Oh, the wind and the rain!

Yes, we did awaken to wind and rain, but by the time we'd had breakfast it had lessened it's effort--except for one location I'll get to later--and we drove off to scope out the place. The standing stones of Callanish were, of course, on the list in spite of any degree of weather.

In Ullapool our host had recommended a series of mysteries set on Lewis; I bought Bill the first, he read it overnight and immediately bought the other two. The author is Peter May and the first book is The Black House. Turns out our Inn is not far from the setting for the first book, in fact, we saw the boathouse where the body was found! Can you believe that? The actual boathouse where the mythical body was found! We were all three excited, though Mary and I haven't  even opened  the books yet. Do you see it? That's the place right there!!!

Okay, so we're easy to impress, though I've recognized that feeling before. I once saw the setting for Willa Cather's My Antonia and was beside myself with feeling!

On our way again WE were observed as well, by this fellow:

Notice those charming front legs!

Lovely country typical of this part of Lewis:

Sky lifting a bit:

We've seen wind farms in several places all across Scotland. Lewis is no different:

Driving west, the mighty Atlantic:

The north end of the island is called the Butt of Lewis, windiest point in Great Britain, certainly believable today, so strong that I didn't dare to use the mini there. Hopefully we'll return and maybe I can try again, sorry. Same story with rain at the set of restored blackhouses at Gearrannan.

Finally what I came all this way to see--my dear Callanish! Bundled up (Bill and Mary take good care of me and my cold!) I rushed up the gentle hill, and when they came into view, I stopped dead in my tracks, such a wondrous place! Truly. A place Chuck and I shared; Mary held me while I cried, then I wandered, and took again all those scenes I've taken before and will again. You don't get to see the best shots today, just a teaser of some of the stones:

More will come...