PhotoFriday entry for Massive

Photo Friday Entry
MASSIVE
Back to the Falkirk Wheel. An impressive, massive structure. Wastrel On!

Mickey, Meet Dr. George

Ok, so my entries are a little out of order. Yesterday's entry should have been several days back while the entry with Joseph & Mickey should have backed up to today's entry. Sorry. But, it's my journal, deal with it. :-) So, here is another photo of Mickey. This time she's playing with Dr. George. Taken again from our bedroom window, you can see the wall-covering ivy on the right side of the image. This was such an amazing place, and getting to share it with Dr. George (one of the most incredible men I have ever met) and so many others made it ever more special. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Lusty Young Smith by Celtic Stone)

The Centurion

We picked up Ginger just fine at the Edinburgh Airport. She was a little surprised to see us rather than Larry & Denise (who were still in the US), but true to form, she adapted quickly. Of course, we still had to pick up the other two girls, so not wanting to spend a couple of hours in Edinburgh airport, off we went into the grand city itself, well a suberb of anyway. Of course, it didn't take very long for me to locate a pub, a parking spot & a pint. Delightful. It was in the Centurion where I noticed the first of many signs I was to see while in Scotland; "No playing of Football songs, nor wearing of Football colours!" Signs such as these are apparently needed in Scotland to avoid hooligan-hassles! Sadly, I neglected to take a photo of the sign, so here's a photo of the exterior of the Centurion. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Sally Ann by Great Big Sea)

Gillian's Keys

I'm thirsty, I'm tired, my toe is broken and I need a drink. So, here's a photo, because I don't want to type anymore. Wastrel On! (Listening To: Dark Wind by the Saw Doctors)

Meet Mickey!

The girls were successfully retrieved from Edinburgh, although it turns out that Desiree & Kyle and Larry & Denise got delayed in the U.S. due to weather. Larry & Denise stayed in the Milwaukee area, while Kyle & Desiree got all the way to Washington, D.C. before being grounded. Meanwhile, back at the manor, we had discovered the manor house came complete with a border collie. This is Mickey playing football with Joseph. This photo was taken from our bedroom (oh my gosh, what a bedroom!) upstairs. Mickey is an extremely loveable, football-playing border collie. We had many a good time with her over the week. The moment she heard anyone in the front yard, at whatever time of day, she came running and quickly retrieved one of her several footballs. It was her sport, and we obviously were there to play with her. It made me miss my own boder collies, Berecyntia and Cormac, greatly! Wastrel On! (Listening To: Rocky Top by Carbon Leaf (Live))

To the Manor Born

New Milne, in all it's glory. This is our first view of the house taken from just inside the driveway gate. Hard to believe that this was to be our home for the next week. Of course, we were several hours early and unable to "move in" just yet; we still had to make a quick trip to the Edinburgh airport to pick up those three lovely ladies. However, we did speak with Jim (the caretaker/owner) who allowed us to unload our luggage into the foyer so that we would have room for three more passengers plus luggage. Luckily our hired vehicle was large enough to accommodate this. But here it is: our home. Wastrel On! (Listening To: (She's Just) An Old Love Turned Memory by George Jones)

New Milne Drive

Finally, we arrived at New Milne Manor which we have hired for the next 7 days. We left Killiecrankie that morning intending to be the first people at New Milne. Considering we were sharing the manor house with 12 other folks, this could have been a difficult task to accomplish. As it turns out we ended up having to make a dash to the Edinburgh airport to pick up Ginger, Kara & Alison. So, no problems, we were first here. This is our first view of what was to be our home for the next week. What a glorious first impression, and it was only going to get better. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Crosstown Traffic by the Jimi Hendrix Experience)

Killiecrankie Hotel

The Killiecrankie Hotel sits north of Pitlochrie some 25 minutes on a very windy B road. This was an unexpected stop on our journey as we were planning to visit Killiecrankie Hotel next week. However, we found ourselves without lodging quite late in the day. So, my dear wife called up Tim, the proprietor, and asked him if by chance he had room for us. He did, so off we went to Killiecrankie where we spent an absolutely lovely evening in the company of Tim, and three German guests (two of which were in Scotland to learn English in Edinburgh). A charming room, sans air conditioning (as seems to be the norm), greeted us up the stairs, around the corner, down a step (ducking heads as we went to avoid the seriously low ceiling) and around another corner. But well worth the visit and the £105 pounds. If you find yourself in Killiecrankie, stay here. Wastrel On! (Listening to: Everything She Wants by Wham)

Pitlochrie in Bloom

Pitlochrie has recently won the Scotland in Bloom award. Apparently this is a very prestigious happening because they proudly display this fact throughout the town. Additionally, scattered everywhere, are these wonderful "sculptures", mostly Victorian-themed, that double as planters. This Victorian lady is the first of these fine figures that we saw and I couldn't resist the photo opportunity. I wish now that I had photographed Marita Beth next to one so that the size of these wonderful items could be accurately portrayed. Barely a street block could be walked without encountering some Iron Victorian sporting flower pots. Wastrel On. (Listening to: Hurdy Gurdy Man by The Butthole Surfers)

