England/Scotland 2024 Pilgrimage – Day 6

Friday, September 6, 2024

Another Lovely Morning on Iona

We both slept like logs and can’t tell you what the midnight sky looked like because we slept through it. The fresh air, wind, sunshine, walking, climbing, processing new things like “keep left!” and straining to understand English in various accents means I “am pure done in.” Even after a good night of sleep.

To bed at 11:00, up at 7:00, and then Eucharist service at the Scottish Episcopal Church (Bishop’s House) at 8:00. Again, there were five of us. Reverand Ann, a Presbyterian pastor from Delaware who led, Reverand Christopher from United Church of Canada, Toronto, his wife, Prentice, and the two of us. Gregg noted that three of the five were ordained ministers. Curious! It was another special service.

The “short cut” back through the field to our Pod was a time of reflection amongst God’s beauty. At the pod, we ate the rest of our food for breakfast, finished packing up, and headed out to the ferry landing.

We caught the 10:10 ferry out of Iona to Fionnphort, then the 11:15 bus across the island of Mull to Craignure, and the 1:25 ferry to Oban on the mainland. There weren’t many people on the bus and we got to sit in the very front seats on the top floor. It gave us a bird’s eye view of what the driver saw.

Once again, I am SO THANKFUL we took the bus and were not driving. As a refresher, this is a 35 mile trip that takes an average of one hour and 15 minutes on a ONE-lane TWO-way traffic road. There is a lot of stopping and it isn’t unusual for one or both of the vehicles to have to back up. They had many pull-outs along the way.

Note, you ALWAYS stay to the left. The pull-outs vary from side to side of the road. Never pull into one on the opposite side of the road. That’s dangerous. (says our first bus driver)

It is a bit disconcerting when your bus driver stops, not once, but twice, and gets out of the bus, cell phone in hand. Apparently, we were having an overheating problem, much to the panic of a passenger who needed to catch the next ferry so that she could catch a specific train which would allow her to meet a friend in Glasgow. Hopefully that worked out well. She did make the ferry.

I took a selfie with Rev. Ann on the dock of Iona.

Haste Ye Back

I love this Scottish saying on the sign leaving Oban, “Haste Ye Back!” The weather was sunny and clear so driving through the Scotish Highlands was gorgeous! We had to return down a fair stretch of that windy and narrow road from when we were driving up to Oban, but Gregg drove it well. I’m thankful I’m not driving!

Edinburgh

Our tentative plan was to go to St. Andrews, Scotland, today. But, alas, there are no rooms available at a reasonable price. So we switched things up and are using Hilton points to stay at a Hampton Inn by the Edinburgh Airport. We can see the traffic control tower from our window.

The weather today was hotter than we’ve had. Curiously, as we came down from the Highlands, the temperature got cooler and the fog descended. Not sure what the weather is to be tomorrow.

Thankfully, they have a restaurant (of sorts – you order at the bar and they bring it to your table.) We both had a meat pie of sorts – like a beef stew with a huge flaky pastry on top along with green peas and mashed potatoes. It hit the spot! And the bonus was we didn’t have to drive to get it!

A woman, Cassie Carry, from outside Milwaukee, WI, saw us going over brochures while we waited for our food. She came over and ended up talking with us while we ate. She had lived in Oban for a year and so had been to Iona. She told us about some books she likes regarding church history and such. And we shared some books we found helpful.

Touring Edinburgh tomorrow

Back in the room, I’m writing this post. Honestly, it may not make sense as I literally keep falling asleep while I type. Haha! It is 10:15 so I’ll add a few photos and then go to the land of nod…

I’ll leave you with a video snippet of our bus ride today.