We awoke early and went
for a walk though the back paddocks, down to the river. It was bright and
sunny, the walk very pretty. I ate fresh blueberries from the bushes along the
way. Lots of beautiful flowers including the bright yellow one which we had
wondered if 'rape seed'. Our hostess said "no, that is ragwort. Multiply
that colour by 10".
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Beth, Liz and koalas |
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We walked through tall bracken fern, up to 6 foot
high in places. I also picked fresh raspberries.....yum, and bemoaned the fact we
were too early for blackberries (brambles) which look like having a bumper
crop.
Breakfast was
enormous and delicious with the greatest porridge I've ever had and more fresh
raspberries and blueberries. When I asked Liz, our hostess, to pose with me and
Billie, my koala, she produced one of her own, which is nearly 40 years old!
Soon after
breakfast we headed north into heavy rain which continued for around 30
minutes. The route along the low coastal road was picturesque and 2 lanes wide.
One time we had to stop for 2 sheep 'head-butting' on the road while onlookers
cheered (baaaaad)!
At 11.30 we reached
Ullapool, all set to do the weekly chores, (washing
etc). There was just one Laundromat and they couldn't fit us in to tomorrow!
Photos would take 3 days to develop and there was no Internet so we moved on
after hot chocolate and gingerbread.
The news today was
again petrol prices. There was a national 'boycott the pumps day', protesting
against the highest prices in
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Waterfall
above |
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We stuck to
the coast road, glorious views around the peninsulas. Deep gorges, water falls,
heather showing much more colour than we had seen previously. Lots of stone
cottage ruins around the bay.
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Mosaic
Wall at the |
Typical hand-painted piece from the Highland Pottery |
So here we
are at Lochinver, our B&B is Veyatie,
which roughly translates from Gaelic to 'where the deer meet'. Another place
where the hosts are warm and friendly and you are invited to 'make yourself at
home'. There is a lovely glass conservatory overlooking the bay, where we sat
sketching and relaxing in the late afternoon. There is also a beautiful lounge
room, which we are welcome to use night or day. Our host did our washing, which
was very appreciated, as we were getting desperate.
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'Veyatie' Dawn & Mel Chapman |