IRON HEART World Tour II 2011-2012 - Beatle Buster SBG

[Simon]

On my way over to Islay from Largs just before the Portavadie ferry you pass this amazing view of the Kyles of Bute. In "Notes from a Small Island" Bill Bryson describes the view from this look out point as "probably the best in the world", these photos don't do it justice!

On to Islay for a distillery pilgrimage.

Bowmore

Lagavulin

The Cellar Masters tour at Lagavulin with the world renown Ian McArthur. He's been working here for over 40 years, an amazing font of knowledge. Do this tour before he retires!

Laphroaig

Laphroaig did a promotion some years ago: a free sqft of land on Islay with every bottle. They invite you to go out and "claim" your land when you visit. I now have somewhere on Islay to put my [Iron Heart] hat 

On to Ardbeg

I could have got seriously wasted today, unfortunately due to my need to drive, I had to decline or pour most of the free Whisky away 

[Simon]

@Geo:

Cheers to you Simon for posting - let me know next time and we could meet

The chippy I mention gets their fish from a single trawler (the seagull) all sourced the way Hugh fearnly-wearnly asked them to

Will do Geo, unfortunately I had to skip Glasgow this time, I'll be up there again soon.

[Simon]

My "Plot"

[Geo]

great pics simon - they absolutely do 'do justice' . . . i love the portavadie ferry

[Beatle]

lol, last pic is great, claiming the spot..beautiful towns on the shore, makes me wat to go on a road trip

[Katsushin]

Yes…
Last pic is priceless.

[Simon]

Forced to get something down from the loft for Mrs Simon makes a perfect BB SBG WT photo op.

[madmonday]

careful up there simon 

[Seul]

You should let Finn666 get it instead!..

[Finn666]

^i just work with cranes lad and you know this ;)…

[Simon]

I've spent this week in the Channel Islands, normally a lovely place to be in sunny July, unfortunately the weather has been really crappy all week. 

Still a wet day in the Channel Islands is better than a sunny day in the office 

Starting in Jersey (the original one, not the new upstart)

The tides here are some of the most extreme anywhere in the world with 10m between high & low. Its not uncommon to see a boat perched on top of a pinnacle of granite!

St Helier

The market hall in St Helier.

I love this coffee shop and make it a "must do" every time I'm here All the coffee is roasted on the premises, the staff are great, the food is home made and its all crazy cheap. They claim the name was stollen buy an American coffee chain?

Black coffee, black denim

And the weather gets worse!

The Channel Islands are the only part of the UK that where under German Occupation during the war. Bunkers still litter the beaches everywhere.

Every view also includes some form of Napoleonic Martello tower.

[Simon]

A quick skip across to Guernsey.

I love Guernsey, my favourite of the Islands buy far. Unfortunately the weather is no better!

Then the weather cheered up and my Boss decided he wanted a break from the office and joined me on Guernsey, which meant that I had to swap the Busters for something more formal 

Still the Sun is out so can't moan 

[Giles]

Outstanding, want to be with you…....

[madmonday]

great pics simon.

i must say you are a traveling man.

[Simon]

Thanks Monday; yep my job does take me round some of the nicest parts of this great country. Unfortunately my family are all still at home, which kind of takes the edge off it a little.

[Beatle]

man, u sure see beautiful places whilst working ***gorgeous

[Finn666]

^+1…you`re really entertaining us mate.

[Beatle]

@Giles:

Outstanding, want to be with you…....

erm, Giles….

[Giles]

You started it…..

[zhivago]

Great pics Simon, keep them coming!