While at dinner the previous night, we’d discussed what we were to do on the second day of our holiday. We had to get some shopping done, that much was obvious, and we could use that as a good excuse to take a better look at Inverness.
Pete was adamant that he wanted to have a row in the boat. This was something we were all happy to do, weather permitting, and we pencilled that in for our after breakfast activity. We’d get up, have some breakfast, row the boat, nip into town and then head home for dinner and board games. Lovely.
We set a wake up time of no later than 9AM, returned home to play Scrabble and then retired to bed. I thought that I’d try and get up a tad early and set my alarm to 7:30, with the goal being to have a wash so that there would be less danger of bathroom congestion. My alarm when off at 7:30 and I promptly switched it off and went back to sleep. Ah, the best laid plans eh?
I naturally awoke at about 8:50AM, which is either an incredible testament to my body clock or a case of good old fashioned luck. The travelling the previous day had clearly tuckered me out more than I had realised. Adam appeared to be even more knackered than me, as he lay in his bed not stirring.
Voices down in the kitchen led me to believe that Pete and Luc had awoken. Either that or one of them was up and talking to himself, which I didn’t think was likely. I ventured downward to find Luc and Pete both awake and in different states of alertness. Pete was up and rearing to go where as Luc looked like he would like another hour in bed.
When we had arrived the previous day, the cleaner had dropped off some local bacon, sausage and eggs. Luc decided to cook these up while we waited for Adam to stir, which he promptly did soon after. We looked outside to see that it was overcast and rainy. Though this didn’t conspire to make the Loch look any less beautiful than it already did, it didn’t really look like boat riding weather.
A decision was made to eat breakfast, go to Inverness first to give the weather a chance to improve and then head out boating in the afternoon. Luc cooked up the bacon and sausages and it was genuinely some of the nicest food I’d ever had. There was a natural saltiness to the bacon and the sausages were both succulent and meaty. We set off to town well fed and raring to go.
Pete kindly said that he would handle the driving and we set off on the best route the GPS could provide us. This seemed to take us on an outside route that bypassed the route we had taken the day before when reaching the cottage. The view on this journey was considerably more scenic as it took us along the side of a hill that I sadly was unable to get the name off and by the side of a Loch. It wasn’t Loch Ness but it was certainly a large one regardless. Had there been time, I probably would have found out just for information’s sake, but we were in the middle of a near 50 minute journey and there wasn’t really anywhere to pull over. The scenery was incredible though, as if there’d be any doubt to it being otherwise.
We passed a giant Tesco, upon which we planned to visit on the way back, on the outskirts of town and continued onward for 5 minutes or so until we spotted the river and realised we’d hit the City Centre. One complaint I will have about Inverness is that it’s difficult to find free or cheap parking, but then again that’s a complaint you could level at most cities. In the end we left the car in a small Tesco Express car park that was about a 2-3 minute walk from the River Ness Bridge. Naughty I know, but we’d had a look around for street parking and had no joy, so we got creative.
There were two main bridges that traversed the River. The larger one, known as Ness Bridge, was what we used to cross over to the main shopping district, but there was another bridge that was about 2-3 minutes further down.
Pete did what he normally does whenever he visits somewhere, and headed straight for the Charity Shops. Pete is a dedicated Charity Shopper and has a keen eye for spotting a bargain. We had briefly lived together in a flat just besides Parrs Wood in Stockport. It was a mere 10 minute walk or so away was Didsbury, a rather well to do part of Manchester, where Pete would often spend his Sunday mornings travailing the Charity Shops and usually picking up some genuine good deals.
Pete made his way to the Charity Shops while myself and Adam inspected a bizarre architectural design outside the shops and besides Debenhams. It was a model of a boat but once that was sinking. It seemed to be almost completely out of place but also seemed to completely belong as well.
Pete’s desire to visit the shops became quickly apparent. Well aware that the eventual voyage on the rowing boat may in fact be a messy one, Pete had decided to buy a cheap pair of pants for a pound or so that he wouldn’t mind getting messy while on the boat. Myself, Luc and Adam decided that this would also be a good idea and promptly bought some of our own. I bought a plain t-shirt and a pair of brown trousers for a grand sum on £1.50. Mistakenly though, I did not try the trousers on, a mistake that would later come back to haunt me.
We then ventured into a nearby souvenir shop and had a look at the assorted Scottish Themed Merch that the shop was trying to sell. I had a look in case they had any merchandise for Inverness Caledonian Thistle, the areas local Football Team, but I was left disappointed. There was, however, a fair bit of Rangers and Celtic merchandise available for purchase. The fact that both these teams played all the way down in Glasgow had not seemed to come into consideration when the shop was opened. It would be like going to Newcastle and finding the shop only had Manchester United and Manchester City stuff for sale.
Among the bizarre football related tat for sale were hats, scarves, mugs and, I promise this is not a joke, rubber ducks. Yes, rubber…ducks. Who on Earth is travelling all the way to Inverness to buy a Glasgow Rangers rubber duck? If you have in fact done this, please feel free to send me a stamp addressed envelope detailing all of the drugs you took that day when you travelled into town to make the purchase.
Luc, Pete and Adam, happy with their Charity Shop togs, decided to head to the Tourist Information Centre. I briefly hung back and sent a text to 118 118, asking for the address of the Inverness Caley club shop and its opening times. I was told the shop was next to the stadium and was usually opened till 5PM. I was also provided with a number to call the club. I promptly did while the lads looked in the Tourist Centre, and got confirmation that there would indeed be someone there until at least 5PM. I made a quick note, and continued onward.
As we continued to explore, we passed a Shoe Zone and decided to go in. Knowing that we likely were going to be doing some walking in the wilderness, I felt it prudent to pick up a pair of walking shoes. My old pair had long since bit the dust. As it turned out, Adam hadn’t brought any either, so we promptly bought two pairs of decent walking boots for a mere £25. Satisfied with that, I also nipped to another souvenir shop to buy my mum a postcard.
Postcards are now quite an antiquated way of conversing while on holiday, but my mum often still sent ones to me while she was vacationing. I felt she’d appreciate me doing the same, so I found the silliest card I could and sent it to her first class, so she’d definitely get it before I got home. It was a card with the famous blurry back and white picture of the Loch Ness Monster on it. Believe it or not that used to scare me a bit when I was a nipper.
With most of our business conducted in the City, Pete had a surprise for us. While researching things to do prior to our journey, Pete has discovered something quite brilliant. Stan Fraser, a marine fanatic living on the outskirts of town, had built a scale model of the Titanic, yes THAT Titanic, in his back garden. http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/titanic-museum-in-back-garden-a-top-attraction.21474100
Not only had Stan built this but he’d also built an assortment of other marine themed attractions as well as essentially turning his house into a mini Titanic museum. On top of it all, it was free to get in. He was up-keeping this incredible place and not even asking a penny for admission! We simply walked through his front gate, walked into his house and he let us loose in the museum. He’d amended his hallway into a makeshift reception area.
It truly was incredible to think about all the time he must have spent on this place. Not only that, this place was open every day of the year except for Christmas Day and New Years Day. This man was running a living, breathing tourist attraction in his back garden and he was doing it all year round! I’m almost certain that even if someone did pop round on Christmas Day, he’d probably let him in to look at the ships while he tucked into his Christmas Dinner.
There was an area provided where you could make tea and coffee that had a collection box. I emptied my pockets to show my gratitude. I would recommend anyone that may be reading this to visit Stan’s back garden. Just keep an eye on your kids, especially if it’s west as the boats can get quite slippy
That’s enough for one chapter. I’ll go into more detail about our day trip to the City in my next one
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