Stunning Scotland

I think Scotland is the most beautiful place I have ever been - with the one exception of Norway which is marginally more breathtaking due to the icy blue of the fjords.

Castlerigg stone circle

We've made our way up from Lancaster to stay in a very pleasant campsite in Balloch on the shores of Loch Lomond. It's a great spot to get a first taste of the lochs and, despite the rain, we had a stunning walk along the lochside and got a spot of Chinese takeaway from 5 minutes up the road. That's the last campsite we stayed in and since then we've wildcamped up through the stone circles of the valley around Kilmartin, and the beaches of the Ardnamurchan peninsula. Here are a few pictures to show the fabulousness of the areas we've visited.

Rock art on way to Kilmartin

Standing Stones near Kilmartin

The boys get in on the stoney act

Temple Wood burial chamber

Close up of Temple Wood

We had a particularly fabulous meal at The Whitehouse in Lochaline following a walk along the loch to an ancient castle.

One of our many seaside views

Hugo enjoying the silica sand of Lochaline

Tongues, Buns, and Lovely Lochs

When did I suddenly start wearing old lady's shoes? Well in the last 3 weeks actually. On a shopping day with my friend Jill we searched through dozens of loafers until I found a pair for about £25. 'Result!' I thought, until a few days later I saw an eighty year old woman wearing exactly the same pair. Worse was to come as I need to wear innersoles to make them fit. 'What have you done to your feet?' Graham chortled as he pointed to my offending appendages. I had inadvertently slipped my delicate tootsie underneath the innersole so it was poking out the top of the loafer like a dirty brown tongue. Very attractive indeed.  

And my buttocks have not been spared the aging process as I became a parody of the elderly Patsy in Ab Fab when my 'No VPL' undies swiveled their way to my ankles after a tense walk home from dinner in Wells. I felt they were a little loose, not due to my svelte snake hips I might add, but more due to the slippery fabric and lack of elastic. The walk back to Dickie involved repeated hitchings-up of the aforementioned undergarment until I got sick of it and merely grabbed the front section and let my buttocks swing, unencumbered by fabric, down the back of my thighs. As I stepped into Dickie I finally gave up and the undies fell to the floor in a a Patsy-esque heap. Much chortling ensued as Hugo grabbed them and whizzed around the van with them hanging from his mouth.

All this on the start of our trip to Scotland. Merriment should be the order of the day if it continues like this. After stopping off in Lancaster to visit friends Kath and Dave, who managed to cook us a great Thai meal followed by dairy free crumble while building an extension to their house, we've made our way up to the shores of Loch Lomond. The sun is shining and Graham is desperately trying to get the satellite to work so I can watch the final of Bake Off. Fingers crossed we'll get to see some British buns tonight - not like the ones dangling freely under my frock I hasten to add.

Scotland Here We Come

Various things have been conspiring against us in our quest to get away in Dickie again but it seems that we will be off some time next week. It won't be for as long as hoped but we should get a few weeks in. I'll be posting pics and, hopefully, amusing stories along the way. Och Aye the noo away we'll goooo!

Walking on Sunshine...NOT!

'Is that a chough or a crow wearing lipstick?' Mr Fluffy was never great at ornithology.

Day one was sunny and bright but it went downhill after that. Having walked 50 miles of the 150 mile South West Coast Path, the rain finally beat the two chaps and they called it a day at Coverack. As Donna and I drove down west through the thick mist and driving rain we wondered what sort of drowned rats would be awaiting us. The boots were off. Soggy socks draped over backpacks, hats drooping under the watery strain, and the wan smiles forced on their two faces told us all we needed to know. It was time to call it a day and wait for a more, shall we say, clement bit of weather to complete the trek.

For photos of the adventurers and a map of their walk click here. 

Driving Mr Dickie

'It's only a twenty minute walk to Mevagissey'. 

The warden on the desk at Heligan Wood campsite is in desperate need of a map and a watch. An hour after leaving the site we arrived at aforementioned town cursing the woman and dreading the uphill walk back to Dickie. 

Having just completed my first ever Dickie drive without Mr Fluffy I needed something more akin to a gin and tonic as opposed to a massive walk but I'm hoping my buttocks are the perter for it. We arrived unscathed apart from a rather distressed steering wheel which now has a permanent imprint of my sweaty palms. 

Gripping to excess

The geographically challenged warden was forgiven when we realised it was only a two minute walk to Heligan Gardens to see the Kneehigh production of Michael Morpurgo's 946. David's friend Lez Brotherston designed the show and suggested we come and see it. It was well worth the drive down. Kneehigh always put on a fab show and we were lucky enough to go the the cast party afterwards for a few small beverages. As we had only a teeny walk back to Dickie I could indulge in a red wine or two.

What a massive frock - with Lez and David - oh and Hugo

If anyone is interested in seeing a show or visiting the gardens at Heligan in Cornwall I can recommend a stay at Heligan Woods Campsite. Just be wary of their directions.

After a successful drive back to Boscastle the next morning we relaxed with Mr Fluffy on the kayaks. Much less stressful and we even caught our dinner.

What lovely feet I have

First Drive Fluffyless

The panic is starting to set in as I realise it's less than 24 hours before I take Dickie out on my own - well I have a friend with me but he is a Dickie novice. Yes Mr Fluffy has agreed that I can take the van down to Heligan to see the Michael Morgpurgo play, 946,for a night without him. 
I'm not a complete novice. I drove all the way to Hay On Wye recently and was fabulous until I had a virtual panic attack whilst driving across the Severn Bridge on the way back. The Fluffster's cries of 'Don't be daft woman!' and 'You're being ridiculous!' did NOT help at all. The steering wheel has only just recovered from the excessive sweat and tight grip that I subjected it to as I drove across the terrifying bridge. I can only imagine what I would be like if I had to be behind the wheel when crossing that hideous bridge on the outskirts of Honfleur.
Anyway there should be no horrendous bridge action on the way to Heligan tomorrow, only skinny roads and awful traffic. There will be reports of how I get on. Eeeeek.

Travels on Footie Not Dickie

After six months driving around in Dickie Graham felt the urge for a change of pace so he chose to undertake long walk. After a bit of research he decided to trot across the Two Moors Way - a mere 120 mile stroll. He roped in good friend Anthony to accompany him on the walk, and weirdly enough, they both seem to have enjoyed it. Or could it be that they enjoyed the break from us women for 8 days? 

It took them just over a week to complete their pootle from Wembury near Plymouth to the town of Lynmouth (famous for its flood which was very similar to Boscastle's) across Dartmoor and Exmoor. 

Graham has a Garmin record of their adventure including photos which can be seen by clicking on this link  Graham and Anthony's Lovely Adventure .