Follow the river

We were up early to make the use of the Spa facilities at The Royal Marine. Afterwards we enjoyed a lovely breakfast in the sunny bistro. I had fresh fruit, followed by porridge and then scrambled eggs , salmon and toast with lashings of tea and orange juice.
Seeing as the day was bright we decided to head North and take a ride following the Helmsdale River . It was beautiful , snow was covering the mountains and the water was flowing quickly between the green fields. We watched two Golden eagles flew over head. We could see rain/snow ahead and then this rainbow appeared. it gradually deepened in intensity and we stopped and looked and then turned round heading back to the sun.
After a drive round to Portmahomack we stopped for a coffee and watched two long tailed ducks diving.
On the way back we stopped for a walk round Nigg Church hoping to see the Standing Stone but the Church is closed until April. There were interesting gravestones, one being carved by Huge Miller. There was a walk called the Bishops walk and the banks were covered in snowdrops and winter aconites. Finished with a fish and chip supper watching the sun go down.