30/9/14
Through my bedroom window I look across a grey Loch Linnhe. Jeffrey is here to take photographs . I’m here as an accompanying spouse; to relax, draw, write, read and appreciate beautiful Scotland. We will be moving to Skye tomorrow and I have already emailed ahead to try and arrange a whale spotting trip.
We came to Edinburgh by train yesterday and drove here today through the National Park of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Autumn is more evident here than in East Anglia. We left Edinburgh in warm, bright sunshine but reached a broad band of rain clouds as we made our way across. In the sunshine the mountains are patched with brown and green bracken. The clouds started to glower over the mountains but we decided to go via the coast rather than Rannoch moor. I planned to go to the moor and Glencoe tomorrow but now I’m not sure if it will be possible as we are leaving at eleven. I don’t think I can come so close to Glencoe and forgo a visit. The Weeping Glen is one of my favourite places and these dark clouds create the perfect weather to appreciate it. Jeffrey suggest we will be going that way on the route back to Edinburgh so I don’t have to get up at 6.00 to join their photo shoot.
I brought my drawing tools with me so I spend some time trying to capture the small pebbled beach outside the hotel. I fail. It is a scene for watercolours really but I want to learn how to use the coloured pencils. Perseverance is required.
1/10/14
This morning the rain has cleared and the mountains opposite are shades of rust and olive with dull blue-green patches of conifers stretched across. Yesterday everything was shades of grey. Now I can see three or four layers of hills stretching out to pale fawn as they recede. We are off to Skye today. The bad news is that the whale watching company replied to say they are not going out for the foreseeable future because of the weather. I will have another attempt to find a boat trip when we get to Skye. At least I should be able to see sea eagles and seals.