A Cairn on the Shore

The omen for today was good - a strong rainbow in a perfect arc stretching from Aviemore to Dulnain Bridge- as we drove from Boat of Garten up to Elgin to visit our 4 year old grandchildren.

We left behind a light drizzle and found sun and blue skies in Moray. The trees were even more beautiful than in Speyside, beech trees in a hue of gold and amber light and larch in shimmering golden yellow.

After the obligatory coffee at Johnstones wool mill we walked in to the town centre to buy sandwiches, and almost bumped into Princess Anne who had arrived with little razamataz to inaugurate some murals on a passageway. Apart from the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Moray in uniform with sword and spurs and the Lord Provost wearing his chain of office, it was business as usual for other passing traffic or shoppers. Slightly different from the palaver there would have been in Edinburgh.

While his Lordship read his paper and pursued his own ploys, son#1 and I took the twins to Cummingston on the coast near Hopeman where they were eager to show me their rock climbing skills,( safely held on the end of a rope at the foot by their dad), while I was eager to show how rubbish I am at skipping nimbly over sea soaked boulders slippery with algae.

On the shore I met a German artist, Dietmar Voorwold who makes creations in nature and whose little cairn of granite stones I have used as my blip. We exchanged business cards, so to speak, so maybe he will have a look at Blipfoto.

And so back to Boat of Garten via Forres and Loch- in -Dorb to sample an Aviemore fish supper. Oh, the decadence but oh the enjoyment!