Evening Thoughts 9th of July, 2013 Inverness, Scotland

Two days of sun that breaks through after 11 a.m. and 20 degree heat, although it dissipates quickly in the evening. ‘Heat wave’ says the headlines. Two days following seven weeks of variations of cloud cover. Seriously?

I am in Inverness gazing out of the Riverside Restarant window on the Ness River and what they call the wobbly foot bridge at not quite sunset. I’ll leave that for you to discover. But you should know that it is the way back to my guest house after another amazing meal and Chillean cabernet. I am just finishing a desert called cranachan -an arc of golden sugar hair sparkling in the sunset that envelops a nest of raspberry, cream and whiskey ambrosia. What happened to these Scottish chefs? Some kind of collective creative food epiphany? I challenge Canadian and US chefs to rise to the challenge.

For three hours this afternoon I enjoyed riding on the boat Jacobite Queen as it went through the Caledonian Canal out into Loch Ness to Urqhurt Castle. Each stretch opened up to larger vistas and as we passed by homes and moored sailboats people waved us on.

Great conversations with other travelers. One man accompanied by his springer spaniel had worked in Edmonton for the military. He said I was brave to travel alone.

It reminded me of the first time I traveled in Europe, Italy to be specific. I shared a taxi from the airport into Rome with two Israeli University students who during holidays returned home for military service. They too said I was brave to travel alone. Ironic – military service vs.woman on her own. I think it is not so much to do with travel, but alone.

For me solo journeys are critical to my growth. There is an impulse, sometimes a longing that only travel can satisfy. It gives the opportunity to reflect on who I am in circumstances without the backdrop of familiarity. It also opens me up to the unexpected. I have found that there really is a state of grace that encompasses the traveler. It is ephemeral, transitory and has a dream like qualtiy, not always during the experience, but certainly upon reflection.

Travel is not always comfortable for a variety of reasons. After seven weeks in Scotland, the thought of my own kitchen, my own bed, my car, my own closet of clean clothes and the comforts of home are certainly appealing. That is the raw edge of the traveler, comfort of familiar vs. lure of unknown.

I began this Alban Pilgrimage with many questions about the mysteries of my family history. Now I have developed a relationship with Scotland, the land and people. I feel confident that my Scottish roots are alive and healthy whatever the story.

And I trust my instincts. Earlier visits to the Old World were prior to the internet. When I first went to Italy I had a suitcase, a guitar, my passport and a landing point in Rome. I love that memory. Innocent young woman from Colorado – braids and clogs – child of the 60‘s who loved the Renaissance. In my over active imagination I thought that Michaelangelo would meet me at the train station in Florence. What was to be a month turned into two and one half years, moving from Italy to England, working for a public relations firm, singing in an original rock musical that went on tour. And I returned with two suitcases, a guitar, my passport and my wonderful son.

In many ways I am envious of that time – so open hearted and full of unorchestrated possibility. But tonight I am content and grateful that I can spend ten weeks on a journey not so much of discovery, but of affirmation that through following one’s heart in a world of uncertainity a portal opens to…let’s find out.