Week 9th August to 15th August 2010

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Monday 9th August 2010 in Inver Campsite just outside of Dunkeld
Well, this morning started off raining and that stopped Gaye from going for a bicycle ride. Tom still went for about 1 hour.
Went for a walk into Birnam, the Community Arts Centre and had a look at The Beatrix Potter centre. This is where she spent summer holidays between 1871 and 1881. From here she wrote her picture letter to her friend which was the basis of ‘Peter Rabbit’. We had a look at the local art exhibition.
After that, we went into Dunkeld and had look around and had late lunch at the pub. After lunch we walked 5kms up to Loch Lowes with Gaye hanging on to my backpack on steeper sections and had a look at the Osprey viewing and chatted to 2 very nice people from Glasgow and I bought a good rain jacket 28 pounds. They drove us back to Dunkeld where we bought some groceries for dinner.
Back to the motorhome, for some red wine and catch up on the diary and dinner and now the sun has come out.



Tuesday 10th August 2010

Left Inver, raining so no ride again, sick of this liquid sun shine, we drove towards Inverness. Nice scenery took a short video of the hills. Then arrived at Inverness and found the ‘Bught Caravan Campsite’, (photo)set up next to a young couple from Adelaide. Walked into town and looked around. The walk was along the Ness River on the way in. It was nice but on the way back walked on the other side of the river and it was just spectacular as it was from one island to the next, took a couple of photos but they do not do it justice.
We had plans to go back into town as Tuesday is jazz night but it is pouring and there is jazz on the BBC, Newport Jazz Festival, so stay in and keep warm. (Tom being a woosy - we are going into town !!! - says Gaye)
Will attempt a ride along the river if no rain -bummer, that’s not an option as it was drizzling.

Well, that was a good night. Local jazz band started playing at 9am until 11am. It was in the Glen Mhor Pub/Hotel along the banks of the River Ness, in a small cosy room. I think, of the 6 band members, there was only one who was under 50 years of age - Tom took video of band. Wandered home about 11.30pm.


Wednesday 11th August 2010.
Woke up to pouring rain. Cancelled alarm and went back to sleep. Ended up going into town to wander around. Had a coffee in a small café and bought some very nice organic coffee from Costa Rica -(Don would like this one) we now need to buy a coffee perculator. Chatted to a couple from Virginia and then went to the movies at the Eden Court.

Back to the motorhome for wine and nibblies. Catch up with diary. Tom went grocery shopping. I,Tom, have just spent past 2 hours naming photos and photo folders, what fun especially for Gaye.



Thursday 12th August 2010
Drove from Inverness down the west side of Loch Ness absolutely spectacular all the way. Along the way we stopped at Drumnadrochit and asked about a pottery and told it was up a steep hill - asked if a motorhome OK to travel up the road, and told yes - and it was but only JUST. Drive was picturesque - pottery was only ordinary. At Fort Augustus we stopped, and was at the right place at the right time as there were boats in the loch and we watched the empting of the last lock in a chain of 6 and then the swing bridge swing open. I (Tom) even helped one boaty and his daughter cast off their rope. We also went to the Iceberg Glass shop, guy blowing nice glass BUT better buttons so Gaye bought some for her top.
Then up over the Ben Nevis and Glen Coe (photo) which are part of the Grampian Mountains - MORE great scenery in fact the whole trip to Glasgow was great.
Ended up driving through Glasgow and then out and onto a 3 LANE motorway - boring but RELAXING .
Then turned towards Burton along A66 - stopped on a layby and free camped for the night. Learnt never stop in a layby at the bottom of a hill, it's noisy and the buffeting from trucks does NOT rock you to sleep



Friday 13th August 2010
Woke up to drizzling rain.

Got moving about 6.45am and headed to Barton Upon Humber. We stopped along the way and had breakfast in the back of the motorhome and then arrived at our destination about 9.30am. Still drizzling with rain.

Tom got to work adjusting the bicycle racks on the back of the motorhome ready for the motor scooter tomorrow, and had to raise it so that scooter would fit under. Tom rang the insurance company to get the bike insured and some third party property insurance - no go - too risky as there is not a place to garage it (the motorhome was not good enough - who would have thought that !!)

