Minirolls Musings

Meall Fuar-mhonaidh

This morning we felt no guilt indulging in a big Scottish breakfast with all the trimming (sans mushrooms for me). For a long time we have been having Haggis in place of black pudding because its just more tastey, but I have really come to like the potato scones that come with most breakfasts up here. They are like a more tough potato-y version of English pancakes.

Pootling Around Paperwork

The White Bridge Hotel is such a nice quirky place. Its got an authentic highlands feel to it. A large glazed wooden door opens into a beautiful glazed and wood panelled porch. Here you are immediately welcomed with nostalgic memorabilia and framed faded photos of highland life. And helpfully, you’ll find a low bench and basket of towels for drying damp doggies before entering a dimly lit, but grand hallway. This is an amazing step back in time with stags antlers, paintings, book cases and cabinets of ancient jewelry adorning all surfaces. Its incredibly cluttered, yet wonderfully stuffed full of scottish charm. To one side, Harry Potter has left his trunk, broomstick and robe.

Beach Spotting

Its probably the anticipation that’s been building for weeks. I’m not nervous or worried or even particularly energetic about it yet. But I found myself awake this morning at about 03:30am. I sort of dozed and fidgeted for a while and couldn’t get back to sleep so ended up watching YouTube. We have been planning the next couple months for about a year, and its finally here. Sort of anti-climactically, the day we set off on this adventure has dawned, slowly and calmly.

A View Into Our Future

Another lazy morning was dictated by a phone call booked for 11am. We had our breakfast and packed up the van ready for a walk and then I went over to the beach. Here there are some benches in the sun, with a view of the Loch, and most importantly, cell service. I had a good hour of work done, while Aimi had her phone call.

Real Legal

There is no more putting it off, so today I took 2 hours to do some work in a cafe in Aviemore. It was a fairly typical greasy spoon place that must have been going for years because the prices were nicely un-touristy even tho it was situated right in the centre. Aviemore itself is quite touristy with coaches of old people going in and out all the time and Americans walking around going “oooh” and “ahhh” at anything with vague historical pretences.

A Perfect Day With Coffee & Coos

With no specific plans this morning and drizzle on the horizon, we took the time to enjoy a full cooked breakfast. It’s good fun cooking in the van, but with a stuffed belly, we soon needed to make a move, to make a movement.

We headed back to Laggan, to the 24hr toilets and noticed people in the Coffee Bothy. This wonderful cafe unfortunately closed last year and we were really disappointed because it’s our favourite place to stop up here.

Wriggly Doggy

This morning we discovered the blackout blinds had frozen to the inside of the windscreen. After chiselling it off and scarfing down a haggis and egg sandwich we set off for Dalwhinnie.

Turning Left

We woke this morning without a Scottish view. Then we removed the thermal blinds from the van window and enjoyed small bouncy snow/hail drifting across the valley before us. Our van skeleton remained unimpressed…

Scoping Out Scotland

Through no fault of my own, I find myself without employment over this Christmas and into January. But I’m also waiting to start work, so I’m in a weird limbo state where I can’t really commit to a new project, but also want to do something so I don’t feel useless.

Looking on the bright side, this situation has arisen perfectly in line with the BIRD2023 event I’m running for the Tiny Whoopers! This year is going to be even bigger and better than ever, with a new venue, special guests and lots of pilots from other countries making it really special. I’ll be writing about that event later, but what else do you do when you don’t have any pressing engagements – go on a little trip!

Aimi’s 3 Peaks Challenge

This trip is combined with Aimi tackling the infamous 3 Peaks Challenge. Shes also taking on doing it within 24 hours, a massive personal challenge that shes been training for for some time.

Shes been ramping up the walk distances, work outs and running each day throughout the summer to be ready for it. She has some nerves about how hard is going to be. And yes it is going to be hard but I know she’s determined, fit and as long as she doesn’t throw a hissy fit like she did on Ben Lomond last weekend, she will be fine!