I've just been away for the weekend in Glasgow. It was lovely to be able to drive down for the weekend without worrying about hospital visits. I stayed with my pal, Anna. We had planned quite a few things including the Glasgow Contemporary Arts Fair where friends were exhibiting. Sunday was an afternoon Rachmaninov Concert at City Halls which is a delightful concert venue. On Monday I drove home via Ullapool and Anna came as far as Dunkeld before getting the train back for a lunch in Glasgow.
I'm finding that the 500 mile rounds trip plus the ferry seems to get shorter every time I do it.
We had an early evening meal out at a favourite Italian restaurant near the City Halls. When we arrived home we decided to go for a walk along the Forth and Clyde canal near Anna's home.
Through the Highlands there were quite a few hold-ups for road repairs after the severe winter. As I was sitting in the car on the moors perhaps 20 miles before Ullapool on the way home I couldn't help thinking that if I had to sit in a traffic hold-up this was as good a place as any to do it.
You saw some great scenery on your wee jaunt!
ReplyDeleteI did indeed, Red.
DeleteYou got some good photos of some lovely scenery!
ReplyDeleteAmy, there's a lot of good scenery to choose from.
DeleteLove that view while you were stuck in traffic. It confused me but just for a minute, since I know that your driver side is on the right side of the car. (As many years as I have been to England, I sometimes try to get into the car on the right side and my father-in-law patiently waits for me to correct myself!)
ReplyDeleteKay, one of the things about living in New Zealand and the UK is that both drive on the same side of the road.
DeleteThere is, of course, great beauty in stark mountainous landscape, but I much prefer the leafy edged river.
ReplyDeleteCro, I love both but if I'm going for a walk I'll take the river every time.
DeleteSounds like a well balanced weekend, with a walk in green surroundings after a day/evening in the city.
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean about the round trip feeling shorter! It is the same for my trip to and from O.K.'s. I've done it so often now, I don't even think about the 2 hours each way any more - only when the trains act up and I miss my connection, which has not happened in months.
There are definitely worse places to be held up at than where you took that last photo!
Meike, 'a well balanced weekend' is a very good way of defining how I felt about it.
DeleteI suppose good weather helps a bit too when it comes to driving (and ferrying) long distances. (I guess it perhaps works the other way round too, though - I've been doing so little travelling in later years that even short distances often seem long to me now...)
ReplyDeleteThe first photo sort of looks to me like "Nessie" coming up on the shore to admire her own reflection in the water :) ... Love it!
Oh, that's right, Monica! A skinny relative of Nessie's, it seems :-)
DeleteI can see that too, Monica, now that you have pointed it out to me. Of course I'd rather do the journey in good weather: long journeys in the rain can be quite stressful.
DeleteTruly wonderful photos, Graham, of what looks like a truly beautiful area.
ReplyDeleteI've never had itchy feet, as in the "travel bug", but I used to think if there was one place I'd love to visit it would be Scotland...I guess my heritage had something to do with that, too.
I hope all is well with you. :)
Lee, I think that what attracts many people to Scotland apart from its rich history is the fact that there is so much to see in such a relatively small area.
DeleteIt's good to see the scenery and better that you saw it too.
ReplyDeleteYes, Adrian, it's good to be able to stop occasionally.
DeleteLovely that you're out and about again, Graham. Beautiful photos, as ever.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Francis.
DeleteThe view is gorgeous! Good thought, stuck in traffic what the landscape is doing in all its beauty.
ReplyDeleteMaywyn, I was pretty relaxed as I had some time in hand which is just as well as there are a lot of roadworks going on to mend winter damage.
DeleteIs that a naked tarantula on your wing mirror or the reflection of your fingers?
ReplyDeleteGosh, YP, you are observant.
DeleteSome lovely photos, Graham. My favourite is the first, although it is less obviously "pretty" than some with the slightly threatening sky. I particularly like the reflected curve of the tree.
ReplyDeleteThank you Jenny. I liked that one too.
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