UTC News Article Like a rock: Longtime geology professor passes the travel torch, but not before leading one last field experience

PHOTOS (scroll down)

Angus Miller (Geowalks) explains the geology of Arthur's Seat.

Student presentation on the igneous rocks of Edinburgh. The backdrop is Salisbury Crag and the city of Edinburgh.

Student presentation on the Scottish Enlightenment and the Oyster Club, Niddry Street, Edinburgh.

On the coach, on our way to Siccar Point.

Looking down at Siccar Point.

The group at Siccar Point.

Middle Longcraig Limestone with depressions interpreted as tree root cavities.

A game of checkers at the hostel in Edinburgh.

At the National Museum of Scotland.

In front of our hostel in Edinburgh, waiting for our coach to Glasgow.

At the University of Glasgow.

Considering the geology of Arran at our hostel in Lochranza ... preparing for our hike to Newton Point.

Group photo at Hutton's unconformity, Newton Point, Isle of Arran.

Student chefs in the hostel's kitchen.

Here, we consider an outcrop of serpentine in the Highland border complex, at Balmaha.

The fantastic landscape of Glen Coe.

Yours truly at Glen Coe. I grew the "chops" for the class.

Group photo at Parallel Roads, Glen Roy.

We dipped our faces at the Old Sligachan Bridge, Isle of Skye, hoping for eternal beauty. Look up the legend.

Excited to have reached the Old Man of Storr, Isle of Skye.

Some braved the Fairy Pools, Isle of Skye.

Jan leads our tour of Knockan Crag (Moine Thrust).

At the Moine Thrust.

Group photo at Knockan Crag.

Considering the geology of the Assynt region during breakfast at our hostel in Inchnadamph.

Stromatolites at Arvdreck Castle, Loch Assynt.

The 2-billion-year nonconformity between Lewisian Gneiss (below) and Torridon sandstone (above).

Three hardy souls that hiked up to the Pipe Rock ledges below the summit of Conival.

Considering the significance of the Helmsdale Fault and the boulder beds, Helmsdale.

A student spars with Raymond, our guide at Culloden Battlefield.

Practicing Jacobite battle strategies.

A group photo with Raymond at Culloden.

Back to Edinburgh ... our final dinner together.

Up close and personal with a Highlands Cow.

The academic field excursion concluded on July 5; students went their ways; we enjoyed Scotland for another week or so.

The procession for King Charles' coronation, as viewed from the window of our Airbnb on the Royal Mile, Edinburgh, July 5.

Tasting variously peated scotch on our tour of the Bruichladdich Distillery, Isle of Islay, with our friends, Mike and Laura.

The beach at Machir Bay, on the west coast of Islay.

In the Stillhouse at Kilchoman Distillery, Islay.

Cille Choirill, a 15th century Roman Catholic church in Glenspean in Lochaber, Scotland, a short walk from our Airbnb in Roybridge.

Self explanatory

Heidi and I, with Logan and Valentina behind us, waiting for the steam train at Glenfinnan.

A vintage boat in the Caledonian Canal at Fort Augustus.

Logan and Valentina at the Qiraing, Isle of Skye.

Heidi and I at the Glenlivet Distillery.

Our flight home (EDI to ATL) was diverted to Iceland. We spent the night in Reykjavik, courtesy of Delta.

News of our diverted flight.

When in Iceland ...