Day 12, Inverurie to Edinburgh

Barely on the bikes, when we stopped for fuel, 3/4 of a mile up the road. Getting away from Inverurie and Aberdeen meant dual carriageway. It wasn't long though before we we on single carriageway roads and tracking the coast, well, after a fashion. We'd had some issues with Tomtom reading a higher mileage than the route planner, which was a bit of a worry for fuel stops. I couldn't explain it.  We'd not been on the coast road long when Tomtom took us inland, onto the A90. Tomtom sometimes does its own thing if you don't have enough waypoints in. A stop at a garage, so Grizzly could have a coffee allowed me to work out a plan and it wasn't long before we were back at the coast, through Montrose and Arbroath. Clearing Dundee, Tomtom seemed to have a grip again.

The weather was very good  and we were enjoying the ride, then it all seemed to unravel when we got to St Andrews. It's a quant old town but heaving with people and cars. We were caught in a traffic jam for a while. Out the other side we were bowling along nicely but the mileage seemed to be even more than it had been,  so we made another fuel stop for Grizzly to top up. I had plenty in the tank. 

Checking the route against Tomtom again, it appeared we we somewhere we should never have been. The reason,  I soon discovered, one of my waypoints was in the sea! Doh!

Eventually we were back on track and stopped for the loo at a lovely little beach in a place called Elie (below). We had thought about food but the pub/restaurant was full and had a queue. In the event, we stopped at a petrol station and had a sandwich. 

Our next stop was on the outskirts of Edinburgh at Queensferry but not before another Tomtom diversion! Another fuel stop, then we parked up in the shadow of the Forth Rail Bridge, an iconic structure. 

Just up the road is the Ferry brewery. It would have been rude to ride right by and not stop,  so I popped into the shop and bought a bottle. Might exchange it for a cuppa and sarnie in Hythe next week maybe?

We arrived at our hotel to be almost immediately greeted by a chap, who advised us to park the bikes by the front railings, and handed us a chain, to chain to them. Edinburgh it seems is a hotspot for bike thefts. A nice touch.

Tonight is our last in Jockland and tomorrow we are heading for Stockton-on-Tees. Back in England as they take on Ukraine in Euro 2020. Come on England. 

Day 11, Inverness to Inverurie

Woke to glorious sunshine, starting the day as it finished the last.

First stop was a personal one for me, at Loch An Eilean, on the Rothiemurchus Estate in Aviemore, and my mum's final resting place. This the second time I've stopped here since my brother and I spread her ashes in 2013. Choosing a certain tree cluster as we did and having a picture of it, helps locate the spot. Today I recorded the what3words location too. She has a great view of the castle.

Second stop, a short jump to Carrbridge and some photos of the Old Pack Horse bridge.

When we came to leave,  the Shadslow had its second refusal of the tour. A fiddle with the side stand switch once again brought the bike to life but it was a tense time. I'm sure it was ok until Grizzly sprayed it with WD40!

We had a fuel stop to make, then we just forged on. The route and weather encouraging us. Through Lossiemouth,  where 2 RAF jets took of over our heads and on to Portsoy and its 17th century harbour.  We'd hoped to find a cafe or something but there was nothing. 

Eventually we stopped at a  Tesco in Fraserburgh for a drink and to do some shopping.  

We arrived at our digs in Inverurie about 17:00.

Not the best accommodation we've had,  the window is about 6 feet up the wall and in any case overlooks a flat roof. Maybe the biggest problem though, for Grizzly certainly, there's no shower. He only discovered this though, when in his words, standing buck naked, he realised why there was no shower curtain! He made do though.

A quick pint and we met up with Cheryl and Geoff, my friends from the Wild West tour, I did in 2013 with Dudley. They had booked a table at a restaurant in town, so we had no worries about dinner. It was good to see them again and we had an enjoyable time. Thus ended the day. 

Tomorrow we head for Edinburgh. Just 2 more sleeps in Scotland.