Sterling

Four years ago we visited Findhorn when Danielle was attending an event at the Findhorn Foundation. She was booked in to appear at an event this month only for the Foundation to cancel it. As we had an airB&B booked for the week we came up anyway. Findhorn is a really beautiful place, and Culbin Forest across the bay is magical, with the forest coming down to the sea. 

On our way up we stayed at Stirling University to break the journey. We were surprised to share the hotel with both the Swiss and Ukraine cycle teams from the world championships. a Ukrainian gave me a bidon to give to Nataliia. We walked around the lake at the centre of the campus (that does rather put York's duck ponds to shame). Here is the lake, with the Wallace monument in the distance; we walked up to see it in the afternoon.

Listening to Brian Smith, one of the cycling commentators on GCN, he mentioned that there is an Italian restaurant at the foot of the monument that has a number of cycling jerseys of famous cyclists framed on its wall; including one of his when he rode the Giro for Motorola in the 90s. So I popped in for a couple of espressos to take out, and asked if I could have a look. They happily allowed me to take a look, then I told the owner that Brian had mentioned it on the TV, "aye, but he said have a meal and look at the jersey, not too measly espressos" A fine fellow.