Faded glory

the impossibility of being human
all too human
this breathing
in and out
out and in
these punks
these cowards
these champions
these mad dogs of glory

A half day at work and a wet, windy ride back. Then a trip to Peebles to sign over #3 in Tarbert - one of my poorer financial decisions now behind me.

We get caught in the usual Edinburgh bypass/bridge snarl-up, but break free and get to a damp, dreary Perth rail station where we will meet Megan.

The sprawling glories of the Station Hotel are faded and tarnished. Worn carpets, dissonant decor, odeur d’ancien. The bar is out of cider and there is no real beer. Claire orders a Hendrick’s - “Sorry, we don’t have any fruit” says the barkeep.

Picking up a sneaky pizza from Best Kebab, it’s onto the A9. Average speed cameras temper Claire’s impatience (just) until we pull off at Inverness. We swap and I take us down the west side of Loch Ness and into Glen Affric. The Airbnb is slightly elusive, but once found is cosy enough.

Tomorrow: Storm Callum