Monday, June 15 – Dry and warm in the sun, but a cool wind. Got up quite late, had breakfast and then drove over to the log cabin and on up the Lecht – mainly to check if the road was open. There were notices warning of closure, but on closer inspection I think these referred to a few dates in the future. On the way back we stopped at the Watchers viewpoint, and I got a couple of good pictures. Also nearly lost the car because the handbrake was only half on: I detected a movement when I opened the boot and was able to retrieve the situation. Also saw an eagle in the far distance, pointed out by someone with really good binoculars.
Back down to the cabin, where we had broccoli and stilton soup and tea and cake. Looked round but all the stuff we used to look for (such as shirts) was no longer stocked. Dot bought a small Highland cow for Bridget. Looked in graveyard and disturbed an oystercatcher that had nested there. It was quite indignant, but didn’t fly off because it had two chicks. So got good view of it and pix.
After that drove back via Lochnagar view route. Had phone call from Kim and arranged her visit on Thursday/Friday. Later walked round town, called at Co-op and checked out some restaurant menus. Also looked for Ella’s temporary cottage but couldn’t find it. Dot had problem with her leg – she seems to have pulled a muscle; so she waited outside the Co-op while I fetched the car. Bit worrying.
Had a light supper and watched Belgium 1 Egypt 1. France have also drawn 0-0 with Cape Verde, wherever that is. Dot went to sleep during the match, but then cleared up while I searched fruitlessly for the food caddy. Car is now parked up the road, where it’s wider and safer, apparently. Saw a hedgehog on the way back from checking it. Why a hedgehog should be checking our car, I don’t know…
Tuesday – Cold wind, especially at first, but dry. Woke late. After breakfast I went and booked a table at the Indian, while Dot went to Byzantium, her favourite clothes shop. I joined her there and picked out a yellow top and some brown patterned trousers for her. Fortunately, she liked them too. Then drove down to Loch Muick – practically nothing on the road. Paid £6 to park and then walked to cabin, where we got talking to a couple of cyclists from Kinross. There were just retired.
Dot used walking poles and her leg felt much better as we took the path along to the Chapel Mounth junction. Spotted some deer up on the hillside and managed to get a few pictures, though they were some distance away. Back to the cabin to research some birdsong, and then to the Birkhall turning, where the bridge was destroyed in the 2016 floods. The bridge is now completely gone and all approaches to it blocked, mainly by nettles, gorse and so on. We couldn’t get a decent view at all. Royalty taking advantage of nature to increase privacy, you might say.
Proceeded home and had lunch; message from owner revealed that he no longer used the food caddy because of the sort of thing he found in it. Intriguing. Had lunch, including strawberries and cream outside for Dot, read a bit, after I’d retrieved the books from the car. then went to sleep, and Dot woke me just before 6pm, which was just as well because our table was booked for 6.30pm. Quick change, and a nice meal at the Lochnagar, but too much rice. Chatted to manager afterwards and Dot got a free limoncello. Watched France beat Senegal 3-1 after being denied an obvious penalty, then Dot phoned David and gave him and Chrissy a tour of the house on FaceTime. So a bit late going to bed in the end.
Wednesday – Rain overnight and again at end of day, but in between plenty of blue sky, though the wind was chilly. Walked into town together and went into Wilkie’s – Dot bought some coasters and one or two other things. Then popped into the library, which used to be the tourist office until the Government stopped funding them. Woman in newsagent who was taught by Ella (for whom she had much respect) said the way the station had been refigured after the fire was all wrong.
Back to the cottage, then drove to Braemar, where we had soup (Dot) and scone (me) for an exorbitant price. On to Linn of Quoich, where we crossed bridge and walked up to the cottage, which has been beautifully recrafted as the place where Queen Victoria had picnics. Really well done. After sitting by the Linn for a while we walked down the long way, because it was easier on Dot’s leg. Sat in car for a while reading, then drove back to Ballater, dropping in on the cheese factory at Cambus O’May to check that it was still operating.
