Bernie Bell (small bear) and Mike go on a road trip

Sunday, 23^rd April – ferry crossing from Stromness to Scrabster, a bit ‘lumpy’ with rising NW gale.  Arrive at Craggan Hotel at Talmine, near Tongue.  We’ve stayed there before – very good.

Denise, the waitress, has a great tattoo – “All you ever need to learn, is to love and be loved in return.”

Monday 24^th April –  Driving through a ‘white-out’. Lunch at Weaver’s Café near Tongue – very good café!  Then on to Lotte Glob’s studio and croft in the afternoon.  Magic person.  Magic place.  We buy floating stone for our pond.

Lotte Glob’s Studio (Photo B Bell)

Lotte makes ceramic floating stones – she made 333 of these, and floated them on 111 lochans throughout Scotland. She has a book about this.

Through snowy mountains to Achiltibuie.  Mad stuff.

Summer Isles Hotel – outside in log cabin.  Pretentious restaurant menu – smallbear amused.  Tiny helpings – smallbear not amused.

Tuesday 25^th April – Heading out through mad mountains –

Mad Mountains (Photo B Bell)

Ullapool, Glengarry.  Lunch at Lough Carron golf club – good 60’s music – good food.

Exhaust getting noisy, finally bursts – limp through mountains sounding like a Harley, to Balmacara, from where call AA, within sight of Skye Bridge.  Tow truck from Kyle quickly arrives.  Garage man v. helpful. Exhaust quickly fixed – gold stars to Morar Motors.

Abandon plans to explore Skye – head straight to B&B – Craigmonie at Badicaul, close to Kyle of Lochalsh.  Friendly welcome from Cherry.

Rest in room before going to Taste of India at Kyleakin, for evening meal. Excellent!

Explore harbour at Kyleakin before turning in. We remember the name, by thinking “Da’ya’ ken Kylie?’

Skye Bridge (photo B Bell)

Bernie and Mike continue their road trip.  Follow the Orkney News to keep apace with them ……..