Fiddles on Deeside

Tuesday 21st September 2010 It’s been an exciting day, as the culmination of my book - The Holy Assassin - nears…I spent a fair bit of time reading, walked around the forest for a few hours, getting different views of Deeside, and back to Wally to finish it ! And now…off to the Pub for a traditional music night…before moving on tomorrow, back to the coast.

Tramping the Heather

Monday 20th September 2010 Rather than moving on, as I intended, I decided to stay at Tarland for another couple of days, even the wet weather hadn’t quite put me off it completely, and I thought ‘at least I’m comfortable here, and it’s reasonably cheap ! So, Monday morning, although cloudy looked reasonable, and so I set off from the campsite late morning, following a circular route from the village centre, titled ‘The Skyline Traverse’, shown as a Hard route, taking five hours..or more. I then followed a marked trail out of the village, along various tracks and forest roads, before losing the marked way completely, and making my own way, up to the distant skyline, above Tarland, and to the top of Pittenderich,509 mts, en route finding a cosy little grouse shooting cabin for lunch stop, and going a bit further than intended..but eventually rejoining the marked way, along the top of the hill, looking down across Deeside and Tarland below. The rain came and went, but not much, and it was a quite blustery, pleasant Ramble… and back to Wally for hot shower, and Chilli Con Carne ! Luvverly Happy Birthday Wayne !

Rainy Days…and Sundays, always get me down !

Sunday 19th September 2010

Well, the song says it all…it bucketed down with rain all night, everywhere was flooded…and the rain continued all (almost) of Sunday… I had managed to dash out and get the Sunday papers..and my previous stocking up of grub allowed me to have sausage and egg breakfast/brunch.. And not much else… Hoping for better weather tomorrow..

My Ray of Sunshine !

Saturday 18th September 2010 I awoke to the sound of gentle rain falling, and so, having an aversion to getting too wet, decided to wait until the weather improved…which it surely would ! So, I spent the morning reading my book, eating and generally doing little…then I felt a gradual lifting of the rain, and so, sorted myself and set off on the Mountain bike…for what I was told was a good ride, although long… I was to travel 8 miles along back roads,and an old railway line to Ballater, from where I would follow road and tracks up Glen Muick, to the foot of Lochnagar, the famous mountain, which is always described as a ‘black brooding mountain’ (I should have realised…),travel around the head of the Loch, and down the other side of the Glen on dirt roads, back to Ballater, a total of 16 miles, and then back to my campsite…a planned epic of 32 miles ! As I set off on the ride, I had, fortunately decided to wear my ‘winter gear’, a decision I was not to regret…the rain continued, and rather than getting dryer, it was actually getting worse…but carry on I did ! As I reached the old ‘AA’ call box, at the Cambus O’May, I was able to go onto the old railway line into Ballater, alongside the River.. which although pleasant, was extremely muddy and wet, so by the time I reached Ballater, I was already sopping wet, and covered in mud.. and my real ride hadn’t even started ! I did consider (for half a second) whether to continue, but thought ‘I’m wet now, may as well carry on‘, which is what I did, up along Glen Muick, towards the ever brooding presence of Lochnagar.. As I neared the end of the Glen, and my return point, I must confess I was slightly cold, and feeling sorry for myself, as the rain had carried on remorselessly ,accompanying me on my journey! So what do you do ? I sought the help of ‘you know who’, and asked for a bit of respite…Lo and behold, within minutes, the rain stopped, I saw blue sky, and I was bathed in warm sunshine ! (Thanks, I can say no more !). I stopped and rested in the sunshine, not believing my luck…and had something to eat, looking up at ‘dark Lochnagar’ and remembering previous climbs we had done there, always it seemed on dark brooding, and cold days! I then returned along the other side of the Glen, along dirt tracks, swooping and shouting as I went, through the puddles and towards the dark clouds ahead, and more, heavier rain, who cared ? I had had a bit of sun to warm me up, I didn’t care…and rode all the way back to the campsite.. Happy, wet and muddy ..and finished the day off under the wather top to wash the mud off, before going under the hot showers fully clothed !- a bad habit I know, but it cleaned me and my clothing..! I celebrated that night with a meal out at the Commercial Hotel in the village, a reasonable meal, but the Restaurant was virtually empty, probably to do with the heavy rain….

That’s More Like it !

