I started Bertie up and drove out the entrance and we closed and locked the gates behind us. This was the start of our new adventure.
First destination one mile down the road to the other site where our friends are, no need to set the sat nav, no need for travel sweets. we were going to be here for nearly a week just to say goodby to our friends and Killin itself.
I went off for a walk one day towards the Loch, the sun was out and no wind, although the river was high because of all the rain we had for the last few days. It was peaceful.
Down by the loch edge were a couple of fishermen that looked like they had been there all night. Obviously very keen with about eight different rods out between them. The loch looked so peaceful with the water being still. The normal path I would walk was flooded in parts because the water levels were high but I managed to get around.
Another day another walk with Nikki. Through the village and up to the Dochart falls which were in full flow and looking stunning. We decided to have a drink in the pub by the falls and sat outside watching the world go by and it started to rain, luckily we were under a huge umbrella. My last sip of beer and a big ouch!!! A wasp was in my beer and as I had that last sip it stung me on my top lip. It started to swell up straight away and really hurt. Within minutes I had a trout pout and looked like Mick jagger on steroids.
We walked back to the campsite in a brisk way and got some anti histamines into me. After three days I was back to normal and not afraid to look out a window without thinking I might stick to it like a sucker.
Another afternoon we decided to have one last drink in the Killin hotel which was our favourite go to pub/ restaurant. We sat in the sun in the same place as the year before almost to the day. Our friends joined us also.
And so it was time to leave Killin and head to another campsite. I have to admit as I was driving out of Killin I had a tear in my eye. I had fallen in love with the area and we will return some time.
The next campsite was called the Woods in a place called Fishcross near Alloa. The name Alloa summons up visions of Hawaii for me, but in reality the town was a complete dump in our opinion. We drove there to have a look around but soon returned. Very run down not inviting at all.
The pitch we had on the campsite was faultless. A nice big pitch with a stunning view of the mountains. Nothing in front of us other than fields and cows which were interesting to watch.
There was a pub at the entrance to the site so we decided to treat ourselves to a meal and a drink, without the wasp. Not a great selection of beers but I found a nice real ale which went down very nicely. The food was superb and a good evening was had.
The next day was a lovely sunny day and we chilled out and then as the sun started to go down there was an amazing sunset. With the mountains shadowed it looked like you could have been anywhere in the world.
The next destination was to Carluke where Bertie was booked in for a service and a new throttle body. We arrived there at 12.30 ish, met Graham the mechanic and left Bertie in his capable hands and we drove off to Lanark about twenty minutes away to check out our parking spot for that night. The carpark where we were going to spend the night was in the New Lanark area down by the Heritage centre with the old cotton mills.
We paid our fees to go in as we had plenty of time to spare while Bertie was being done. I even got a concession on my ticket price being an ol boy now.
The old cotton mill was really interesting and as you walk around some of the machines are clattering away and you can imagine what it must have been like to work in them all those years ago. Very noisy and dark I should think and as a child you would be working in there from the age of 12 because the families needed the money. Kids today do not realise how lucky they are.
After looking around the mill we headed back to pick up Bertie and pay the bill. Then we headed back to the carpark to spend the night there as it was 5.30 and I don’t like big drives at that time. And it was Nikki’s birthday and her salad was getting cold. A nice peaceful full night was had in the carpark.
Our next destination was Troutbeck in the Lake District. This would mean we would cross the border into England. As I crossed the border I looked at the time and it was exactly midday. I was back in England and Nikki was still in Scotland.
Troutbeck head is the name of the site we were heading for and it was so peaceful and again with a great view. I would have liked to stay for longer but we will return. We were only there for two nights so it was just a chill out couple of days. Sat outside in the sun with a drink without wasps and a nice view. And once again a lovely sunset.
I have a book and every site we go on I make notes about it etc. This was site number 100 we have stayed on in Bertie since owning it. That’s 100 different sites. We have stayed in other places like aires in France, Spain and Portugal, show fields at the Hot rod and VW events we go to, car parks and some of the sites we have been on we have returned to.
So leaving Troutbeck and heading for site number 101 which is in a small village called Langcliffe near Settle in the Yorkshire dales. The reason for going here was to catch up with our friends Tony and Anita who we met 23 years ago on a beach in Thailand and have remained great friends ever since.
They have a lovely cottage in the village and only a ten minute walk from the campsite. They also have a canal boat which Tony built himself. We were busting to see the cottage and when we went to see it we were so impressed. It’s just a great little cottage in a lovely old village and only a stones throw from great walks, mountain bike trails and nice pubs in the small town of settle which was only a fifteen minute walk away.
Of course we sampled the pubs because Anita was working Thursday and Friday so we had to go and meet her in Settle. While she was working me Tony and Nikki went for a walk Tony does. It was a lovely walk, maybe a bit far for Nikki but she did well and then after getting back and having a shower it was time to walk into Settle to meet Anita to have a beer and some food. That day we walked a total of about 8 miles so slept well that night.
On the walk we went past a huge old lime kiln which we actually went in and me and Tony walked the length of it. And then onto a river with a lovely old bridge and waterfalls. Tony has seen salmon leaping up the falls before.
Yesterday we went out to their boat just so we could see it again. Many years ago we went down the canal with them in it and moored outside a pub for the night then turned around and went back to where they kept it before. I do like seeing the canal boats and all the people on the boats always seem really nice. A really slow chilled way of life.
So that’s us up to date. We still have two more days here before setting of for Chirk on the north wales England border. A site we have worked on and spent a lot of time in that area which we love. The last photo is the only nice thing I found in Alloa.
mikeandnikki 