Inverness to Aberdeen... mostly in the rain!

Travelling from Inverness to Nairn was terrific riding on back country roads but always with threatening rain clouds and the occasional sun breaking through. Making our way east through small villages like Hopeman and Buckie we experienced extremely rough weather and the North Sea showed a little bit of its fiery nature. We had to smile at a small advertisement which said " our wool is spun into organic sweaters, cardigans and rugs". Continuing east along the northern coast the weather into Banff was horrific, with the sea crashing over the sea walls onto the road. However it cleared later for a really pleasant ride through a valley to Turriff. The weather this summer has been one of the worst for a long time, with Aberdeen having twice its August rain in the first 10 days of the month, and major flooding all over Scotland. Despite the inclement weather we have kept on pedalling through some magnificent country to reach Aberdeen and hope to be in Edinburgh to enjoy some of the events during the Edinburgh festival.

Inverness

Inverness castle

Black Isle organic beer brewed near Inverness

Carvings of the Gruffalo and other creatures in the woods

Impressive rail viaduct near Nairn

Chas enjoying some brief sunshine

Elgin cathedral ruins

Does this picture tell a story??? Yes the weather was a trifle inclement

North Sea fury

Gidday...

Buckie fishing village

View from our tent at Portsoy

Buckie waterfront

Interpretation panel on an old rail trail we followed

Rail trail- a bit greener than Otago Central  rail trail

Into Aberdeen

Bridge across the River Dee, Aberdeen

Aberdeen harbour

How's this for a fog horn!!!  Aberdeen harbour entrance