We also collected the 4 travel books and a map from the campsite owners that we ordered. We had arranged for them to be sent to the campsite while were away. They are on campsites and Aires for Spain, Portugal and Morocco, and also a road map on Morocco. The couple that we met here last week told us about ‘Aires’. They are free overnight camping sites only for motor homes, in the countries run by the local towns in encouraging tourists to shop locally with them. They are a service area for motorhome parking. They provide some or all of the following: overnight parking, a service point for water collection and disposal of waste fluids. You can’t put out your awning or tables and chairs. This is something we were not aware of, and is a huge bonus for those travelling by motorhome. It eliminates having to find a campsite for the night and helps with the budget. Another book that we bought is called ‘Fattore Amico’ (Italian Passion) which is a book for Italy travel. It is a book showing the farmhouse properties that you can stay at for free. You are a guest of the farmer who allows you to park your motorhome on his property overnight. It is not a water collection or waste disposal site - merely a parking bay for overnight and to being courteous to the farmer who provides a parking site for you. When you purchase the book it also gives you a sticker for your car and a camper card to show the farmer that you have subscribed. (This is renewable each January) If you don’t have it, they will not let you on their farm. I think this is great, as I will be able to practice my Italian and get to meet the locals. Huge bonus for me.

Well, the afternoon started to slip away, so we went to get some groceries for the next few days. Came back and Tom had a nanna nap ( I went out to it ) while I (Gaye) updated the diary, and had wine and nibblies of course.



Saturday 14th August 2010
Up early again Tom went to do his CBT. Was allowed to do the theory and riding in the practice area but they could not take me out on to road as no British license.
What I have learnt will help a bit. I need to remember more like push bike than car so need to look and lean towards where I’m going. I was king of the kids as on a twist and go. The motor scooter is heavy compared to bikes, also MY LEGS ARE SHORT again when I stop.
Had to raise bike rack on motorhome another 6cm.
Lots of learning to be done on best set up.




Sunday 15th August 2010
I (Tom) went for a bike ride - went for 1 hour 13 mins - did 25.5kms up a hill 6 times - took 6 minutes first 2 times , 3rd time met another rider at bottom with poker dot jersey and asked did he win it - no - was given it as a hill climber - also while we talked there was a horse loose (more on that later), so 4th and 5th in 5027 a bit quicker last time, was 50/25 - that was the end of me. Back to horse - on way up after seeing horse he saw a guy in a car so stopped him and told him - he then said it was tied up at the dump and given my accent, that’s where I come from too. I told him he was a cheeky bastard and at least the sun shines there. He laughed and drove off.
Left Silver Birches Caravan Park (photo) and headed off.
We had a warm drive to Holyhead and had to put on the air conditioner.
Driving in Wales almost to our destination, we came into Colwyn Bay - there were lots of windmills out at sea-very unusual site.
Driving into the Ferry Port we stopped and asked some men who were chopping down some trees for their father, where a caravan park is. They tried to draw the directions, but in the end said they would show us, so we waited for them to finish their pruning. We chatted to the father (he was 81 years old) and had been to Australia. He used to work on a freighter ship.
We followed the men to the turn off to the caravan park - very fortuitous. The Treaddur Bay Caravan Park. A really beautiful rocky coast road of about 2kms with sandy beaches and the caravan park was full but they fitted us in.

Went for a walk and found a track along the coast - lovely rugged scenery and field with white house. Left the track - bad move as Gaye slipped on some shale and put her hand into Gosse - a very prickly bush - ouch - took several photos of coast, sunset and flowers.
No signal on phones or internet so can’t update diary. Just have to drink wine and have nibblies.

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Photos

Torryvald Lookout
near Inver

Bught Caravan Park - Inverness
1st time awning up

View of Ben Nevis mountain area
view from where we stopped for lunch on way from Inverness

Silver Birches Caravan Park
The day we left Barton Upon Humber

Barton Upon Humber streets
Manouvering through the narrow two way traffic streets with buses and large delivery trucks- aarrggh

Comments

[anonymous]

hahahaha dads wearing crocs! so uncool