Holy Cow!

I was driving down a back road in Scotland when our vehicle was surrounded by a fold of Highland cows. Weighing over 1,000 pounds each with a three-foot horn spread, I gave way. We sat in the middle of the road, engine idling while my erstwhile navigator and I fell madly in love with the ridiculously cute beasts. Their long horns and wavy red-brown hair both frightened us away and beckoned us closer.

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Our curious group included females with their adorable calves. As I inched the car forward, they joined us on our journey. The faster I drove the quicker they trotted. It was a hilarious escort through the countryside. We made our escape down a side road, wondering if we would be arrested later for attempted cattle rustling. At that moment, though, we had no clue that Highland cows love to wander and are quite docile. I simply had to incorporate these hairy beasties in one of my novels.
 
The next day we met up with another group of cows. These were dewy-eyed grey seals sunbathing on an island in Loch Dunvegan. The seal colony slept peacefully off the coast of Dunvegan Castle, winking at us as we cruised by in a small motorboat. Their playful pups dove into the water, barely breaking the surface when they peered at us with rising curiosity. ​

The seal colony near Dunvegan Castle.

​I had to wonder: Does life get any better than this?
 
Probably not.