Granny Eye was on great from when we visited her for a week in Asheville. Also managed another epic meeting for lunch with Martha and Dick in the delightful old town of Greenville SC . We so appreciated M & D driving up from Atlanta. A much longer drive for them than for us from Asheville.
Mary , Dick and Martha
The highlight of the flight from Asheville to Edinburgh via Chicago and Newark was a lunch in downtown Manhattan with Carolyn during the long layover at Newark.Fun, fun, fun to catch up.
Mary and Karalyn
In Edinburgh we hit the ground running. Checked in to our one bedroom ( and pretty basic ) flat in St Stephens St, a sleep for a couple of hours and then Barbara kindly braved the traffic and the M8 to get me to Purdies to retrieve stuff from storage. With help from Johannes the next day we managed to clear it completely. Big relief. Then to recover our transport for the week - our bikes from the bike store at Jane's Appin St flat - and we were in business. A full week's activities from there on in per pics beneath.
Max, Keith and Stu at Muirfield
Annabel at Hopetoun Garden Centre
The statue of Greyfriars Bobby and the pub behind it where Mary and I first met in 1972
With Keith and Fiona on Craighouse Hill
Jane B was a star in helping us on last day to transport all our luggage to Waverley station ( while we biked with full panniers ) from Stockbridge to station and then helping us to load the lot on to the 10.30 train to Inverness. Met there by Johannes who was on the platform there to rescue us. Biked up to their delightful bungalow on Croft Rd on other side of the Caledonian canal with stunning views down the Moray Firth.
Enjoyed greatly seeing Jane's set up at Maggie's Center at Raigmore where she's settling into her new job.
A good bike ride to Nairn on the Saturday via the very impressive NTS Culloden, and train back to Inverness.
To Skye with J & J on Monday after work for Jane and straight to The Old Inn at Carbost after taking in a delicious fish supper at Broadford on the way. Carbost is home to the famous Talisker malt whisky and we were quick to sample it.
Tuesday dawned fine - a rare event in Skye. The girls had a bike ride out to Talisker Bay and beyond and J and I headed for Glenbrittle. Managed all 4 of the southmost Munros on the Cuillin Ridge with much encouraging , cajoling , hauling (literally) over some prerry perilous country incl the TD gap abseil.
Following day , weather was horrific. J and I were successful though in getting to top of Sgurr nan Gillian. M played in session in hotel bar in evening and got a fiddling lesson from Laura the next morning before we set off for Inverness.
Back to Edin airport next day via Findrack and Breamar. Good catch up with Salvesens and Astrid. 5.30 flight to Shannon , hired a car and with Meghan in time for late dinner. Kids asleep , but a lovely welcome from them the next morning. Thereafter , with m & d both working, the pattern is for us to have them all morning handing over to their carer Claire after lunch. D' s vet practice in Ennis still set for opening July 1.
No comments:
Post a Comment