The Funicular Up Train

Miracles might just happen weather wise, and a mini heatwave could arrive before we leave.
Certainly today has been a precursor of what we might expect, with t-shirt weather, blue skies and no wind. Just what the doctor ordered!

A cycle into the village for the papers at 8 o'clock..... no early morning hopping out of bed today, followed by a leisurely breakfast before driving up to Cairngorm for a trip on the funicular railway.
It was suggested that we hike up and train down, but it remained a suggestion and we did the pensioner thing of letting the wheels take the strain. We were not alone as a 'Hills and Glens' bus of elderly tourists arrived at the same time making us feel relatively spritely.

The views were panoramic over to Loch Morlich, Aviemore and beyond and there was still the possibility of skiing on the mountain, but it was a do it yourself climb up as the tow machines were only working at the weekend.
A Cairngorm hot chocolate with view thrown in, a stand in the queue to get to the front of the down train so that we could admire the view and we were decanted back at the car park.

Having felt a trifle guilty at our laziness, we then climbed the path up to the midway station and watched the nearby stream tumbling its way down hill fed by the remaining deep snow at the side.

Then it was down the road to Loch Morlich and a sit by the water's edge making friends with a drake and his wife who didn't seem to be much bothered by the cameras.
It was still and peaceful and only the voices of the canoeists from Glen More carrying across the water broke the silence. The views of Cairngorm and the Cairngorm plateau snow covered, made a spectacular back drop to the dark forest and water beneath.

Back to Aviemore for a cake in the Mountain Cafe and no doggy bags today as we managed to eat every thing. The day of reckoning is waiting as always.

Having taken so many photographs, it was hard to decide on one which illustrates the day, but on advice from his Lordship, I have posted the funicular up train having just passed the midway station when the one line from the base station separates to become two.