Hello! And welcome to the last week of our May book club!
If you’re just tuning in, we’ve been reading a book called Free Country , which was recommended by one of my neighbors. We read Days 15-19 this past week and we’re all here to e-chat about them today.
Day 15:
Favorite demeanor: The gals’ at the Korner Kitchen just outside Paisley. “We watched as they flipped bacon and fried eggs, and poured tea with a genuine love and enthusiasm for their job.”
Favorite stretch of road: The Clyde and Loch Lomond Cycleway. It’s an almost entirely traffic-free, 20-mile route that takes you from Glasgow to Loch Lomond along former railway lines and canal towpaths. Sounds incredible!
(The Clyde and Loch Lomond Cycleway)
Favorite funny: “There were a few sections that deviated through slightly rundown housing estates, but there was never any threat of danger. Ben did have a slight confrontation with a fly that flew into his mouth, but they managed to resolve that between themselves.”
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Day 16-
Favorite visual: “Just after Bridge of Orchy we passed Loch Tulla – a mirror-like lake surrounded by windburned heather and a scattering of ancient pine trees.”
Favorite new food: Banoffee pie. “The route book mentioned that the Bridge of Orchy Hotel served a ‘great banoffee pie’, which we fantasized about as we cycled past. Incidentally, a very good friend of mine claims that his Grandma invented banoffee pie. I don’t believe him.”
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Day 17 –
Favorite food: “It was an amazing meal, steak pie with delicious chunks of beef, thick gravy, a light puff pastry lid and chunky chips But the highlight for me was the vegetables. Carrots and peas have never tasted so good.”
Favorite monsters: Ness and Lizzie.
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Day 18-
Favorite overnight stay: Kingspark Llama Farm – Bed & Breakfast. Who else wants to meet Brian and Mary? 😀
Favorite tour: Glenmorangie Distillery
(source)
Fun fact: In 2017, the bicycle brand, Renovo, teamed up with the folks at Glenmorangie, to create the limited-edition bike shown in the photo above. It was constructed from retired whisky casks and you can find the whole article about it here: Renovo + Glenmorangie
Favorite castle Ben & George couldn’t see from the road: Dunrobin Castle
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Day 19:
Favorite look back: “At every stage of our journey we were overwhelmed by the generosity and kindness of the people that we met. Complete strangers went out of their way to offer us food, accommodation, clothes, bikes, directions, beer or conversation.”
Favorite perspective: “It is so easy to disappear to some faraway land, rather than explore all of the beauty right on your doorstep”…”it is amazing what adventures you can have when you step outside your front door. Get out there. Take a look for yourself. You won’t be disappointed. I promise“.
What a fun read! I loved the humor, the sense of adventure, and learning that there are so many easy-going, approachable, and generous people in the world. And because he included so many details, I loved feeling like I was right there on the ride with George and Ben too. Almost makes me want to do something similar in our neck of the world. Almost. 😉
If you have time to comment, I’d love to hear your final thoughts on the book overall too!
Layla
My husband and I both enjoyed it (minus the bad language 😂) and would love to take that same route, by car of course!
Hi Connie!
And I’m with you, I’d love to take that route (by car) someday too!
A very fun, quick read. Enjoyed every minute of it.
I have really been enjoying this book! I am way behind on the weekly discussion but, wow! What an adventure. Oh, to be young and bold. Thanks for the recommendation.
The language as someone commented on mostly made me laugh….I don’t drop f-bombs (although menopause may push
me over the edge 😉) we have friends that lived there and it’s not considered a bad word there! But do not ever say booger – such differences. The “f” word is actually an acronym for “for unlawful carnal knowledge”. It was delightful to read with you all. Even there though I didn’t comment much, I did enjoy reading your thoughts and the other comments. What’s next?! 😍
This was a fun book! Fills me with wanderlust!
Will there be a book for June?
Loved the book! I started out behind the first week and then finished early! It was never boring. Love the humor in his writing best of all and the banter and smack talk between the two. I also thought it so heartwarming how many people just gave them what they asked for, especially public establishments like stores and restaurants. I think my favorite part of this section was the end when he shares about his daughter being born nine months later. 💖
Thanks again for the beautiful photo! Especially the whisky cask bikes!!
The guys had me LOL this week, too : )
Day 15: (same as you) Ben’s fight with the fly
Day 16: the awesome creative scrabble game!
Day 17: Ben…Do you have a sense of achievement? George: None whatsoever. Just pain. (I also sympathize with their craving for veggies…traveling seems to be that way.)
Day 18: snorting wasabi! I’ve been to a whiskey distillery and that’s a great comparison. I think the greenhouse with hay beds is my second favorite sleeping night, until it rained (boat is first!)
Day 19: George…We slept like babies, waking up crying every hour with wet pants.
I could relate with their temporary disappointment about lack of fanfare upon finishing. I felt the same way when completing a half century ride. I almost went the next year to play cheerleader for others!
We both totally enjoyed this read! What’s next?
PS congrats on George’s new daughter 🙂
Mom!
I *almost* wrote about the Scrabble game, the “slept like babies” part, AND the lack of fanfare part!
And, by the way, George messaged and said he named his daughter LAYLA! 😀
What?! That’s awesome!
I LOVED it! I’m now onto “Not tonight, Josephine”, which is his account of a road trip across the USA & back in a dilapidated minivan named Josephine. Then I’m going to read about he & his wife’s backpack trip in South America. I’m addicted!! His writing is so descriptive, it’s a great way to “get-a-away” during this quarantine time of no traveling.
I’m with you! When I saw his list of other books, I realized I just have to read them! I also loved when George admitted his pain over accomplishment after insisting on riding up the hill! 😂
Playing catch up. Where might I find book club week one?
Funny book so far.
I’ve had a hard time sitting with a book since March this is helping.
Jean
Loved this book, I’m looking my forward to Reading his others. Thanks for the recommendation! It reminded me a lot of the show “The Kindness Diaries.”
I went to college in England for a year. I wanted to move back after I graduated. Unfortunately family matters kept me stateside. I wasn’t able to read the book however reading all of your comments were a beautiful memory of a place I called home once. A most lovely place. So wish I could have a small cottage in a village there that was decorated by Layla! Miss your posts. Hope all is well and safe with you and your family.
Hope to see some new blog posts soon, you are very positive! I noticed on IG your stairs are starting to look worn after the painting. I am assuming like all other porch/floor paints yours is not holding up as well? One day, the manufacturers will come up with something that will hold even with high foot traffic. I have yet to see one that does a great job, even when people say that it’s easy to zoom in and see floor paints are not able to hold up yet.
Thanks, Shanika!
And our stair paint has actually held up GREAT! 😀 Only a few minor knicks where the delivery guys bumped into them with our old and new washer and dryer. And we’re actually swapping the current set out for a different style soon (ugh!) so I’m going to wait to touch them up until AFTER all this lugging up and down is over! I highly recommend Sherwin-Williams’ ArmorSeal Tread Plex. It truly is THE BEST and can handle whatever you throw at it from (average) day to day. As long as it’s not a washer and dryer- ha! 😀
Honestly though, I’m a historic cottage-style gal through and through, so I’ve always preferred the chippy look when it comes to my paint finishes. Maybe I’ll just order another appliance for upstairs to give them more character next year. 😉