I don't remember what time we arrived in Inverness, only that it was dark and that mass confusion reigned. Apparently not as many rooms were available as had been booked so some of the people were sent to the Station Hotel in downtown Inverness. That's where I ended up and that was fine with me. Somehow, again I don't remember details on how, we were deposited at the other hotel, bags sorted out, and then we cleaned up and returned to the original hotel for dinner.
A word about The Station Hotel. Built in 1854, the name says just what it is. It's the hotel that is attached to the Inverness Train Station and like much of Britain, is redolent of past opulence but is now slightly shabby. The lobby was rather "Grand," furnished with heavy Victorian furniture, beautiful lamps, vases and mirrors. There was a beautiful curving staircase leading upwards to what turned out to be much less "Grand." 
The guest rooms were small, and the furniture was mismatched, but it was all spotlessly clean. But Ahhhhhhh, the bathroom! The bathroom made up for everything. It was one of those wonderful British bathrooms where the bathtub is big enough to float in even for someone my size and big fluffy towels warming on the bar. Give me a clean room, a comfortable bed, plenty of hot water, a warm towel, and a bathtub you can float in and I am a contented traveler.
The word must be getting out via the grapevine that there are some formidable shoppers in this group, because the Deputy Provost and the last Freeman of Inverness joined us for dinner and to welcome us -- or, more to the point, our money -- to Inverness.
After dinner while waiting for transport back to the other hotel I discovered Diana sitting in the lobby relaxing. Rather than allow her a few minutes of quiet reflection, I immediately whipped out the books I had been lugging around waiting for just this opportunity and asked her to sign them, which she graciously did. Diana Gabaldon is a lovely person. I think that everyone on the tour tried to give her space and tried not to treat her as a celebrity but simply as a fellow traveler. But of course all of us were in awe of her. So much talent in such a small package.
The next morning we loaded up and headed off for The Kyle of Lochalsh and the Isle of Skye. Isle of Skye This was a long day on the bus. The weather was being very uncooperative and typically Scottish. While there was spectacular scenery all along the way, it was very hard to see through the mist and the rain pouring down the windows of the bus. Once we crossed over the outrageously expensive toll bridge to the Isle of Skye, the weather gave us something of a break. The rain slowed down to a mist and if I remember correctly, a couple of times we actually saw the sun. Much of what we saw on Skye is all mixed together into a general impression of it being virtually treeless. I'm sure there are trees on Skye, I just don't remember there being very many of them.
The bus took us on a huge circle around the Island and the two places that we visited that stand way out in my mind are Dunvegan Castle, Dunvegan Castle and meeting THE MCLEOD. He was on his way to church but stopped and chatted with the group for a few minutes. A very nice man. He welcomed us to his Castle and invited us all to be sure and visit the gift shop. The inside of the castle was very impressive and very, er... very much what you would expect a real castle that people lived in to look like. I especially remember the Fairy Flag that was on display in a case. This is a very ancient piece of cloth that was supposedly given to the McLoeds by the fairies. In time of peril they can fly it and they will be saved. Legend has it that it has been flown twice already so they have only one "get out of jail free" chance left. It's a lovely legend but that flag looks pretty fragile. I'm not sure if they take it out of the case it won't crumble.
The other place that I remember very clearly is lunch at Flodigarry, the ancient home of Flora McDonald, the woman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from the British after Culloden. Flodigarry House Lunch was a superb Salmon Salad and afterwards while waiting for the group to reassemble I was sitting around the fireplace in the lobby with a group of ladies, including Diana. I told her how delighted I was that Drums of Autumn was set in North Carolina because I was researching ancestors in that area, during the same time and that I was enjoying seeing the time and area through her eyes. I also told her that I had several ancestors who had signed the Regulator Petition and had fought in the Battle of Alamance Creek. She told me she would be addressing that in her next book. So that was my little Diana moment that I took home with me to cherish.
After leaving Skye we stopped by Eileen Donan Castle Eileen Donan Castle but it was after closing time so we had no opportunity to see inside. Those folks who were smart enough to bring camera's all got out and took pictures. Those like me who were not that smart stayed on the bus and sulked. This is the castle where the early battle scenes from The Highlander movie were filmed. I have always held the personal opinion that this is where Outlander was truly conceived. Diana had admitted to being a fan of the TV series so I am sure she watched the movies as well. This is just my personal little opinion.
A long bus ride back to the Hotel in Inverness. That night at dinner Mr. Ross McKenzie, Currator of the Culloden Visitor center and museum gave a very interesting talk on the battle at Culloden, its aftermath, the Colloden Visitor Center and Museum. He also spoke about a book that he is writing about William Wallace. Afterwards Diana spoke to the group about how she got started writing fiction. Very enjoyable evening.
