Collieston

This morning a watery sun broke the cloud causing the terns to take flight and the shags on the harbour wall to take an early morning stretch, their black wings like draculas cloak.

Yesterday when we arrived in Arbroath the police drove by the vans twice, this morning the army arrived, word was out that Marge was in town, once around the vans, then stop at the Roasty Toasty for breakfast!

Smokies purchased, we set off for Edzell, a small town where John’s parents lived for a while in the late 1940’s. John’s father worked at the nearby RAF camp.

The house they rented was called Lynnmartin, and it was here that John’s sister Julia was brought home, to, after being delivered at the maternity home in Forfar. After enquiring at the local garage we found the house.

John's mother and sister Julia before the porch was added

The present owner, Cameron, was painting the outside of the house, and was more than pleased to photograph us outside the property, and to hear information about some of the properties previous occupants. By now, it was lunchtime, and we moved to the car park at the park to reheat the smokies in some olive oil. They were delicious, and we were glad we’d stopped off at Arbroath to buy them.

Mid afternoon, we were off again, back to the coast. As we crossed a stone bridge into Aberdeenshire we saw a waterfall on the river Esk. Luckily there was just one space in the small layby nearby.

That’s the joy of travelling in Marge, we can make an impromptu stop whenever we wish. We walked along the riverside path, and down onto the rocks. The tumbling waters the colour of tea, before milk, hastily passed by. What a lucky find we thought, we would never have come this way if it wasn’t for John’s parents.

Our overnight stop is right by the harbour at Collieston, a small cove lies in front of us. Marge is happy, there is another van here for company. Today, we have both been feeling a little bit under the weather, so only took a short walk out around the headland, where the dark rugged rocks sat menacingly.

In the water, jelly fish collected, whilst on the rocks the limpets clung.

The weather is settled now, but we know in the night a change is afoot.