Menootanabootagain - the Northern Explorer

On the Thursday, Mac1 and I piled into Little Ren and set off on a full-day outing. Some 90 minutes drive South and then East to the pretty town of Nairn, where we were to rendezvous with Bertie Boffin and his Gail!, Such was our timing, we were within ten minutes of each other and barely 50 yards apart in parking. What a joy to meet up with them again. We explored the long beach, then back by the promenade to have lunch at the restaurant in the caravan park.

Bertie had a great time meeting little Mabel, who could run, and run...and run...

At the far end of the beach, we furless ones had our own fun...

After a lengthy lunch (the order got lost in the system - but there was a round of free drinks to com- pensate... and when it came the food was excellent), we wandered up into the town's main street for a wee 'gander'... and we happened upon an amazing mural

It was all hand-made by one of the members of the amateur theatre group, using all sorts of broken china, glass and other found items. There is so much to see in this wonderful piece it kept us enthralled for a good fifteen minutes! It is a work of art and Mac1 enquired inside as to our photographing, with which they had no problem... and surprisingly they had no postcards of it. They're missing a trick!

Mac1 and I then drove the long-route back to Skelbo, hoping to catch the Nigg ferry - but we missed it quite literally by two minutes, which meant coming back round the other side of the Black Isle and across the Cromarty bridge anyway ... never mind; it was a most scenic and pleasant drive; and I got to see some industrial stuff. Me likes industrial stuff...