After three months, I said goodbye to Bonnie Scotland. Important life lessons (see my previous post and below) and the people I met, have given me new insights about how I want to lead my life and I am more than grateful for this experience. After lots of goodbyes, evenings I spent baking and a wee goodbye party, I was so blessed to see my parents again who came all the way to Stirling to take me on one of the most amazing road trips in my life. We left from Stirling on April, 8th and set off for the Highlands. After driving along Loch Lommond, the largest loch in Scotland by surface area we spent our first night in Arrochar, a village located at the foot of the first Highland hills between Loch Lommond and Loch Long. We continued our journey towards Oban, a city by the west coast from where we planned to take the ferry to the Isle of Mull which we then discovered was fully booked. Instead we journeyed to Glencoe, a famous valley hemmed in by magnificent peaks which many hikers venture to. The weather was lovely and nothing could stop us from jumping on the hikers' band wagon! Following a river path up the rocky mountain for one hour and a half, we reached a gorge. Having no signal, we felt cut off from the outside world and enjoyed a nice nap in the sun. Our next stay was on the Ardnamurchan peninsula, a large, unspoiled area with very few villages, windy single-track roads, and amazing wildlife. Our hostel was run by locals who fed the wild deer in the area. So, upon our arrival, we were welcomed by a herd of deer! After a good night sleep, we spent the day exploring the lighthouse on the most westerly point of the British mainland and its surrounding beaches. In the afternoon, we visited the ruins of an isolated castle from where we set off for Fort William. As we were approaching our next destination, we payed a visit to the Glenfinnan viaduct, seen in one of the Harry Potter movies. The following two nights we spent in a small but super cute bunkhouse with a view of Ben Nevis, UK's highest mountain. Although unplanned, my mom and I climbed the 1344m and reached the top after 4 hours. It was such an achievement by God's grace and it's so encouraging to have such a persevering mom! The following day we journeyed to the absolutely beautiful Isle of Skye, an island off the west coast with stunning landscapes featured in many movies. After getting off the ferry boat, we ventured off the beaten track to another castle in ruins with amazing scenery of the peninsula to the north. It was especially peaceful as there were not many tourists. Our next stop, however, the Fairy Pools, is a very touristy place. It was worth the visit though as not many finish the 5 mile trail. The path takes you alongside a river with many cascades and pools, leading you to the foot of the breathtaking Black Cuillins mountains. Our stay for the night was in a lovely house owned by a local who told us more about how life is like on Skye for crofters as she herself owned a land and sheep. Before heading back to the mainland, we drove towards the north-east, where we stumbled upon an amazing scenery we did not read about in any of our guides. As we parked our car we saw the beginning of a trail and immediately set off on another beautiful hike up the Flòdaigearraidh glen. Next up, we were advised to climb up the Old Man of Storr, one of Scotland's most iconic places but decided to give it a pass since there were too many tourists. Instead, we just quickly pulled over to take a picture before continuing our way to the Skye bridge that connects the island to the mainland. On our way to Loch Ness where we would spend the night, we stopped at Eilean Donan, a castle situated on a small island on the loch by Dornie. We drove up the hill for a better view of the castle. We ended our day paying a visit to Inverness, the capital of the Highlands. Our last full day, we started with Urquhart castle, another ruined castle(!) situated by Loch Ness. On our long drive down to Dumbarton, a city near Glasgow Airport, we stopped at Falls of Falloch. And this is how another chapter is closed, memories are made, and experience is added. As I am writing this post at home in Belgium I am overlooking our garden where I spent most of my childhood and I am reminded of Ben Nevis, and the view we enjoyed at the end. I have finished one of the many climbs in life and I can say that the whole picture you get at the top is worth the climb. It's not a perfect picture though, not at all! Too often life isn't all sunshine and rainbows. There are many obstacles along the way that make you want to throw in the towel. I have been there many times. Instead of counting my blessings, I focused on how life was not the way I wanted or expected it to be. But I have acknowledged that there are few times in life when situations live up to our expectations and happiness comes naturally. I have taken to heart that the rest of the time you should take the bitter with the sweet and choose happiness as a state of mind to be in. It takes practice and patience with the battles in your own mind. But if you persevere in climbing the right mountains, you will appreciate the obstacles because you see how it adds to the beauty of the whole picture. And it's ok if you have to turn back half-way. Some mountains are not as important as others and it is key to choose wisely how you spend your energy as you can't turn back the time. I am not trying to tell you to climb actual mountains:). I am just sharing my feelings in a metaphorical way based on my experience hoping that it might be of inspiration to you. I believe that these kind of feelings are attributed to all of us humans because we have all been created in the image of God and we can all have the freedom to choose to humble ourselves and let Jesus lead us on the uphill path. After all, He came to die for us and has defeated death, that means He has also overcome any obstacle that might impede us from climbing the right mountain. So do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16) Even if you feel tired and weak, set your mind on what your heart says, don't build a wall around it, keep your faith as a light shining in a dark world. If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:1-2) This is what Easter is all about, acknowledging that the victory has been won in Jesus Christ alone and that we can take part in it, each day, no matter what we face. God bless you all <3 View from the Ben Nevis (UK's highest mountain), almost at the top!
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