Scotland, April 2024.

After the hiatus of about five years, we are finally back in Scotland. Boy, have we missed being here. The journey here was, as ever, not that eventful and mainly consisted of us waiting in the car for a boat, looking at the sea, worrying about whether or not the weather would interfere with the trip, if the car would hold up this year, if we would have enough clean clothes with us for the entire journey, or…

…ach, well. We can either stress about things we don’t have any control about, or just get in the car and see what comes on our path. Let’s go with the latter.

Having booked the DFDS ferry from Ijmuiden to Newcastle and a plethora of accommodations way in advance, we were certain of most of the necessary things we would need for the trip. As per usual, we arrived at the DFDS terminal way too early, and had a below average fish and chips at the ‘Kop van de Haven’ restaurant around the corner of the terminal. The waiting game had started again. If you’d think we were anxious to get there, you might be right, you know…

Long story short. Calmest sea in the history of WhiskySpeller. Sailing to Newcastle was smooth. I mean. Very smooth. As smooth as a 30 year old blended grain from That Boutiquey Whisky yours truly may have in his glass at the moment of writing at the bar of the George hotel in Inveraray…