Friday 17th September 2010 The wind was still blowing strong, as the sea was being whipped up in big sea horses, as I packed up and left Stonehaven… For travels inland into Deeside, home of the Royals. I went to Banchory, Aboyne, and lots of places in between visiting more of the NEOS exhibits. Mid afternoon I arrived in my campsite for the next three days - Tarland, on Royal Deeside, a camping and caravanning site…costing the princely sum of £24-59 for 3 nights - Great ! Although a bit damp, seems like a pleasant enough site, and as it’s CCC should be quite clean !

Blown Away !

Thursday 16th September 2010.

Although a poor forecast for the day, I awoke to again brilliant sunshine, although as I was getting used to, lots of gusts of wind ! I set off early morning to another exhibition, this time being a glass maker http://www.lindsaydesigns.co.uk/ who’s work was quite different, although tempted, I again didn’t part with any more money ! I returned to town, and after being interrogated for my identity, was able to use the t’internet at the Library ! After lunch , I set off North of the town along the coast, to Carron point, the exact location of the highland fault, where in the area lots of fossils had been found, although none by me ! And lot’s of great rock/cliff features, ignoring all the warning signs, I climbed everything I could, examining rocks that I had no idea how they came to be there -- must find a ‘geologist’ to tell me ! Then a return to the campsite, via ‘The bay’ chippy, best in town, and a Scottish Fish supper for £5-50, and well worth it. As I returned to ‘Wally’ a brilliant ‘red sunset’ was developing…along with very windy conditions… All night the wind blew harder and harder, but I managed to ignore it…and sleep! On the day the Pope decided to start his visit in the Country where I was - Scotland - Welcome !

A Night with a Bird !?

Wednesday 15th September 2010

Having set off from the camp site fairly early, I retraced my steps to the south of St Cyrus, to the Nature reserve, and had a wander around the trail around the reserve, and also out onto glorious sandy beaches, stretching for miles, on a lovely sunny morning, although again quite ‘breezy’, but my recent investment in a lightweight ‘wind shirt’ was paying dividends, keeping out the wind…. There were several unusual features on the reserve, including the Lifeboat house, which was about ½ mile form the sea, with no access to it ( answers on a postcard!)…and the ice house, now turned into a dwelling. I then travelled up the coast to Stonehaven, where I booked onto the only site in town, again next to the beach. £16 a night, and 2% extra to pay by credit card ( I used switch!) - although its only £9-50 for over 60’s, age discrimination ! The site although well placed, was slightly bare, and frankly, dirty!, but needs must!. I had a wander round the town, helped by a very nice lady at the Tourist Information, again taking in a couple of Art exhibitions (but buying nowt!)…and retired for an early night. Around 4 a.m. I was awoken to what I thought was a bird on the roof of ‘Wally’, which seemed to be taking off and landing, and I couldn’t decide whether to get up and frighten it away - however, thankfully I didn’t wander outside like a madman - I realised it was the marker board on my bikes, banging in the wind !…ah well, back to sleep.

Jotown the Art Collector

Tuesday 14th September 2010

Up bright and early, and although ‘breezy’ I decided to walk along the coastline, to the nearby village of Johnshaven. It was a pleasant enough walk, and as I wandered around Johnshaven, I discovered that there were a number of artists, either permanent, or temporary, who had set up exhibitions, under the ambit of ‘NEOS’ North East Open Studios. This was set up all over the North East of Scotland,with a comprehensive brochure, and map detailing all the Studios, and exhibitions. Thank you Kate McKenzie at http://www.starfishstudio.co.uk/ for the information and guide. So, as a real ‘art conneiseur’ I wandered around impressing them with my knowledge of what makes good art - ‘I’ll know it when I see it !’, and a purchase of an impressive ‘egg cup’ for £5, should send them all running to the bank !. I then walked back to the campsite, where I invested in an expensive £1 shower -although I got my full 8 minutes worth!

On the Road along the Sea

Monday 13th September 2010

Travelled from St Andrews, after first stopping at Morrisons, for a ‘big shop’ - all £64 worth !, Up the coast, passing Leuchars, through Dundee, Montrose, Arbroath, and eventually settling at a site called Milton Haven, just North of St Cyrus, where there is a large Bird Sanctuary (the feathered kind!). I must say costs have risen dramatically - although I was parked right next to the pebbly/stony ‘beach’ with a view out onto the sea, £17 a night (and extra £1 for a shower) was, too me a boit extravagant ! Anyway that was where I stopped …had a wander along the coast towards St Cyrus, but the path was blocked by the sea ! And settled down to watch the sunset over the sea, although it wasn’t very dramatic, or red .