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Archive for December 2007

Forth Road Bridge

December 31, 2007, 3:08 pm

I never knew you could actually walk across the Forth Road Bridge…

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Edinburgh, Main Blog, Photo Album category)

Inverness has a rather nice, relatively large city centre… it is just a shame that it is in the middle of absolutely nowhere and consequently somewhere not many people ever see. I went and did my sight seeing mid-evening as I was away from the city all day yesterday.

I think this is the Town Hall.

The Ness Bridge and Inverness Castle

The Greig St. Bridge c.1891

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

A quality day…

December 30, 2007, 6:31 pm

30 miles south east of Inverness is Aviemore, home of british skiing. Apparently you shouldn’t believe everything people tell you about lack of snow on the CairnGorm Mountain according to numerous skiing professionals I was chatting to on the various ski lifts throughout the day. Two ski runs were open today, the (green / easy) Ptarmigan and the (red / challenging) Coire na Ciste run opened around 11am.

Amusement of the morning was some Neanderthal woman who alleged I almost ran her down on the red run. She was clearly illiterate as otherwise she would have read the big sign at the top of the slope which read “Open for competent skiers and boarders”. You don’t “snowplough” down the whole length of a red run (unless you are insane!) as people will overtake you at speed and then you panic and fall over. Oh well, I enjoyed the more challenging red run - especially the ski jumps.

The day passed by fairly quickly - I didn’t even stop for any dinner, by 3:30pm it was getting dark so both ski runs closed which with hindsight was a stroke of luck I think, I don’t think my legs were strong enough to keep skiing down the more demanding and increasingly icy red run.

A very good day overall.

The red Coire na Ciste run from the bottom with protruding rocks along the run… just to make things a bit more interesting!!

Looking down the mountain with Aviemore in the distance behind the shop / restaurant. No idea who the chap in red was, but he smiled as I took the photo!

The start of the Coire na Ciste run was between the two signs, how you can fail to read one or both of them I don’t know!!

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Tonight’s Destination

December 29, 2007, 5:25 pm

I’ve even booked a hotel room for tonight and it isn’t Hotel Almera again!!

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Fort William

December 29, 2007, 1:40 pm

Fort William is a smallish town with no particularly redeeming features other than free parking and a Morrisons… and it is on the side of a rather picturesque loch. Perfect for a half an hour lunch break.

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

A82 near Glencoe

December 29, 2007, 11:01 am

As impressive scenic roads go, the A82 near Glencoe is seriously impressive, my only complaint is that the Highlands Council haven’t put up enough parking bays along the side of the road to let people stop and take photo’s.

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Hotel Almera

December 29, 2007, 7:57 am

Greetings from a lay-by on the A872 near the village of Denny. Accomodation is rather spacious in the back seat / boot area of the Nissan and by sleeping in the car, I have the sense of satisfaction in knowing that I have avoided spending the £66.70 it would have cost to stay in a hotel in Edinburgh.

I can confirm that i’ve even visited Cumbernauld (briefly!) last night and thought it was rather like Milton Keynes - straight roads and very concrete-y!

Also, by parking up here i’m ideally situated for the first visit of the day… the Falkirk Wheel which opens at 10am.

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Edinburgh Fun Fair

December 28, 2007, 10:13 pm

Around and inside Princes Gardens in Edinburgh is a fun fair and ice skating rink. I’m not spending the night in Edinburgh however, it was just a quick visit - i’ll be back for Hogmanay!

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Over the border

December 28, 2007, 4:13 pm

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)

Close to the Border

December 28, 2007, 12:42 pm

Greetings from Longtown, the first village on the A7 north off the M6. Alas the chip shop I remember from almost 20 years ago and was hoping to purchase potato products from is closed. There actually isn’t much else here…

I was amazed at the levels of flooding around Carlisle, the River Eden to the south west of the city resembled more the shape of a lake stretching into the distance with the M6 being the only thing above the water line.

—ikl | no comments
(posted in the Main Blog category)