Day 21 - Sunday 19 March - John O’Groats and Thurso

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Today was unexpectedly and very happily turned topsy turvy. We were about to head out this morning when Shannon instigated a full family face time, which was just lovely, especially as it is Mothers Day over here. So we all chatted for over an hour, catching up on everyone’s goings on.

Then Sheila came in and offered us a chance to have a real meal with lots of vegies. We’d had a conversation about the lack of veggies in pub meals and all the local dining places are booked out for Mothers Day. Sheila’s son had a booking for today at a buffet, but his fiancée had her hens night last night and is not feeling up to dining out today, so they offered us their booking. So lucky!!

So we abandoned our plans. Tom wanted to revisit the lighthouse because there was no mist today - and we had two unexpected encounters there. The first was a local man we exchanged pleasantries with, then he asked us about our accents, and where we were from. We said west of Sydney and then he told us he had a cousin who was a chef in the Blue Mountains! Andrew Street who died recently apparently. Still no puffins Dee - the local said they should be out soon, springs just a bit delayed

Then a lady approached saying she recognised our accents. She’s on a 3 month holiday from Australia - living in Perth with her ex RAAF hubby, lived in Penrith for some time years ago.

From there we mosied on down to John O’Groats, passing through lots of town lands from my family tree. It had quite a few people there. we saw a bunny running along the road on our way

By then it was time to return to Thurso to our unexpected roast meal with ALL the veg - red cabbage, carrots, neeps, potatoes, mushrooms, broccoli and Brussel sprouts. Heaven. AND I got a glass of free prosecco (honestly it should always be free, coloured water!). And that was our day.

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