Had supper (sausage rolls) and then watched highlights of the second test match v New Zealand, followed by live action from England’s first World Cup match, in which they beat Croatia 4-2. Quite an exciting match. Dropped TV remote and then couldn’t find batteries cover despite an exhaustive search. Perhaps there never was one… Trouble with teeth today for some reason. Very sensitive at times. 7500 steps.
Thursday – Cold at times and windy. But mainly dry. Kim arrived a bit later than expected, accompanied by Kian and Alex, who comes from Norfolk. They left to look round Ballater, and we took Kim to the Lecht. Stopped at the Watchers, where it was extremely windy; then put our nose into Moray before heading back to the log cabin. Dot and Kim had cake, and I had a delicious egg mayonnaise sandwich. Checked on graveyard and found oystercatcher again, but on the wall. Still noisy.
Back in car, drove over to Balmoral past Lochnagar view, which was non-existent in view of heavy clouds. On to Lochnagar distillery, where we were entertained by very knowledgable whisky man and bought a few things, including some whisky. Loads of potholes in back road. Back in Ballater I bought a shirt. In the evening we went to the Clachan Grill and I had steak. Met a couple from Norfolk: the man was in the year after me at CNS! Now living in Beverley, Yorks. Walked home – Dot’s leg playing up again. Had quite a long chat about the Church – nice to speak to someone on our wavelength.
Friday – Showers, quite chilly at first. Milder later. Drove down to Linn of Quoich again. Deer at far side of overspill car park. Road through to them closed for resurfacing, which was ongoing. Walked with Kim up to junction with Chapel Mounth path again, but visibility poor. Returned to Ballater and did shopping – Dot in Co-op and Kim in wood shop. I went to fetch car because Dot’s leg bad again. Drove to Cheese Factory for light lunch – I had really good croque monsieur. Then on to Burn o Vat. Kim climbed in, but Dot couldn’t and didn’t really want me to, so I stayed with her.
Then on to Kian’s place at Dyce – only the satnav led us astray and Kim failed to realise the centre of Aberdeen wasn’t really right. So I stopped and we re-entered the postcode; it turned out we were nowhere near Dyce and heading in the wrong direction. From there, though, it was straightforward, though it took an extra 20 minutes. East Lodge, Kian’s place, is lovely with a beautiful garden including a model railway. He and Alex laid on food and drink, including lovely lavender biscuits made by Alex. Discussed going to Dyce station and getting a train in, but glad we didn’t. Despite dire warnings from Kian, the journey was straightforward and station parking easy to find and – it turned out – free. Waited about 20 minutes for Amy, who turned up as scheduled. Drove back to Ballater – again straightforward. Had tea and a conversation with David and Oliver, then went to bed. After midnight. Very tired.
Saturday – Warmer and dry. Up pretty late, then went to corner café for breakfast. I had Amy’s egg. Went to Co-op and some other shops, including the charity shop, where Amy bought some walking boots for £8. Dot drove to Braemar and beyond; then I took over and drove to Linn of Quoich. Dot was feeling much better; so walked up to punchbowl with no problem and looked round house again. Amy did a bit of exploring on her own, then I walked up with her to a point further upstream, which involved uneven steep steps. Amy was going further but I think she was reluctant to let me go down the steps on my own, so we returned to Dot together.
All used the usual return path, which is a bit steep but interesting. Drove back to Braemar, where we took a quick look at the Highland Games arena, which has had a bit of a makeover. Then drove back to Ballater, hampered a bit by cars not going quite slowly enough to overtake, and bought some petrol at the 24-hour serve-yourself garage. This worked all right: we had tried but failed at Braemar. Had salady supper and watched a bit of test cricket, which England appeared to be losing. Also had two games of chess with Amy – she’s not bad. Sky bright. Earlier Amy showed us a vlog of her adventures in Paris with her friends. They seem a nice bunch.