A Family Reunion at Loch Ness - and Some Alpacas, too.

Over the weekend, I FINALLY got to take my friends to see my home-- Loch Ness! 

After the busy week last week, it was time for a break and a trip to see where I came from. On Friday morning, we all loaded up a giant coach and made our way north toward Inverness, where the Ness river meets the sea on its way out of my beautiful Loch!

One the way northward we made several stops, the first was in the lovely wee town of Pitlochry. After a stop just long enough for a snack, coffee, and a shop or two, we were back on the road toward Killicrankie. At Killicrankie, we hiked down to Soldier's Leap -- it was awesome to see how far that Redcoat soldier had to jump to get away from the Jacobites -- he lost a shoe, but kept his life! We had a bit of a picnic while we thought about that amazing feat. Hiking always makes me hungry! 

After a wee nap on the bus, we made it to Inverness where we checked into our hostel and then went on a walking tour of the city. Our tour guide, Steve, told a lot of funny stories, but he also told some about my relatives and I didn't appreciate him implying that my ancestors were afraid of the people-- we just like to avoid them. After we finished our tour, we watched a movie that had Rosslyn Chapel in it, and had a pizza dinner. When we went to bed, I got to share a room with 6 of my friends. It was fun to all be together for a night, but somebody snores, so I am glad we don't always share a room. I was so excited about seeing my home loch on Saturday, though, that I wasn't going to get much sleep anyway! 

I really think they were trying to keep me in suspense, because on Saturday, we drove the length of the loch THREE TIMES before we finally got on a boat. The first time was to go to the Falls of Foyer, which were beautiful and a fun hike. The second time to visit the Alpacas that reside along Loch Ness, and that was a really fun stop for my friends, but made me really anxious to see my relatives (Uncle Nesster has a haircut kindof like one of the alpacas).

After the alpacas and a quick lunch stop where we saw some coos, we finally got on a boat and went out on Loch Ness. Now, here is a thing that the humans don't really know about us -- we can communicate to one another through the water without being heard by human technology. So, I said a very fond hello to family members I haven't spoken with in quite a while. Aunt Nessley, Cousins Nessia, and Nesstric all scolded me for staying away so long. Great Aunt Nessie chimed in to say that I should call once in a while-- "the ocean nesswork connects all the way around Scotland." Big Sister Nessandra was just glad to hear my voice, and all about my new friends. 

While the boat ride and my family reunion felt way too short, it was time for me to get my friends back on the bus and back to Edinburgh for their last week of class and adventure.