Tuesday
The road south last year was wet, but still the Braemar road was one of my favourites - the second half downhill but great driving. This year - not only clear weather but hot too.
Day 4 - AM - Cairngorms & deserted Ski resorts
First stage along the coast to Elgin, slow and tedious as we hit traffic on the main road left me at least keen to get onto open road again.
After Elgin, the turn inland through now tree lined roads and stop at the Glenfiddich distillery; For a moment the convoy of cars parking up became the main attraction with the arriving coach parties and tourists..
Time for a quiet pot of tea...
I think Whisky distilleries smell of Christmas cake - I'm not a whisky drinker - but that mixture of alcohol, fruit and deep woody smells is fantastic.
Heading south, now the more interesting roads - faster main routes but mostly empty except for us and back into awesome scenery - snow covered peaks in the distance, not as dramatically high as the west coast - but instead wide open vistas and space...
The group split up now, stopping variously to soak up the views, overtake each other and try to capture the feeling on film; passing through the Lecht Ski Centre.
I found an amazing stop; must have stayed here for 20 minutes or more, quiet, only perhaps one or two cars passing from the south...
The panorama starts to give a feel of this place... cold from the altitude - but blue sky and red heather for ever, I think this was my favourite place on the whole trip.
Everyone met again at the fuel stop; The early arrivals having lunched; A pause for repairs - I think Simon had his front wing welded here & Andrew needed to adjust rear brakes. When we did move off this was the last to be seen of the Scottish contingent. At the end of the days run they headed home (save Andy came back to Dunfermline in the morning to see us off)
I picked up some packed lunch and sought out a likely spot where the old Braemar road runs next to the new... T shirt weather now, waved past Keith, Dan & David en route south.
The new Braemar road can be seen on the hillside to the left, the lay-by I found for lunch overlooking a stream and looks like it was part of the previous road.
Day 4 - PM - Lowlands into Dunfermline
We were more split up now, Keith, Dan etc re met on the route south for lunch & I re-passed David parked up. We had agreed to meet back at Dunfermline around 7.30pm.
I drove the planned (and set into my satnav) roads Pitlochry, Aberfeldy, Creif & Muckhart. Enjoyable roads with natural pauses in the towns to slow down & receive a few waves form parents & kids coming out of school.
Somewhere on the Pitlochry road I stopped for a photo - more relaxed driving - flatter country, but still huge vistas and clear skies.
The remainder of the group, Me, Dan, Keith, Terry, David, Paul, Simon and Andrew met at Dunfermline Premier Inn; The last real night - so a few more drinks to facilitate the conversation. & toast the journey. The return to reliable wireless connectivity also meant catching up with Facebook and various messages/confirmation from the Scots who were now safely home.
A very different day from the northward west coast or Skye roads; but great runs none the less; still an opportunity to get the best from the car when the mood took.
(Maps are not entirely acurate due to blogger/google maps embedding, some pictures courtesy other members of the trip)
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