Sunday, September 15, 2013

Our final day in Edinburgh

This final day in Edinburgh started off with everyone headed different directions. Sue and I stopped by St Mary's Cathedral a couple of blocks from our apartment.

In one of the side areas of the church Brian Whelan's art was being displayed. Here is a pic of his "Walking on Water". Sister Wendy really likes his work as well as us.
Since Sue and I had already been to the castle, we walked through the castle gardens today.
 
A bagpiper played his tune for us.
 
Later in the afternoon, we all met at Cafe Marlayne's for dinner. Don and Lori are holding their local newspaper that will publish a "Where in the world?" article when they return home.
After returning to the apartment, we toasted with a "dram" of Scottish whisky and were entertained with Ian's Scottish stories and poetry.
This was an incredible trip and Ian put it together flawlessly



The drive from Inverness to Edinburgh after a fine week of riding.

This morning we leave Inverness after Don and Ian are proud to show us that they packed all of our luggage, bikes and still will be able to haul all eight us.
It had been spitting rain all morning so this dramatic shot our of our windshield shows that it is raining a bit.  (Well, not that dramatic...just a Scottish mist.)
 
Ian drove us on smaller more scenic roads so we got to see some early Roman bridges... well maybe they are newer than the period of Roman times.
 
 
An early coal fired steam tractor
 
Some of the new tractors with much higher road gears than the tractors I used to drive.
 
 
A Scottish barn with a castle turret.
 
We even took some single track roads that we again quite beautiful.
Of course, the Scottish hills were just around the corner.
Don and Lori are about to be baptized in the Spey river. Don is a fan of Spey fishing so a baptism was called for as well as a bag of sand.
We returned Allan, Ian's brother to his home in St Andrews on the way to Edinburgh and got some nice flower shots.
 
 
We arrived at the Drumsheugh Garden apartment that Ian had reserved for us in Edinburgh and we lined up a the entrance for a pic.
 
Ian's wife, Irene joined us at the apartment and after a toast to a fine week we walked to Ryan's bistro for dinner.
 
A fine dinner and celebration of a great week of riding.


Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Ullapool to Inverness - Day 6 - 57 miles

Even though it was to be a sunny day today, the Scottish Highlands switched the weather to mist and rain with a temperature in the mid 50s F.  However, our breakfasts were served with sunny sides up and lots of cheer.

 
Here we are gearing up for a heavy Scottish mist and about to get on the road. 
 
As Ian is preparing his bike for the ride, Ian and Don are amused about some the Scottish cusswords used to add clarity to the bike preparations needed.
 
A local stops by as we are about to leave and wishes the best of luck riding.  She also informs us that the ferry is just disgorging a herd of Scottish drivers that will be driving like bats out of hell on the road we riding toward Inverness and to be careful.
 
Sue is cranking in the delightful rain and mist as we leave Ullapool.  There was a fair amount of traffic for a while but they could easily get around because of low incoming traffic.
 
Over the next hour we enjoyed the rain and the sites we could see.  Don is checking out an old bridge next to the highway.
 
The rain is slowing and the views are broadening for Ian, Sue and Don.  Randy and Beth are bit ahead clearing the last few rain drops.
 
Finally the sun is bursting through and Don is celebrating by increasing his tanable area.  We'll need sunscreen soon... :>)
 
All smiles now as we are nearing a café at the 35 mile point.
 
We join Allan and Lori for hot chocolate at the café on a lovely Scottish day.
 
Ian is discussing the wonders of hot chocolate and other Scottish tales with Lori and Beth.
 
Soon after our break, we get to witness a couple of wind generator propeller blades traveling down the road.
 
As the sun becomes more prominent the countryside is eyepopping.
 
 
As we neared Inverness, Ian's route takes us on some smaller single track roads.  I wasn't too sure about this bridge but it held up for us.  :>)
 
A great ride through the countryside.
 
The clouds and sun mixed together provided some great views.
 
 
The vistas were stunning as we neared Inverness.
 
Just outside of Inverness, we are taking in the Inverness bridge (center of pic) and the Beauly firth that we had crossed a week earlier. 
 
Back at our B&B in Inverness, I congratulated Sue on a great ride and she looked at me askance and expressed herself with one of Ian's chosen brews.  :>)
 
A great ride of the Scottish Highlands is now done and it is time to pack up the bikes.
 
After a fine dinner this eve, Ian is driving us and our gear back to Edinburgh tomorrow.  We be stopping at St Andrew's on the way back and drop off Ian's brother Allan at his home.  What a great ride through the Highlands it has been!
 
 

Lochinver to Ullapool - Day 5 - 30 miles

The breakfast crowd is waking up and excited about the fact that it is a 30 mile day and the Scottish mist is settling in.  No one is concerned about the 15% grade starting 1 minute after leaving the B&B.  :>)
 
Beth and Randy are ready for the road having forgotten about the climb.
 
Just after the climb we are treated to a scenic drive around the loch inver.
 
Enjoying the quiet.
 
Don is skirting loch inver about to head into the valley.
 
Another view of the road less traveled.
 
A meditative view.

A smoking downhill into another valley. 
 
And the road rolls on carrying the bikes with it.
 
What is this?  An edible mushroom?
 
Don ate the mushroom.  Don is no more... R.I.P. 
 
Alas, as the story goes, Don rises 3 minutes later and is now ecstatic over the possibility of seeing Highland Coos.
 
 
A bicycle road of the highest caliber.
 
At the same time, Sue and Ian are exploring a different road less traveled.
 
And soon they discovered a fix er up castle.
 
Ian has found his castle and taken ownership.  We'll be staying here tonight!  :>)
 
We arrive at the rest stop to break Jaffa Cakes together just before another climb on the way to Ullapool.
 
Beth cranking to Ullapool.
 
Overlooking Ullapool.
 
Don coming into Ullapool looking for the next right.
 
Arriving at our B&B.
 
Niven, our B&B host, regaling us with stories of yore.
 
A local grocery based on the honor system.
 
Ullapool's Lochbroom with a lovely anchorage.
 
And ending the day with scrumptious dinner at the Arch Inn.