The Cairngorms and Aviemore...

Saturday, 30th April, to Saturday, 7th May - (BIG Catch-up)

After leaving Blair Castle, the road up to Aviemore is quite spectacular (what part of Scotland isn't?), and not a bad drive either. The signage generally is excellent in the UK, and you really get a feel for the way things happen, and so we haven't had tooooooo many wrong turns.

Lee had by this time started to feel the effects of whatever she caught from me, plus some sinus problems, so thankfully we were to have a week in the same place. This was the Time-Share week we had arranged from OZ, and it isn't too bad. We found out it has been functioning since the late 70's, and it shows in some of the furniture, which is all pine, and has been re-furbished/re-finished to take it back to its natural state. They don't seal it and they said they have 'special' cleaners which remove things like red wine, etc.

Still, we were now able to do meals for ourselves, and get some washing done. The town itself has been there some time, but has grown to be a town that services the walkers, hikers, skiers, canoeists, etc. etc. Basic food stuff like Tesco's (think Coles or Woolies), and a plethora of restaurants, but by now we were very happy to do our own thing, and the kitchen was quite well equipped. Flat screen TV, and a small balcony, but we faced out on to the main road which goes to Inverness, and so the double glazed windows and doors really come into their own.

With Lee not too well, we only did a couple of things, like taking a short drive out to the funicular, which is a cable type railway up to a stunning lookout, on one of the highest mountains in the area. The views are just great, (think, above Perisher towards Charlotte's Pass). and some remnant snow from the winter season.
The wooden fences are arranged to catch the snow drifts, so the mountain staff can then 'groom' the snow for the skiers.

Quite a nice morning and we seem to have perfected the trick of being at places at the right times, e.g. get there early and avoid the masses.

This "Nessy" is attached to rubber dinghys and they must float him out for special occasions

The only other things we did were a really pleasant cruise on Loch Ness (no monster!), which allows a look at yet another ruined castle called Urquhart Castle, and the we did a train ride into Inverness city, which allows a different view of the countryside, but it was raining a little and so we just had a small look at the town, got a couple of things at the shops and went back to Aviemore. 


We had to leave very early on the Saturday, to get to Ullapool for the ferry across to Lewis and Harris islands. (They are not really islands as there is no waterway between them, but that is another post...

Ullapool is at least two hours away from Aviemore, and we had to have checked in for the ferry by 9.30am.

Loch Ness

Firth of Forth, squirrels, deer and the view

Saturday, 23rd April and Sunday, 24th April - (Catch-up)

 This beautifully decorated and maintained apartment is on the first floor, but this gives us great views out over the Firth of Forth, and beyond. The bed is only a double, and with Lee's bruised knee and my coughing, we will use the other bedroom tonight, and both get a proper sleep without waking each other.

We also have a washing machine so catching up with clean clothes is a bonus. The squirrels seem to come most mornings, trying to get at the bird seed the owner puts out in the feeders. The deer are a little more timid and we've seen them a couple of times.

 With these older buildings, refurbishment can't be easy, and some of the electricals are interesting in that you have to throw a switch to be able to use the oven, etc., but you soon get used to that. It's just great to be able to move around and have this much space, especially when you know you won't get it at many other places.The kitchen is fully equipped and the bathroom is newly refurbished, and we have a sitting room at one end overlooking the garden and the views. Very, very cosy and comfy, and compared to staying in hotels, etc., this is the way to go if you need/want to do your own thing.

We are across the Firth from Edinburgh, and the nearest supermarket was Tescos, across the road bridge. Not an easy get, and you have to watch which part of the roundabout you go off at, but we found it and were able to stock up for the week.

Forth road bridge, due for decommissioning, as the cables are rusting!

This road bridge is to be replaced, and ironically enough the rail bridge is 100 years old and still going strong.

Went for a short walk after breakfast and found the local train station, (only a five minute walk), and planned to go into Edinburgh on the train tomorrow, to sort out banking, etc.

Rail bridge

As it was Easter Sunday, we thought most people would be at home for Sunday lunch, so decided to visit the Falkirk Wheel, which is about 40 miles away. Good drive and when you get near it you can see it from the distance. It was built to replace the set of lochs, through which canal boats would have to pass from Edinburgh and Glasgow.

It is the most amazing thing, and literally lifts canal barges and other low-drafted vessels up to the next level of the canal system! There were quite a few people there, but not overcrowded, and we saw the wheel working twice, and you can't believe it can do what it does.

Also being Easter weekend, they were running a steam train across the rail bridge, and it was great to see it chugging away, with lots of people on board.

