After a week of peace and tranquility (apart from Tuesday; thanks Iain!), it was time to head for home.

The usual 6am start for the 0715 check in for the Pentalina went as well as can be expected; and despite 25mph winds, the crossing was good; affording decent views of Thursday trip to Flotta to orientate our trip there with the more familiar view.

To Wick to drop Her off for the midday train to reality and onwards to Tain for a blip meet at Piper's with Arclight and Mr A.

Suitably restored by chat and tea and toast, we continued via a bloody pod change for Alex on to Grantown on Spey for our first encounter with the Highland League.

Strathspey Thistle v Forres Mechanics - two teams bang out of form with both having already lost their opening three games of the season; Strathspey also on the back of a season of a mere 10 points from a 34 game season and a negative goal difference in excess of 100....!

6-0 to the visitors at half time, this turned out to be the game of 2 halves, with the wind being the influencing factor.  Strathspey actually won the 2nd half 1-0, but their first half display obviously left them still pointless. 

**Point to note - do not miss the sausage rolls at Strathspey -home made (?) - significantly more meat, an almost fist shaped / sized lump of sausage meat with a thin wrap of pastry around it - straight into Alex's top 3 football food list. High praise indeed (the Hull City pulled pork burger still reigns supreme for now, though). The lack of bovril at Seafield Park  counts against them, though.

After the game, it was back onto the A9, we ignored the lure of chips at Bruar (everyone still stuffed with sausage roll) and were in Edinburgh for 2030 and the exam unveiling

Apart from the absence of Geography on the list (hardly a surprise) there were 4 passes, including the troublesome Nat5 Maths - phew!. 

Chips from Javits / beds made / showers / Championship football / spark out.

*****extra - @nonleaguedogs   *****

Thanks for all the interactions for the 2.5K blip t'other day - you're all very lovely. Mwah mwah mwah