http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Xn2VJiwhQ - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Xn2VJiwhQ

I just got home yesterday from my trip to Scotland and Ireland. We got into Edinburgh on September 5 after a night of flying. On September 7 we headed north to Potarch to find the Dinnie Stones. I was nervous because I hadn’t slept much since arriving and the night before I was restless knowing I was going to attempt the Dinnie Stones the next day. We were heading to Aboyne to check into our hotel when I saw the sign for Potarch and swerved off towards Potarch. I was cruising down the road when I looked over and saw the Potarch Hotel and I slammed on the brakes. I jumped out of the car leaving my wife behind and went towards the door. When I saw the Dinnie Stones I got pretty excited, like a little kid, well a big kid as I was never little. I had planned to put on my kilt to lift but I was so excited I rushed back to the car and just wanted to go lift. My wife set up the camera while I dug my chalk, straps (just in case) and a towel out of our luggage.           

             I saw the stones on the pea gravel and the gravel had me concerned as I fell on my butt while moving the small stone over towards the large stone. I’d been warned that the pea gravel was a challenge but I hadn’t thought much about it till I was on my rear. I was also concerned when I saw that the rings looked almost polished smooth and shiny. They were slick and smooth, I had expected rusty and rough. I had all these plans to warm up and get ready to pull but I was just so excited that I wanted to get to it. I did a two handed lift of the large stone and then moved the small one and figured that was enough warm up.

             I first set up and pulled and the small stone came up no problem but I had a grip issue with the large stone. I quickly adjusted and pulled them up. I was pumped. I went to look at my wife’s footage and decided I wanted to do another so I walked over and did another. Meanwhile there were some older women peeking out the door to the restaurant all asking, “Did he lift them?” and a little fellow (that I had a hard time understanding) went in to tell everyone what he just saw. I decided to go for a third pull, as I was just happy to be lifting and pulled the third. After the third I noticed I ripped my thumb pretty good so I quit. I then went inside to rinse out my wound and have a whisky at the bar.

The whole time I was at the bar I was contemplating taping up my thumb and pulling some more or even putting on straps and playing around but decided I had already accomplished what I set out to do. But, as time went on and the days have gone by I really wanted to lift them more and regretted not lifting them as much as I could. SO, I am already discussing with my wife a return trip to Scotland when I can visit the Dinnie Stones again and go lift the Inver Stone as well.

Hey travis-CONGRATS!!!!  That is awesome, what an accomplishment!  BEn has been bragging on you on a few of the forums.  The guys at KCSTRONGMAN were very impressed.

ET

Congrats!.. Those stones are no joke! 

For your next trip.. If you're heading for the Inver Stone.. Stay at the Inver Hotel (across the street).. The Innkeeper is awesome! She'll even call across the street to June (the woman who's garden the Inver Stone rests in, and by the way.. one of the sweetest women EVER!!) and set up a time for you to lift it.  The rooms are really comfortable.. and They have the best burger in Scotland!.

Well done, mate !

I was very disappointed that Scotland was "closed" until nearer the end of January so I never even got to have a nip in the hotel - never mind - there will be a next time and there will be no straps then !

Again, congrat's.

Welcome to the club.

Thanks Lance. That's a shame it was closed on your visit. Part of my whole plan was lift and then chill out inside with a whisky and get a bite to eat. I was still too excited to eat though.

I sat back and enjoyed a Dalmore 12 year and flipped through the Donald Dinnie book they had sitting at the bar. In the book I saw a picture of a huge stained-glass window of Dinnie that was in the Huntley Arms Hotel in Aboyne. Lucky for me, I had reservations for that hotel that night so I got to check out the window.