Dufftown, Scotland

It is hard to find wifi to update our blog when we are camping on a beach on the North Sea with nothing but the wind, the waves and giant seagulls to keep us company.

Update:
We got our bikes from Russel the great bike worker. They are fun and fast. From Aberdeen we biked north on an old railway line to Uday Station where we had a delicious meal in the only pub in town. It featured our first experience of Cullen Skink soup, which is like a smoked fish clam chowder--delicious. From there we made our way north through towns like Old Deer and New Pitsligo. There we met a woman who said we could camp on the beach in New Aberdour. We biked to the beach on a road straight down from the cliffs and found three fisherman bringing in their lobsterpots because of the huge storm coming from the North. They told us not too worry too much and that we should be safe until the morning. That whole night we felt the wind ripping at our tents. We woke up safe and went to explore some nearby caves.

We spent my birthday biking uphill the entire time! At one point it took us three hours to travel 13 miles. HAPPY BIRTHDAY to me. We then made it to Keith where we met some locals to share some birthday cheer. Had a wonderful Scottish dinner and slept for ten hours, completely exhausted.

We are writing this blog entry in a bus shelter while Anthony holds the laptop in his hands. We are hiding from the rain, waiting to continue. Who know the best free WiFi would be in a village square at a bus stop.

Things to note:

When people say the road is a bit up and down, they mean straight vertical up and down. Don't ask people who have never biked in their lives if a road is hilly or not! Because you spend three hours going 3 miles.

If you are in a pub in Scotland and it is your 29th birthday, every 65 year old man will offer you his shower and garden to pitch your tent. You may want to find a hotel.

If you are Clara or Anthony, a Scottish breakfast isn't for you. Bacon, Eggs, Blood/Black Pudding, sausage, mushrooms and canned beans. We were hungry by lunch. Cereal looked good. JIM loved eating all of my breakfast.

Anthony is trying to find his ancestors and asks everyone if they know these last names and when he said he was related to a Davidson he received a host of nasty comments and upturned noses. The only Davidson in Keith is not a nice person. He is very proud of his official proclamation that states he is returning to his homeland in the year of homecoming 2009.

Much love to all!