Breakfast

I have been working on an essay with my writers group. We all selected 'breakfast' as our title to write about. We are on our fourth week of perfecting them.

It's been fun, challenging and a great exercise. I'm going to post my early draft rather than the finished. Or maybe not since I did not save it as a separate file.

It's titled 'Breakfast with The Bruce.'

Here is an excerpt from 'American Babes in Scotland' my journal from the trip that I based the essay on.

We will look tomorrow from a distance we suppose .We also saw the sign for Robert Bruce s cave (Rathlin Island). It is too dark for that as well. The cave is significant in history because The Bruce was hiding in there between battles and was worn out and ready to quit when he noticed a spider making a web and after watching it struggle and succeed had renewed hope for fighting for Scotlands freedom. Outside of Machrie the road clings to the sea with hills tumbling down almost to the beach. Pirnmill, Catacol. The town of Lochranza is also famous for Robert the Bruce buffs too (me) the castle is said to have been used by him as a staging post in 1307. In 1306 it is said to have been the spot at which Robert the Bruce landed on his return from Ireland, and before his successful bid for               the Scottish Crown. It was certainly in the possession of his grandson when he became King Robert II of Scotland in 1371. Lochranza is just ahead over a hill and if it is pleasant enough we will stop there for the night. 

It is definitely pleasant; the castle is gorgeous. Apparently since it is not roped off we can still walk to it. The houses all line the road on the right, facing a body of water. We are not sure what it is called and will look it up. We spot one hotel that is open and decide this will do. The hotel is called appropriately enough the Lochranza Hotel. The proprietors are George and Fiona Stewart. The hotel has two story bay windows The houses lining the street are all fenced. At the front gate of our hotel is a sign posted   Do not let the wild animals in!   What is that supposed to mean? We glance around for any wild animals. None to be seen so we let ourselves in the gate. The hotel also has a pub that serves food. Quite a few people there but they were not into visiting and we did not try very hard, we then headed to bed. Our room has a TV mounted up high so we lay in bed and watch a show called The Weakest Link, it is pretty brutal and hilarious. This is well before it arrived in the states somewhat toned down, compared to their version. Our room looks out over the Kilbrannan Sound and Lochranza Castle.

 

Wild beasts abound

March 11th

Woke up early and I wanted to explore. Kerry wanted to sleep in so I left our room as quietly as I could. I let myself out of the gate and glanced at this spot of the world I was in, for the first morning view, it is breathtaking. I continued on my walk, it is about 5 blocks to the castle. At the Castle I turned in a complete circle it was amazing the high mountains behind the town the rising sun, the full moon setting and the rosy hue of the heather reflecting onto the sound. I wanted to take a picture I reached into my pocket it was empty, Can you believe it! I forgot my fucking camera. So I walked all the way back to the Hotel and let myself in the gate and hiked back up to our room.  Woke Kerry, told her sorry, grabbed the camera and went back out to the road and started walking back to the castle to take the picture. On my way there I ran into free roaming sheep in the road. Ah! The wild animals, hence the sign? I decided I would take their picture and did; the camera promptly started rewinding. Shit! I had not brought any extra film canisters with me. So again I walked back to the hotel and let myself in the gate and went back to the room. Woke Kerry again she is pissed now, and will not let me leave again. I have to wait for her. So I do and we walk back down to the castle but the moon has set and the lovely photo opportunity is gone. I'm such a doorknob.      Breakfast was good. Their egg yolks are very bright yellow almost orange. I had a potato pancake that I have not eaten the likes of since it was delicious. We both passed on blood sausage and kippers. Toured island drove through a village called Corrie. Goatfell to the right The town of Brodick and Brodick Castle and Gardens closed.  Most of the stores in Brodick were closed it was Sunday. The grocery store was open and it is our favorite place to shop anyway. We discover the eggs are kept in the bread section unrefrigerated. We wanted to buy alcohol. But on Sundays you cannot buy until noon. No drunks or hangover cures allowed till after repentance I suppose. We decide to cut through the middle of the island on the B880. From there Took a side road and saw cool mail box took pictures then thought we should take a picture of our car ran into a Sean Connery look alike trumping along in his wellies. Headed on down the road beautiful countryside with sheep everywhere and video taped. Stumbled on the Auchagallon stones we wanted to see. Took pictures no walking. Then headed back to Lochranza to catch ferry that we thought was going to Calonaig but went to Tarbert instead. Goatfell ridges Why we chose Arran

The woman who cooked our breakfast told us the ferry only came once on Sunday and that it came at one. According to the ferry schedule this was not true however we would take the advice of a local who saw the ferry on a daily basis verse some schmuck in a high raise typing the schedule on his computer. We were told to come early because there was a limited space of cars for the ferry not really a problem in March but play it safe she told us. We arrived at 12:30 and as the time came closer grew more and more worried out to sea we could see no ferry approaching and nobody was riding the ferry with us. About after one sometime we could spot the ferry and a few cars lined up behind us. Oh, It  s on a Scottish schedule so we are all right. The ferry ride was long. The ferry was very small holding about 8 cars. Both ends of the ferry came up and held the cars on. and to the left side were an enclosed seating area Kerry and I, both went in to sit. After about 30 minutes I became restless and went outside to smoke and decide to sit in the car and map out a route to the Island of Skye.