Untitled - Beeldbibliotheek

112 CARAVAN DAYSminds clearly where they are bound for :theyhesitate and weigh alternatives. Others simplywander frivolously. We travelled up the Northside of the Dee to Braemar, upon that magnificentRoyal Road that sweeps from Aberdeen toBalmoral, rising a thousand feet without even amomentary acknowledgment, in the shape of asharp hill a powerful, arrogant road, subduinga rough valley to its traffic. But we came backby the road on the South side, which is of a whollydifferent nature, adapting itself more geniallyto the country it must traverse, content to besmilingly deflected from its line, twisting aboutinto divers pleasant places, free to indulge insharp corners and unexpected undulations. Itgave us noble views of the valley, and it was withmuch regret that we parted company at Aboyne,but as I suspectedit of an intention to lead usastray into the Grampians at that point wethoughtit best to cross the river. Anotherdelectable road of the same sort is that which runsthrough Duns, Greenlaw and West Gordon. Itseemed to me to have very little preference as towhich way it went so long as it touched a township,for the sake of appearances, now and then.There are some patient, long-suffering roads whichalways appear to be grudgingly making the best