More on Riding the Bus

Bryce and Denali on a plane

Let's get back to this bus thing.  Yesterday, Rachell and the kids purchased a family bus pass.  I'm thankful my children can be so fascinated and entertained by the simple act of riding a bus.  While Denali rode the bus everyday to kindergarten last year, she and her brother are largely unexposed to public transportation in mid-Michigan.

So far on this trip, we've flown on planes, rode on fast commuter trains, enjoyed a leisurely steam train in the country, driven in rental cars on the wrong side of the road, hopped in taxis, and walked dozens and dozens of miles throughout the Scottish highlands, lowlands, cities, and farms.  These kids have traveled.

City bus in Aberdeen

Tonight we get on a gigantic ferry taking us 250 miles north east from Aberdeen to Lerwick in the Shetland Islands.  At the end of the day,

Scotrail trail

our children will have experienced nearly every medium of travel possible in this great northern kingdom...and they have loved it.

As adults, we don't seem to revel in the means of transportation.  By that I mean we don't get as excited anymore about the flight or the ride on the bus as much as we do about the destination.  To our children, these activities have equal merit.  Forgive the cliche, but they enjoy the journey as much (or sometimes more) than the destination.

The road to Skye

Waiting for the plane...we're VERY tired.

Can the trip itself be the end goal?  Can simply driving, riding, flying, or boating be the goal?  I certainly hope so.

Eating at Home and Riding the Bus

Lou Nyiri, Rory MacLeod, and Rachell

Thursday, August 23 – Dinner at our house

For our second to last night in Aberdeen, we decided to throw a small (emphasis on small) dinner party with a couple of guys from my class.  So, we took advantage of our apartment amenities (again, emphasis on small) and Rachell made a wonderful homemade meal for our family with the addition of good friends Lou Nyiri from Gettysburg, PA and Rory MacLeod from St. Andrews, Scotland.  It was a great reminder of being home.  While we’ve loved traveling, one can only eat outside of the house so many times in a row before they start craving something cooked in your own kitchen.  You could tell the kids were about finished with the Aberdeen part of our adventure.  They’re starting to crack.  Lou and Rory were a welcome distraction.  Bryce kept the conversation going with an emphasis on Star Wars, Legos, and of course, Star Wars Legos.  It was a great way to close out the week in Aberdeen.

Bryce and Denali playing

The bus rules!

Robert the Bruce...with Denali and Bryce the Pomervilles

The previous day we explored the town by bus.  Rachell took Denali and Bryce to outdoor gardens and parks throughout the city during the day before picking me up for their progressive park party in the evening.  Again, the means of transportation were more exciting for the kids than the destinations.  They were fascinated by riding on the bus.  A little too fascinated.  If someone wanted to rob the tourists who look like they don’t know what they’re doing, then we would offer the perfect option.  Enjoy some of the pics!