Yesterday, we drove from Inverness to Perth. Part of our route was along the Old Military Road through the Cairngorms National Park. What a beautiful area. Starkly beautiful on the heights, where little grows but heather, pastorally beautiful in the glens, where there’s pasture for sheep, the occasional cow, and red deer. I saw two by a stream, but didn’t have a chance for a photo.

We spent the night in Perth in another lodge, more spacious than Skye Lodges (but with so weak a wifi signal it only allowed messages), so we hauled in all our luggage and repacked for the trip home. Of course, there was an opportunity for more shopping today, so we had a porter help bring our bags up to our room to rearrange once again.

The shopping opportunity came at Scone Palace today. We elected to just tour the grounds, not the palace itself. I’m convinced that was because this gave us access to the gift shops. (These girls can shop!) We had said at the outset of the trip that we would try to find rings, matching or similar, to commemorate the trip. We  found them at Scone Palace, the last full day of the trip.

We wandered the gardens, took tons of flower pictures, got lost in the maze, had a picnic on some steps on the  grounds, were harrassed by tame peacocks who wanted our lunch, and before we left, we had tea and scones. It was a lovely, relaxing afternoon.

Then we hit rush hour traffic around Glasgow, there was a stoppage because of an accident ahead of us, and by the time we reached our hotel near the airport, medicinal gin was required.

The girls have discovered Scottish gin, in particular, a violet gin. Yes, made with violets. And elderflower gin, which we just had with strawberries and lime. I’d love to spell the maker’s name correctly here, but my phone won’t let me. But it’s Boe, with the two little dots over the e. I think that’s called an umlaut, but I’ve had an elderflower G & T, so what do I know!

It’s been a wonderful trip with two of my most favorite people in the world. But we’re all ready to get home to our loved ones, own beds, and our own bathrooms with washcloths!

Highlight pics from yesterday and today might appear on my Jean L. French Facebook page if the hotel wifi signal will send them. Signing off from Scotland.