Day 1448 rail trip to Pitlochry to see Mum & Dad!

My alarm went off at 5.45am…. I woke at 3.11am to think about what I was wearing today. 🤦🏻‍♀️ Of course I did. It was a great sleep until then but obviously the rain, snow, cold etc was playing on my mind. Us over thinkers need to make time to overthink!

Craig got up to make me a decaf coffee which I ended up taking with me… and of course the first train is delayed… a 40mph restriction on the track due to the heavy rain overnight.

I got a bit antsy… I had a half hour to get across Glasgow before my next train. It was only delayed by 11 minutes but the restriction is making us later. Then FB shows me this.

Synchronicity ♥️

I did literally run across Glasgow from Central to Queen Street, a steady jog. I’m a bit dishevelled and out of puff but I made it!

Next stop Stirling!

Should say here with my Club 50 railcard, (oh my actual god, how much does that freak me out?!?) Glengarnock to Pitlochry cost me £39.75. Now I know I could drive for less than that probably, but my view is it keeps mileage down on the car and I get to look out the windows and see the world like a lady of leisure. That’s the plan…. 😂

Made it to Stirling with a half hour until my next train.

Of course Mrs overactive bladder always has to find the loo…

Closed due to flooding

😳

It will be fine. 😬

I survived…. I’m the blue dot 🔵 on the map!

The snow appeared just north of Stirling. all of these are taken from a moving train through tinted windows!

It’s very dull, misty and overcast…. All 3 of them but the snow is really pretty.

About to arrive in Pitlochry. There is no snow!!

What a lovely day we have had!! Mum and Dad met me off the train, such a shame this is blurry, they appeared as the southbound train pulled out the station and I was crossing the bridge!

They were all bedecked in waterproofs and I felt a bit under waterproofed!

The took me to Cafe Biba for lunch.

A lovely wee building, just like our house! I had the veggie breakfast but didn’t eat the egg… I’m still on this “not fancying meat” thing. I would eat it if it was put down in front of me but I’m just not able to choose it for some reason. I had a lovely soya decaf latte! Completely perplexed Dad!!

Mum and I went for a wander round the shops starting off with Heather Gems which was recommended to me, by Margaret, yesterday!

It’s a huge store where you watch them making the jewellery too…. Lovely!

We had a good wander around the shops, until 1pm when chauffeur Dad, as he said he was called, came and picked us up!!

We decided to head up to The House of Bruar just north of the lovely village of Blair Atholl.

This is a very posh shopping complex where you walk about and look at things that you can never really afford to buy! That’s a slight exaggeration… the shoes dad picked up were £435… I said he should get 2 pairs!! There were lots of photo opportunities though.

This is a cashmere jumper canoe!

The Troop London canoe.

The Yeti canoe. I think Craig will like this one!

Here’s mum in motion… this is the sit-ooterie for food!

We had another cuppa and a cake this time.

Think our village woodcutters need to up their game!

Even the fresh fruit and veg looks amazing.

We headed back down the road towards Pitlochry and stopped in Blair Atholl to look at the water wheel.

There was no water running through the burn at all…. Would you believe that this is the reason…

Maybe we got their rain in Ayrshire??? I feel like it’s rained all winter… just shows you!

Our next stop was the River Garry Bridge. It’s soooo high up!! this is the view looking north.

Looking south is so very different.

Then chauffeur Dad drove us to Faskally wood where I got a few photos of Loch Faskally.

We went back to the caravan for a quick pit stop to wait for my train home.

It’s started to rain by the time we got to the station to wait on the train.

We mucked about with the mini flower train!

As we waited the Royal Scotsman train pulled into Pitlochry heading north. It is stunning and as dad pointed out, everything that could be painted, has been painted! Click that link and get a look. It’s lovely.

If you zoom in, everything underneath it is spotless, every window had been cleaned, it’s an old train that’s pretty immaculate!

Think I’ll have to stick to the Inter7city for now!!

I’ve just pulled into Stirling but this is a direct train to Glasgow so I don’t have to get off here.

I’ve had a lovely day with Mum and Dad! I love that we are making new memories together. That feels important to me.

We need to plan our next adventure!

Only another hour and 45 until I’m home to Craig and the pupper bunch!

Have a great weekend!

Stay safe everyone ♥️♥️♥️