The Kingfisher

Yet another pub. :-) After leaving the Old Mill Inn, we walked down the High Street in Pitlochrie taking a quick peek in windows & just enjoying the simple, pleasant ambience of this high-energy little town. It was late enough that shops were closing, so there was no shopping to do, but the pubs were still open. We located this one, the Kingfisher, and stepped in for a draught. A pint of the 80 shilling for me and a half shandy for the wee wife. As we sat there enjoying our drinks, an older gentleman informed us that a "very loud" group was soon to start playing and we were sitting right in front of their speakers. We finished our drinks and left soon after, neither of us were up for a "very loud" group and we still had a ways to drive to get to Killiecrankie. Wastrel On! (Listening To: (Reach Up For the) Sunrise by Duran Duran)

Eating in Pitlochrie

Finally finishing with the Falkirk Wheel (well worth a visit), we took to the road again. A quick stop in a small nameless (only because I've forgotten) hamlet so my dear wife can visit an antique store and I can quench a dry throat was the only thing between us & Pitlochrie. A marvelous, if very trendy/touristy destination is Pitlochrie. Many hours, I'm sure, could be spent traversing its streets and shops & pubs and distilleries. But, since we were going to be back here later in the week, we didn't stay over long. We gathered a quick bite & drink at the Old Mill Inn (I've taken, at this point, to photographing every place I've had a drink) and then took a short walk. Lovely, very pleasant weather but the city itself was a little crowded. We soon departed for Killiecrankie. Wastrel On! (listening to: High Hopes by Pink Floyd)

Atop the Wheel

After arriving at the top of the wheel, we made a short journey up the canal; through a tunnel that ran underneath the Antonine Wall we travelled at 4 mph (the maximum on British Canals) to the upper lock. The upper lock is the 1st of 3 locks on this part of the canal system. The Falkirk Wheel is the middle lock and replaces 11 previous locks. Prior to the Wheel being erected, the trip from the top lock to the bottom lock took approximately 10 hours. Now the entire trip can be completed in just under an hour. This photo was taken from the top of the wheel on our return journey looking out over the valley. Next to our boat is a small canal cruiser. There are numerous companies that hire these boats out for excursions of any length. Marita Beth & I are considering, seriously, a Calendonia Canal Cruise when next we visit Scotland. Hire a boat for a few days and slowly traverse the canal system stopping at villages and spots of interest along the way. I think it could be great fun. (Listening to: The Beautiful Ones by Mariah Carey)

The Milwaukee Irish Festival

Took a short break from my travelogue to visit the Bristol Renaissance Festival and the Milwaukee Irish Fest. The Milwaukee Irish Festival celebrated its 25th year this past weekend. It has truly placed itself in the annals of great festivals and great venues. It's held at the Henry W. Maier Festival [Summerfest] Grounds at 200 North Harbor Drive Milwaukee, WI 53202 on the banks of Lake Michigan. The Milwaukee Irish Festival boasts one of the best lineups of Irish (or otherwise Celtic-influenced) music anywhere. Perhaps the InterCeltique Musique Festival in France may have a larger lineup, but I've not been to it, so I stand by my personal critique. Over the years I have seen some truly outstanding groups: some internationally acclaimed, some purely local with little hope of bursting onto the international scene, but brilliant musicians in their own right. This year, I was treated to the Brigid's Cross, The Young Dubliner's, The Wolftones, Schooner Fare, Green Fields of America, Wolfstone & Off Kilter. And these are just the groups I physically saw. I heard many more from a distance as I passed by. My main complaint about the festival is that the Miller Brewing Company has a stranglehold on the grounds and Guinness (Bass, Harp &c.) are not present. You can purchase all of the Guinness paraphenalia you want from many of the hundreds of vendors selling wares. However, you can NOT buy a Guinness stout on the grounds. Thank goodness that Leinenkugel and Sprecher and Lakefront beers all have a presence. All in all it's worth your visit. Wastrel On!

Away in the Distance

As we shot down whatever small road we were on headed toward Killiecrankie, we espied this beautiful structure far in the distance in a vale. I pulled over into a layby and ran across the road to get this photo. While I was taking photographs, my wife was attempting to place a name to the structure. We believe that it is part of the Gleneagles Estate. If I made multi millions of dollars in a years time, we'd have tried to find it, but since I don't, it just wasn't worth the attempt. I had no desire, this early in the trip, to be treated shabbily. The return trip across the road was very nearly my last as I glanced left than right to cross the road and stepped out into the path of a rushing car. Luckily, years of soccer have provided me with pretty quick reflexes and I retreated quickly to the shoulder narrowly avoiding the kiss of a car. Note to self at that point. Glance Right then Left. Nothing like a brush with death/injury to force you to take a new perspective on things. Wastrel On! (Listening To: When I Touch You by Travis Tritt)

Riding the Wheel

Another view of the sheer impressiveness of the structure. This one was taken through the plexi-glass ceiling of our boat, just as we start the ascension. Take note of the beautiful sky, we were not to see that colour blue very often on this trip. Wastrel On! (Listening To: Green, White & Gold by Linda Rutherford & Celtic Fire)