Braving the Wind

So it's goodbye to Sandend this morning and a slow journey back home via Aviemore and Pitlochry with a break at House of Bruar to rub shoulders with the county set.

It's been a short week, but a welcome break by the sea with the beauty of its weather dependent moods.

Our cycling has been somewhat curtailed by the strong winds, but we have scored on the cafe front in Fordyce and found wonderful ice cream and oatcakes in Portsoy, not to mention kippers in Sandend.

We have been blown and buffeted about at harbours and beaches and loved the seascapes and the inland fields of harvested crops glowing yellow in the sunlight, and the endless thundering past of lorries piled high with bales of silage.

On the downside, when we visited Elgin, the Grandtwins were not in a talkative mood and definitely camera phobic, but it was nice to see their school and walk home with them. Maybe when they come down to Edinburgh next month, I won't seem to be the Granny they feel like shoving off a bus.

This is a beautiful part of Scotland with acres of arable fields and woods. bounded by a rocky shoreline with beautiful sandy bays.
The roads outwith the main ones are quiet and undulating and perfect for cycling while the sea is available for wind surfing and canoeing.

I hope we will return soon.