UK & Ireland - May/June

After finishing stage 1 of our trans am east to west quest ( Yorktown , VA to Farmington MO ) - see link in last post - we headed to Asheville for a week with Betty and then to Scotland and Ireland  for 6 weeks in my case , 4 in Mary's. All went to plan and all the objectives achieved most important of which was to welcome into the world our 4th grandchild and assist as best we could. 

With Betty at the Corner Kitchen, Asheville - a favourite lunch and dinner spot

On the Blue Ridge Parkway on way to Mt Pisgah , NC - a breeze after the turmoils of the previous month.

In an 8 hour layover in Chicago, we joined a bike tour of the downtown area .

Note the safety officer's gear. The genes run true.

Into the beloved Highlands with Jane and some serious Munro bagging

Some way to go to the top of Beinn Liath Mhor Fannaich

Dinnae cast yer cloot till May's oot !  This the 29th.

Coming off Sgurr Mor. Just in time to beat last orders for dinner at Altguish Lodge.

Sunrise through the window of 20 Croft Rd ,  Inverness looking up the Beauly Firth - 4.33 am

The AWR indicator on top of Allermuir

Keith and Mary admiring the restored article - courtesy substantially of Keith's efforts

The GSR/NMR seat looking in fine shape

Baby Angus  - 2 days old - with proud Mum, Cormac and Iona.

Happy days at Ballygirreen

With great aunty Janey at Lahinch beach.

Sisters, sisters ......rendition not given on this occasion.

Aunty Jane admiring a Sampson look a like.

All very impressive.  They've got off to a flying start. Busy, busy, busy.

Sunday lunch in Ennis.

Some heavy work here, M's landscaping skills being brought to bear at the practice.

Cliffs of Moher, Co Clare. Meghan not to see ! 

A far more exciting part of the day out with Granny Moon, Grandad and Aunty Jane.

Time out - video to the rescue.

Our rented house in Ennis 5 minute walk from the practice.

The family complete ( or is it ? )  at Drumoland

Wonderful playground and park overlooking the castle 5 minutes from their house.

Fathers' ( or Grandfathers' in this case ) Day card being presented.  Now pinned proudly on the notice board in Snowmass Village bus drivers' lounge.

Precious time with Daddy

And now back to the Munro bagging in Scotland.  My companion of the day - Johannes - who ran to the foot of Seana Braigh, Sutherland while I biked, and got there way ahead of me ! The Munro in question in background.

Start of a long day in Glen Affric with J , J and their friend Rory. 5 Munros and 30 km later we got back to car at 10.45 pm.

Summit of Carn Eighe.

At Muirfield with Spencer, Keith and Alasdair on last day of the trip.

Normal service resumed with coffee and muffins at Paradise Bakery before Saturday's Opera Scenes Masterclass