Sun Up and Down !

Thursday 7th October 2010

The day of my cousin Maureen’s funeral,who had gone to join Susan on the 22nd Anniversary of our first meeting…..Rest in Peace

So what else could there be but a brilliant sunrise over the North East of Britain..and Welcome to a new day !!

I left Thurso on what looked to be a lovely day, and not wishing to waste it drove off..firstly passing Dounreay Nuclear Reactor, and then ‘Farr Point’,stopping briefly at Bettyhill, looking back inland to the mountains, with the sea behind me.

As I drove along the coast, the beaches and bays became more and more sandy, and lighter, then turning golden and red, and rocks had been ground down to form the sand again..I then landed at Smoo Cave, which I had previously visited with Susan – it hadn’t changed much, although tourism seemed to have arrived with guided tours available – closed !

This was a giant sea cave, which had also had a river flowing over the cliffs into it, which had eventually crashed through the roof, forming a great ‘blow hole’..

and on from there to Durness, where I visited the John Lennon Memorial Garden – 2 days from his 70th birthday !

Imagine !

I then went down into Durness Bay, and sampled the cold Atlantic Water, brrrrr…looking towards America.

and as usual found a few Rocks to clamber up and over ! As I continued along the coast passing lots of old Military installations, a German warship passed by ! along with several jets which keep buzzing overhead

As I then drove towards Cape Wrath (no ferry) I then turned left, and inland and started my way South, in wonderful warm sunshine, although still breezy. I didn’t want to waste the opportunity to see all the sights in clear weather, and so continued..down South through the ‘flow country’ where Rocks,peat bogs and Lochs abound, a wonderful sight.

As I reached Ardmore Point,again back on the coast I tried to find somewhere to stay..all closed ! and ‘No overnight parking’ signs everywhere…I then drove down to Tarbet, across from Handa island, a bird Reserve, where there was a lovely Harbour area,and I viewed the sun going down in the West of Britain, so there…I had watched the sun come up in the east, and go down in the West ! a Solar circumnavigation !and sunset over the Summer Isles…phew, must find a place to stop ! which I soon managed, in a small copse, looking down over a Loch, and listening to the Roar of the deer stags over the hills !

and later, to finish Stargazing...with 2 shooting stars flying down from above - wonder who sent those ?? Goodnight