Scotland - Part 2

Soo... here is the second part of our Scotland adventure =)
On Sunday we woke up early, well I at 7 am and the rest whenever it was their turn to shower, only to discover that the shower only had boiling hot water =( It was really boiling and never went colder...  after some awkward moves and burned skin I was was finished and let the others into the monster shower XD
After everyone was done and packed up we checked out and got on the road =D
This is the good part: I got to drive! =D Yes, I drove in Scotland XD It was very funny and not nearly as complicated or confusing as I imagined it to be. I felt kinda natural to be on the left lane XD
We got our breakfast at the coop in town and I have to say it was surprisingly good. They even had some good buns and other sweet pastries. I got some milk,, a croissant and some mini doughnuts =)
Andy wanted to buy some beer for the day but, as we found out that morning, you cannot buy any alcohol before 10 am in Scotland XD  His face was hilarious and I had a laughing fit XD
I ate the croissant before driving and then at last we got on the road to Cannich =D
The drive on the motorway was uneventful from the drivers point of view but what little scenery I could catch a glimpse of was really beautiful =D
After some time we arrived in Inverness though we only passed through. I don't know... I kinda expected more of the town.. I don't even know why.. but driving through was very uninteresting.
Leaving Inverness we drove right next to Loch Ness =D (Though we needed Hanna to convince us that it is the Loch XD We thought it to be a little lake in the beginning)
We found a little stopping place for tourist and as the sun was shining really nicely we stopped and went down to the water =) It was really magnificent! (But also cold after some time XD)

When we came back to the car Andy dissapeared (again) We found him some way on the mountain next to the car O.o He came down and we got back on our way again =)
We drove through the beautiful landscape enjoying the view of the Loch Ness and the mountains until we arrived in Cannich.
After a short stop to find out where exactly we were and where we had to go we set off to the Dog Falls =)
At first it was a normal road with nice animals next to it XD

The road further down was a little mountain road =) It was full of bends and actually to small for two cars so they had passing places everywhere =)

that's the way the road looked XD

We arrived at the parking space for the dog falls and luckily for us you only have to pay for parking after the 1st or April =D
The place looked great! here is a first impression:

We got ready for the little walking trip we had planed and I just took my camera and lenses and some food and drinks and  off we were.
The first 5 minutes were a lot of fun and we climbed on the rocks and just had fun walking around. Then Hanna had the great idea to walk down to the water. I thought the idea to be great and walked in the front to get some god shots of the area and the others.
Then IT happend.
IT happened here:

at the upper left corner near the tree..

 I had just taken a picture of the others walking behind me when I turned around and walked further. I don't really remember how it happned but I slipped and fel right into the river with my camera and lenses still with me. I nearly had a heart attack O.o My first reflex to stretch my arms and legs from me was probably the only reason why my camera is still alive. Myright side was submerged but not really wet yet as my jacket and boots kept the water away. For a few seconds nothing happened and the others could only stare XD Then Otte, my hero, came to the front and helped me out of the water XD The moment I moved a centimeter, the water came through my clothes and I was drenched. When I came out the others took my camera and lenses and I took of my boots (I don't know, I heard somewhere that you're supposed to take of as many wet clothes as fast as you can) before we went back to the car =)
I changed into a nioce outfit consisting of black tights, my blue dress, Ollis UCLan sweater (nearly as long as my dress O.o) and Ottes shoes. Oh and my black scarf =) I was never more happy to have a change of clothes with me (even if it was only the dress and tights XD).
After I was changed we hang my trousers and jacket to dry on the car and put my boots under it and went of again. This time staying clear of the water ;-D
We walked some more and enjoyed the beautiful scenery, it is spectacular! *__* I could walk around there for days! (Btw the following pictures are taken by Olli and me with Ollis camera as I left mine in the car for safety reasons ;-D)

Okay... I actually went near the water again, but only while holding Hannas hand =)

the Dog Falls =)

the thinnest bridge I remember crossing in my life. XD

After we crossed the bridge (guess which one ;-D) we hiked up a mountain trying to get to the top XD It was actually not that hard once we reached a normal road again =) From there it was a normal walk back to the car though we often followed little paths tight into the nature to see which secrets of nature we might find =D

Lord of the Rings, anyone?  XD

The view *__*

These steps might have been a little bit older ;-D

awesome old tree XD

yeah, that makes me feel safe O.o

When we got back to the car we put all my still wet clothes in the trunk and Olli got to drive. We decided to drive to Loch Afric and see how far we would get. The drive was relaxed as we all needed the short break and we just soaked in our surroundings and took some pictures on the way =) (These ones are made with my camera again =D)

Shortly after we arrived at a small bridge that looked like it would collapse if more than one car would be on it. Thankfully it was so small that only one car at a time fits on it XD

Later we arrived at Loch Arfric or more accuratly river afric.
And got this beautiful view:

We got our things sorted and walked the first hiking trail. Not even 5 minutes later we saw it: A Deer! Not running away or anything. No just standing there, eating and only looking up whenever I moved to get another picture XD He was really relaxed and Otte tried to get closer to him but the swamp prevented him from getting to close. Not that the deer seeming interested in Otte in any way XD

After the excitement of the deer abated we started walking again. While walking we had an interesting discussion at what time during the year the deer gets rid of his antlers and when the rutting season (that sounds so wrong O.o) is...  we found out that nobody of us actually knows XD
We then walked further and I totally felt like a part of the Fellowship of the ring =D It was great XD Surroundings perfect, people to run around with and enough swamp to make it somewhat of a challenge XD
Lovely =) We even found a little parted section from the river that looked like the Lake of Avalon O.o Hidden between the mountains and forests and with glittery stones everywhere =D

our fellowship XD

the "lake" 

animal tracks for the win! (I so felt like Strider finding them XD)

We then got back to our car and Hanna saw another trail to a viewpoint on the mountain on the other side =) Young and energetic as we are we went off to climb that mountain too XD
It was pretty easy and funny though I proved my knack for tripping over nothing very thouroughly XD
The view from the viewpoint was worth everything in the end *__* It was fantastic!  (Quote: It looks like a scene from a beer ad! - myself XD)

I could so imagine the fellwhip of the ring running over the right mountain to the snowy one and then getting into moria O.o

We stayed there for quite some time as Hanna wanted to so the sundown and it was a great thing to see! Inbetween Otte went missing and we ran around the swamp trying to find him only for him to come back from a little exploration tour XD
After seeing the begining of sundown we decided to get back so we could return to the normal streets before it would become dark.
On our way back to the car we saw some more deer *__* I love this place for all its deer XD
One was really shy and dissappeared before everyone could get a look at it but the other two were standing near the street and only got moving when I got closer and started making noises to make them look up. Interestingly they stopped moving when I made the sound I normally make to make cats come closer O.o

Thats all that happened in the mountains and we went back to car, got in and drove back home without anything interesting happening after that =) Or at least I can't remember anything interesting after that XDD

For the parting I give you this picture adn see you next time =)

Oh and go visit Scotland! It's great XD

Love
Thym