By the pond......

Another beautiful day, very warm and sunny.

Our hotel is very nice, and the food is lovely, which always makes such a difference. After a very nice house breakfast, we walked up into the town. Grantown on Spey is a lovely wee town, and it is busy with tourists today. We wandered around for a bit, then had a walk up the hill to the viewpoint of the town, where we could look out over to the Cairngorm mountains. It was very hot for walking, so we just took our time, and enjoyed the countryside. Lots of wild flowers out, and I enjoyed taking photos.

Back down in the town we had a light lunch, and then settled down on a park bench with some drinks and the papers for an hour or so. Retirement allows time for frivolous living!!!!

Decided to walk along the River Spey, which was really nice and we were in the forest at times too. However, we felt the need of a ride in the airconditioning of the car, so we drove over the hill road to Tomintoul. No snow today, although this road is blocked many times in the wintertime. Tomintoul is a typical Scots village, the highest village in the Highlands, and like Grantown, was packed with tourists. Scotland is busy just now, and our weather is giving everyone such a good impression. Lots of foreigners, and a huge number of Germans, there is a big party of Germans in our hotel, and they are really enjoying their holiday.

Back to the hotel in time for a shower and then dinner. Afterwards we sat out in the gardens beside the pond, watching the birds coming down to drink, and even having a wee drink ourselves. Lots of guests were doing the same thing, and it was nice to talk.