While Mary was at the coal ( cot ) face in Inverness, I had 2 days on the golf course at Muirfield with old buddies, Andrew L , John H and Pierre B. Courtesy of superb hospitality from Christian and Johnny in Direlton. They held a lovely dinner party for me inviting old chums Alan H , KCW and the Scotts.
Night with Spencer and Gail in Edinburgh, the Evans' at Raemore for coffeee the next day , sister Ros for lunch in Perth and up to Overton Avenue , Inverness for supper . Thereafter , a great 10 days making acquaintance with Elin and renewing it ( slowish process at the start ! ) with Anna. Gorgeous - both of them.
A day in the middle with Johannes on the two remotest ( about the most remote of all of them ) of the 6 Munros outstanding for me. Major milestone !
M went off to Asheville 5 days ahead of me leaving me to try to fill very large shoes in the Petersen household. Not for me to judge how successfully, but it was a lot of fun.
Harder trip than most , back to US . Asheville , NC , via Chicago where I had a two hour line to the immigration desk before queuing again for baggage and again to go back through security. A 4 hour layover and I need almost all of it.
Snowmass colours superb on return , but still huge snow cover on the mountain. Busy, busy, busy clearing decks, storing ski gear and getting out the bikes, gardening , etc, etc. Very rewarding though.
Off to Oregon via Yosemite tomorrow - May 16.
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| Christian . Green fingers. I remember her mother Evelyn having the same ! |
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| Christian and Johnny, my hosts in their beautiful Direlton home |
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| Sheila taking time off lambing and her huge "hospital" unit |
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| postman Pat at Raemore , Auchtermuchty |
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| the view over the lower fields of Raemore from the new house they've built , John having moved into the farmhouse enabling Richard and Sheila to come and ski with us EVERY year !!! |
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| This little train is operational. believe it or not. Waiting on departure ... |
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| 3 generations |
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| Elin and Anna |
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| Johannes at start of our epic day on "Cheesecake" and Lurg Mhor |
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| the long ride in |
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| Summit of Lurg Mhor |
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| Looking up to Bidean a' Choire Sheasgaich |
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| Maenwhile , back at the "ranch "...... |
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| What a duo . Anna singing away to herself or just chattering happily until Grandad took a wrong turn |
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| A walk right from the house above them. Anna made it the whole way to the top and most of the way down |
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| At the point where the Caledonian Canal meets the Beauly Firth |
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| Anna and I made friends with the single sailor on this trans Atlantic sailing boat traveling towards Loch Ness and got invited aboard - very exciting - for me anyway. Anna unimpressed. |
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| the dream baby - so far ! |
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| Johannes cooked this superb Sunday roast with Yorkshire pudding for my " last supper/lunch" |
