Europe 2016 Sept 9th Day 12 Edinburgh whiskey tour

Up at a reasonable hour this morning and a pleasant brekky in the flat before walking to Waterloo Terrace to meet our Rabbies Malt whiskey tour. Booked in and then a good coffee while waiting to board. Love the fact a number of cafes have a large pot of porridge which they just ladle from, into a bowl and then top with fruit compote or honey. If you like porridge that is.
Got onto the small bus and immediately issues. Large guy sat down heavily next to me and broke his seat back. Sheared the bolt straight through. Was a new Mercedes 16 seater and very nice but they got us out and got another bus exactly the same after 15 minutes. Mick apologising all the time. Onto the new bus and large Danish woman whined about back issues and needing reclining seat. Mick kept the front one free for her because it did but she wouldn't listen and went straight to the back of the bus exclaiming in perfect English how bad her back was and how she couldn't sit for long. But as soon as someone said anything to her or Mick tried to explain she said "speak to my husband I don't speak English", all in perfect English. This is going to be fun. ;-)
On our way and Mick immediately started sprouting forth innumerable facts about Scotland, Kings and Queens, local area and anything anyone wanted to know. Both the drivers, guides so far have had such fantastic knowledge that they willingly share and makes the trip great. Went past the Falkirk horses sculpture "the Kelpies", very impressive and stopped below Stirling Castle for a photo opportunity and to see some highland cattle. Not long and we were at Glengoyne distillery.
Lovely old traditional distillery at the base of the Highlands and we had a great tour through the whole place with explanation of the process by Hannah from Belgium ? One of the few independently owned distillery's left apparently that haven't been gobbled up by the conglomerates. Then back for our couple of tastings back in the shop. Generous quantity too of the 10 and 15 year Olds, very nice.
It was then off to Loch Lomond in the rain via lovely back roads before arriving at the small (tiny) township of Balmaha on the south eastern banks of the loch. We had some lunch at the Oak Tree Inn before a short stroll around the banks before heading back to the bus as the short interlude in the rain ceased. From here it was a nice trip through picturesque countryside to the town of Doune on the river Teith to tour the Deanston distillery.
I forgot to mention before, that this was a Malt Whiskey tour with 16 people on board. At Glengoyne only 6 of us did the distillery tour and now at Deanston only Jane and myself did the tour so they put us in with the other group. Why do a Whiskey tour if your not going to look at the distillery's or at least taste???? Go figure as I can't. While we did the tour Mick took the rest of the group to look at a  Castle ruin that was supposedly used in "Outlander" ?
The Deanston distillery is an old early 1800's converted cotton mill and was not the romantic notion of a distillery. But an enjoyable tour al the same by young Scot; Gregor, who explained the history of the building and the distillation process well, when he could be heard above the bloody Germans ;-). A group of 6 guys aged 40+ obviously on a drinking tour with one guy translating into german everything Gregor said at the top of his voice. The Old mill at one stage had the largest water wheels in Europe to drive the cotton  equipment. At the end of the tour we had another couple of generous tastings, the 12 and 15 year Olds as well as a lovely 18 year old Ledaig which was much peatier and so smooth from a sister distillery.
It was then back on the bus and on to Edinburgh, arriving around 6.30. Still light as these Scots are educated people and realise that daylight savings will NOT fade the curtains or create issues with the bus timetables.
It was still wet and windy, so after dropping the gear off at the flat we grabbed a pizza from across the road at Ruscitanos and sat back to watch the Last Leg with a bottle of vino. Jane went to bed while I caught up on some photo backup and blog writing while watching the Paralympics in the background. Suddenly checked the time and 11.40pm, definitely time for bed.
Ahhhh. great day.