In 1974, 1 was 18. My younger brother and I were hiking through the Gap of Dunloe in Ireland. As we went along, we became a little thirsty. We both got a drink from the stream along side of the trail. After our drink, we continued along. After going about another 75 meters, we found a dead sheep in the water. Fortunately, neither one of us suffered any ill effects from the water. We were pretty lucky, I think.
Hehe, you finally got the haggis joke! 🤭 Lovely to see the Inverarnan to Tyndrum section dry & sunny. Twas torrential rain when I did it in 2020. The paths were burns (small streams), the burns were rapids and the main river (Fillan) was tickling the bottom of the bridge and had burst it's banks at several points along the way. Soaked to the bone, backpack full of water, electrics all ruined. Was almost the end of our trip. I watched a RU-vid video of some retired US marines who bailed at Tyndrum after several rainy days. Hope the rest of the trip was dry for you. Next section via Loch Tulla, Inveroran (food in the hotel is best on the WHW!), the old drovers road, black mount, opening up to Rannoch Moor and Glencoe is rather lovely! 🏞️⛰️ Glad you are enjoying Scotland and the people along the way! ☺️
Gorgeous!! Glad you were able to get some easier days finally to recover energy and get into the groove. I love how welcoming the locals are - they seem a people quite proud of their country and thus happy to see others come and be enamored by it. You're making me really want to solidify doing a WHW run of my own next spring!
I have watched and enjoyed your adventures traversing the wilds of America for years and it is so weird to see you in Scotland walking the WHW. Delighted to see that you are both having fun and the weather is not too bad so far. Bringing back lots of great memories of my own hike. 👍🙂👍
This was so enjoyable! I admire Rodney. He seems just right for you. I liked the music in this one, as well. “ Wild Mountain Thyme”; 5:45-6:35, was perfect!
Such beautiful scenery… Hahaha that other hiker looked like a giant compared to Rodney. Everyone there seems so friendly and helpful. Glad you can still get out and explore. Thanks for sharing
A big English (Irish, Scottish) breakfast is the best! I had my first when I visited a friend who was stationed at RAF Alconbury. He insisted we visit a pub for breakfast and he was right for insisting. Where I live in Dunedin, Florida there are several restaurants who make bit English breakfasts. I am glad you embraced and enjoyed the experience.
Haggis is traditionally hunted using haggis hounds - a terrier-like breed, low to the ground and nimble. Now the haggis is a canny wee beastie, and inhabits hills similar to the Conical Hill you climbed. For speed the haggis runs across the hillside when in danger. Over time the haggis hound evolved longer legs on one side than the other, to better pursue the haggis. This worked well, with different hills having left and right handed haggis hounds. (They can interbred, but the even legged offspring are at a disadvantage, so the two races persisted). Until not long ago, when an especially clever haggis sought to escape the hound's pursuit by grabbing the heather with its powerful jaws, swinging around and then rolling down the hillside. As soon as the hound follower the haggis began running the opposite way, and the haggis hound tumbled out of control far down the hill (its legs unable to regain balance in the wrong direction). Other haggis saw and copied this tactic, and sadly the haggis hounds became extinct in the wild. As you saw, today's haggis roam with few predators except man, and remain a national delicacy.
Sounds suspiciously like a related species in New Hampshire's Franconia Notch. The Left-Legged- Run- Around is a species of deer only seen after 300 mgs of L*S*D. It inhabits the lower elevations and is often seen near colleges. There is also sometimes seen the WIld Moose of Agassiz Mountain near Bethlehem, New Hampshire. Its antler rack covers the whole sky and its muzzle can be seen in the clouds, but only the pure of heart have ever seen its actual body! It munches on the tops of pine trees and can be heard muttering " "Ooomph, ooomph!" softly. It is not dangerous, but the Left-Legged-Run -Around has been known to attack the unsuspecting and butt them!
@@28105wsking Please, dear reader - don't try this! 300mg of acid is almost three thousand times the normal dose. I hope the LLRA can be seen after safer more normal amounts - although it clearly demands respect.
Did you know that Scotland is famous for the Faery?If you have time please visit ancient sites ,you wont regret it .May the spirits of the ancestors protect and bless each steps you take
I love this section also! When you got that train on the film it didn't even look real. Looks like a beautiful place I can't wait to see. I am also 28% Scottish. Traced back to clans that fought for Robert the Bruce. Thanks for sharing I can't wait to go.
I have enjoyed all of your Scotland videos, I always heard its very beautiful there and your videos show it. Thank you for sharing a world i will never get to see.
I was wondering when you'd catch on to haggis! When you do the Arizona trail come on over to Tucson and we can fish for Sand Trout in the Santa Cruz river. ;)
I have a neighbor who would walk everyday with her infant in a little papoose thing and I remember thinking he will grow up entirely comfortable in the out of doors. 18 years later I just talked with him moments ago, getting in as much surfing as possible before heading off to school.
