(no subject)

[f4f3]

Well the feeling of contentment I had on Saturday morning didn’t leave me all weekend.

We left for the cottage after lunch, and decided to treat the journey as part of the holiday. I’d forgotten just how many things there are to see and do (and buy) on the 90 miles from Glasgow to Ardrishaig.

First stop was Ferkin Point (f’narr f’narr) on Loch Lomond, for general taking photographs of Loch Lomond stuff, and letting Merlin run about in the water. I was told that Monty Python were wrong, and that there are no mountains in Finland, so Ben Lomond was much appreciated.

Back in the car for a few miles, and next stop was the car park at the stop of the Rest and Be Thankful, for bacon butties and the view, which didn’t let us down.

A few miles further on, we stopped at Fyne Ales. One of the owners came out and unlocked the bar for us, and the ladies had a wee tasting. And a bloody big box.

 

Round the corner to the Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, to stock up on goodies for the weekend. I was ordered not to buy anything, and was doing well (bar a book and a bar of tablet) until I got to the check-out, where I’m a well-known sucker for those impulse buy offers. In this case, half of a side of organic mutton from Mull. Honestly, it was a bargain. It’s living in the freezer at the shop until we defrost our freezer. Half a side is a lot of sheep-meat.

 

Next stop Inverary, where I tried hard to behave in Fyne Whiskies, despite them plying me with samples (oh, pshtaku, they had a limited edition Glenrothes which we very nice – let me know if you want a bottle – and psychochicken, they had an Edradour “Straight From the Cask” which I don’t think you’ve seen). I left with only two bottles. One was a wonderfully presented and wonderfully tasting Tobermory. I’m not a big fan of wooden boxes, but this was beautifully made, with a cut-out of Mull on the front and they’d gone to the lengths of wrapping the bottle in tissue paper printed with the Tobermory harbour view. I still wouldn’t have bought it though, except that the whisky was wonderful, a much more peaty expression than the standard bottle, and a glimpse of what it maybe used to be like, in the old days.

The other bottle was a twelve-year-old Talisker limited edition which they’d been contracted to put out for the “Friends of the Classic Malts” – which makes me wonder why I hadn’t seen it before. They’ve been allowed to sell the surplus, and in the store it was wonderfully peppery, again, the way I remember Talisker being when I first bought it. Despite their plans to buy different bottles, Damien and Obi both went for this one, and I can’t say I blame them.

 

By this time the car was starting to bulge at the seams, a little, so we headed for the cottage, and only had a brief pit-stop at the Lochgilphead co-op for milk and potatoes and some more picnic stuff.

 

We had time to nip over to Crinan to take pictures at the sea lock, and have a drink outside the hotel before the falling temperature drove us back to the cottage.

 

Dinner that night was sausages and mash – half venison sausages, half leek and pheasant, with onion marmalade gravy, followed by cheeses and port. And lashings of wine.

 

Then we collapsed in front of “The Princess Bride”, occasionally managing to rally long enough to shout “Wuve, twoo wuve” and other such silliness. I tried to get through “High Society”, which, as I explained to all who would listen, was one of the movies all grown-ups must have seen, but only made it as far as “Well Did You Ever?” before conceding defeat and going to bed.

 

Sunday dawned bright and clear. I distinctly noticed this as I let Merlin out for a pee at seven, and then crawled back to bed until 11.00. Which meant we missed out on breakfast at the Grey Gull. Again.

 

We decided to stay local, and concentrate on Kilmartin Glen, instead of trying to fit too much in. That meant we only got to one heritage centre (yes, it was to have coffee, but we were there) four burial cairns, one stone circle, a group of standing stones, the Great Moss, the graveyard at Kilmartin Church and the fort at Dunad. So we missed out on Carnassie castle, two groups of cup and ring marks, the ruined mansion, Fraser’s caravan and the Archway gallery. Oh, and that new restaurant I’ve been meaning to try in Lochgilphead. And the Grey Gull. If we’d managed that, we’d have done most of the stuff within a few miles of the cottage. Ah well, next time.

 

We had a leisurely picnic at Crinan Ferry, watching windsurfers messing about and children swimming in the estuary, and then I blasted back home, leaving at 8.00 and making it to Anniesland Cross by 9.40. If it hadn’t been for the last of the golf traffic slowing me down on Loch Lomond, I’m sure I’d have broken 90 minutes…

 

Not a bad weekend, really.

Comments

[mhaithaca.livejournal.com]

*sigh* I really need to take another whisky excursion soon.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

The Vaults are calling...

[psychochicken.livejournal.com]

I have the straight from the cask - it's very yummy =) Am interested in the Glenrothes though, as I like their normal stuff a lot.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Well that worked out well, then...

[sha-d.livejournal.com]

Firkin point hoorah, any barrels?

We ended up having lunch at loch fynn on the way home yesterday. It was sooo good I had to pull over for a nap on the way home. (no booze, just nice and full!)

I was very tempted by the mutton, but also have no freezer space :o(

We had breakfast Saturday in Inverary, and nearly went to Dunad, but missed the turning ;o) Looks like we were stalking you.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Stalking is good, and we can share the mutton.

[anthrokeight.livejournal.com]

*sighs* *turns green* *has probably been in the heritage center you describe on a very good weekend with happybat*

[unblinkered.livejournal.com]

And you will do again.

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Oops, that was me. Darned 'puter sharing...

[parthenia14.livejournal.com]

*sigh*

[f4f3.livejournal.com]

Come to Scotland. All your friends live here.

[littlescot1.livejournal.com]

*sigh*