The Bergennen or hill climb race at Seebodenalp is a 500 metre climb over a 5 km track.
The top of the track providing views over Kussnacht am Rigi.
It was an event for historic bikes and some cars
The pits were perched atop the track
With some lovingly restored bikes.
And sidecars
A different day at the races!
Borders I’ve never seen one but I have heard they exist in the minds of some people.
This quote from Thor Hyerdadahls captures a vision of adventure and cultural interaction.
To see see the Kon Tiki to know the strength of that quest bought tears to my eyes.
Fram, Kon Tiki and Rah form part of the maritime history at Bigdoy in Oslo.
Thor Hyerdadahl and polar Explorer Rould Amundsen were adventures after the highest order.
The ship Fram a wooden ship designed by the great Colin Archer that still holds the record the furthest north and south of any ship.
These are names that have fed my love of maritime adventure.
For as it is said about the Norwegian sailor.
If there is a boat that floats he will be the first one there.
The Norwegian prowess at sea has existed for centuries. The Vikings emblamatic of their skill and exploration.
As these Viking burial ships show.
A day at the Norwegian maritime museums is a wonderful insight into a rich maritime history.
My taste of Norway took me north past Trondheim and its fjord.
And to the very steep fjords on the west coast
And its glacier covered mountains
But a summer full of rain in the high northern latitudes was too much for this bloke from the driest continent on the planet.
So it was a taste of Norway till maybe another time.
Inverness ancient trading city of the north
Vikings
Roman
Scots
Romans
All have influenced this city
Inverness castle looms over the city
Destroyed and rebuilt a number of times
The Hanoverian garrison during the bloody Battle of Culloden that ended the Scottish uprising.
But I thing I was touched the by the Celtic Ray
At Hootananny where the beer and good craic flower
Inverness is the gateway to the very north of Scotland
The start and finish of the touring route the North Coast 500
It takes you the top of the British mainland
And the beautiful villages and dramatic coastline and history of North Scotland
Inverness’ Calladonian Canal opened a trading route into the northern highlands
So my rediscovery of the Celtic Ray stated in the old streets of Inverness.
Back in Glasgow
The light
The buildings have a new feel
Sight
Texture
I’ve been touched by the Celtic Ray (the Awen)
‘Ireland, Scotland, Brittany and Wales
I can hear the mothers’ voices calling
“Children, children, children”
Listen Jimmy! I want to go home.
Listen Jimmy! I want to go home.
I’ve been away from the Ray too long
I’ve been away from the Ray too long’ – words by Van Morrison
My heritage is Irish, my great grand parents migrating to Kalgoorlie in the 1890s
Part of the Irish diaspora.
But spending time in the north of Scotland has put me on the Celtic Ray
John O’Groats
Touched by the Celtic Ray
Glasgow has a new light.
I found the Glasgow Enlightenment
And the fact the the world’s first Afro-American doctor was trained in Glasgow by slavery abolitionists. He was James Mcune-Smith.
I have been away from the Ray too long
Speed bonnie boat like a bird on the wing
Onward the sailors cry
Carry the lad that was born to be king
O’er the see to Skye.
So goes the first verse of the Skye boat song and Skye is inextricably linked to the Bonnie Prince Charlie legend.
Skye is an island of deep fojds and sounds, rugged mountains and quaint villages.
When leaving Stirling I met a Spanish couple on a BMW. Who had said the beauty of Skye bought a tear to their eye.
And it is hard to disagree.
The vistas on each turn of the road surpassing the previous.
And the Scottish weather continued to smile.
