We finally got water back on site after twelve days. It’s surprising how much we all take for granted such simple things. Turning on a tap and water comes out, flicking a switch and a light comes on but when these things fail we realise how well off we are and while people all over the world are getting bombed and have no running water or electricity for weeks, months to them it’s almost normal.

A walk was planned for us on our day off. A trip to Aberfeldy and there is a walk there called The Birks. Made famous by Robert Burns. The walk takes you up through woodland beside the Moness Burn passing various waterfalls.

Nikki not being a good walker had her doubts about the amount of up hill involved and at one point she was ready to turn around and go back down but she carried on. The path forks shortly after joining it, we decided to go anti clockwise. A steady climb with me saying just around the corner, nearly there and getting a look back that said just leave me here and carry on yourself.

We could see the top now and I persuaded Nikki to give it one more push and then it would be all downhill from that point. She did really well and we had a rest at the top. You go over a wooden bridge at the top and then start to go down the other side. But there are a lot of steps this side and some big drops to the side. More things Nikki is not good with so a lot of the steps were taken with her hanging on to me and not enjoying the view because it meant looking over the edge. We were glad we went anti clockwise on this circular walk because of the steps.

She was glad when we got to the bottom and back on level ground. It was only a three mile walk but a lot of elevation. We were going to have lunch in a lovely little cafe we had been in before but it was shut so we had a snack from the local shop.

The good weather continues and more and more flowers are popping up all over the site, the bees are buzzing and I have seen a few butterflies which is a good sign. The weather this year is so different to last year. And no midges yet but I am sure they are not far away.

Bertie needed taking for a drive. Bertie is the camper and I don’t like him sat still for too long so he has to go on a road trip every 6/8 weeks. We had arranged a night out with the staff at the other campsite down the road so we would take Bertie for a drive and then stay at that site for the night. That way no one has to drive after going out and we could both have a drink.

It’s always good to be out in Bertie and because when we travel in the winter Nikki is driving the car she doesn’t get to sit in Bertie much when travelling. Although she holds her breath on the first bit of road which is narrow, bendy and on a hill.

Only a short drive of thirty miles to get to the other site which is only a mile from us but it got Bertie up to temperature and keeps things moving. it’s not good just doing short runs in your vehicle if it’s not getting up to temperature.

We had a great night out with our friends and it was dark when we came home so a lay in was expected the next day. We chilled out until the afternoon and then came back to base and had a BBQ and more beer in the sun.

The bank holiday was busy on site which was nice and with the weather being so good everyone is happy which makes life easier. The weather is going to be nice for the next week also here in Scotland.

I went out on my bike to take advantage of the nice days and dry conditions. I went up in the woods at the back of Killin and dropped down on to the old railway line. I was actually looking to find where the old station was but could not find it but after getting back and doing some research I discovered I was nearly there but that day my legs were tired. I was only a mile away and now I know I will go back to do that route through the woods and do a big loop which will include going to where the old station was.

We needed to go to Crieff for some more birdseed and some plants and hanging baskets for the site. You travel along the edge of Loch Earn and the road twists and curves as if it was built when all the workers came out the pub. But it’s stunning. A new feature at the St Fillans end of the loch is the mirror-man. A sculpture of a man built from hundreds of mirrored tiles and he is standing in the loch. Makes great photos depending on the weather.

A couple of mornings ago I was just waking up at about 5 am, I lay in bed and could hear a cuckoo, a pheasant and an owl and just grinned to myself and relized how lucky I was to be waking up with a dawn chorus like that.

So that’s us up to date and as I write this it’s set to be another nice sunny day. Sunday is a chill out day on site, I don’t use any machinery. The last photo is a Dandelion gone to seed but taken very close if you could not work it out.