Page 16 - Shining On Winter 2022

My final destination was the seaside town of Lossiemouth, famous for its fantastic beaches and also for
its Typhoon and Poseidon
squadrons, which represent one
half of the UK’s Quick Reaction
Alert system – protecting the
country’s northern airspace, I
expect they’re kept fairly busy but
there was no sign of anything
untoward during my brief visit. My
career in affordable / social housing,
which started in the Garden of
England before moving north of the
border, closed a few years ago, and
I was lucky to have had an office in
Lossiemouth which I made it my
business to visit at least once a
week – the photos will explain why!

Although dusk was falling very
unusually the temperature was holding up but it was time to make tracks for Inverurie. Initially the A96
lived up to my expectations and I immediately got caught up in a tailback, which fortunately disappeared
after 5 or 6 miles. Nearing home, with the peak of Bennachie over my right shoulder this time, I saw a
biker parked up in a remote layby and I wondered if assistance was required. His Harley Springer Softail
(I think) had run out of petrol but the rider had already phoned for help. So the stranded biker and I just
had a blether (the OED translates this as “talk in a long-winded way without making very much sense”,
which is Col to a T! Ba) while we waited for his mate to turn up. One of the beauties of solo riding is you
can please yourself when and where you stop, how long for, and for me at least it makes you chat to
other bikers – at our age there’s always a back story.

So the bike is back in the garage but not yet ready for its final clean of the year. Now that November is
living up to its billing the heated jacket and winter gloves will be on if I get the chance for a run out in
what’s left of 2022.

(The photos are of Portsoy Bay, Cullen Bay, Spey Bay and a couple from Lossiemouth, in that order.)

*Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ (Harry Lauder)

I've seen lots of bonnie lassies on my travels wide,
But my heart is centred noo on bonnie Kate McBride,
Although I'm not a fella that would throw a word away,
I surprise myself sometimes at all I've got to say,
Roamin' in the gloamin' by the bonnie banks o' Clyde,
Roamin' in the gloamin' wi' ma lassie by ma side…

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