<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-4570" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/mx5-rfoct17-200x150.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>It's six months since I was here last and the journey up in the MX5 was very straightforward. As on previous trips I head for Tesco Carlisle where I can have a coffee and get a sandwich deal to eat on the roadside once I get beyond Perth. Once I reached Grantown on Spey I stopped to put the roof down so that I could really appreciate the twists and turns up to Forres.

Part of the reason for my visit was to take a look at Jude's final year art exhibition. She earned a first class honours degree. The artwork on display by her fellow students was very diverse. Below is a gallery of items that I liked or found interesting.

[gallery type="rectangular" size="medium" ids="5072,5069,5073,5074,5071,5068"]

<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-06-24-14.47.27.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-thumbnail wp-image-5067" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/2018-06-24-14.47.27-200x150.jpg" alt="" width="200" height="150" /></a>Another reason for the visit was to travel part of the North Coast 500. As the name implies it is a road trip around the north coast of Scotland and to go the whole distance, stopping to appreciate the landscape would take several days. At this time of year most places are already booked so I followed Tony and Jude in their Caterham from Forres via Inverness and Acnashee to Ullapool. If you enjoy driving then this is a "must do" journey. The roads are relatively quiet and where there is traffic, there are plenty of places to overtake if you're prepared to put the pedal to the metal. Long sweeping bends alongside lochs and coastal inlets add to the thrills. Needless to say I didn't stick to the speed limit but I'm not prepared to write down a number that would indicate my top speed. We stopped in Ullapool for lunch (glorious wall to wall sunshine) and wandered along the quay before climbing back into our respective vehicles and the exhilarating drive back. Definitely a day to remember.