“Spanish Caravan, Liverpool” — A beer ad on a wall in the Liverpool Ropewalks district.
This scene was on a corner near the place we stayed in the Ropewalks district of Liverpool this spring. We had gone out for a long walk and run into a bit of rain, perhaps obvious from the wet street and sidewalk. I think that the large figure on the wall is meant to look like a guy who is happy with his beer. But I think there is also something just a bit ominous about that unnatural grin on a figure towering above the street and peeking out between buildings.
“On The Road To Elgol” — Distant mountains and cloud-filled sky along the route to the Scottish village of Elgol.
We had several days to explore the Isle of Skye during or May visit to Scotland. We stayed at a somewhat off-the-grid location to the west of Portree. One day we did a popular route up the eastern coast toward the far northern reaches of the island, returning on the other side of that peninsula. Another day we headed south and east, visiting the Talisker distillery and, among other things, heading out to the remote village of Elgol on the southwestern coast.
“Duncansby Stacks” — Sea Stacks at John O’Groats on Scotland’s North Sea Coast.
Our big loop through northwest Scotland began at Inverness, went to Skye, then headed north with stops at Ullapool and Altnaharra. From there we crossed the northern coast to John O’Groats. Why John O’Groats? it feels like one of the more remote places in Scotland – it is on the North Sea and beyond there are only the Orkney Islands. I also recall running into a cyclist on our previous visit to Scotland who was riding from the furthest south point in England to John O’Groats, and that piqued my interest.
“Netherkirkgate” — Aman on a ladder in Aberdeen, Scotland.
Our recent travels to the British Isles began (aside from a very brief stopover in London) with a lengthy visit to Skye and the northwest of Scotland. After that first adventure we returned to Inverness and took a train to Aberdeen for a few days. After more than a week in the wild open spaces of northwest Scotland, returning to this urban setting was quite a contrast!
