Inverness - part 2

 A hugely successful trip with a day visit to Edinburgh in the middle . Also a day with Ros and Brodie at Brodie Castle!

Had Anna and Elin on our own for 24 hours taking in a train trip to Nairn to meet Jean and Chris . A cold swim in the North see to boot with J , J and my nephew Tim. Keeping up the family tradition .

Inverness- part 1

 We had a horrific journey from SSI to Edinburgh via Jacksonville, Denver, Dallas , London Heathrow ! Covid forms uncompleted, test results expired , missed flights, you name it. Finally getting left behind on the platform at Perth station! Big relief therefore to the lovely smiling face of Jane and car at Inverness station carpark. Glorious days with the kids followed , and of course our newly acquired house at 5 Balnafettack Place. 

Final visit to SSI

 We thought this might turn out to be the last of so, so many trips to see Betty in Asheville and latterly on St Simon’s Island. Although Mary tried to speak to her on the phone every single day, we know how how much these visits meant to her and this last sad visit was no exception. We took her out for lunch on each of our 6 days there and on most of them she was able to communicate well with us. Here she is listening to a little piano solo her great grandson Oliver recorded for her and sent on line. 

Two days after we left she was admitted to a hospice and never left it dying 10 days or so later Janie taking up an almost permanent spot at her bedside.

We plan on a memorial service in Braemar in August 2022 when the family will be gathering anyway following the final Munro party.

Penultimate visit to St Simon’s Island

 At 99 we knew that Betty’s days were seriously numbered , so it was a joy to spend 5 days taking her out to lunch on each one of them and having some very special time together . 

Note the most recently towed section of the Golden Ray with a few of the mangled 4,000 Hyundai cars in Brunswick.

Also a good visit to stay with Martha S in Atlanta and a memorable visit to the Civil War museum and also seeing Janie & Tim’s newly built house in the spectacular location of Ellijay, GA. No pics . I don’t know why not . I took masses of her spectacular house and garden.

Mountain biking with Lee

 Lee Miller was back in town for a few days from Hawaii, so we hooked up with him for a few concert rehearsals in the Tent and a bike ride up Viewline and down Airline to Victoria’s for coffee. Brilliant .

Cycle tour to Marble

 Dave Lyons Tucker Carlson and I had planned this for sometime. It was going to be a training trip for last year’s Trans Am that was postponed. Dave was responsible for my new Shirley.

We agreed to meet at the Village Smithy with Mary and I having had breakfast before setting off through Carbondale and up to Marble. Mary set off on her bike back to Snowmass having had a very good breakfast with me and the three of us headed in the opposite direction.

Beautiful ride up the Crystal River Highway 133 and then to Marble where we camped for the night after a very good barbecue dinner at the local restaurant.

It was cold and we were up early. Set off back to Carbondale with a very good breakfast at the Redstone Inn on the way. And then back to Snowmass on the Rio Grande trail although I cheated by having Mary pick me up at the intercept Lot at the bottom of brush Creek Road.

Sun River Resort, OR

 Mary and I drove up to Bend Oregon from our Grand Canyon trip and met Duncan and Katie Oliver and Maggie at the Sun River resort 10 miles or so south of Bend Oregon. We took an Airbnb house there for four days and had an action packed holiday with the family.

North Rim of Grand Canyon

 A phenomenal four day cycle during trip with rim Tours out of Moab. Full description and pics on my crazyguy site 

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/23678