Reality Strikes

After 9 days of being lulled into a fall sense of comfort by moderate weather and inland locations, Scout & I got our first taste of what the next two years will feel like. We stopped in the Highland coastal village of Golspie to have some lunch (yet another Tesco sandwich – I’ve decided the basic bacon and ketchup is my favorite) and stretch our legs at the beach. Well, we stepped out of the car, the wind came up, the rain came down, and oh my God it was . . . . we’ll say invigorating. My planned 40 minute stroll along the seawall turned into 8 minutes of my begging Scout to hurry up and do her business, followed by a mad dash back to the now slightly steamy car. That’s when we saw the polar bears. No not ursus maritimus, but two ladies in bathing suits running into the sea for a 10-minute swim. Mad.

Our next break was also a beach, and was much better that time: (a) no rain, and (b) I had added 2 layers of clothing from the bottom of a suitcase. The tide was going out at Thurso, so while we waited for the ferry, Scout had the time of her life.