Last post - home at last ...

On Thursday, after a bit of shopping in Inverness, and a lovely visit to Jean in Helmsdale, we progressed up to Thurso and the port of Scrabster.

We've now been home for a couple of days. It is such a late spring, we have still got some snowdrops, and the daffodils are just coming along nicely - let's hope the sun and warmth follow close behind them!

Our ferry, the Hamnavoe, sails past our window today on the second of its twice-daily trips

From Waterloo to Inverness ...

We travelled north to The village of Waterloo, near Bankfoot (near Perth) to see Dave and Donella and their new house.  A warm welcome, but cold wet weather unfortunately.  We managed a walk in the teeth of the sleet, before retiring to a log fire and good company.

On Wednesday, we awoke to snow, and met increasingly wintry conditions as we made our way via Newtonmore, where we had coffee and chat with Lillias, then on to Inverness, where, nearer the sea, the temperature rose a bit, and the sun has now come out ...

Toughing it out near Waterloo

Siberian conditions near the Pass of Drumochter

On the Pass

We failed to take a picture of Lillias, but here are some of her garden birds - chaffinches ...

... and goldfinches

Inverness, looking northwards - a snow-covered Ben Wyvis 

Jedburgh

We had a good visit with Betty - but rather poor weather, so not much walking ...

The Rier Jed at Jedburgh, while the sun was still shining

At the top of Howden hill on our only walk

Wintry scene at the coffee stop on Soutra hill

Scotland

Stopped on the Carter Bar so the driver could have forty winks.  This point right on the Scotland/England border would have been a real bar to horse-cart traffic in the old days. 

Although our road was completely clear, in the distance, The Cheviot shows more snow than usual

Lincoln

We had the flattest crossing ever on Tuesday night - wonderful.  To Carol's  for coffee at Lea, Gainsborough, then a trip into Lincoln to see the Cathedral, and the Magna Carta, which we have never seen.

Bill & Carol set out to discover Lincoln

The magnificent Gothic facade of Lincoln Cathedral.  Of course, it must be done, but it is always a pity when one's visit coincides with the restoration works!

Wonderful 13-cent. wooden vaulting in the cloisters

Fan-vault in the Chapter-House

The Magna Carta had large repercussions, but it is a small document - only about a foot square.  We saw the original in its armoured vault - this shows a portion of the facsimile accessible in the Cathedral nave.

Troyes to Zeebrugge

We had poor weather today, so driving was mostly spent in a shower of spray from the lorries.  When made it to Zeebrugge, we found that the port authority have put in a huge new road which our Satnav didn't know about, which took some time to unravel ...

The scene from the car for most of the day ...

Inventive if confusing decor in a comfort stop on the autoroute

Big ships loom all around at Zebrugge

Stop-off at Troyes

Leaving Mont Blanc in the clouds, we headed of up the French autoroute system to the town of Troyes.  It's about an hour south of Rheims.

Lunching in splendid isolation at one of the peaceful motorway aires ..

The sun came out when we reached Troyes - Bill outside our hotel ... 

,,, and we could have a cup of tea in the street