28.06.2024 Journey into the unknown, the NC500 and the arrival at our final destination

 Well, we were all up bright and early, breakfast at 7am at the Premier inn and packed into the car by 8am and we were off. It was very sunny but the wind was blowing a Hooley! The car was taken to the fuel station and given a drink, at least it wouldn't run out on our journey. The Scenery is do different now, mountains. whoever was driving today had to hang onto the car's steering wheel to keep it on the correct side of the road. There were lots of warning signs about the wind and bridge closures to Double Decker Busses.

Hills and lots of them today. this is just outside Berwick.

This journey took us through beautiful countryside some times along by the sea. We saw fleeting glimpses of the Bass Rock on our way to Edinburgh. This has one of the largest Gannet colonies in the UK. Missus said they had been decimated by Bird Flu in the previous year. She thinks it is still around. However there were survivors of the flu and Missus tells me their eyes turned Black, amazing!

                                                              We drove by the sea

Also at one time we had the East Coast Main Line beside us, and we saw a train on it. At Edinburgh we said our goodbyes to the trusty A1 and headed out on roads such as the M9 and A9. There were single track roads with had helpful areas of Dual carriageway, where you could put your foot down and get past slower vehicles, BUT, when these pieces came to an end there was invariably a slow vehicle you couldn't get past, very frustrating. Eventually we decided we needed a coffee, and what should come into view but 'The House of Bruar'.

                                                               The House of Bruar

 This started as a Scottish Ladies Fashion enterprise, and they also had a food business highlighting the best of Scottish fare. The place has grown so much there are men's fashions as well as ladies, a garden centre, a Whisky Distillery and an amazing food hall and Restaurant and Café. After we all made ourselves comfortable we went to have a coffee. As we entered the café a lady stopped us and apologise but the card machines were out of action, they  had an internet problem. Missus and Master had to check their wallets, and after several moths had flown out discovered they would have enough to buy coffee. Missus reminisced  about her mother liking to buy nice warm skirts from the company and that she had seen the building quite often in the Catalogue. Now Missus has seen it for real. Missus took over the driving from there. The road conditions were still not good but the sun did come out and we stopped the car to take pictures of The Cromarty Firth. The tide was out but it looked beautiful in the sunlight. There were warnings about going over the bridge because of the strong cross winds.

                                                Sunny but windy over the Cromarty Firth

Quite a bit further on, a sign indicated that we were on the NC500 (North Coast 500). The weather started to worsen  again, we are heading for Thurso and Scrabster. Not only did it blow and rain but the driving of some individuals left a lot to be desired. Master said there are many fatal accidents along this road, Morgan and I felt a bit scared. Also if it was this windy on land how rough was the sea going to be? We got to the Ferry terminal in good time. Master decided to take precautions and we found a chemist shop and he bought some sea sickness pills, (we all know about Master and the heaving sea!). Eventually we could get the car booked in and were directed to row 7. This is because Missus needed to use the lift after exiting the car. Morgan and I stayed in the car to sleep. The Ferry to Stromness was late in because of the sea and it should have left at 7pm but it was more like 7.30pm. The Captain announced that due to the strong Westerly the Sea was very rough. We hadn't been a few minutes out of the harbour that people were reaching for the sick bags. Master fell asleep and was ok thank goodness. Master woke up in time to point out the Old Man of Hoy rock to Missus, alas she couldn't get any pictures of it we were too far away and the window was covered in rain. An Orcadian in the seat behind said they usually pass closer than we were today it was the weather keeping us out to sea for safety. We didn't want to be shipwrecked. So the ship docked and disgorged its cargo of green and white people and their vehicles. The first place we went to was the Co-op just along from the Ferry Terminal. Getting a few basic supplies we headed of to our accommodation. Missus read out the directions and we found ourselves going through the narrow street that is the town centre of Stromness. There were a few terse words. Morgan and I kept our heads down. Turns out Missus was right and the instructions wrong. Master should have followed the route he had found on the map on his computer. Still we found the place ok and the door was unlocked. it was warm and quiet inside, must be well insulated. We were unloaded from the car along with all the baggage. We had a cup of tea this was about 9pm by then and we fell into bed after sorting pillows and finding the control for the Velux window blind in the Bedroom. Leona had popped round to show us how it worked, but we had sussed it by then. Morgan and I had a cushion to sleep on, we were comfortable and so was Master and Missus. We all slept well.

Hope The Weather improves tomorrow.