Port Ellen to Inverary to Balmaha

 We were worried about missing the morning ferry as we had confirmed tickets on the 6pm ferry but it would be another late 11pm check in time if we had to wait that long.  We got up early for full breakfast checked out so we could get to Port Ellen for the 9:45 ferry.  And there was room! We joined our British friends from yesterday and the Swiss couple from Skerrols. It was only a 2.5 hour ferry to Kennacraig. 

Judd, tanking up on electricity at revolt

Good bye to Islay a t Port Ellen

working waterfront

Good bye to Islay

LOTs of cars and truck on those ferries

 It was a sunny, scenic drive along Loch Fyne. We programmed the car's GPS but often it wouldn't register our "postal code" and our guidebook wouldn't register a proper street address. So I would type in "find a point of interest" such as the Inverary Jail or Inverary Post Office and the car would calculate a route. When the car said, "you have arrived" we would have to start looking for a road sign to our actually desired destination. Unfortunately, some of the time the sign is not visible until you're upon them and then there is no way to park or turn around. Happily for the Inverary Castle, the entrance was well marked. It started to come together why it was famous and familiar to us.  It is both where Downton Abbey was filmed (outside) and it is the actual home of the Campbell Clan and the 13th Duke of Argyll which we had seen on a TV documentary on Great Escapes. 

Inverary Castle

  The nice docent was just dying to answer questions for us. The only one we could come up with was, "why," since it said, "Current family photo's " on the piano  was there a photo of Audrey Hepburn?  Was she related?"  The answer:  no-- and she never even visited. The piano was used by Lerner and Lowe in the score for My Fair Lady. (The docent said Pygmalion but I knew she meant the musical version.) So rather than a photo of 2 guys on one would recognize, they put a photo of Audrey on the piano.
  We showed ourselves around and while shopping in the gift store, I recognized the Duke himself. He was unpacking his Chivas Regal whisky and signing tour books. He introduced himself and shook both our hands. When we went to buy his tour book, he recommended we get the one in English. I was a little star struck. Although the sales clerk asked if I wanted a photo, I couldn't bring myself to do it.  We had lunch in the nice tea room and walked the gardens. We went back to the gift shop to get Carol a wee castle for her mini-gardens.

real fires going in all the fireplaces

the old kitchen

  

We found our way pretty easily to The Oak Tree Inn in Balmaha right on Loch Lomond. Upon arrival was an email message from Mike Gee, welcoming us. We dined in the Inn's restaurant. Me: "what is the pear and stilton pate?" Her: "oh, it's a cheese that's soft and spreadable." Me: " I'll have the veggie burger."