Three Companions Depart, Two Remain

(unfortunately part of this post was deleted so I’m trying to reconstruct from memory)

2/12/23 - Sunday

This has been a long day. After months of planning, waiting, planning some more, and waiting again…we have found ourselves past the days we all had looked so forward to. The Fellowship has been dismantled and now only Chandler and I remain. Yet in just a week he too flies across the sea.

This morning at 4am we all got up and for the last time loaded into our van and drove away from Ardross House to the airport outside Inverness.

Saying goodbyes Brian said to me as he gave me a tight hug, that this would be an experience he would always keep with him. And I agree. Returning to Scotland has meant many things for me. Having five companions adventuring around with me the first few weeks has elevated that return.

Not only have we shared whiskies and ales from some of the oldest pubs in Scotland to the comfort of our parlor at Ardross House, we’ve shared several moments that can never be replicated. Standing at the northern most coast of Scotland, fighting the monstrous winds of Skye, driving the glens and twisting roadways of the Highlands. Seth calling out JESUS CHRIST!!! when he was suddenly thrashed awake from sleep when I hit a curb after a long day of driving. Not moments before Chandler from the passenger seat simply saying “…curb” as a barely audible stoic warning. From that moment onward all of us muttering “curb” and then yelling “JESUS CHRIST!!!” if the slightest bump occurred.

None will soon forget the fish and chips guy from Portree, the man in the red coat in Edinburgh, the kid blasting the Wellermen on his sax in Inverness, the little highland waitress who looked rather surprised when 6 Americans poured into her bar at the end of the night in Alness when we very first arrived.

As Chandler and I begin the last week as a fraction of our original band of merry men, we do so with full minds and hearts of the adventures had the weeks prior.

I don’t have a dram with me at all his moment, but I will raise a cup of tea to the departed.

See you on the other side.