Wed 6 Sept 14° Loch Fyne to Ardfern

Cool again today, dissapointing night as very noisy,  trucks coming and going all night, factories behind the shops working well into the wee small hours, the fish smokers going full bore and road surprisingly busy so not a very restful night.

Pat and Les have unknown workmen digging up part of their driveway in Spain, so need to get to a site for Ehu and wifi to download security camera footage. So they found a site at Ardfern £15 and they will head straight there, we will take our time and see them there.

We drove on along the side of the Loch the water was quite choppy.  Inveraray Castle,  preparing for a festival with banks of porta loos ready for the expectant numbers of visitors, then down through the quaint town of Inveraray, on along the Argyll coast route. Wet, grey, damp day, past young pines and ferns which take over from the Loch and logs of wood cut and piled up ready for collection.

Lumpy,  bumpy roads in parts then back on long smooth patches, nowhere near as bad as Ireland.

We drove into a hidden layby for morning coffee,  very narrow with bushy trees on one side, a motorhome and horse truck in front, hardly any room to pass by. Spoke to the motorhome driver in  front,he was a Scotsman he said he had just been to Isle of Arran but would be a bit wary of going to Skye as locals not very happy with all the tourists coming over, taking photos, using their roads and not spending much money .
He left and we followed him out slowly between trees and the horsetruck , just made it, no scratches.

Narrow roads with low stone walls then opening up back to fields of ferns over gently rolling hills.

Then along a very narrow single Lane road but with lots of passing bays, down past shop and pub. Lovely bay with boats dotted along  the water on one side and farms on the other and there was our camp at Ardfern Motorhome camp. Quite muddy after all the rain, Pat and Les there, one little wooden hut with a toilet and next to it a room for washing dishes, no showers, very rustic and basic, but lovely view of the Loch,  shame about the weather.

The rain stopped and the sun  came out, Pat brought us over a piece of scottish ginger bread, yummy, left Les to his computer and Tony reading the paper, Pat and I took the dogs for a walk. Lovely walk along the Loch side.

Wifi very intermittent Les couldn't get much done, so we walked to the pub Half a mile or so up the road, forraging blackberries along the way, had to wait 15 mins for it to open at 5pm.

First beer flat so took it back and they gave free different ale, saying the gas hadn't connected properly. Much better, Pleasant interlude, bit expensive being the only pub in the area. Walked back to camp and got dinner going, sausages, kumera chips and veg.

Tues 5 Sept 15° Balloch to Loch Fyne

Grey but warm and wet underfoot from yesterday's rain. This morning we spent pottering and sorting out maps and brochures collected over time.

We all walked to Balloch Castle, lovely walk through the wood and to the Loch, dry and sunny very pleasant hour or so, then back for a bit of forward planning.

Loch Lomond

Balloch Castle

Balloch Castle

Then we headed off to Luss for some seafood for lunch, but the car park at the visitors  centre did not allow motorhomes even though plenty of room we didn't want to risk it .

We drove on to Tarbot, sun came out and we came accross a carpark for loch cruises right on the Loch. So we stopped for lunch....at the cafe they had snow freeze ice creams with flake for 99p.....be rude not to...bargain! Yummy

Discussed onward plan with Les, agreed to meet at Furnace and just 'wing it'.

Very pretty drive, around loch Fyne to Glencoe,  came across an accident with a car in the middle of the road, but we were soon past it and up the Cobbler to Rest and be Thankful,  then around the corner the Loch Fyne Oyster shop car park , perfect for night stop in a valley between low mountain ranges, flat gravel car park.

Oysters  £12 for 6 eeekkkk  Pat and Les had 2 each, we bought some herrings. Back to motorhomes Pat and Les took the dogs for a long walk.

When they got back they came in  for a pre dinner drink and a look at their photos,  very good shots.

They went back for dinner and we had our spag bowl and watched the news.

Nice quiet spot.

Mon 4 Sept 13° Lanark to Balloch

Good quiet night, owners wife Jackie came by with 2 sites for us in Spain and Portugal,  very thoughtful.

Dry day as we left Pat and Les ......first cab off the ramp haha......heading to Loch Lomond.

Showers as we drove on to the A73 and got a fill of diesel £1.19 £50 42 ltrs. Overcast skies, then misty drizzle as we drove over the Firth of Clyde. Erskine bridge in the mist.

First bit of bad road surface as we drove to Loch Lomond Shores, looking for seafood but the festival was yesterday only.

Pouring with rain now and we drive on to Balloch Road Car park....Sat nav took us up a private road and Pat and Les found a lovely park over the bridge with long parks for motorhomes,  so we turned round, found them and parked next to them.  Good spot.

We walked around the town and to the Tourist Information Center, picked up a few brochures and were told Luss and Oban good for seafood. We went to the pub for a drink then next door for fish and chips,  Pat and I had salad and the guys had deep fried haggis!

Pat and I took dogs for a walk to the Loch and we met Russell and Margaret from Paraparaumu and they know our very good friends from  there...small world.

