Sitting in Bertie Cottage, Ballater, at 16:40 on Wednesday, 29 May, and the rain is pouring down. If it wasn’t, I would probably be somewhere else. Julia, Dave, Dot and I have been walking round the town today, stopping for coffee at the cafe on the corner and for lunch at the Rothesay Rooms in the former station. We then visited a number of shops and bought some clothes – I got a secondhand shirt for £8 and Dot got a bag and top from Byzantium. For instance. We also booked meals for later in the week at The Fish Shop and the Green Inn.
Back nearly a week ago, on Thursday 23rd, it was overcast, threatening rain that never actually materialised. Made final preparations, delivered newspapers over the road, then left for our journey north. Dot drove to Boxworth services, where we ate a bit of food we’d taken with us and got rid of scraps, including a bottle of coke that was leaking. Dot lost car keys temporarily, but we found them in the car. Had tea and coffee at Costa, then I drove along A14 and up M1 to Donnington services, which were very smart (refurbished?).
Then Dot drove rest of the way to Matlock Premier Inn through sometimes heavy traffic on M1 especially. Quite a nice room. Went out for walk in the wind and discovered a path by the River Derwent, plus a railway line. After a rest had a nice meal: Dot had fish and chips and I had steak; both had prawn cocktail, wine and whisky (Taliesker). FaceTimed David for progress report.
Friday – Had full English breakfast – which was ok. Left by about 10.30 in overcast weather, with the occasional bit of blue creeping through and then retreating. I drove first, travelling through Buxton and on by a familiar rout along the A6, past Lyme Park and so on. painfully slow. Eventually skirted Manchester airport on a new dual carriageway with ridiculous 50mph limit. Eventually with help from my excellent navigator found our way on to the M61 and made good progress most of the time. It eventually merged with the M6 further up than I expected.
Stopped at Lancaster services, which was pretty terrible – not enough parking, too many people – and got a plug to enable Dot to charge her phone. Had forgotten to bring one. Also filled up with petrol and Dot took over driving. Called in at the wonderful Tebay and had a bite to eat. Parking there now more extensive. After resuming and crossing Shap it started to rain quite heavily, but we made it to Scotland. Quite a good room at Lockerbie/Annandale Water. Had a bite from Cornwall bakery, then later a bit more from Costa. Wrote a poem about the wildlife visiting McDonalds. Walked round lake a bit and took a couple of pix. Early night after failing to get Scotland TV on set in room. Bit chilly outside.
Saturday – Dry and fairly warm. Left Annandale Water at around 10.30 and I drove north. Made good time, but left M74 too early and found myself on the M8 heading to Edinburgh. This would have been OK, but I tried to get back on the M90 and got in a muddle, even more so after I swapped and Dot drove. Tried to avoid congestion at Queensferry Bridge but went round in circles and visited some very uninteresting places. Eventually I decided to follow the guidance of Google Maps and eventually found ourselves on the Bridge – bit of a hold-up, but not too bad.
Then suddenly we were on the M90 heading for Perth and stopped at Kinross – services familiar from the past. On to Perth, where we joined the A85 and then the A93, stopping at Starbucks just outside Blairgowrie as usual. I drove from there over the familiar route, hampered by a couple of cars most of the last few miles. They even turned into Golf Road ahead of me! After a rest, we got food from the Co-op, and later walked around the town in the sun, finding that the ATM had been removed and the bank shut. Booked a meal tomorrow at the Clachan Grill. Felt very tired. Had some food, but failed to make the TV work. Nevertheless we watched Rebus and the TV Cup Final highlights on Dot’s computer.
Sunday -Lots of rain morning and evening. Low cloud all day. Got up just in time for church. Very few there – probably more at St Augustine’s. Trinity Sunday. Woman preacher quite good, but no anecdotes. Five hymns: organist very slow, congregation very quiet. After lunch drove to Log Cabin and looked round, then up to Lecht. Read a bit on way back. Stopped by tree. Drove over new bridge. In evening had dinner at Clachan Grill – or in fact Angus and Ale, which is a side part. Brilliant meal – steak and brownie for me. Watched programme on Shetlands on Dot’s computer, then started watching what we thought was an hour’s programme on Morecambe and Wise’s 30 best bits, but it turned out to be two hours, and we couldn’t stop watching. Ended up watching final few in bed at midnight.
Monday – Warm but showers later, some quite heavy. Slept in quite late. walked into town to see if Tourist office was open: it wasn’t. Then on to petrol station: it was, and got some petrol later. While I was checking Dot went to charity shop – I joined her and we bought three books and a top and necklace. Then to Byzantium, where we bought Dot two scarves – yellow and green. Then across road for lunch – bit early for me after late breakfast but I managed cheese and onion sandwich.
Then drove down to Loch Muick – heavy rain, but got nice pic of deer. Back to Aboyne, where we got cash from ATM (I forgot my Pin) and some food from Co-op, much bigger than Ballater’s. Then located Bridge Inn for meal with Ella next week and on to favourite spot on South Deeside road with view of Morven. Rain had stopped. We read for a while. Later had meal and contacted owner because TV didn’t work. (The husband rang back today, and we sorted it out.) David FaceTimed. We’re going to Oliver’s graduation ceremony (streamed). For some reason felt a bit ill towards end of evening and lay down for a while. Think it was a temporary thing.
Tuesday – Yes, feel better today. Quite warm. Walked into town, bought food from Delicatessen, then went over to Tourist Information and then had scone and tea in corner cafe, followed by a walk down to the chemist, who diagnosed Dot’s boil and sold her some ointment etc, then over the road, where I bought a new shirt. Discovered crack in my iPhone screen – or hopefully in screen protector. Drove up on road above Balmoral and read for a while: took a couple of pictures. Then on to Braemar, where it was raining so heavily that we didn’t get out of the car. Then home via the back road beyond Balmoral.
Walked down to get some wine, then later walked up Golf Road to end and then back along edge of golf course. Prepared evening meal, and Dave and Julia arrived in taxi from airport about 7.15. Had evening meal – toad in the hole – chatted a bit and went to bed.