Seventh Day of the Workshop
Usually on our last day of the workshop, we enjoy dinner together, but because of the light this far north, it really is not an option. The days are long. and one can photograph easily until 11 at night.
Our host at the hotel had been so charming that we wanted to be sure to enjoy a last full meal with him, so we opted to make lunch our official final meal. In addition, one of our participants had to leave a half a day early and head back to Italy. We didn’t want him to miss out on the festivities. It was lovely, and Pixie, the resident dog, wandered in and out, hoping for goodies to drop on the floor.
Since we were going to be out late, we made our nearly-daily stop at the Co-op to pick up picnic supplies while Arnie and I made sure the van tanks were full. Where we were going, we did not want to run out of fuel!
We were headed to the westernmost tip of the Isle of Skye, a wild and wooley coast with steep cliffs and views off to the Outer Hebrides. Once we left the main roads, we were on one-track lanes with lay-bys, or Passing places as they are now called. As in the US in the country, on a one lane road, the car headed downhill has the right of way. After all, it is much easier to back downhill than uphill.
We met a lot of cars, and fortunately, we seemed to always have the right of way. In one little village, we stopped to check out the tiny country store. It was deceptive, as once one entered the store, it seemed to go on and on. I likened it to the old country stores on our side of the pond. People picked up additional munchies, and we continued on our way.
The wind was blowing like the proverbial bat out of hell, and we cautioned our participants to be careful along the cliffs. It really was magnificent, and we scouted and did some shooting, making our way over the peat bogs and along sheep and walking paths. Three of us made it to a lookout tower, but we could not figure out what it had been for. It was too visible to have been a relic from WWII. Whatever its purpose, it gave us a respite from the blustery winds, and we talked about photography and approaches and ways to head to the next level.
Eventually, everyone returned to the vans for warmth, picnics with shared goodies, and in some cases, wine. When the light started getting good, we braved the nippy winds again and found our respective positions.
Many people concentrated on the lighthouse perched at a cliff’s edge, but I wanted to give a sense of the view, the sun peaking out from under a dark band of clouds
It was late, really late, when we were finally all back in the vans. It was getting dark, and some of the one-track lanes were recently paved, making the edges harder to see. Along much of the road, we passed ewes with their lambs snuggled close for warmth, presumably getting additional warmth from the pavement as night settled in. There was no final single malt, as we returned to the hotel long after it was buttoned up for the night. Our keys were waiting for us on the reception counter, and we quietly stole up the stairs to bed.
CODA:
After breakfast, we paid our bills and bade farewell to Richard, our charming host. There were hugs, and Richard was even a little misty eyed as we left. Once the vans were packed up, and we were all buckled up, Richard came out with Pixie and waved one final time to us.
The route back to Glasgow was lovely. Everyone got to see the Scottish Highlands on a sunny day. When we had started out over a week ago, it was beastly rainy, and the views were limited.
Arnie and I returned the vans, and we all met in the bar area for fun, frivolity, and supper. People shared stories, and we laughed until our cheeks hurt and our eyes were watering. An excellent way to end up a workshop!
Next: On to Paris
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