Postcard from the Scottish Highlands

On our third day of hiking in the Scottish Highlands we came upon a cabin nestled the hills in the middle of nowhere.

A very friendly man sat inside drinking coffee by himself from a thermos. We chatted for a while and asked, “Where are you going today?”

“I’m just stravaigin,” he responded.

When we asked what that meant, he said, “It just means wandering about aimlessly.”

That there’s a word for that in Scotland says quite a bit about the Scots.

Without exception, we found people willing to spend whatever time you wanted learning more about them and their country. They are incredibly nice.

We also hiked for the week on some of the most beautiful trails you can imagine. Along the way, we learned how bagpipes were made and how to throw a hammer and toss a caber at the famous Highland games. It was a wonderful trip.

We’re making our way back home — though dealing with some canceled flights and related delays. With any luck, I’ll have WiFi on the plane. If not, thanks for your patience.