A 6.15am start from the Costa del-Forres, on the Scottish Riviera, navigating the misty Spey Valley, and a pit stop at the Motor-Grill at Ballinluig, north of Perth, provided immaculate timing for a 10.00am arrival at East Fortune. Prepaid tickets ensued a lightning pass of the entry gate where the traditional map is collected. A paper one doesn’t need battery life.

No visit can be complete without a coffee and a delayed breakfast in the Aviator Café, our usual place of “Admin” for any visit. No GPS required, just the proverbial homing instinct, but a nose for a “Bacon Roll” was required. It turns out I was not alone. Soon we two were three. Alison Harrison our newest member had joined us, and so with brief introductions and Alison was guided through how we normally spent the day. We agreed to get on with things and try to do a 10-minute sketch for a lunchtime RV back in the Café.

Alison had started a watercolour of the Hawk, but her pallet had dried but that still allowed a review of Evans’ Typhoon. My B-N languished on the pad as the session turned into a Q&A session with Alison leading the charge.

With time progressing and long journeys ahead, we broke early afternoon for another wander and then to return to our respective destinations. My steam and tiger did not get released for show, so I have included them here.

Email discussions of subjects continued in the weeks after but I was going to build a demo on photographic techniques for the next meeting.

Paul Warrener GAvA
Northern Region Organiser