My last morning on the isle of Harris I had a coffee with 2 lovely ladies. One of them gave me a challenge: write a poem about a scone . ‘Now that’s a challenge for ya’, she said in her lovely Scottish accent. Well, here it goes: A scone wanted to go home
It felt so forlorn on it’s own ‘I want to feel the warmth of my beloved
And melt in the arms of my love’ So the scone who felt forlorn
took it on it’s own to go home Hahaha, Allison, I hope you like it! :) After the coffee the ladies left for their Harris beach adventure and I took the ferry to the Isle of Skye. I was hopeful, the sun was shining for the first time in a long time. But when we arrived in Uig, the rain came in. From Uig I took the bus to Portree . I booked a hostel in Portree, because of my tiredness. But during the booking I discovered that my bank policy had changed and I could no longer do online payments with my credit card. I hoped that the booking was okay. When I arrived in Portree in the hostel, my booking was lost in the system and the hostel was full. They suggested I could wildcamp next to the car park a little further down the road and take showers in the hostel. In my current state of tiredness and low energy sleeping next to a car park wasn’t an option. Portree So I hoisted my heavy backpack on my back and walked up the hill for 30 min to find a campsite . Luckily the campsite still had loads of space, lovely owners, nice hot showers and toilets. I pitched my tent under some pine trees, loving the earthy scent. While pitching I found out that everything was boggy. No matter where you put your tent, you were standing on bog. You couldn’t sit on the ground or kneel on it without being soaking wet. Oh well, by that time I just wanted to have a rest. The campsite only had paying wifi. So I walked back into town to have a drink and check my mails. By then I was so drained of energy I just wanted to go home . That was when I wrote the scone poem. ;) The problem was, I could no longer book tickets online, with the changed bank policy. I couldn’t go home! Local beer, Skye gold, perfect for a rainy day on the misty isle I messaged a friend of mine and we started chatting about my problem and she was so kind to book everything for me. I felt so happy when she texted me that everything was booked! I think only people who have experienced a burnout know how I felt. I felt so drained, I couldn’t talk, hardly walk, it was as if the earth was pulling me down with her gravity. Not the feeling you expect to have visiting a beautiful island. Thinking back, I know that the tired feeling really started in Orkney. Eventhough I took it easy, all the traveling from one place to another took it’s toll. Together with my almost 20kg backpack. When my friend mailed me my tickets, I felt so relieved. I could go home and rest and see my beloved ones! That was a big mental thumbs up for me. I felt a little bit better and splurged on a lovely vegan lunch in Arriba Café in Portree. It was sooooo yummy! And their hot chocolate with Belgian chocolate was divine and reminded me of home. :) Because I didn’t want to leave Skye without seeing it’s beauty, I booked a tour with a minibus. It had been raining for days on end. Skye means misty island in Gaelic and now I know why it’s called that way. But the day of the tour we had sun! Eventhough it was still cold and windy. It gave me the chance to see Skyes beauty. Old man of Storr Kilt rock Dino footprint! Staffin beach The Quiraing Faerie glens in Uig Cuillins Waterfall near the Fairy pools Dun Beag The tour was lovely and Donald, our guide was really funny. But it took it’s toll. When I came back to my tent I couldn’t do anything but sleep. I knew camping all the time was also draining me of my energy. So I picked up the phone and called the backpackers hostel in Broadford . I still had some days left on the island and wanted a dry place to spend my last days. They could host me for 2 nights, then I would have to camp in the garden on my last night. What a lovely hostel, nice people, great lounge and even a bathtub in one of the bathrooms! They have art painted on the walls everywhere. Great place and it helped me to gain my energy and strength again. I met some lovely people there, from Japan, Germany, Australia and the Netherlands. When I arrived in Broadford, hurricane Bertha made it’s way to Skye. I was so happy I didn’t have to camp in that weather. I just lounged in the livingroom and read some books. The bad weather stayed on, even after 2 nights. I felt I didn’t have the energy to camp outside in the wind and rain. I already booked one night in a hotel in Glasgow. I decided to book another night and leave Skye 1 day earlier than planned. When the ferry arrived in Malaig, I took the West Highland Railway to go to Glasgow. Wow, if you love majestic scenery and trains, this is a great ride! I pondered on taking photographs through the window, but as it was raining all the time, I didn’t. Thinking back I just should have done it. Especially Rannoch Moor. Wow, such a desolate place! And I saw the steam train they used for the Harry Potter movies. And the majestic railway bridge they also use in the movies! :) Leaving the westcoast was the best plan ever! The sun was shining in Glasgow and I slept so good in the hotel. A Glaswegian girl I met on the Isle of Lewis wrote down which places I should visit there. She even drew me a map of Glasgow. I felt so good, having a good nights sleep, lovely breakfast and feeling the sunshine. I walked to the West End to visit the Kelvingrove museum and art gallery . The wassail by Mackintosh and his wife Margaret Macdonald What a great museum! It combines nature, science, history and art. There was even a classic concert at 1pm. I got completely fascinated by the art of Frances and Margaret Macdonald. The latter was Rennie Mackintosh’s wife. Wow, such beauty, such creative minds! After the visit I crossed the street and went for a vegetarian lunch and local beer in Brewdog . I tried the Dead Pony beer. It was fresh and bitter with zesty flavours. Ideal for a lunch in the sunshine. And no ponies were harmed in the making of this beer. ;) I also visited the Botanical gardens . Lovely Kibble Palace with lush plants. Beautiful flowers and trees. Pitcher plants in the botanical gardens After such a busy day, you can guess, I was tired again. So I went back to the hotel to spend my last night in Scotland. Next day I took the train to London . And there I took the Eurostar to Brussels . It felt so weird, people talking French and Flemish on the train. And the sun set so early! I didn’t realize the places I visited in Scotland were so much more northern than Belgium. I arrived late in Ghent at my boyfriend’s house. But not before stopping at a ‘frituur’ to order some Belgian fries, a cheese croquet and a Duvel. That tasted soooooooo good! Ah, it felt good to be home again. The next day I surprised my mom on mother’s day. She didn’t know I was coming back. I spent all day with her and my sister and we celebrated my homecoming in style by going out for dinner and having cocktails afterwards in Louvain . Celebrating my homecoming! It’s good to be home again after traveling 2,5 months. I appreciate everything so much more now. And I can finally rest. And process all the lovely adventures I had.
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