Very quiet and peaceful spot, walked to the waters edge and through the woods, lovely place. Pat came in for a drink and a chat, we could hear bagpipes but couldn't see anythink, then she went back for dinner.

Early night.

Sun 3 Sept 11° Lincoln to Lanark, Scotland

Up early, Tony took the dogs for their walk while Pat got last bits packed into Ruby.

After moving the 2 cars, Les squeezed  Ruby out and onto the road, we followed and Pat drove both cars back on the drive, into Ruby she climbed and we were off on our Highland fling.

Dunham bridge with a .60p toll then to Markham Moor and the A1 services to get lpg .65p ltr took 19 ltrs £12.45, wasn't expecting that as she had been parked up for nearly 3 Weeks while we were in  the house sit, just the fridge on....oh well good job we  checked. Tried to get air for the tyres but it only went up to 60psi had to drive round to the truck area to get 68psi......all good ...

Pat and Les carried on and we agreed to meet at our stop for the night at Lanark.

Drove on to Scotch Corner then took the A66 to Penrith we passed Pat and Les at a parking area they had stopped for lunch and to let the dogs out. We tooted and waved.

Then onto the M6 to Lanark directions courtesy of Pat the navigator 😀

Message from Elliott to wish Tony happy Fathers day.

Its a perfect day for driving, clear, dry, good road surface A1 (M) most of the way, mown fields and crops either side, lots of motorhomes and hardly any trucks.
Stone walls between the sharp, low hills then pastures some with hay bales then our lunch stop in Cumbria.

Heavy traffic going south, pleased to be going north, then into thick pine tree forests onthe hills around us, could be in NZ.

Pat and Les passed us just as we saw the sign welcoming us to Scotland .

A lorry passed us with a house on the back.........is this a Scottish motorhome.....haha

 

 Rolling pastures with small wooden fences dividing fields with sheep and cows, narrow winding roads but thankfully no stones walls along the edges.

Then here we are back on the A73, sat nav did it again, all round the houses,  well farm and country lanes....when we should have been on the A road the whole way uugggrrr.

Into Lee Garden Farm and Pat and Les here, about 10 mins before us. Good spot onky 3 parks, but very good value £8 including all services and Ehu.

The owner Doug came over with an info sheet, very friendly and helpful, he had been to NZ and hired a motorhome really enjoyed it, had quite a chat, then the rain came.

Prepped for dinner then went to Ruby for drinks and plan our day tomorrow,  looked out at 6pm for the resident Barnsley Owl but rain  stopped play so he didn't come out.

Back to Bessie used the oven to heat our chicken and leek pies from  Melton Mowbray and fresh diced veg in an oven bag......couldn't  get the oven to go on, so put veges I nthe microwave as we are on hook up....keep forgetting about it....closed the oven door tried again and it worked.....but pies didn't get hot so took them out of their tin foil holders and put them in the microwave....yeahhhhh worked in no time.

Very tasty pie and veges.

Sat 2 Sept 13° Lincoln

Cool again first thing but it turned out warm again.

Final prep for both motorhomes....she's a big job  mate...

Pat decorated a lovely cake for Ena.

Chinese take away for the birthday girl  90th was her request and very yummy it was too.

Watch the Full Montorosso movie, good laugh.

Fri 1 Sept 10° Lincoln

Sunny and fresh this morning.

Pat took us shopping to stock up on final supplies for our Scotland trip.

All stocked up and put away, cleaned and topped fluids ready for the off on Sunday.

Fish and chips for dinner.

Watched La La Land movie.

Thurs 31 Aug 13° Oakham to Lincoln

Brrrrr what a change in temperature,  cool and fresh but the morning  sunshine is lovely. A very quiet night in this rural farm with just the gentle mooing of the cows...no traffic noise just the tractor moving about at a very reasonable time of 9.30am.

We went back into the farm shop to get the aged sirloin ,bacon and aged lamb steaks for us and Pat and Les for when we are up Scotland. A mighty meat feast so we can get fresh Scottish fish en route.

Drove a short way into Melton Mowbray the rural capital of food, famous for Stilton cheese, sausages and of course pork pies.....be rude not to......went a bit mad in Melton Mowbray.  Good job we have a large fridge haha.

The old free house for the poor and homeless

Anne of Cleaves pub was part of the settlement to Anne from Henry VIII in 1538

Anne of Cleaves walled garden

Archway to first pork pie bakery

This chuch has been kept in memory of Rev. John Colles it is now a pizza restaurant.

Lovely drive back to Lincoln said 16° but felt  lot warmer,  rural villages and countryside on the A607 to Grantham.  Stopped for a fill of diesel £1.19 £60 worth for 50 ltrs.  then back to 69.

Pat thoughtful as always, found a great pair of shoes for me and trousers for Tony, perfect fit...she really has an eye for a bargain, we'll done thanks Pat.

Sat outside and had a refreshing ale or 2 before enjoying a homemade curry that Pat had made for dinner, yummy.