 The engine was a very sleek design like the Flying Scotsman, big and powerful, with many carriages in tow.

Simple meal of savoury mince, which again makes a nice change from all the heavier stuff we've had on the Mull cruise.

Trains...

Tuesday, 26th April - (Fast forward)

Today I went back into Edinburgh to pay some money into the account of people in Sandwich, where we will stay later in the tour. (We had tried to do it on-line back home, and it worked, so I had the details saved. However, the final part requires a security number being sent to my phone number, and that can't happen because we are not at home!  We had gone in yesterday together, but discovered that even tho they didn't have a Public Holiday for Easter Monday, a lot of businesses were closed, including the banks, AND there is another Bank Holiday next Monday!)

So, off I set through the grounds of this wonderful house, through two gates and a mini woodland, towards the local train station, which is the last stop before the trains cross via the railway bridge over the Firth of Forth, before going on into Edinburgh.

I missed the train!
But, I had over twenty minutes to stand there in early morning sunshine, and took in the whole experience. There were no sounds, save for the other trains which sped through the station with no intention of stopping. There in the relative stillness, I could here birds chirping, small voices coming from the boys primary school across the road, but not much else. Then, quietly, a few locals would emerge up the stairs to the station , and then carefully cross over the tracks, and go to the only local shop which provided them with their daily newspaper, and then just as quietly come back, cross over again and go home to read what's happening in the world.

The other thing you notice is the deteriorating state of the station. Paint peeling on disused station doors, exposed wires into what was the ticket office or whatever, but NO STAFF!
You need a credit card, or you don't get a ticket. There is this very solid, very efficient machine with a touch screen, which you poke and prod, and then insert your card. The card disappears for mere seconds and almost instantly your tickets appear. One for the OUT, one for the RETURN, and the third one is your RECEIPT.

A voice from 'invisible' speakers announces the imminent arrival of your train. The train appears on time, (in my experience ALL Scotland trains are on time, very clean, and very efficient), you push the door button which opens to allow access, and you're off.
Sparkling sunshine through the windows, and a huge view of the river, far below.

If you catch the wrong train in this area, it is almost entirely your own fault! Once seated in your carriage, there are announcements about where your train is going, what the next stop will be, and when you are approaching it, and then the next announcement about the next station.
Unless you fall asleep, you cannot fail to get where you are going.

So, for something that started out as a drudge, and had to be done, I had a very pleasant morning.

Planes and boats and cars and trains...

If you watch the news regularly like I do, you will have seen all the bits and pieces on crashes, engine problems, etc. If I think too much about them, I might never go on another flight, but when you think again, there are hundreds and thousands of people in the air at any time of the day or night, and so the odds of anything happening are really quite minimal.
As we did on our last overseas trip, we have chosen to pay a bit more and do the Premium Economy thing. It just gives you a little more room to spread out, and there are usually only 32(?) people in the section. If I thought I might get stuck in the middle seat of a row of five, in economy, then I wouldn't go!

You also hear from time to time of people being upgraded to a different class. It has never happened to us, but please, by all means, try me! 
I'll take a trip in Business Class anytime, just to see how the wealthy people live!

Our flight with JAL includes a hotel stopover at Narita, so we'll have a small taste of Japan on the way over. We only get most of the first night, and a bit of the next morning, but it might be enough to see if we ever wanted to go back and have a better look.
We've had confirmation of the booking number for our big cruise to Norway, so I went on-line and entered our personal details so they have all the information they need. It just makes it a little easier later on. We have a balcony cabin on the port side of the ship (is port, the left??), BUT they have indicated there are four (4) Formal Nights, which we just don't do. 
Apart from anything else, we would have to carry "good frocks" all the way 'round the world and the UK, just to use it at the end of the holiday. I prefer my days and nights to be casual, and not have to wear a collar and tie at any time! We'll have some nicer gear for other occasions, but forget formal!!!

When we get to Oban, for the small cruise around the Island of Mull, and to Fingal's Cave, we can leave the car in a secure lockup with a local business for the week, and just come back and pick it up after we disembark. It will cost $60 for the week, (about $9 a day), but good to know it will be safe somewhere.

We will also have taken the car with us on the ferries across to Lewis/Harris, and for the benefit of anyone hiring cars for the UK, Hertz are one of the only car hire companies to cover you for taking their cars on ferries. They also let you pick up the car in one location, and then return it to another location, which is very handy.


Trains are another favourite, but we are not sure yet whether or not we can fit a little trip into the itinerary, we'll have to check....