Tin Tabernacles of 2024 #18 & #19

I'm writing a lot again but please don't feel you have to read it all. It's for my own records. 

Last night our house and dog sitters, an American couple who live in Portugal, arrived. They're experienced house sitters so are completely on the ball. They've been to Scotland a lot and to Stirling a couple of times and are delighted to be back. They also love dogs and have already sent a report of Flora's day. We feel sure that she's in good hands. 

A big day in our family as both five year olds started at their respective primary schools. The nine year old started her P5 year. Lots of happy photos and a couple of more anxious ones but everyone had a good day. 

We left home before 09:00. The plan had been to catch a train to Inverness then change to another train to Thurso. However the second train was cancelled. Disappointing as we've never been on that train line and had really been looking forward to the trip. We looked at the options but none fitted (or were affordable). So we got in the car and drove to Thurso stopping at Newtonmore and Brora on the way. 

Because we were in the car I'd decided to look for some tin tabernacles. The car's satnav took us on a rather challenging route along a poorly maintained forestry track with monster potholes but we eventually reached the hamlet of Kinbrace in Sutherland . 

The main is the Kinbrace village hall, formerly a United Free Church and then a Church of Scotland Mission Hall. It has a huge, empty hinterland. The first extra is the mission house in Kinbrace which was the CoS manse. The second extra is now the Strath Halladale village hall, formerly the Strathy and Halladale United Free Church and then a Church of Scotland Mission. 

I chatted to the woman who now lives in the mission house. She was so pleased I'd asked if it was ok to photograph her home. She said that most people don't bother and just snap away. 

We're now in a comfortable B&B in Thurso. The weather has been glorious all day. The Pentland Firth is deep blue and the hills and cliffs of Hoy are so clear. We're going to head out for a walk and something to eat. Tomorrow we'll park the car at Scrabster and start the public transport adventure. Blip will take a back seat again I'm afraid.