night and today. The rain has set back in and it was a wet traveling day
SOOOO Dad this is the O'Donoghue castle in Kilarney- is this the one that should have been our home???? This is called Ross castle and was the last strong hold against Cromwell but it was leased out at the time- think I got that right. Check it out on-  http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Bunrattybig.jpg 
 If not do you know where it was????



O'Donoghue's Castle in Kilarney

So we have great photos which I hope to up load on the next blog of what we have done and seen. Also it was Halloween last night so we did the fancy dress- and being as clever as we are we have dressed up as all things that our Guide Mark has told us about. So legends, myths and movies (yes the Quiet Man again) of Ireland. He was well surprised, see a few drinks the night before and we have the best idea- and we only had 2 hours to get the costumes together. At this point it would have been great to go through sister Kate's fancy dress shop- oh well we did alright with what we got.
Miss you from here
Alison and Karen

A Hairy bathroom! With snores...

Well it's the start of another day and we've had a few issues over night... Our dorm room was shared with some people from another group the first issue of snoring resulted in Karen getting up and updating the blogg for three and a half hours, as the morning arrived we awoke to the sound of hair being brushed.... in the stillness of the room this was very very loud loud there are now many of my room mates sitting around with crossed leggs because they deemed the bathroom was unusable when we eventually got up - it was covered in hair.

The bus is being loaded, I'll have to finish my post and uploaded some of my photo's in the comming days - yes I've been very slack in comparision to Karen's efforts with the blogg - but I've been enjoying not needing to be in front of a computer as often as when I'm at home.

Photo's and more soon I promise
Alison

Day six- Cliffs of Moher on the way to Annascaul, County Kerry

Hi all,
OMG what a day it was the sun was out all day -it was a perfect day. And finally some outside photos of us without our jackest on cause it was warm enough and their was no rain.

Again I am sorry I have not got the name of this castle, but it is a great shot of me and Alison with the castle in the background. alsion has a great shot with just the castle and the refection in the lake to show you all when we get back. She is still in bed as it is now 5.30am and i have been going for 2 hours to get blog up to date.

Here is Simon in the Leprechan house looking into the wishing well.

Mark our tour guide- now while it does look like he has had enough of us and looking for desperate measures to escape- not so. This is his favourite spot in Ireland (well his fav today on this drive). A couple others ventued out to get their photo taken on the ledge as well.

The sun is out- so a picnic is in order. Picnic Ireland mid autumn style, on rocks over looking the water. Yah we are outside in sunshine and not getting wet- we love it

Cliffs of Moher. Five of us opted to do the cliff walk- which includes climbing over bard wire fences. This is a shot from this side half way to the top.

In front of the rock nearly at the top.

Katie and Kyra at the top of the cliffs.

Me and Kyra starting to walk towards the other side of the cliffs.

Cliffs of Moher the otherside - have walked the length. The path is narrow slippery and close to the edge with no barriers not for the fainthearted

The Cliffs of Moher crew from left- Kyra, Karen, Katie, Freddy, Lyndon. After we had finished the walk in great time (back 40 minutes early) power walking.

Okay it doesn't show so well but we passed this beach and there were about 20-30 people surfing - yes surfing.

Dinner tonight at the hostel pub- four days to go and we all still look like we are up for anything right- NOT

Went to the local bar called the South Pole in Annascaul, County Kerry. It was owned by Tom Crean who was a famous adveturer. Tom Crean figured prominently in three of the four major British expeditions to the Antarctic. Crean spent more time in the South than either Scott or Shackleton - and he outlived them both! See link below to find out more about him- he was a fasinating man and incrediable brave in the expediations- truly inspiring stories.
http://website.lineone.net/~polar.publishing/tomcreanunsunghero.htm

So that is it for now- might try and grab a couple hours sleep before we head off- clocks go back an hour today \9well \i already did that so it is 6am.Wait no didn't change my watch only my phone- yah it is only 5am and \i don't need to eb up till 8am.

We have 2 days in the next town so should be able to get those done each day if not on the 2nd day.
Miss you from here
Karen and Alison