Pub of the Year?

A super drive home today, via Inverary (by accident), the northern end of Loch Lomond,  Crianlarich, Loch Earn and Perth. Fantastic drive, the ‘favourites’ playlist on, and the weather brightening all the way.

But actually, the accidental route via Loch Lomond was a bonus. There’s a wonderful park by the Loch where tour boats leave from. We’ve stopped there before (one time with Archie). There was a wee shed serving coffees. I saw that the young chap had different sizes of paper cups. I asked what he served flat whites in, and he pointed to the correct small cup, and indeed, he did an excellent one. We sat by the Loch and watched some daft folk paddling and taking silly photos. 

Further on we came to a famous pub that we visited many years ago with Kiwi friends. We were quite shocked then, as it was, er, quite unusual. I don’t think they’d seen a duster for years. It was jammed full of STUFF - a stuffed bear in the foyer, swords, old paintings, TWO huge log fires, one at each end (they just had one on today, it being summer). The staff wear kilts, and multiple tattoos seem to be the order of the day. Mind you, I loved the teeshirts, with the legend -

‘The Pub of the Year, 1705’ on the back. 

The playlist was loud and eclectic and included Runrig and an Andy Stewart classic - ‘Cambeltown Loch’. For once I didn’t complain, though two ladies moved to another room with no muzak.

As we drove on through the wonderful scenery, the sun came out in force. And we finally saw a heilan’ coo that we could stop to take a photo of. And to sit on...

What a great time we had. I had a super 70th birthday. Just as memorable as The Rocky Mountaineer. 

And tomorrow our birthday presents arrive...

Extra: He’d been out with Elizabeth for most of the day, and he gave us his usual low-key welcome...