Today
we were introduced to the Scottish Midgies – nasty pesky, little (as in minute)
critters. Aha, but we were
prepared!! Doug yesterday had bought a
bottle of the necessary deterrent but even though we didn’t linger in the
places they were…..usually about water, and let me tell you there is water everywhere
that we travelled too.
Breakfast
at our Bnb proved interesting……we always have a chat to whoever happens to be
in the breakfast room. This morning
there was a young couple (well a man and lady, cyclists by their lycra). Chatted about NZ and about what they were
doing biking around Scotland etc. He
said he had biked all around Great Brittan and would like to do it in NZ. Before that he was very interested in Sir
Edmond Hilary and asked many questions.
Finally I asked his name – James Ketchell, which didn’t really mean much
to me, his companion suggested l I goggled him and OMG, he has climbed Mt
Everest, rowed across oceans, biked here there and everywhere plus many other
achievements. He was so modest and
friendly. I’m now one (of many) of his Facebook
friends which he did at breakfast. I
will follow him with great interest.
Any
rate, I digress…..we set off for Duress and the Mountain Chocolate factory
& café – James recommended we go there and had showed us the hot chocolate
photo on his phone. Delicious is an
understatement. We had to by chocolate too.
The
roads were very narrow, with passing bays along the way. We meandered through valleys, over moors,
very remote country. Both Doug & I
loved the sparse landscapes of high mountains, rocky outcrops, heather and
bracken which are starting to turn to a burnt bronze colour. Tarns, lochs, inlets, oceans, streams
occasionally, lots of sheep on the roads which didn’t take any notice of us,
the sleep anywhere they please, the motorist just go around them …..we oooed
and arrred our way all the way to Ullapool.
Such a pretty wee town, we sat outside for a late lunch. Lots of people about, the harbour/bay were
looking a picture with boats, reflections and birds.
The
weather was average, but generally OK – I guess with the almost four hours of
travelling (yes many stops to satisfy my photography needs) there would have
been maybe an hour where there was really low cloud and sometimes light
rain. But by the time we were coming
into Ullapool the clouds were lifting much to my relief.
We
drove on, destination Gairloch – around peninsulars, pretty bays, over hills,
more pretty villages, more water (both sea and lochs or tarns). Arrived and found ourselves a super smart and
quite new BnB up a hill overlooking the Gairloch Bay. Weather is cloudy and forecast is for rain
overnight.
We
have skipped dinner!
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