A quick update on our life after leaving Scotland. At the moment we have both got a bad bug. Now I normally like bugs and will often sit and watch them, take photos etc.

But this bug/ virus is one we don’t want. Nikki has been ill for over a week and I got the bug on Friday. Of course I got it worse. Aching body, even my bones ache, shivers even though my skin feels hot, feeling sick and can’t stay awake. I know I am ill because I am not eating like normal and don’t fancy a beer at all.

We have had to cancel seeing people and luckily we are here in Cirencester for another week so hopefully will be well enough to drive off then.

After we left our friends in Settle we went to Chirk. An area we know and the area we want to settle down in. Nikki has been looking at houses for weeks, even months now, well before we got to Chirk. The plan was to chill out at Chirk then head to Cirencester and then to Devon and then back to Chirk and start to look for a house.

I love the site we stay at because from there I can walk in the fields or along the canal so off I went on a six mile hike talking to the trees and waving to the people on the canal boats. They always seem a happy bunch. Such a slow pace of life.

When I got back from my hike Nikki showed me a house. It ticked a lot of boxes, not all of them but a lot. So she rang up and we had a viewing booked. So much for waiting until we got back from Devon .

The house was nice but the viewing was so rushed with only a 15 minute slot which we were rushed around by the tenant in the house now opening every door for us and almost pushing us along. We also looked at anther house, a new build but it was so small with nowhere to put anything like my bike so we ruled that one out.

We had a email to say we didn’t get the other one anyway. Oh well more will turn up. But I must say this house hunting is a nightmare. Because we are relocating and don’t have jobs I feel we are on the bottom of the list from a landlords view.

Storm Amy came and went and was not as bad as we thought it was going to be. The day of the storm Nikki found another house to view. Now this one ticked all the boxes apart from being free.

We went along to view it only ten minutes drive from where we were staying and right on the canal side. We met the landlady there who was so nice and within ten minutes of being there she said it’s yours if you want it. She had a lot of viewings but it was furnished and people wanted it unfurnished because they had furniture etc already to put in it.

We on the other hand have nothing to go in a house apart from our toothbrushes and clothes. She was so pleased that we were willing to take on the house with everything in it. And when I say everything I mean everything. It used to be run as an air b& b so is fully equipped for six people. She is even leaving the bedding.

So we can just walk in with our tootbrushes put the kettle on and chill out watching the canal boats go by. We have accepted it and it’s all going through the procedure as I type this. We move in on 17th November. After sixteen years on the road we will be back in a house.

Bertie the camper will be sold at some stage and I will buy a smaller camper so we can still get away. And the best thing I left to last, is it’s got a garage. I will have a garage again to potter about in. We have had stuff in storage for sixteen years like my record collection photos etc so it will be great to sort all that stuff out. To be honest I can’t even remember half the stuff that’s in the storage.

The next challenge was getting rid of some Scottish money I had in my wallet. The shops in England won’t take it so I went to a post office and they said no you have to go to a bank. You try finding a bank that’s still on the high street. Nikki was going into Oswestry so she took it and deposited it into my account there. I checked.

After viewing the house we walked along the canal the next day from Chirk to view the house from from the other side of the canal. We had to pass a pub on the canal side to get there so on the way back we stopped in the pub garden for a drink or two, thinking it was only a ten minute walk from the house. Very convenient.

The next day I went for a short walk in the mist but the aqueduct looked just as nice but in a different way. The mist soon cleared and once again the aqueduct looked stunning.

We left Chirk and headed for Cirencester. I took a scenic route as the road I normally travel on was closed according to my sat nav so I ended going through Stroud. That’s not a problem but then there was a road closed in Stroud and I went off down a road thinking I was going the right way. I was and I wasn’t so after going up and down some narrow roads and big hills in the torrential rain I finally got back on track. Not a lot of fun in a five ton 9 metre long camper. I could tell by the peoples faces in the cars coming the other way.

Finally we got to Cirencester, another site we have stayed on before once or twice. I did manage to get out for a nice walk before getting this bug, which was nice and the colours of the trees in their autumnal state look stunning.

After walking through the Bathurst estate I went via the Abbey grounds on the way back and spotted a heron checking himself out in the lake. He was just so motionless waiting for a fish to swim by and was not bothered by me at all. Thank you Mr Heron for standing still while I took your picture.

Further along a swan was trying to get some sleep without people poking a camera towards it. And even a camel although he was not real or he was lost.

With Halloween soon there was also a pumpkin trail, pay your money and choose your pumpkin. They were also doing tractor rides for the kids. I walked on by because I didn’t want a pumpkin and the tractor ride was closed.

So that’s us up to date as I sit here shivering and aching. I have been up since 4 am because although the clocks changed my body still thinks it was about five o’clock when I would normally get up. It will sort itself out soon. The last photo is an air ballon going over campsite at Chirk. Again something I would love to do.

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.

