Scotland, Sept 5 Day 1
Map & Schedule: Courtesy of Ed’s B&B
Graphic courtesy: Ed Farquharson - Naguib’s arrival
You’re receiving this email because one or more of the following may apply:
You’re involved as a subject in, or have expressed interest in, one of my three books: Passion and Purpose: Of Ordinary People, The Essence of Judo, or Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives.
You’re a former client, workmate, associate or friend who has shown interest in keeping up with my photography, travels, and adventures during retirement.
You’ve left me with the impression that you’d enjoy staying in touch.
This is a free, occasional newsletter where I share updates, stories, photography, and adventures. I’m taking a more personal approach by staying connected with people who have expressed an interest, rather than sending messages through a broad social-media campaign.
I hope you’ll enjoy hearing from me. However, if you would prefer not to receive future emails, you’re very welcome to unsubscribe at any time. To unsubscribe, simply press the link on the very last line of this reach-out.
Chasing Bond, Steam Trains, and Pure Serendipity in the Scottish Highlands
The magic started the moment our Scottish adventure began.
It took a great big effort to keep the kilt up, and walk with all that luggage. It took a great deal of being comfortable, “hey they Jimmy” hat.
It all kicked off at Glasgow Airport. I walked out of customs sporting a kilt and a classic See You Jimmy hat, only to find Ed waiting with a custom banner congratulating me on my "release from jail." Once we made it to the car, I quickly swapped out the tartan for normal road-trip clothes. Before hitting the ignition, we established ground rule number one: Ed promised to pull over for any photo op I requested.
We were officially on our way, cruising along the A82 beside Loch Lomond. The sunlight breaking across the water was stunning, so I asked Ed to pull over at the first chance. I could tell he was thinking, “Are you kidding me? We just started driving!” But within three minutes, irony struck: right on the side of the road was a sign for Firkin Point. Perfect timing.
From Loch Lomond, we set our sights on the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct. Along the route, Ed realized we were driving right past a iconic cinematic backdrop: Glen Etive, where James Bond famously steps out of his Aston Martin DB5 alongside M in Skyfall. I only know that specific detail because it happens to be Ed’s dream car—an icon that usually stays off my radar thanks to its roughly $500,000 CAD price tag.
Helping with Keto diet advice
The film spot was barely a mile and a half away. As we turned onto the road, serendipity took the wheel: an Aston Martin rumbled right past us. Six hours later, Ed was still talking about it.
The luck didn't stop there. When we reached Glenfinnan Viaduct hoping to see the steam train crossing the arches, we thought we missed out when a regular service passed instead. We captured our photos and headed toward the Glenfinnan Station museum and dining car. Ed popped in to ask about lunch and enquired about the Jacobite steam train on a whim. To our complete surprise, the staff told us it was pulling into the station in nine minutes! We rushed over, watched the magnificent locomotive roll in, and got incredible shots up close.
Afterward, we enjoyed an outstanding keto lunch inside the converted dining car before exploring the station museum, just in time to see the train prepare for its return journey.
To top off an already unbelievable day, we checked into our Airbnb, started chatting with the host, and discovered that the Jacobite steam train runs right past the back fence.
Serendipity, what do you have in store for us tomorrow?
The Relativity of Travel Time
It is 3:30 AM on Sunday, August 30th, and I cannot believe how quickly this week has flown by. My Air Transat flight to Scotland leaves this coming Friday.
We all know the basics of time: 60 seconds in a minute, 60 minutes in an hour, and 24 hours in a day. You get the gist. But normal time goes completely out the window when you have an upcoming trip. It refuses to stay constant, speeding up the closer you get to leaving.
When you first start planning, time drags. A departure date a year away feels like forever, and the months crawl by as you casually browse maps and wait for confirmations. But then a quiet panic sets in as popular accommodations book up and you need to sort out your routes. You quickly realize you simply cannot see everything, and triage begins.
Everyone approaches travel differently. Over the years, I’ve taken just about every kind of trip imaginable: getaways planned entirely around the kids, family holidays where every decision was a careful compromise to keep everyone happy, fishing excursions, and road trips down to baseball spring training. We even built vacations around work conferences.
I’ve always disliked the idea of travelling to a conference just to sit in a hotel meeting room for three days and fly home without experiencing a thing. Whenever possible, I built in extra time or turned the journey into a scenic road trip. Someone once said that the interstate is just a way to cross the country without seeing any of it—and that was never going to be my style. For me, travel has always been about the journey rather than just the destination, full of little discoveries along the way.
A classic example occurred at the Archaeological Museum in Athens. The building is essentially a giant square with four massive wings. Simple math shows that with three hours before closing, you get 45 minutes per wing. If you spend an hour in the first wing, you have stolen 15 minutes from the other three. If you linger for an hour and a half, congratulations—you have burned half your total time on a quarter of the museum.
Photo-specific trips, however, are a completely different beast. Aside from hard deadlines, such as catching a ferry, the only thing that truly matters is the shot. If we have to drive an hour between photo locations—which is unlikely in a place like Scotland—that is fine. But if we travel only a quarter of a mile before slamming on the brakes for another incredible view, that is perfectly fine too.
