Berlin day 1

April trip to Berlin with Caroline

 

 

Christmas time away 202

 

Ruthven Barracks

The last part of our day traveling to Tummel was a quick stop at Ruthven Barracks. We nearly didn't stop as it started chucking it down when we parked but cleared up 190 mins later and dad and I decided to brave it (mom's too cold and stayed in the car). It was worth it. There were even some bits of blue sky oddly. 

The barracks where built by the English in the 1700s to house troops to protect the area against the Jacobite rebels who did eventually take the barracks but they had to work for it. 

Chimmney

Great view

Never a straight road.

Arrow shooting window

Stables

It is even steeper than it looks

After this we drove to the last stop. (Well I drove - I didn't let mom or dad drive until the end of the next week. They had issues staying awake, especially  mom.)

Trip to the Kyle of Lochalsh

On the friday we moved from the caravan in Nairn to a lodge in Aviemore but had the day to spend between places. 

In november 1984 mom and dad did a trip of the sleeper train up to Inverness and then got the steam train across to the Kyle of Lochalsh where they spent the week. Mom really wanted to do the train trip to the Kyle of Lochalsh again so we did it as a day trip as we were practically in Inverness anyway. In theory I was on the trip as well as mom was 7 maths pregnant with me at the time. I had a better view this time. 

The train trip on the way there was pretty busy and the view was ok, though we were on the wrong side to see the best bits. It took about 2.5 hrs to get there.

Sadly when we got there we realised there really wasn't much to do. And very few places open, even to get some food, and of course it started to rain on and off. We found a place to get some seafood (I have a very nice seafood salad) and thankfully the rain mostly held off while we were eating. We had a walk around and eventually ended up at a local pub for a drink while waiting for the train home. (The train are quite infrequent or we would have left earlier.) 

The port.

Looking towards the bridge to Skye in the distance.

Chilly.

I think most people going to the Kyle of Lockalsh are heading onwards to the Isle of Skye which is opposite. Which did mean the train was basically empty on the way back and we got to pick our seats to get the best view. Unfortunately mom started to feel unwell on the day back and ending up sleeping most of it. (Dad also had a nice long nap.) 

Thankfully the view was pretty good on the way back so I kept myself occupied taking photos. It was pretty dramatic at points. 

A really long trip to see not much when we got there, but some great views on route.

We got back to Inverness in the dark so I drive to Aviemore. We got to see a little of Inverness on a Friday night. They have a very hard working and apparently extensive police force! We were all very glad to arrive at the lodge. The drive was a bit scary in the pitch black (I didn't realise the head lights had been dipped down when dad washed the car which made it even more tricky) and mom was really not doing so well. 

We found out the next day she had Covid and dad came down with it later that day. :(  
Thankfully I had had it recently so could play nurse maid.