Thank you for sharing all of this, Dixie! I knew what haggis was, but I couldn't decide whether you really didn't know or if you were only playing along with the joke. 🤣 They're so ornery, in a fun way, and you're such a great sport! 💚💚💚 That's one of the many things we love about you.
man you're making me miss Scotland - i've been up pretty much every year of my life but i haven't been since the pandemic and this has really hit me in the feels.
Such a wonderful hike today. Love how you show all the critters and linger there with the camera. Such a delightful trip; good to get to know Rodney. Thanks for taking us along!
I remember stopping at that hotel last year in the last frame of your video. I had some soda...it was off season and they were kind to serve a thirsty soul. There's a pretty bit after that, I remember seeing deer in a river.
Thanks for capturing the wildlife, the “coos” and your wonderful insights along the WHW of people, places and lammies too! It’s a magical journey. Can’t wait for the next episode.
Love Scotland. Been several times to hike/climb Munros such as Ben Nevis . I love haggis. Also love the Bridge of Orchy Hotel. Great food! West Highland Way is on my bucket list. Thank you.
Ah, my heritage. I'm laughing in solidarity at the nose upturn at black pudding (and white pudding, too!) but the food... 'tis excellent. And a happy Retirement to Momma M. I hope she enjoys it as much as my mam does.
Haggis is ground meat, oats, and spices, made into a mash, and packed in a sheep's stomach like a sausage to cook. And it's damn good if it's prepared properly. Don't go trying the garbage in a can. If you go to scotland,, or find a restaurant that serves really good scottish food, I highly recommend trying it. Most people I've met who don't like it have either never tried well prepared haggis, or are just hung up on the stomach part.
I'd think there would be a lot of people up at that little tarn lake with metal detectors! That sword is just waiting to be found! And what a find it would be!
OH good! The Arizona Trail! I was thinking perhaps you'd blew that one off after the bad luck a couple of years ago. Hearing you still have it on the agenda made my day!
It is the jackiranhalope that you've got to watch out for. This crossbreed of a jackalope and a piranha is extremely dangerous and attacks as a pack, devouring its prey quickly, leaving only bones.
Having watched your channel for a few years now, what joy it is to see you come to the trails here in Scotland. I commend your courage doing the WHW with a 'bump' and also Rodney for not becoming a paranoid overprotective husband (like I did!). Remember Haggis can be dangerous when cornered and are best tackled with a knife and fork! I've also ordered your book recommendation (8.34) smells like a good one! Enjoy
The videos of your hikes are exceptional. The scenery, wildlife and interactions with others are endearing. The music is beautiful. It looks as if the weather has been kind to you. As you progress north the landscapes become magical. Rowardenan to The Drovers Inn can be a wee bit brutal. Hope The West Highland Way has been everything you expected and more. Looking forward to your visit passing through Glencoe.
It has been amazing to watch your evolution as hikers, now married and adding more dimensions to the trek. Yet still never missing a good poop joke or fart snark along away (grins)
I love this section. Recently went back to do this as a day hike. Left my car in Bridge of Orchy and got the train back to Tyndrum and then had the most relaxed say ever walking this part without feeling the need to rush to get to my next pint on trail.
Regarding haggis … I thought you guys were in on the joke from the outset 🤣 my understanding-based purely on reading and not on personal experience or actual academic research-is that haggis is animal (often sheep, but might be from other animals) pluck (lungs, heart) and sometimes other offal diced up super finely, mixed with suet and oats, seasoned, then stuffed into a sheep's stomach and boiled (just thought that might be interesting to share, in case others were confused)!
Thank you again, Ms Dixie. You have a unique way of hiking. We see more "wild life" (bugs and other such, and flowers) than any other hiker I have watched. I am 'TRYING to follow someone on the PCT now but I see way too much of their face and hear way too much jabber. You are the best.
I posted a post yesterday, which unfortunately may have caused offense and has since been removed. That was not my intention so please forgive me. I pray that you both have a wonderful and safe trip. Many blessings
We have been breeding Haggis for a while. But they are vicious we beasties only with this animal do you have to wear something like the armour suits of old. It was a difficult project to start we eventually moved to an uninhabited isle . Therefore letting them roam free, we had lots of females as the male has haggis harems. They cover up to fifteen females. However we only get one or if really lucky two? The females stay in groups with the younger females with no pups Haggis sit. Females stay within the groups but split into two once the group gets to large. It’s the males that are culled for the market. This is one of the most dangerous times with farming haggis. But we send out invites to join the hunt. Payment is two haggis a day obviously ready for the oven. This has been our most successful year. We actually get to see some each day. This used to be very unusual due to how rare they are. The breeding and rearing ends in November we start actively hunting in the middle month. We only take the larger ones as these can get really dangerous. Hunting in groups they have been known to kill sheep even a large deer. As these are not on the island they are starting to attack alone people. This is just through the courting period. I hope that gives a bit more information. Well other than what happens to the fur skin and testicular skin.
Ah the Jackalope. I live in Wyoming, so I know all about the critters. Its a cross between a Jack Rabbit, and a Pronghorn Antelope. Fastest critter on the plains. Almost impossible to hunt ;)
