From Thurso to Aberdeen (via Rodin!)

We left the excellent holiday house in Thurso just after 0800 to walk to the station for the 0834 train to Inverness.

A four hour journey stretched ahead of us like an HD travelogue. Buzzards, kites, deer, lapwings, curlews and Canada geese, startled by the two-carriage train’s approach, exploding from the fields in a feathered whirl of black and white.

The Flow country in bright early autumn sunshine was an inspirational sight.

The “Regal Princess” cruise ship with a capacity of 3560 passengers dwarfed everything in Invergordon. One can only imagine what Admiral Lord Jellicoe would have made of this giant of the oceans. (I do know what Blipper Lady Findhorn thinks about this as the next port of call is Kirkwall tomorrow. And I agree with her!)

We had a very tight connection for the Aberdeen train at Inverness but we made it. The run through the lush arable farm lands of Aberdeenshire was yet another visual treat enhanced by the bright sunshine.

We arrived in Aberdeen, on time, just before 1500. We headed straight to the recently refurbished Aberdeen Art Gallery. It was a cleverly reworked exhibition space that contained some very famous works of art. We were surprised at how few people were taking advantage of this free city centre attraction. I highly commend it.

The sun dipping in the west dazzled us as we walked along Union Street towards our hotel. The equinoxal rays were sparkling off the grey granite walls of this northerly metropolis.

Fresh fish and chips for supper, recently landed at Peterhead. Nothing better!