Last month we had a drive out on a single track road between Kenmore and the A822 which goes from Aberfeldy to Crieff. It’s a very scenic road with passing places but we only met one other car so no problems. Problems only happen when you meet someone else and they can’t drive on these sort of roads.

We squeezed one last BBQ in before the weather changed which was nice. It’s been a good season for the BBQ. I have lost Count but I think about 20+ so we are happy with that. The BBQ lives on as I have passed it on so hopefully someone else will enjoy it next year.

The site is still flowering with different colours, the leaves are changing colour and the bracken is going a lovely rusty colour which looks so nice with the green and blue skies when we get those of course. And of course the leaves are starting to fall.

The fungi on site are not as good as last year for some reason, I expect the different weather conditions but every now and then one shows up which is spectacular in colour and shape. And a very big one I found so had to put my size 8 foot next to it for comparison.

I was chatting to a couple down the far end of the site when I heard the sound of bagpipes. We all looked at each other and enjoyed the sound as I knew where it was coming from.

We had a couple on the top of the site who I had chatted to a couple of days before. I had said how peaceful the site was and you will hear owls at night. He said I will have to get my bagpipes out and I laughed thinking he was joking. He wasn’t. But it sounded great and another couple commented on the sound as they had heard the pipes while they were walking in the woods behind the site.

We had a walk in the village to pick up my prescription and then walked to the falls of Dochart. I scrabbled across the rocks to get some photos while Nikki who is not good at scrabbling across rocks just sat on a rock taking it all in.

The road outside the site is not a huge road so you have to take care when going up and down it. It does however get some big traffic on it including tour coaches, logging lorry’s and of course the local farmers with big bales of hay on at this time of year and then you get the big Lorry’s with the statics on. These have an escort vehicle with them to warn oncoming traffic to get out the way. One came up the road the other day with the police warning other road users.

As the final curtain closes. It’s the end of the season for us and the end of our career with the business we work for. We closed the site last Monday the 8th at midday as the last person left and had the site all to ourselves. All we had to do was pack it all away, so a quick sandwich and get started. Over the next three days we got it all ready to finally put the gates on and lock them.

It’s been a great two seasons at the site and I loved the site with all its wildlife etc. I would have loved to do more at the site but I didn’t have the hours or budget. We are proud of what we achieved while being there and the lovely comments from the guests proved we had got things right.

We are leaving the business we work for now for various reasons which I won’t bore you with here.

So from today Friday 12 September 2025 we are unemployed and living in a tin can. But we are happy. The next chapter is about to start.

My last photos of the site in all its peacefulness two mornings ago at 7am as the sun was coming up through the trees. Happy memories.

Having one red squirrel about is great, having two about is better still. But then there was a third one about. WOW. I managed to get a photo of two of them together but so much wanted to get a photo with all three in the photo. Squirrels are not the sort of animal you can ask to pose for the camera.

When all three are about they chase each other around, up the trees, down the trees, across the grass until they settle on a feeder and the others go to a different feeder. But luck was on my side and I managed to open the window of the camper and get a shot of all three in the same photo. Not a great photo but it’s there. All three tuftys, Tufty, Scrufty and blondie due to the blonde tail, on three different feeders.

Do you remember when we went for a breakfast and I was telling you how I had been short changed with my breakfast. After emailing them they said they would sort something out next time we were in the cafe. We went back and as we were seated asked to see the manager about my email from them.

We ordered our breakfasts and ate them and no manager came to see us. It was busy in there. So we got up to pay and saw the manager who was very busy, I showed her my email which said to see her and she discounted our breakfasts and said sorry. I pointed out I was not expecting two free meals but she said no problem Enjoy. The reason it was busy was a coach load of tourists were in for breakfast. The coach being one of many we see on the roads around here.

Nikki’s youngest boy was going to come to Scotland to see us with his family. They had booked a lodge for three nights next to the campsite. A road trip of nine hours for them. They were with us by 2 pm. We had a rough plan of things to do while they were here but allowing plenty of chill time also.

A trip across the Ben Lawers road, a picnic by the loch and a BBQ. The drive over the Ben Lawers road was great and they loved it. I drove and we went to a small carpark we know and had a walk through the wood to get to the tea room and had lunch. They loved it, it’s so different to where they live.

The next day we made up a picnic and drove down into Killin and walked to the loch and a sandy beach area and had our picnic. I had said to Rory I would go in the Loch for a paddle with her so I had to keep my promise. She was so happy standing in the loch with little fish swimming over her feet.

After having a paddle, talking to the sheep and a walk back to the car the Killin hotel was calling for a couple of pints. Nikki drove home.

The plan was to have the BBQ that evening as it was their last night but the weather turned colder and windy so Jon cooked all the food in the lodge, washed down with a beer or two. The next morning they left about 9.30 on the long trip back. They enjoyed their holiday and it was great seeing them.

Storm Floris was due in Scotland. Not good to have a storm when your on a very wooded site and all the trees are in leaf. The wind blew, the rain hammered down but we survived. The site was ok with only one rotten tree down which I managed to move myself. I think we were very lucky compared to some other parts of Scotland.

