Fact or Fiction? The Scots Love Animal-Shaped Soaps

Fact or Fiction? The Scots Love Animal-Shaped Soaps

The following submission is either completely fictional or is fact-based. Please add a comment noting whether you think it is True or False with your own entertaining or supporting commentary. The answer will be revealed in a future comment on this post.

At first we thought the adorable bear soap was just part of the charm associated with our initial Scottish Bed and Breakfast establishment, but we soon realized that the trend didn’t end there. Public restrooms, hotels, and pubs all proudly presented an impressive and colorful selection of animal-shaped hand soaps. We even encountered a bustling stand at a village market that specialized in this unique product offering.

It didn’t take long for the quaintness to wear off, at least for Matt. He was willing to accept sharing his bath and shower space with cuddly animal designs of bear, cat, and dog, but drew the line when he encountered a unicorn-shaped soap. “This is getting ridiculous!” he protested before calmly refusing it, citing health and safety concerns.

A bit of online research revealed an entire subculture that fears washing with animal-shaped soaps – The term is ablutozoophobia in the mental health community, but Matt simply refers to these individuals as “justified”. Anyone planning a trip to Scotland should take this warning to heart and consider a healthy alternative such as Ireland where we’ve heard all soaps are green and in the shape of a four-leaf clover.

The John Muir Way - Strathblane to Falkirk

The third and fourth stage of the John Muir Way covers 26 miles which we hiked over three days, with nights spent in Milton of Campsie and Auchinstarry Marina, before reaching the sprawling city of Falkirk.

The well worn path highlights the evolution of transportation in this unique corner of the world. Signboards announce the route's extensive history and numerous uses as it passes along and over:

- The Antonine wall, an 1,800+ year old physical barrier demonstrating the northern-most reach of the Roman Empire.

- Canal towpaths, the primary mode of transportation for goods during the 18th and 19th century before the advent of railroads.

- Reclaimed railways, displaced by roads and freight trucking in the 1950s.

As we trod in the steps of soldiers, horses, and freight trains from centuries past, our thoughts turned to potential future developments in transportation. How long will it take for roads to become obsolete, devolving into casual hiking paths for future generations who zip from place to place in Jetsonian flying vehicles? Or, for DINKS' numerous Star Trek fans, when will teleportation become the mod method of conveyance?

As tempting as it may be to have Scotty beam us to our final destination on Scotland's eastern shores, we'll stick with our preferred mode of transit: Walking, an eye-level window seat view of the world.

The John Muir Way - Balloch to Strathblane

The first stage of the John Muir Way landed us in Balloch, a wonderful village on the shores of the largest inland lake (by surface area) in Great Britain. Balloch offers a wonderful selection of restaurants, historic attractions, parks, and outdoor activities. While there, we:

- Hiked to a castle located in a sprawling park
- Watched Scottish dance students demonstrate their craft
- Enjoyed tasty street food (German bratwursts and soft serve ice cream with flake - a crunchy chocolate stick)
- Relaxed on a restaurant balcony imbibing local brews while taking in the sweeping views

We hated to leave, but the open trail beckoned.

The route from Balloch to Strathblane is 18 miles, so we allowed for a stopover in the little hamlet of Croftamie. To get there we walked eight miles on paved but predominantly peaceful country roads. After a nice meal and much needed rest we tackled the slightly longer and more scenic leg from Croftamie to Strathblane. Along the way we witnessed a variety of wildlife, including pheasant, an adorable hedgehog, and the (weasel-like) pine marten.

Our Strathblane lodging is an inn that has been in business since the year 1601, and it offers plenty of charm and character. We anticipate another good night's sleep before tomorrow when we will continue our enjoyable exploration of the Scottish countryside.