© 2008-2011 Farnsworth Clan Adventure All Rights Reserved

© 2008-2013 Farnsworth Clan Adventure All Rights Reserved
Please ask permission before using any portion of our blog. Thanks!

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Road Trip--John O' Groats-Orkney Islands

While Courtney and her children were here in Scotland, we decided to take a road trip to John O' Groats and the Orkney Islands. The drive was beautiful and the kids traveled well.


The drive to John O' Groats.

The Coastal Drive to Northern Scotland

The skies parted and showed us the sunshine. We appreciate the sun more now than ever.

John O' Groats is the northernmost town (village) on the mainland of Scotland. It is as far north as you can get without leaving the main British Isle.

As the sign says, this is the last house in Scotland.

We rode this boat from John O' Groats out to the Orkney Islands. The Orkney Islands are made up of about 70 islands, most of them small. The population of the island is approx 19,000. It rains here about 240 days out of the year and the wind blows a lot. It rarely gets below freezing in the winter because of the Gulf Stream which keeps the temperature moderate during the winter. Snow is rare here. In the winter, the sun comes up at 10am and sets by 3pm. The northern lights are spectacular here in the winter.

Approaching one of the main islands on the boat.

The Orkney Islands have very few trees.


Orkney Islands--the islands were conquered by the Vikings and ruled by Norway for about 400 years. Scotland purchased the islands from Norway. The Viking blood is still dominant in the native Orcadians.


Some of the major islands form a large natural harbor. During WWII, the British fleet was stationed in the harbor to prevent the German U-boats from sinking the fleet. To protect the British ships, they scuttled numerous older ships in between some of the entry ways to the harbor. The remains of the older boats can still be seen.

The beach at Skara Brae.

The wind picked up and made some good waves.

This is Skara Brae, a World Heritage Site. It is Europe's best preserved Neolithic Village. In the winter of 1850, a wild storm stripped the grass from the high dune know as Skara Brae in the Bay of Skaill on the main island of Orkney. An immense refuse heap was uncovered along with the ruins of ancient dwellings.

The village of Skara Brae was inhabited before the Egyptian pyramids were built, and flourished many centuries before construction began at Stonehenge. It is over 5000 years old.

It isn't the age alone that maks it so remarkable and so important. It is the degree to which it has been preserved.


The structures of the semi-subterranean village survive in impressive condition. Also surviving is the furniture in the village houses. The furniture was made of stone, including beds, dressers, and tables.


It was a windy day, although it wasn't cold.


We also visited the stone circle at Brodgar. It is the 3rd largest stone circle in Britain with the diameter measuring over 100 meters.

It is amazing how they put so many huge upright stones in the circle.

The end of the day. We enjoyed the trip but it was tiring to all of us.

The boat ride from the Orkneys back to John O' Groats.

Monday, September 28, 2009

Wedding Announcement


Here is the front of the wedding announcement.


The picture and the announcement was done by Shannon's dad. I think he did a pretty good job. We have mailed out all the announcements so if you haven't got one yet please let me know so I can send you one.

P.S. This is Mel - I removed the announcement with all the personal info, but aren't they the cutest couple!

Sunday, September 20, 2009

Happy Birthday Ol' Man

That's right, ol' man.

If you call me your ol' lady
then I can say ol' man!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

You are a pretty great guy.
You take your little buddy places, and teach him things.

You share your pizza with a little beggar!
She looks like she belongs to you.
In fact I was told that she has none of my DNA in her,
that she looks like her grandpa!

We sure have had fun in Scotland,
playing hard, kickin' butt!
(I am sooo funny!)


I Love You Man!


P.S. Does this makeup for not getting you a present?

Monday, September 14, 2009

The Highland Games--The Royal Braemar Gathering

On the first Saturday in September, a Gathering is held in Braemar. A Gathering is where the Highland Clans meet annually to compete in traditional contests such as dancing, tossing the caber, stone toss, weight toss, tug o' war, footraces, high jump, long jump, and of course, bagpiping. The bagpipers come out in droves. These games have been held for centuries. The gathering at Braemar has become "The Gathering".

In 1848 Queen Victoria started attending the gathering at Braemar and the Royal Family has been coming almost every year since. The Queen usually comes in the afternoon. We left around noon so we aren't sure if she came. Last year, Queen Elizabeth, Prince Phillip and Prince Charles all attended.

Balmoral Castle
The Queen has a Royal Castle in Balmoral, about 10 miles from Braemar. This is the castle where Queen Elizabeth went into seclusion when Princess Diana died. It is said to be her favorite castle.


The Scottish Thistle


Hotel in Braemar


Street Performer


Young Pipers


Older Pipers


Colorful Pipers


Drum Major


Another Drum Major



The "Handicapped" Hundred Yard Dash
Notice where all of the contestants are to begin the race. Lane 1 is well up the field. Lane 2 is standing towards the back. Lane 3 is about 10 yards in front of Lane 2. Lane 4 is about 20 yards behind Lane 2. I am not sure how the handicaps are figured but the distances are different for each runner.


A local bagpipe band performing during the games.






The Tug O' War

Traditional tug o' war with 2 sides trying to pull each other. We had received quite a bit of rain during the 2 days before the competition so by the end of the competition, the contestants made a muddy rut with their feet. Notice in the background where a contestant throws the 28 pound weight.


The 28 pound weight toss



The Caber Toss

There is nothing quite like picking up a telephone pole, running with it and then flipping it end over end. Getting the balance right to begin with is the key. The caber is quite heavy. There were quite a few "near misses" when the caber fell and almost hit people standing close by that weren't paying attention.





Traditional Scottish Dance called the Hulachan performed by some young kids.




Two seasoned performers.




Throwing the weight (look close--it is a short video).



The Stone Toss--an early form of the shot put. Remember the scene in Braveheart where Amish (Hamish?) throws the stone at William Wallace.




The combined Bagpipe Bands March. This is approx 300 Band Leaders, Bagpipers, and drummers marching together. You don't usually see this many pipers in one group.