Holidays! Day One

We were packed up and ready for off as soon as Robert had taken Archie out for a walk, and Christine had arrived with her bags to look after him. Bikes in the car! Small suitcases also squashed in. We don’t need much luggage. Well, JR had four pairs of shoes.

We had a lovely drive up to Aberdeenshire. It was a sunny day, and it’s glorious countryside. No wonder the Queen loves it up this way. We had hoped the heather was still bloomin’ - and it sort of still is, though not quite as bloomin’ as perhaps a week ago.  

We stopped off in Braemar to see the wee railway station, which has been renovated after the fire a decade or so ago. Wrong town (they all begin with B up here). The renovated station that Queen Victoria frequented is not there, it’s in Ballater...

We carried on to Ballater - they’re all such tidy wee villages. Not a discarded surgical mask was seen. But the renovated Victorian Station is still shut, due to Covid-19. But the cycle path on the old railway line was pointed out us. A possibility...

Onwards to our destination, Banchory. The hotel is right by the river, and is very nice. We have checked out a possible bike ride for tomorrow. We’ve had a wander down by the river, and a glass of wine out on the terrace. We had dinner with a view of the river. And NO piped Muzak. Bliss. A very nice meal was had - I had my favourite - fish and chips. And I had nine neatly stacked, and scrumptiously big fat chips.

Christine has texted us frequently. She and Archie went for a 5k walk in the afternoon. And he ate all his tea!