This was to be a trip of many sections and the first one began with an early morning stroll to Glasgow’s Queen Street Train Station to discover that they wouldn’t take my debit card as payment for a ticket to Stirling. This was to haunt me later in the trip also…
After racing around sorting out payment for my ticket to Stirling, I managed to get on a super express train and met Tracey 25 minutes later, ready to start our epic journey. Our mighty chariot to the games was the aptly named ‘Viscount’, after the piobaireachd Lament For The Viscount of Dundee, whose sound system certainly got a work out with a few piobaireachds along the way. I even got an education on the heavier side of piping and can now proudly recognise the crunluath doubling and taorluath doubling in any piobairechd put before my ears. For a drummer, that’s progress!
Tracey had organised a route which was to take us through Perth, where we were astounded by the bargains one could get in a Baguette shop, and Dundee. We then left the east coast and headed west towards Ballater, where we would begin a 10 km or so walk that Tracey had researched. Along with directions, the map of the walk gave us a historical viewpoint into highlights along the way, and we managed to get a healthy helping of jumping photos as well. After a few drunken “where are you girls? Hurry up and get here for the braai!” phone calls from Morty, and Mr and Mrs McBastard who were our hosts for the weekend, we had managed to take in a swing bridge, a castle and momentarily stolen a scooter, (see video), and were back on the road with a decent walk under our belts.
(Turn it up nice and loud for the commentary...)
After arriving at our accommodation for the night at the McBastard’s pad in Newmarchar just outside of Aberdeen and being almost mauled by two of the cutest Labradors ever, (I wasn’t complaining!) we settled in for the night with a few cheeky Pimms and a tasty braai.
The next morning it was the usual packing up of supplies for a day of sitting, watching and listening at the games; Inverness Cape, snacks, camera, water, jackets, rug, hat and sunglasses. Note that I missed out ‘sunblock.’ After pretending to be a competitor in order to skip the £5 entry fee like the cheeky cheapo that I am, I set up the rug right next to the MSR board. The greatest achievement out of all of this was that the dancers and their extended families had to sit behind me later in the day, instead of taking up prime viewing spots like they always seem to do with their huge umbrella/tent contraptions. Power to the Pipe Banders!
(Derek, Tom and Megan at the rug gathering)
The rug turned out to be a nice rendezvous point for the crew of pipers at the games which meant I wasn’t sitting like a loner at all throughout the day. It turned out super warm and I managed to enjoy the weather, help Alexis pick some jigs, try my first smoky and take in some tunes. I even managed to take in a piobaireachd and comment on the cadences.
Because of my stupid lack of sunblock I left the park later in the day with sunburn on my face reminiscent of that which someone gets after a day up Whakapapa or Coronet Peak. It was not pretty and all the sun left my quite tired so after a quick meal it was time for bed.
I had somehow injured my foot the day before and so the planned 10 km walk near Braemar on the way home had to be cancelled. Instead, Tracey and I visited a shortbread factory which was quite entertaining as we got to see the whole factory process for the packaging of the biscuits. Then it was on to The Glenlivet where we took in a tour of the distillery, tried a 15 year old whiskey and reminded myself why I don’t drink the stuff. I am, however, hopeful that one day my palette will mature enough to enjoy a wee dram every so often.
The route home was quite scenic as we had headed west into Whiskey country and went past skifields and castles, got a few photos and of course listened to a few piobaireachd along the way. It was all relaxing until we got to the Duunblane train station only to discover that, like Queen Street Station, didn’t want to take my debit card, just as the train was pulling up. Tracey and myself loaded my gear back into the Viscount and attempted to race the train to Bridge of Allan, failing miserably yet leaving me impressed at Tracey ‘Colin McRae’ Williams’ driving.
It was another fun-filled weekend and the weather was delightfully kind to us. Good tunes, good banter and some excellent views along the way.
