Illusive Cow

Hairy Coos

Only one big goal for the day. We have had this goal since arriving in Scotland and were convinced the goal would be easy to meet once we journeyed from Edinburgh north to Inverness and the Highlands. It wasn't happening. We were even more convinced we would meet this goal on the stunningly beautiful day-long driving loop through the Highlands and along the west coast. Nope.

No matter how hard we tried, we could find nary a Highland Cow anywhere. Those are the ones with long shaggy fir. Mike saw shaggy fur cows a couple of months ago while trekking to Mt. Everest Base Camp; they were Yaks. We all thought it would be fun to see something similar here. But we were striking out in the Highland Cow department. Illusive. Maybe this is one of those overhyped tourist things.

Then, eureka. We saw an entire herd of them; well there were three, not quite a herd. They were not exactly out roaming the Highlands. They were in a fenced pen next to the departure point for day cruises on Lock Ness. Hey, we saw Highland Cows after all. Or, in Scottish lingo, "Hairy Coos."