For the photographer in me, the picture comes first. At Eilean Donan Castle, getting the right image was non-negotiable. I booked three nights within walking distance so I could be there before sunrise, chasing light, clouds, and high and low tides from every angle. I will happily stand in the freezing wind for half an hour, waiting for the sun to drop below a stubborn cloud.
Meanwhile, a friend of mine visited the exact same castle, spent twenty-five minutes between two viewpoints, checked the box, and drove off. Neither approach is wrong, but it highlights how differently we value our time on the road.
This upcoming trip to Scotland is especially meaningful. It is my retirement gift to myself: the dedicated, once-in-a-lifetime photo adventure I have waited years to take. Recognizing the massive logistical challenge, I handed over all the planning to my longtime travel buddy, Ed Farquharson.
Ed and I have travelled together for over forty years, and he is one of only two people on earth I completely trust with an itinerary.
The real twist to this trip is that when Ed and I get together, we feed off each other’s energy. Nothing and no one is safe. With just the two of us and no one else to accommodate, it promises to be completely unbridled, zany fun.
So, look out, Scotland.
Ed knows exactly what I am after. My core requirement was simple: For the overnight stays, I needed to be in position for both sunrise and sunset, plus whatever magic we stumble across in between. Ed took that brief, shouldered the headache of the ticking clock, and built the entire route around it.
He took on the planning pressure so I could focus solely on my publishing deadline for my second book, “The Essence of Judo”. For his energy, dedication, and razor-sharp itinerary, I will be eternally grateful.
Yet even with Ed handling the master plan, the final countdown is relentless. As departure day nears, the clock goes into hyperdrive. Passports are double-checked, foreign cash is ordered, haircuts are scheduled, and because of the hiking on this itinerary, I even found myself at a chiropodist’s getting my feet and toenails sorted out.
Then comes the late-night panic buying. I am dangerous with a smartphone and next-day delivery. At three in the morning, I suddenly convince myself I desperately need items I did not care about a week ago: extra merino wool socks, fancy laundry detergent sheets (what if an entire country runs out of soap?), and yes, even a brand-new kickass 135mm f1.8 Sony lens.
By the final week, the logistical scramble peaks. Did I pack too much? Did I forget something essential? Am I driving to the airport, begging a family member for a ride, or booking an Uber?
And then, finally, departure day arrives. The mad rush gives way to the open road. All that frantic preparation is put to the test, and our bodies quickly let us know whether we have been overly ambitious with the schedule. Before we know it, we are back home.
We unpack a suitcase full of clean laundry sheets, flip through the photos, wonder where the time went, and naturally start the whole wonderful, crazy process all over again.
But before we get there, why not join Ed and me on this adventure? Follow along as we explore Scotland, chase the light, stop for what will probably be far too many photos, and see what kind of trouble two longtime friends can get into when left to their own devices.
If you enjoy the journey, please share this newsletter with as many people as possible. The more people who join us, the better—and, hopefully, the more witnesses we will have when Ed and I start acting like a couple of unsupervised teenagers in the Highlands.
The graphics created by Ed in the lead-up
Ed’s Itinerary
Day 1 — Sept 5 Saturday
Arrival + Highlands
✈️ Arrival: Glasgow Airport
Air Transat Flight 244
Arrive: 06:50
Route
Pick Up Naguib from Glasgow Airport.
Let’s say Naguib has bags and goes through security, immigration by 7:30 am
He may be tired, so light driving Day
Glasgow Airport to Glenfinnan Viaduct: 129 miles, 3 hr 20 min
Based on typical schedules, The Jacobite steam train is expected to cross the Glenfinnan Viaduct around 10:45 AM (morning service) and 3:15 PM (afternoon service) on September 5, 2026. Depending on when Naguib gets through security at the airport, we may or may not make the 10:45 am steam train on the Viaduct. Factoring in the hike to the exact spot… we should plan for the afternoon train. We should be in position no later than 3:00 pm to get a spot for the shoot. I know the exact spot to be. From the airport, we can drive to the spot for a nice brunch and coffee for Naguib and his guide.
So, we will drive from Glasgow Airport to Glenfinnan Station Dining car for breakfast. It is top-rated and has stunning views. 130 miles from Glasgow Airport, with a 3hr 20min travel time.
We relax, eat, have coffee and pee. Then walk around there for shots…there is a good small museum across the road from our refurbished dining car.
Then we go to the parking area for the Glenfinnan Viaduct, hike in, and shoot the steam train (arrival on the viaduct) 3:15 pm – 330pm approx.
Then hike back to car.
Drive from Viaduct parking to Craigag Lodge B&B, 1.4m, 3 min drive.
Hosts … Shaun & Beth
Breakfast is served between 7.00 am and 8.30 am; let them know our desired sitting time the night before.
Glenfinnan, Invernes-shire, PH37 4LT, United Kingdom
Check in between 16:00 and 22:00. Check out by 10:00.
Check in and relax…. ready for pics on a walk….
Then dinner at The Dining Room at Glenfinnan House Hotel. (Very well rated, locally sourced, traditional Scottish Cuisine. Including fresh Seafood and Haggis. Ed will handle reservations at a date closer to this monumental expedition.
Look out, Scotland, I am on my way!
AI generated graphic.