Inverary Lunch with a pal

I drove to Inverary today to have lunch with a pal who lives on the far side of the Mull of Kintyre. I love this drive.

On the way I pass

The head of Loch Long

Lovely trees

 There were lots of oaks still in leaf, the leaves being the same colour at this time of year as the dying bracken. Couldn't find a convenient spot to stop and photograph them though.

The wee Loch Restil

A "balloon boat" (collecting/adjusting mooring buoys) on Loch Fyne

Not a good close-up but you get the idea

And his wake as he curved away

Looking back up Loch Fyne from Inverary. That is wood smoke not rising, just sreading sideways

Here we are in The George

Then after much chatter and exchanges of gifts and a good lunch, as always at The George, I enjoyed my drive home in the fading light.

The old bridge at Inverary, single lane traffic, thus the traffic light

And again with the hillside reflection and the wood smoke still hengin' aboot

Last May that pale part of the hillside across the water was covered with bluebells (Hyacinthoides non-scripta, or Endymion non-scriptus, as it used to be called)

Loch Restil and the winter hillsides in the failing light