Day 43 - Monday Aberdeen to Edzell
Quick Facts
Weather forecast: Cloudy with sunny periods. POP 10% chance in the morning 63% chance of rain in the afternoon.
Wind W 11kph
Humidity 94%
Sunset: 19:35
Departure: Travelodge Aberdeen
Destination: Edzell, Brechin, Angus
Planned distance: 40.8 mi 65 km
Planned ascent:1,562 ft
Planned descent: 1,447 ft
Route: Photo from GPS
Goodmorning/ Good day
The day started with sunshine, a great breakfast and a nice first stop at Evans Cyles seen here on the right on Union Street.
Stuart helped me choose a new rechargeable rear light. Mine is a decade old, pretty old rechargeable technology and we have lost a full hour of sunlight at the end of our day in the past short while. Of course we asked for “air”. Joe Blow it seems is the most popular bike pump in “our” world. We filled up our tires and we were ready to go at about 9:30. Thanks Stuart.
https://www.evanscycles.com/searchnoresults?descriptionfilter=&issearch=0
We headed down Union Street where the history of Aberdeen is told by the granite buildings lining its sides not to mention « Kelly’s Cats” on the Bridge, the Education, Salvation and Damnation corridor off in the distance and a token church spire sticking up above the apartments surrounding it.
We coasted down the hill to sea level and left the city by curving around the existing port and climbing back up the hillside over the construction of the new South Port. It is going to be huge.
There are lighthouses all over the place lining up to guide the big ships into port. Ralph talked to one of the dockworkers who explained their purpose and alignment. In the picture below you can just see the second lighthouse in the distance at the end of the row.
The more picturesque lighthouse in the next photo is the Girdle Ness Lighthouse on the peninsula of the same name. It was completed in 1833. It first glowed on sperm oil, then in 1870 paraffin and finally in 1890 a 200,000 candlepower light was installed. It was automated in 1991 and the lighkeeper’s house sold.
Wind turbines far out to sea.
Quiet roads along the shore.
The absolutely adorable Stonehaven Harbour.. a cafe for Ralph and a “Seafood Bothy” for me. I had never heard of a bothy and certainly not a seafood bothy. I thought it might be a local dish.. I was curious enough to find out.
Posh tucker it was! Delicious lobster on a bun.
So I asked around and it was explained to me that a bothy was a little hut. The proprietress just stole the term and quite cleverly called her “wagon” a “Seafood bothy”.
Wikipedia explains: “A bothy is a basic shelter, usually left unlocked and available for anyone to use free of charge.” I met a fellow Canadian and we enjoyed the ambiance of the harbour.
In the meantime Ralph had met a gentleman and was talking at length with him as the dog enthusiastically dug trenches in the sand to our amusement.
Unfortunately we had to climb up the hill out of the quaint spot and get on our way.
It had never occurred to me the importance of a public barometer until I saw this one on the side of a clock tower as we left Stonehaven.
It is time for another photo of Ralph enjoying the architecture of the Stonehaven Fetteresso Church of Scotland.
Then away we went, inland past happy sheep near Drumlithie.
Greenhouses near Laurencikirk
… … and through the imposing Royal arch at t Fettercairn It was built by the villagers in 1864 at a cost of £250 to commemorate the September 1861 overnight visit by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. It seemed they very much enjoyed strolling the deserted town incognito that night, as the Wikipedia article explains.
A second arch, the Dalhousie Arch, not related to the royal visit but on the same road was erected at Edzell (Angus), our destination today.
We stopped at a local Spar to pick up hostess gifts - wine! Tonight we have the pleasure of staying with a past work colleague of Ralph’s … with the opportunity for them to reminisce three decades back.
Hydrangeas in a garden and the evening light on the local Edzell Golf Club.
Fiona’s warmth, her generosity as a hostess and her beautiful personal artwork on the walls of her home all contributed to making it a particularly special stay. Thank you Fiona
Safe travel.
Lorraine