Baden-Powell Council BSA
at the
2008 Blair Atholl Patrol Jamborette
Day 4 - July 19th - Speyside / MacDuff / Fraserburgh
Our first stop on July 19th was the Glenfiddich distillery in Dufftown. How
could you
tour Scotland without learning how its national drink is produced?
(No, I meant Scotch - I really don't want to know where Irn Bru comes from)
 We took a guided tour of the facility, which was very interesting. Here, the group looks at a cup of malted barley, one of the three ingredients in whisky (the others being water and yeast). |
 Although we weren't able to stop for a wee dram afterwards, you can hardly fault the welcome at Glenfiddich... on barrels, in five languages. |
 From Dufftown, we drove north to the coast at MacDuff. The weather had been rainy, but as the rain stopped the wind picked up. |
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As we left the aquarium, the wind picked up even more, and the surf became more impressive. |
 Fraserburgh Lighthouse was built into the ruins of an old castle in 1787. It's now the centerpiece of the Museum of Scottish Lighthouses |
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 The giant Fresnel lens weighs a ton or more, but the turntable is so finely balanced you can turn it with one finger. Brad and Pete watch as our guide does just that. |
 We were able to go out on the walkway around the light. Nathan, Brad and Kyle |
 The view from the Lighthouse |
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 The guide described the wind as a "wee breeze" - about force 6 on the Beaufort scale (that's 25-30mph to you and me) |
  It sure seemed windier than that between the Lighthouse and the Keeper's House - the wind was concentrated between the buildings, and it took a real effort to pass through. |
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After our tour we went
through the Museum itself, which is filled with artifacts and records
about all of Scotland's lighthouses.
Left: Jon and Ryan use prisms to focus light, in a hands-on display about how Fresnel lenses are made. |
| We spend the
night at Templars Park Scout
Campsite, about seven miles southwest of Aberdeen. Templar's Park received its name because the Knights Templar camped there on their way to the Crusades. |
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 We stayed in the White House - built in the mid-1500's as a vicarage, this has to be the oldest Scout hall we've ever used, or are likely to. |
 The Great Hall in the White House |
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 There were lots of rabbits at Templars Park enjoying their dinner in the fine evening weather |
 This bunny seems particularly satisfied. |
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