Day 8 Journey South

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We had calculated that we are at least 6 hours driving from Golspie to the Edinburgh Tattoo tonight so we started out early heading south down the A9 stopping in Inverness for some Diesel and then another 80 miles south to the “House of Braur“ where we stopped for a break and a bite to eat. The House of Braur is a high quality clothing and food outlet with an amazing array of local foods with dozens of varieties of everything including Pork Pies. After getting the van and ourselves in order, we then proceeded down the A9 to Dunkeld where we exited to make our way to Arbroath but first, an engine alarm flashed on the campervan dash signalling a low “AdBlue” level. AdBlue is an additive used to treat Diesel fuel filters so our main focus became finding some AdBlue which we eventually did at the next service station and refilled the AdBlue reservoir on the spot.

We then continued on to Kirriemuir and visited the Bon Scott Memorial featuring Bon playing the bagpipes as he of course did on the classic tune “Its a long way to the top”. Bon of course was working in Adelaide in June 1974 when he was introduced to Angas and Malcolm Young at the Pooraka Hotel and just like Angas and Malcolm, he had immigrated from Scotland in the 1960’s which in the case of Bon was from Kirriemuir where his family were local bakers.

We then continued on to Arbroath where we caught up with Auncle Chalir, Aunty Joanne, Mlira, Charlene and the kids. Everyone is doing well and in good spirits and Andrew was delighted to obtain some more family history to further progress the family tree. But our time in Arbroath flew past quickly and then got away from us all together as it was 8:00 pm when we left for the Edinburgh Tattoo which started at 9:00 pm. Although we made good time in getting to Edinburgh, finding a park at Haymarket, catching the train to Waverley Station and then climbing the Royal Mile to the castle gates, all we got to see were the fireworks at the end of the performance from the Royal Mile at 10:30 pm. We were a bit deflated after missing the perfromance so after soaking up some of the Edinburgh Fringe atmosphere, we caught the 12:00 am train back to Haymarket and slept overnight in our car park at Haymarket.

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Photos

Arbroath
Uncle Charlie, Aunty Joanne and Moira

Killiemuir
Tish reads about Bon Scott’s journey from Killiemuir to Australia

Arbroath
Charlene plus one

Killiemuir
Andrew at the Bon Scott statue

Pitlochry
Our stop at the House of Brauer

Edinburgh
Watching the performers leaving the Tattoo

Edinburgh
The mass pipes and drums at the Edinburgh Tattoo

Comments

[Barbara]

Hi
Good to hear from you again guys, shame you missed the tattoo, once you get uncle Charlie started you can't get him to stop ! They give you a good welcome tho eh. Andrew your mum always said that you were so much like uncle Charlie. Joan and Moira are looking good as well but Joan doesn't keep too good. Charlenes baby is certainly getting big, did you see Leo ? Hope you are both enjoying your cruise and the weather is kinder to you. Andrew tomorrow is the 8th. Just want to wish you a very happy birthday and hope you have a special day xx