As you can see from today's title - it was a big day filled with beautiful places and people.
I had a magnificent drive along the Scottish Coast with blue skies, glistening sea and scenery to match.
Then I met up with my second cousin John Salt and his wife Juli and their daughter Emma and Grand-daughter Faye. It was so lovely to meet another branch of the family over here in the UK.
But let's start at the very beginning - a very good place to start...
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| Today's journey |
My hotel in Cruden Bay was just lovely and I'm sorry I didn't have more time to stay there and explore around that area. As I was checking out the receptionist asked me if I knew Bram Stoker had stayed at this hotel and had, apparently, based his novel Transylvania on the castle just outside the town. And she even showed me the part in the guest book where he had signed and left a message...
I might've even stayed in his room!!!!!
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| Visitor's Book from 19th Century |
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| Bram Stoker's message |
So then I set off on the day's journey...
First stop, only for photos was Peterhead
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| Peterhead Port |
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| Peterhead Port |
Then I journeyed on to Fraserburgh where I found a lovely little coffee shop for a loo stop and a quick coffee..
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| Lighthouses in the background at Fraserburgh |
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| Fraserburgh |
I'm beginning to realise that timing for journeys in the UK bears no resemblance to timings in Australia. I had arranged to meet my new cousins at 11.30 or 12noon, but I soon realised that was not going to happen at the rate I was going. Even though you calculate the miles, I forget that there are lots of little villages in between and each one usually has a speed limit of 20 or 30 mph. So I alerted my cousins that I would be a little later than expected and continued on...
The drive around the top of the coast was just magical. I was certainly blessed with the weather and the sea and the scenery was just stunning.
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| Views along the journey |
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| Views along the journey |
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| Views along the journey - Cullen |
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| Views along the journey Cullen |
Eventually I arrived at Elgin, (pronounced with a hard "G" - like El-gun!) which is close to the home of my relatives and I had a quick look at the Cathedral ruins, but didn't really have time to go in and have a wander around.
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| Beautiful blossom tree at Elgin |
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| Cathedral ruins at Elgin |
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| Cathedral ruins at Elgin |
So I eventually got to team up with my rellies at Pluscarden Abbey... but I might start a new post for the afternoon and evening spent with family.
I was having withdrawals this morning when I woke at 3:30am and no Wattle Wanderings, I look forward every morning and I wondered what had happened. Don’t scare me like that.
ReplyDeleteHaha... bit of a late night by the time I got here, got checked in, sorted out and resized all the photos etc.... but at least there is a sleepin waiting at the other end...
ReplyDeleteIt looks so very peaceful as well as beautiful. Your travels are making my 'must visit' list too long!
ReplyDeleteI know... there are so many beautiful places in the world... just need some time and money... 😀😀😀
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