We awoke knowing we were going to have the opportunity to abseil down a castle wall at Penrhyn Castle. The Full On crew did some team building activities in the morning, like breaking boards and a maze, as well as discussing issues with the students. Then later in the day (early afternoon) we headed out on the coach to the castle. We got a breif safety demonstration (more to come later at the top of the castle turret) and got all harnessed up. Most students went all the way throught with the abseiling. All climbed to the top, but there were some who backed out when they saw how high up they were. But everyone did an excellent job with the activity.
We headed back to the hotel a little before dinner. Students again had some time to "chill" with their electronics and/or play frisbee.
Tomorrow - Dublin!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Day 13 - Glasgow to Wales
We spent the morning on the coach as we headed from Scotland to Wales. We stopped in the town of Chester, England for lunch. We were supposed to tour the town, but again it was raining. Since the tour wasn't guided and we were going to have quite a walk into the city from where the coach parked, we decided to forego the tour and continue on to Wales.
If I was to admit it, we were all a little depressed because we were going to be giving up our favorite coach driver since arriving - Kyle. The students loved him. He is from Northern Ireland and joked and teased the students. He interacted with them more than most drivers do. I do have to say, just in case Bruce reads this, that while Kyle was awesome, he doesn't quite measure up to Bruce White, our driver when I was in Australia a couple of years ago. It would take a miracle to out-rank him.
Once in Wales, we said farewell to Kyle. Our accommodations were changed from what we were expecting, which was University dorms at Bangor University. Instead we were put up in a hotel. Since Kyle left and we didn't get a new driver until the next day, students had some "chill" time. The hotel had a nice common area students can gather as well as free wifi internet. So some stayed inside and did the electronic thing, while others went outside and played frisbee.
Tomorrow - Full On day. Breaking boards and abseiling down a castle wall!
If I was to admit it, we were all a little depressed because we were going to be giving up our favorite coach driver since arriving - Kyle. The students loved him. He is from Northern Ireland and joked and teased the students. He interacted with them more than most drivers do. I do have to say, just in case Bruce reads this, that while Kyle was awesome, he doesn't quite measure up to Bruce White, our driver when I was in Australia a couple of years ago. It would take a miracle to out-rank him.
Once in Wales, we said farewell to Kyle. Our accommodations were changed from what we were expecting, which was University dorms at Bangor University. Instead we were put up in a hotel. Since Kyle left and we didn't get a new driver until the next day, students had some "chill" time. The hotel had a nice common area students can gather as well as free wifi internet. So some stayed inside and did the electronic thing, while others went outside and played frisbee.
Tomorrow - Full On day. Breaking boards and abseiling down a castle wall!
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Day 12 - Aviemore and Edinburgh
We headed out to Edinburgh Castle first thing after lunch (the morning was mainly driving). I must say I was very impressed with the city of Edinburgh. London is an old city, but many buildings are newer architecture. Not so with Edinburgh. There were very few modern buildings that we saw in the city.
Edinburgh Castle is on the small side compared to others we got to see, but no less beautiful. Students had about an hour and a half to explore the castle.
After our Castle visit, we headed down the Royal Mile and combined a scavenger hunt with shopping. Unfortunately, during a time when we were waiting for our directions on our next step of the day, students witnessed an elderly lady fall in the street. She was stepping down from the sidewalk and missed the last step. She fell and had a pretty severe head injury as a result. We quickly got our group away from the scene, but many were very upset by the incident.
We got back on the coach and headed to Glasgow.
Edinburgh Castle is on the small side compared to others we got to see, but no less beautiful. Students had about an hour and a half to explore the castle.
After our Castle visit, we headed down the Royal Mile and combined a scavenger hunt with shopping. Unfortunately, during a time when we were waiting for our directions on our next step of the day, students witnessed an elderly lady fall in the street. She was stepping down from the sidewalk and missed the last step. She fell and had a pretty severe head injury as a result. We quickly got our group away from the scene, but many were very upset by the incident.
We got back on the coach and headed to Glasgow.
Monday, June 13, 2011
Day 10 - Loch Ness
Our first stop of the day was Loch Ness. Yes, we were determined to find the Loch Ness Monster, fondly referred to as Nessie. Alas, no one got what qualified as a "real" photograph of Nessie, but the lake cruise was beautiful. There was lingering fog, which just made the experience more mysterious.
