14th July 2021
A monster drive lay ahead. Clocking in at around 3 hours and 41 minutes (on paper), it was the longest single drive of the entire trip, bar the drive up which went from 3 drives to one thanks to the NHS (see Day 1). I was up before 8, having had a shocking nights sleep (or lack thereof). We got packed, showered and went for breakfast. As with dinner, not an enthralling meal. Ash missed it once again, as he was not feeling up to it. We finally set off at 20 past 10. To help keep me awake during this long drive, Shani and Erin promptly fell asleep. It was a scenic start as we passed by the southern tip of the Cairngorms, but this quickly turned into main roads and lots of traffic, which to date we had managed to avoid. We had a couple of stops, one of which was very notable indeed.
We found what must be one of the last remaining proper truck stops, the Ballinluig Motorgrill. Located on the A9, south of Pitlochry, it was the highlight of this particular drive. The ladies that ran it were not only the waitresses but also the chefs. They treated everyone as though they were at home, thoroughly mothering us all. The food was fantastic, and well priced. In all, a pure joy. We tanked up with fuel and set off for Edinburgh. We entered the city by crossing the new Forth Bridge, with the other two bridges in view, its an epic way to enter a city.
Like any major city, parking is a nightmare. After a bit of messing around we manage to find some free on-street parking. The car was too tall for the open pay & display car parks, thanks to the roof box. We then stretched our legs and had a stroll down Princes Street. For me this was a personal goal, as I got to see some of the places Fish sang about on his ‘Internal Exile’ album (& song) – I Saw A Blue Umbrella in Princes Street Gardens, Heading Out West For The Lothian Road’. Seeing the gardens and the Lothian Road, the song ran through my head.
It was a blazing hot day, so some ice creams were in order. This was followed up by some shopping where I purchased a lead crystal Dram glass and a couple of maps. We dined in the very non-traditional 5 Guys before heading to our hotel, the Dalmahoy Hotel & Country Club. This is a beautiful hotel, and has an amazing golf course attached to it. We did not play. Once checked in we chilled out, had a drink, and planned for day 9. Despite the long day and long drive, I didn’t hit the hay until just before midnight.