Now post Tour heading towards London and home, still plenty to do and see and enjoy-Wick to Edinburgh part of trip

 Left John O Groats early on the 26th June and had a local taxi collect me and drop me at Wick train station. Arrived over 1 hr early as often do, "may get a flat tyre" !🛞😀 sort of thinking. The driver, was elderly and brought his wife along so we chatted as you do and the trip went very fast.

Station wasn't manned until 10 am and was again a little cool in temperature and sat on my bag beside railway line  but undercover luckily. I   updated the blog of the final day of the cycle tour and time went quickly. This is shot from sitting on my bag. Train was warming up but station unmanned

Was end of school year and kids had a trip to a bird sanctuary as an end of year school trip. These guys sat around me on once part of the trip down to Dingwall. Loads of excitement from them.

Then nearly a  4 hr train ride down to Dingwall to meet back up with Lee. We had a pub lunch literally alongside the  aside the railway station which was again unmanned. This  involved dragging all our luggage over the walk way and stairs to the other side of the station.

Second time for me in Dingwall, as we passed thru on our bikes and stopped for a wee stop for the team  at Tescos in the town centre. We also had Nick family host the team us for afternoon  tea which was lovely. This time we had a pub lunch then ventured to Lee -Anne accommodation dropping off my bags, thethe n walked up to  cemetery which was not far away  on a hill overlooking the city. Got the legs working and a step back in history. In the middle of the cemetery was this monument to a soldier who was famous and infamous in times gone by the name of  Hector McDonald.  My Grandmothers family were Rennies, so we looked for graves, but found no "Rennie" stones, despite a good look. Was a 150 years ago that the family left Scotland in the early 1860's so no surprise. Visiting a cemetery makes you think above people gone by which is healthy in some ways as a mark of respect and acknowledgement to our past. Make us feel human and aware of all the preciousness of life whilst we are alive.

Views at the cemetery in Dingwall.

The Hector McDonald Memorial in Dingwall.

Then walk back to main street that looks like ever  other main street ,everywhere now in the world where their were loads of shops that are struggling, not as much as home. Heaps of charity shops, 2$ type stores, beauty shops, second hand shops etc. Not totally closed for business but reflects a time gone by. Had a few great shops, a lovely fruit shop, great bakery, banks, accountants, lawyers, real estate, pharmacies  and pubs spreed amoungst these. What you see in English towns is no different from what you see in Gisborne. Also some people walking around  who make you think about how safe you are. Loads of older people on the streets but was a school day. 

We had time to go to a local Museum that was so well done and I really enjoyed and book a few little books of the area that I will enjoy.

I thought I would take this since I had been cycling. Its a "Boneshaker"

A bit about Hector Macdonald. The losses in the battle described were huge.

At 4 pm we left Dingwall and traveled down to Inverness for one night and after a dinner did a walk around the city centre at about 9;30 pm. There  were  loads of people doing the same. Lee picked a hotel for us to stay that was only  a short walk from the train station which was great. We walked alongside the river that goes thru' the centre of town and was  flowing fast. It is busy with walkers and quite pretty. A fly fisherman and he was in the river doing his thing and was skillful with that rod. Strange to see right in the middle of town. 

A orange Lyall on the Inverness Bridge looking back at the Inverness castle

Lee -Anne beside this fast flowing river

 Rushing even now to breakfast-to be completed latter-back at 8 pm Friday night finalising the last few days

Next morning up again and off to train station and a 3-4 train ride down to Edinburgh. I enjoyed the ride, the scenery and had a little sleep. Various photos on train to Edinburgh

Caught taxi to our accommodation which was at Edinburgh University facilities right next after the Commonwealth pool. The pool was built and opened and  used as the pool for the 1970 commonwealth games and it looks like the uni facilities were built at the same time, similar to what they did in Christchurch for 1974 commonwealth games with a new village for going to student accommodation straight afterwards. the facilities were good and the food at breakfast this morning was amazing. Best breakfast set up had all time inn UK. They look after their students. the Students are on holiday break and like in NZ use as tourist and conference accommodation for the busy summer tourist season in Edinburgh. Had lunch at bar in Student facilities and were service by Bella the  robot.

Then we got to town centre and had a walk round as Lee -Anne was now my tourist guide as she was here during her Scotland tour. She did a fab job and had remembered many of the stories as we walked around.

Photo below is in the grass market with Edinburgh castle in the background.

People of nationalitys from all over the world were here on holiday and it was really busy. This is a big tourist spot and loads tourist shops selling scot nick nacks including whiskey, wool and cashmere products, ice cream, dozens of pubs and all doing a roaring trade

Various photos of walk from Grassmarket area up to the Royal mile and Edinburgh castle.

  Worth read of these  in the Grassmarket for a bit of history

 

                    

Breafast facilities at University

The Common Wealth pool, next door to University and the Scottish National Champs were on . Site of the 1970 common wealth games swimming . facilities were refreshed in 2007?

At the Bus stop and this guy was off to golf at a course next to the Pool. 

Oh I miss my fruit, a local fruit shop from the bus

We got off the bus for a couple of hrs and went to this modern Museum

                            Many Views from the tour Bus-a hop off hop on tour

Tour went out to the Firth and was hoping to see the Royal yacht Britinancia but was blocked off by tall apartments. 

Elections are on here and chances are will see a change of Government. TV is full of it.

Arthurs seat. We are very close to another part of this seat. Is massive on the hills surrounding Edinburgh and full of walkers

The kings English castle under Arthurs seat. Across the road is the Scottish Parliament

Took this photo today as was raining. The place was still busy but way less than yesterday. It was booked out to into the castle. The seating is up for the Military tattoo. Take two months to set up and two months to take down. See out steep the ground is as you walk up the castle. This photo is looking down ways. See the next photo for the extent of the engineering and supports required for this seating. There are permanent  support points that the j=jigsaw seating is connected to. Massive winds and weight so need to be strong up here.

We were last in Edinburgh approx 40 years ago visiting Ian Stevenson who I used to work with at McCulloch butler and Spence. We went on a castle tour then but did little ease. It was winter and freezing then . This time summer but still coolish and a bit of light rain but really enjoyed and appreciated the sights way much more.

 I remember that last visit in 1983 ? I think. Involved  getting told of by the police as we arrived on the overnight train and were awaiting pick up by Ian from train station, and arrived so early so were taking a nap on the seats  and they threatened  us with Vagrancy charges fro sleeping in a public place. Oh to be youngful and innocent. It was along time ago.

Tomorrow(Saturday) away early for Manchester. 

On Sunday afternoon I have a Manchester United Ground tour booked. Bit excited about that 😀.bit a sport theme appearing, I wonder why?😀