We’ve made it to Scotland!

The Brucatos Go To the Orkneys 2023

 

Wow!  What a day!  The forecast was for periods of rain and something called “bright” – wasn’t exactly sure what that as, but it made for an interesting day!  

 

Up about 6 (to the alarm, although I was up before it went off).    Showered, totally repacked and organized, and ready to go down for breakfast about 7:15 am.  One of the best benefits of being a Hilton Diamond member are the free breakfasts (and free drinks in the evenings are good, too).  In this case, the hotel had a truly yummy breakfast buffet, with lots of good choices.  I opted for the perfectly scrambled eggs, ham (which R says is the what the Brits call “bacon”), a sausage, what looked to be a McDonald’s hash brown (but wasn’t), and wonderful cooked mushrooms.  I also got fresh fruit as well as orange juice and really terrific hot chocolate.  Definitely enough food for the day, that’s for sure!  

 

Out of the hotel and on our way North by about 8:30 am.  There was quite a bit of traffic, but we made very good time all in all.  The weather was incredible – we had some blue sky and beautiful sunshine – and then it would start to rain – sometimes for 45 – 60 seconds – it would come down torrentially – and then, just as quickly as it started, it would stop!  While we normally prefer to stay off motorways, as we were making our way up to Scotland today, and basically just wanted to “get there” – we stayed on the Motorways … definitely busy, especially until we got past, what Robert calls “the Pools” – Liver, Black and I’m sure there are others … Motor, Car, etc.  The York Dales and the Lake District Hills were really beautiful!

 

We stopped once at a Service area where we picked up some sundries that we needed – more toothpaste, water, Kleenex, and then a second time, around 11:30, we got off in Stoke-on-Trent at a shopping area.  Here we not only filled up the car with gas (sorry … petrol!) but we also hit the ATM for pounds and the ASDA (BIG department/grocery store) for a few other needed items. All in all, a very successful stop!  

 

Finally, we crossed into Scotland about 3-ish!!!  Incredible!  Had some truly incredible rain passing through the Pennines, but at least the traffic was light.  We got to our hotel – The Doubletree, on the outskirts of Glasgow, just a few minutes after 4.  We were upgraded to a nice suite, which is lovely – the problem is – and it is a problem, because remember, we’re from Arizona?!  It’s like a MEAT LOCKER in our room!  Settled in, R set up the computer, and then down for dinner about 6 pm here at the hotel.  We stopped at the desk to request a space heater (which hasn’t shown up yet, and I truly have my doubts) … but honesty, the people here at the hotel think it’s actually HOT out!!!).  Their restaurant is called simply, “The Space” and it was excellent!


My breakfast

R's breakfast

Heading north

Gorse everywhere!

 

Yorkshire Dales


Pennines




We made it!

My new favorite Scottish town!



Great tomato soup and bread

R's filet and chips

My beef is under there somewhere!



We both started with bowls of their homemade tomato soup – basically because we were so COLD!  In fact, in one of the photos, I’m wearing my COAT!!  From there, R had their 8 oz. steak with chips and grilled tomatoes.  I had their steak pie with mashed potatoes and peas.  Both were piping hot and R’s steak was perfectly cooked:  That is, rare.  I couldn’t even finish my pie, but all of R’s steak disappeared, and neither of us had any room for dessert!  All washed down with a glass of Shiraz for R and a glass of merlot for me!  Yum!  We did pick up a couple of Yorkie bars in the bar on the way back up to the room – the first for this trip, but they definitely won’t be the last!!  Now to post, and get ready for bed!  

 

m

xxx


Editor Note:  No space heaters!  Oh my!  HUGE duvet though, so don't think we'll freeze!

Hopefully...



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