A chance to jot some notes on Iona

I wonder what I was going to write yesterday. It was a VERY full day, so no surprise I didn't get anything down.

Breakfast, worship, chores, session, lunch, trip to Staffa, set for dinner, dinner, clean up from dinner, session ("What Is Healing"), worship, cielidh (sp?). I skipped the last - the Scottish barn dance - because I was spent. I REALLY wanted to go to it, but it had just been too much.

Today was full, but not that full. No sessions, for one thing. I had been wanting to take the full off-road pilgrimage around the island today, but I didn't have the right shoes and I was running out of steam. So yesterday I decided not to push it. I went on the on-road pilgrimage, and it was enough. The weather was "low clouds" (read: rain), high winds, threatening. The journey went from the Abbey to Martyrs' Bay to the crossroads to Columba's Bay. Then lunch, and back to the Machair for tea and "flapjack" - granola bars - with the off-roaders. On to the Hill of Angels, the Village Bench, and through the village to end at St. Orin's Chapel. It was enough. Very interesting really.

It's now getting near time for the healing service tonight, so remind me to tell you about all the spots on the pilgrimage, about walking the labyrinth, about worship here, and about what hasn't happened as I might have expected.

On the bus across Mull

Spectacular scenery on Mull: steep, high hills or what I could call blunted mountains -- not quite craggy but not quite rounded -- with deep crevices and a stream in the midst of the valley.

The man next to me (from Ireland) pointed out the old road, running beside the current road and the stream, walked by pilgrims in years past and present, rather than taking the bus. He called this area "hugely uninhabited." Heh! It kind of looks like Wyoming, maybe?

My thoughts from NM about glimpses of things that are just on the edge of perception return here. First there were glimpses of mountains and the glen, now of the sea on the coast. Similar experience on the train up from Glasgow.

The scenery is real Scottish Field stuff, especially as we are going through at about the "golden hour."

Now a broad bay with rocky coast. Bunted mountains give way to more stratified, terraced hillsides. [Getting hungry. Have only had a pastry, cup of soup, some bread, and a chocolate bar today.]

Now the flattening coast begins to break up into islands. More houses and a few villages appear among the rock outcrops, somewhat like Galilee. Clouds are moving in as the sun sinks lower.

Iona bound

Made the train this morning from Glasgow to Oban but missed the ferry to Mull. Had to wait for the 4:00 one. Gracefully it is a beautiful day. Waiting in the departure lounge now. Oban is charming and beautiful. Hope I make the other connections, or unhappiness will aboond. More later as Internet is available. Stay subscribed.

More training

On the train from Glasgow to Oban. Scenery is beautiful! Small mountains, large lachs, blue sky and sunshine. Trees just starting to turn in places or lots of evergreens. Some streams and a few ravines, but more open prairies (?) or rolling hills. Looks like Missouri, maybe, sometimes.

Need to get cash exchanged in Oban, which may be challenging, since I have just a little time to make the ferry for Mull, but it's the last chance.

Wonder what folks do for a living up here. Not as many sheep.....

What's the difference, Part 2

ScotRail is a very pleasant experience so far. Molly and I are on the train from Leuchars to Edinburgh. Ticket man was friendly and helpful. Train was right on time. It is quite comfortable and mostly clean. Also not very expensive -- less than £30 for two return (round trip) tickets. Again, why not, USA?

What's the difference?

I've been really impressed by the energy consciousness and awareness of sustainability here in the UK. All the power outlets have switches, from the lamps to the fridge to the cooker to the shower. When you're done you switch it off. No vampire charges -- good for conservation, good for the wallet. I'm thinking to retrofit our house that way.

Also, the food shopping experience is quite different. Ian was complaining that supermarkets are ruining food shopping. He wasn't talking about SuperWalmart or Wegmans, but stores like Martins or Food Lion. But for now there are still butchers and bakers and fishmongers and such in most towns. Really good food from real people. Why not? Why can't we do that any more? Convenience -- FEH! Efficiency --FEH! A Jedi craves not these things. Unfortunately, most Americans are not Jedi.

Is factory-produced food shipped across the country or the world so much better for the economy that we accept all the engineering and chemicals and tastelessness and all? Maybe. Wealth vs. Health, again.

On Scotland, briefly

The Scottish landscape is remarkably like parts of the US. Rolling hills with wide grain fields, high hills/low mountains in the distance, plenty of trees along the road. The houses mostly look quite old, though, and old-fashioned. Mostly of stone with high-pitched roofs. Not many are two stories, virtually none are more than that, city of Aberdeen notwithstanding. And sooooo many sheeeep!