The group went to the Highlands 10-13 January 2023, in order to bid farewell to Dr Rui Apóstolo after over 7 years of sterling service in the School of Chemistry, first as a PhD student (2015-2019), and then as a PDRA (2019-2022). Rui is now an HPC Applications Consultant at Edinburgh Parallel Computing Centre. The group assembled early on the Tuesday morning for the lengthy drive up to the accommodation in the village of Kincraig. No one had anticipated how interesting the soundtrack would be for the road trip. Young people, honestly...
Straight away, it was apparent that the top find of the trip would be the Newtonmore Grill. What a place! What a menu! What service! After some pretty hefty lunches, the group carried on to Kincraig. Following a check-in at the house, and a trip to find provisions in Aviemore just up the road, it was time to crack out the beer and whisky. Driving is thirsty work! Philip disappeared during a break in the rain to be a good gopnik, and explore the graveyard at Alvie & Insh church nearby.
Wednesday was about castles, bridges, and distilleries. After a solid breakfast of scrambled eggs and bacon, there was a clamber around Castle Roy, and a stop at the Visitor Centre in Nethy Bridge. There was time to find some snacks before the distillery tour, but New Year reopening happens a bit later in the Highlands than in Edinburgh, and options were limited. Fortunately the village shop (Spar) in Carrbridge was a hive of activity (read total effing chaos) and it was possible to find something to line the stomach before heading to Tomatin Distillery, notably dodgy coffee, Empire biscuits, bourbon creams, and (for one loony) pickled onion Monster Munch®. The distillery tour was interesting, and the guide Rosemary was very engaging and entertaining. There was tension in the room when Rosemary said that she didn't like viscosity, but otherwise, it was a relaxed afternoon. After stocking up on malty supplies in the shop, it was time to find ingredients for dinner. Angie and Jonathan cooked up some really good halušky, the wood fire got lit, some games got played, and some whisky got drunk...
Thursday was wildlife day. First, there was a visit to Cairngorm Alpacas, and then to the Highland Wildlife Park. Cairngorm Alpacas has, er, alpacas, baby goats, and a small dachshund. It was a pleasant hour horsing around with the animals, who put up with the intrusion in order to get treats. There was just enough time to for a quick brunch at The Grill, and then there was a drive around the Wildlife Park, getting up close and personal with the bison and other animals not inclined to T-bone a car, before walking around the rest of the park, and seeing polar bears, snow leopards, mountain goats, wolverines, and tigers. Somehow or other, after only two nights in Kincraig, the groceries were piling up. So, the final night's dinner was a hash-up of potatoes, flour, eggs, bacon, crème fraîche, and various snacks. Fortunately, that meant that potato pancakes were on the menu, and so no one starved. Also, no one went thirsty.
Final-day - Friday the 13th. This was the mega road trip up to Inverness, down Loch Ness to Urquhart Castle, and then back to Edinburgh. Surprisingly, the weather was very good. Heretofore, it has been left implicit that the weather was typical for the Highlands in January. But Friday was great, quite sunny, and bordering on pleasant to be outside. Which was good, because there is plenty to see at Urquhart Castle. After plenty of citadel-, loch-, and people-related photography, the group went for a nice lunch in Drumnadrochit, and then embarked on the long drive home. There were stop-offs in Fort Augustus (ducks, end of a loch, end of a canal) and Spean Bridge (Commando Memorial, views), but the light was fading fast, and so after some glimpses of heavy snow on the mountain tops, it was time to get moving. Unfortunately, there was neither the time nor the energy for a quick detour to The Grill, but we'll be back... More music and sporadic napping brought the group back to Edinburgh. Unfortunately, dropping people off near Tynecastle on a match night is not very convenient, and so there was as much rallying around west Edinburgh as there was on the winding roads between Spean Bridge and the A9 at Dalwhinnie.
All round, it was a very enjoyable RuiFest, which nicely bookended Rui's time with the group: his very first exposure to the group was DoigFest, Oban, in September 2015!
