Day Two Chronicles
The Long Way Round
Before we got to Day Two on the Long Way Round, I have to tell you our evening in Dundee wasn’t without incident.
It must be said that we found the folks at Travel Lodge less than helpful, both in looking for accommodation and also their customer service during our overnight stay. The staff were, to say the least, badly furnished for a busy city centre hotel, and when trying to order food – after a protracted and frustrating check in to what can only be described as decidedly average rooms – we found that their chef wasn’t a chef and that the meals ordered by first myself and my partner then Alisdair and his would have a twenty minute gap because, and I quote “we only have one microwave”, leading us to cancel our order and go elsewhere for food. Bear in mind also that a meal for two (two courses) was £30 and you can see, awful service, awful value for money and a terrible advert for Travel Lodge. For someone who has spent time recently in Holiday Inn’s and Jury Inn’s, this was by far the worst hotel I’ve been in. Alisdair himself – not known for subtly, mincing words or infinite patience – was particularly perturbed by the awful service. I ate some peanuts.
However, eventually we got fed and lay our weary heads down, to rise in the morning to, it has to be said, a far better breakfast in a busier-than-we-thought hotel. Gawd knows what the other guests had done as when we’d originally got there the place seemed empty with only two members of staff on!
But onwards with the Highland leg of The Long Way Round, and we set off early doors for the quick five minute trip from our accommodation to Tannadice and Dundee Utd.
We were met there by Paul Reid – a man many will know from his football impressions and his collaboration with Darren Farley and their song The Seventh Best Team In The World (follow him on twitter @paulreidspeaker), and he was a charming, friendly and attentive host, showing us all around Tannadice. It’s a fine stadium, and the luxury of the Chairman’s office is impressive, as is the nice psychological advantage they give themselves with a massive Utd collage at the players entrance. A fabulous welcome by Paul and Rikki too, we had a great time.
Al, Paul Reid and Ed in Tannadice
Us at the Tannadice Tunnel
Luxury for Stephen Thompson!
Up the road we travelled then to Aberdeen and again we were shown great hospitality, being shown around the ground, the backroom areas and seeing some secrets – for instance, the media board for post match interviews is in a very smelly boot room! We tried hard not to sabotage Mark Reynolds boots. We were lucky enough to chat to a couple of players – including Frazer Fyfie, himself recovering from an injury sustained at Fir Park. Whilst there, we noticed that Johnny Fallon was being photographed with none other than The Scottish Cup, and, thanks to my partner chancing her arm, we were blessed with the opportunity to hold it too! A dream come true for this fan boy. Thanks Lorraine!
The Dandy Dons make us welcome!
Frazer Fyfie joins the cause!
See? Claret and Amber DID lift the Scottish Cup this year!
Onwards across country then to Inverness, behind our deadline now thanks to the hospitality of Utd and the Dandy Dons, so once we got there unfortunately everyone had gone. A quick pic, and we were off, North, to Dingwall, and again we were overwhelmed by the hospitality of the SPL new boys, as we were shown around the ground, given a tour of the work being done to get their stadium to SPL standard, and presented with some goodies for eBay. A quick coffee (Alisdair’s 43683 of the two days, no wonder he was grouchy!) and we sped away, south, to McDiarmid Park and St Johnstone.
SHUT!
Even Terry’s away hame!
Victoria Park welcomes the SPL!
The new stand under construction at Dingwall
A snarl up on the beautiful A9 caused us to lose more time, and we reached Perth way too late for anyone to be around, but we got our photo and headed off home, back to Fir Park just as the skies opened and the rain came down.
Ranald presents us with our Ross Country goodies.
Perth
All in all everyone was fabulous with us. With the exception of Hearts and St Mirren, everyone was where they said they’d be when they said they would be, and for ICT and St Johnstone, it was down to us being behind schedule, not them. Hibs especially were very accommodating, after we went off-route to get to them leading to us being very late, they stayed behind to present us with our signed shirt, which has raised £50 for Sport Relief.
Hame again! Knackered!!!
We did it! And fittingly, under the gaze of Uncle Phil
So that was The Long Way Round. Would we do it again…
Stay tuned… I may do something altogether “different”…
Forever Claret and Amber
Eddie
VFTES
Back where we belong – a little late, but eventually got into Fir Park.
Remember you can still contribute to The Long Way Round – HERE
And catch up on our adventure HERE
STEELTOWN: Voices from the East Stand 