Coming Home

   

Helix Park and lake

    In my last blog post I spoke about Scots having a wanderlust, resulting in us leaving and settling abroad. The USA has long been the place that many have chosen to call home, but as I wrote on Monday those who choose to leave are unlikely to forget their Scottish roots. There are also expatriates that Scotland will always remember because of the good work that they do overseas after leaving, or their legacy that carries on after their death.



Glencoe Village and Glencoe Mountains
protected by John Muir Trust UK

    One such person was author and naturalist John Muir, who passed away in 1914. His passion in life was the preservation of the wilderness and in the USA it lead him to be the founding member of America's National Parks. His 300 articles and 12 books have made his work renowned throughout the world and if you are resident in California, his name will be especially familiar to you because April 21st is designated, John Muir Day. The golden state being the place that he called home for the last 46 years of his life.



The Kelpies dominate the Falkirk sky

    This year the Scots are honouring him as part of Scotland as Home celebrations, with the John Muir Festival. The international launch of Andy Scott's 30 metre high, 300 tonne sculptures, The Kelpies, will be the centrepiece of a night-time arts event, April 17-18, that will mark the opening of the festival. The Helix Park, Falkirk is where The Kelpies call home and is a befitting location to pay tribute to John Muir, a man that has contributed so much to the conservation of wild areas throughout our world, including the National Scenic Area of Ben Nevis and Glencoe in Scotland.

   

    PS. Please escuse the back of my head in the Glencoe photograph!