Terrafirma Travels

Up at 0645 to pattering rain and grey skies. Very carefully made breakfast, still mildly traumatised by yesterday's coffee chaos. Rain had stopped in time for trip to ablutions block. Everything is shiny new here as the site only opened 6 weeks ago after complete rebuild. Lovely drive down to Oban, along the Lochside and over bridges. Got to Oban at 0940 in time for checkin.  Worried about whether our ship will actually sail. But it arrived 20 mins late and left 8 mins late, not at all full. The observation deck at the bow has splendid views. Weather is grey. We have binos at the ready and L spotted dolphins twice in the Sound of Mull. We passed three yachts with small sails up - fair play to them being out in this weather with a gale blowing in open waters. We feel lucky CalMac decided to sail early rather than cancel which would have shredded our schedule. In the Sound of Mull the wind was easterly and the sea flat. As we emerged the wind switched to forecast SSW and increased. O...

The morning started with late breakfast, and a tsunami of hot coffee and coffee grains caused by Lesley's clumsiness. It went all over the kitchen area and ended with feverish washing of the precious van curtain, pillow, pillowcase, drying up cloth, hairband, etc. Nic wiped valiantly while L washed.  At least the campsite has a drying room, warm and woody and comforting. Not something we've seen before, very useful. Apparently it rains a lot here and walkers get wet. After a whole day in the room, most of our stuff was dry. It was twelve by the time we escaped coffee grain hell. We set off walking towards the Corran ferry, a large vessel which plies across a small but very tidal neck of water. Foot passengers go free.  On the other side we walked through pretty scenery and into woodland by the water's edge,  and found a fine bench for lunch, pork pie and sandwich.  We mosied through the woodland and by a small crofting village, and back to the ferry. At one point we ...

The alarm goes off at 06:45, roughly with the dawn. We leave the site at 09:45; it's a leisurely start to the day. Drove through Glasgow on M8, and headed north on A82. L had genius idea of a SWIM in Loch Lomond on the way. N initially horrified but quickly won over by the spirit of adventure ... and the idea of 'getting one in the bag' despite the overcast skies. A quick bit of research suggested the beach at Luss, and Googlemaps was swiftly reprogrammed. Satellite view enabled us to park v close to the water, and in we dove ... well, waded carefully. It felt like about 13°, perfectly calm, no wind, lovely. Six minutes was enough. As we were getting dried by the van, a school trip arrived and started pumping up 20 paddleboards, a motorboat pulled up on the beach, and the wind picked up - so we timed it just right.  Onwards a few more miles along the Lochside (is that a word?), to a viewpoint and Bonnie & Ben's café for a very welcome panini, flapjack and hot choc. ...

Good night's sleep in the van. The heater came on several times overnight to keep us at 19°, and it was pretty wet outside. Porridge, coffee, visit to the tin hut that serves a perfectly good loo. All for 20 pounds.  Matt's house was the usual whirlwind of chaos and kids. Jude is now crawling and toothy, Louis scored 4 goals yesterday, Rhea was arrayed in a blue princess frock and a crown, and Hugo was glued to books. Shell looked serene as usual, Matt was the usual fizzing bundle of energy. Presents were doled out. Fun was had. We went to the Dizzy Duck in Wrea Green for lunch. N had roast turkey and L the biggest ever cheese pie, a Lancashire delicacy. We left the Cairns household at 3pm to set off for Scotland, trying to stay ahead of the huge winds forecast for Sunday night. Much rain on the motorways. Strathclyde park CAMC campsite is enormous and sophisticated; we'd paid already so the ANPR let us in, then after selecting a pitch we responded to a text with the numbe...

We're off to Scotland via the North West. Sadly not to Kirkcaldy, as Felix died rather suddenly three weeks ago. Instead we have two days to spend with Lesley's friends and relations. Yesterday we landed at K & Pete's after a nasty Friday on the M6. Lovely time at no. 38. This morning an easy journey to Preston to see Bernard & Doreen on their 69th Wedding Anniversary - in their 90s and still sharp as tacks. Lunch with Bridgeen at the marina cafe aka the Beach Hut. The usual good catchup and gossip for L. We bagged the best sheltered spot at the campsite at Bryar's Farm where a huge hedge would break the strong wind and rainstorms, putting our little sign up.  A cup of tea was had at Mary Wilson's new house in Wharton. A break in the rain saw us at Mary's grave, with such fond remembrances. A drive along the front past Fairhaven and Granny's Bay took us back to Lytham for a splendid fish supper at Whelan's - the pensioner's special never chan...