Woke up to the smell of pancakes and bacon (how nice to be in someone’s HOME!). Following a yummy breakfast, we headed into town to catch a train to one of Kaija’s favorite get-away-from-the-city spots. Trains were delayed due to a worker’s strike, so we had a bit of time to walk around Glasgow. We saw Kaija’s school as well as the equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington.

A short train ride to Balloch (passing a ship graveyard along the way) brought us to Loch Lomand. Despite the constant drizzle, it was absolutely beautiful. The layers of grassy, rolling hills obscured by varying levels of misty haze was breathtaking.

At the top of a hill (with a chateau, of course) we sat under a lovely tree to keep us dry while we picnicked on bread, wine, cheese, and the most amazing strawberries I’ve had in my life.

There was even a lovely garden near the exit of the park that seemed to sparkle in the rain.

Thoroughly soaked, we stopped off at an inn to grab some hot chocolate and a hot toddy to warm up before catching the train home. Ray was over the moon excited to cook again and made us brown butter mac and cheese with pancetta and delicious cherry tomatoes (I swear, the produce here is the nuts!)

We rounded off our relaxing day with a movie. A thoroughly lovely day, thanks in no small part to the generosity and know-how of our dear friend.

-Jessie