Scolty Hill

Last weekend we had gorgeous weather. A virtual heat wave - it was about 63 degrees! The sun was shining. We had about 3 1/2 days of weather like that. Not a cloud in the sky, no rain. Most people will think that is no big deal but in Scotland it is a big deal! We may of just had our summer! It was an interesting site to see the locals reacting to this weather.

First there were traffic jams everywhere, except on the dual carriage way (freeway). People were fleeing to their favorite play areas. There was certainly no one commuting from work!

Second, clothes were being shed. Girls walking around in bikinis. Guys with their shirts off - think beer bellies! It is quite funny. On the local radio station the two guys who were broadcasting were making fun of Scots in warm weather. The comment was something like this, "Generally us Scots know how to dress. Everyone has a decent wardrobe. It maybe jeans and a t-shirt but we generally know how to dress . . . except when we have beautiful, sunshiny weather. You will see someone walking around with a tank top, shorts and black dress shoes! We don't know what to wear when it is warm. Sandals with socks! This should be seen only on a two year old. Seriously we need to go summer clothes shopping in a country where it is hot!" I just died laughing. I know this doesn't do it justice but it was funny.

Third, people flock out to the parks in droves. Every blanket is laid out in the sun. Mind you 63 degrees is not that hot, but when it is 10 to 20 degrees cooler on average it feels quite toasty. I don't know how I am going to cope with the heat of Utah when I go back. I will probably be walking around in a t-shirt, shorts and pumps! :)

On Saturday Bud got the idea we should go hike Scolty hill. It is just outside of the town we live in.

We packed a little picnic lunch and headed up the road. It was about a 10 minute drive. Scotland is very good about forestry. They are constantly planting and harvesting lumber.

Here is me in my famous floppy hat. All my adventures are taken with me in my floppy hat. It is the greatest for keeping the sun off.

Bud

The last 1/2 mile is up hill on a rocky trail! (All of Scotland is rocky - where do you think they got all that stone for the miles upon miles of stone fences!) This trail may not look that steep but it is steep. This is how Bud looked the whole way up! Stopped - waiting - go another 15 - 20 feet - wait - maybe go another 20 - 25 feet - wait! OKAY I KNOW I AM OUT OF SHAPE!!! But this was annoying. I kept telling him to keep going and I would be right behind him. He said, "That's okay. I'll wait. I am afraid if I go ahead you won't make it to the top." I made it to the top just fine. Also it wasn't as if I was stopping the entire way. I was just taking my time.

This is the Colonel Burnett Monument. The Burnett family were granted lands in our area by Robert the Bruce for their help in fighting the English. Crathes Castle is the Burnett estate.

Of course, I finally make it to the top of the hill and there is more to climb! I told Bud that I am going to take pictures of all the spiral staircases I climb in Scotland and do a blog about them. I hate them. They are at every historic site and usually they are very small and uneven and steep and sometimes I get a little dizzy climbing them - like the ones at the William Wallace Monument. (Think four stories of spiral stairs that are so small that if you meet someone going the opposite direction one of you has to go to the closest floor to let the other one by!)

Here is the view from the top of Scolty Hill looking at our little town Banchory.

I zoomed in a little closer.
We live by the bend in the river.
If you enlarged this picture you could see our rooftop -
if you knew what you were looking for.

And I zoomed even closer still!

Just another spectacular view.

I know it sounds like I was whining (but I was just being factual!) Bud and I very much enjoyed our hike and plan on doing a lot more. I told him we should hike this once a month until we can just breeze right on up there!