After lunch, we headed to a Highland Folk Museum. Again, it was raining. It was a village type museum where you walked a path and visited buildings replicated to fit the era. Since it was outside and raining, we didn't linger long.
Next was a sheep hearding demonstration. The students loved watching the sheep dogs work. I have to say that watching the rancher control his dogs with different whistles was pretty amazing. He had different whistle calls for each dog for each movement he wanted them to make. He must have really intelligent dogs.
We ended the day in Aviemore, Scotland
After lunch, we headed to a Highland Folk Museum. Again, it was raining. It was a village type museum where you walked a path and visited buildings replicated to fit the era. Since it was outside and raining, we didn't linger long.
Next was a sheep hearding demonstration. The students loved watching the sheep dogs work. I have to say that watching the rancher control his dogs with different whistles was pretty amazing. He had different whistle calls for each dog for each movement he wanted them to make. He must have really intelligent dogs.
We ended the day in Aviemore, Scotland
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Day 10 - Pitlochry to Aviemore
We began today by checking out of our hostel and heading to Aberfeld for some ducking (a lot like canoeing).
After ducking, our coach driver Kyle was nice enough to take the back roads and surprise us with a visit to the Scottish residence of JK Rowling. It was a most impressive house with a gated entry. As much as we all wanted to knock and meet the Harry Potter author, we resisted the temptation and headed back to Pitlochry for lunch.
Again, this was a famous travel day. After the ducking, we headed to Aviemore.
After ducking, our coach driver Kyle was nice enough to take the back roads and surprise us with a visit to the Scottish residence of JK Rowling. It was a most impressive house with a gated entry. As much as we all wanted to knock and meet the Harry Potter author, we resisted the temptation and headed back to Pitlochry for lunch.
Again, this was a famous travel day. After the ducking, we headed to Aviemore.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Day 9 - Pitlochry and St. Andrews
Our morning started with a coach ride to St. Andrews. We walked the main street and were able to see where Wills and Kate (now the Duke and Dutchess of Cambridge) met for coffee and where they went to University.
Afterward, we headed to the driving range and got to learn some golf - in the rain of course.
We concluded our evening with an introduction into ancient Scottish life with a local Scotsman. He showed the group how to make and use a kilt. Who knew there could be so many uses and meanings for kilts. We also learned about the warriors weapons and how they used them to fight off enemies. It was a very informative session that the students enjoyed a lot.
Afterward, we headed to the driving range and got to learn some golf - in the rain of course.
We concluded our evening with an introduction into ancient Scottish life with a local Scotsman. He showed the group how to make and use a kilt. Who knew there could be so many uses and meanings for kilts. We also learned about the warriors weapons and how they used them to fight off enemies. It was a very informative session that the students enjoyed a lot.
Friday, June 10, 2011
Day 8 - Warwick to Pitlochry
Today was one of our fabulous travel days. A day where we spend most of the time on the coach, with a few stops along the way.
Lunch was at a hotel in Gretna Green. It was explained to us that Gretna Green (just across the border into Scotland) was the only place in the UK that people aged 16 could get married. Couples that wanted to get married, but weren't old enough in other towns, would run away to Gretna Green. After lunch, we had a pretend ceremony with 2 students from our delegation. The group found the idea pretty funny.
Our destination for the evening was Pitlochry, Scotland. We stayed at a youth hostel for 2 nights. Lets just say that bunk beds and 8 girls in a room are not conducive to much sleep :). They had fun though, which is all that matters.
Lunch was at a hotel in Gretna Green. It was explained to us that Gretna Green (just across the border into Scotland) was the only place in the UK that people aged 16 could get married. Couples that wanted to get married, but weren't old enough in other towns, would run away to Gretna Green. After lunch, we had a pretend ceremony with 2 students from our delegation. The group found the idea pretty funny.
Our destination for the evening was Pitlochry, Scotland. We stayed at a youth hostel for 2 nights. Lets just say that bunk beds and 8 girls in a room are not conducive to much sleep :). They had fun though, which is all that matters.
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