The Highland Games were in Killin two weeks ago and the weather was looking good so we planned to go. It’s only a small show but nice to support it. The sound of bagpipes can be heard all day and the cheers as big grown men throw hammers about and toss the caber. We ended the afternoon in the Killin hotel. Well it was thirsty work watching all those Highland Games.

Today we should have been going to another site for our days off and to give Bertie a run. We changed our plan at the last minute and went last week because the weather was so good.

Bunree site is one of our favourites and sits on the loch edge. It’s just had a refurb so only opened again on August 1st. We got here at 1pm and got a lochside pitch. Within 15 minutes we were parked up and chairs out just looking at the stunning view.

Apart from walking over to the shower block I finally put my chair away at about 8.30 after watching the sun go down. We caught the corran ferry the next day and had lunch at the airstream caravan beside the pub. Last year the lady running it had a fifty’s caravan and now has a airstream caravan. After walking back the chairs were out again and it was chill time with a glass of cheers. I will let the photos do the talking.

We were sad to leave to go back to work. The morning we left was a bit overcast so we struck lucky and got the best of it. And talking of work we only have three weeks left before we close up and start our winter trip and the next chapter in our lives. Changing times. Don’t forget to check in and follow the adventures.

Loch Loop is not an actual Loch but a cycle loop I did and named it that. Loch Tay is 15 miles long and you can drive all the way around it. We are on the north side which is the main road and the south side is a single track road with passing places.

Last year I wanted to bike all the way around it but didn’t get round to it so this year I was determined to do it. It’s not really my kind of biking being on the road, I don’t mind the single lane quiet back roads but main roads are not my cup of tea.

So I left early one morning when the traffic is less to do the full loop. I only saw about a dozen cars while doing the north side so I knew the south side would be quiet. You see the Loch from all different points and I realised how big it is and how far you have to go.

At the east end of the Loch I stopped for a photo and then carried on around to the south side. The road goes up and down so one minute you are at water level the next you are way above looking down with great views.

The whole bike ride was 34 miles with the last mile being up hill back to base. Maybe I should have done that bit first by going the other way round.

Tufty and Scrufty are the two red squirrels who are eating the food I put out for them like it’s going out of fashion. But it’s great to see them both out on the feeders just metres away from the camper. There is even a third one about sometimes.

I put peanuts in the feeders for them and also treat them to hazel nuts in their shells. They are clever because they take the hazelnuts and run off and bury them because they have shells on them they know they are safe buried. Then they go back for the peanuts and just eat them at the feeder. I did manage to get a photo of two of them but not got all three yet.

The other day Tufty was sharing with the woodpecker and luckily there is enough food for them both to enjoy.

On the Ben Lawers road they have built some walking paths and put in picnic benches so we decided to go and have a look. It’s not complete yet but there are still plenty of walks to do. We started to walk one ( red route) and It was too much for Nikki so she turned back while I went further on. I will go back another day and do a bigger walk.

I could see a bench in the distance so decided that was my return point and then I could meet back up with Nikki. I got to the bench, sat down taking in the view and then went back down to the car and phoned Nikki to see where she was. She was sat at another bench after her flat walk and took up the offer of me picking her up in the car as I passed by.

After picking Nikki up I suggested we carry on down the valley which was where I had been on my bike before and seen a herd of Highland coo’s. The valley drive is stunning and as we rounded a bend I could see the coo’s up ahead. I love these coo’s. There were some calves and also a bloody great big bull. As they were causing a road block, it was approach gently but I wanted to get some photos.

I put the car window down and had my camera ready as I drove past very close and got a photo, the coo just staring at me. I really wanted a photo of the Big bad bull so as we drove past he was wandering up the road with one of his wives so I stopped a short distance from him and her and got out the car, but left the door open in case I had to jump back in quickly and drive off. And got the photo I wanted. I was so happy with the photo and to me it was one of the best photos I have ever taken. And the big bad bull was not bothered with me at all.

We have had a hot spell, not as hot as down south but very nice and as we are under trees it’s been a really nice temperature so the bbq has been on overtime and a cold beer has been taken.

And on the subject of food I had a lovely pie for my tea the other day. A couple who are seasonals on site were telling me about this butchers shop where they live that does pound pies. I did them a favour the other day over and above my duty. I was just being helpful but they were really grateful and said they would get me one of these pound pies from their butcher’s.

Now excuse my ignorance but I started thinking about this pound pie. I was thinking it’s not going to be very big and what’s going to be in it for a pound. Maybe all the bits that fall on the floor and are swept up at the end of the day etc.

So I did some research and found out a pound pie is actually a Scottish pie that weighs a pound not costs a pound. I did laugh and yes it was big and yes I ate it all for my tea and yes it was a very nice steak and gravy pound pie.

After my Loch loop bike ride my bike speedo was on 1993 miles which is how many miles I have done on this bike since owning it. I wanted to get a photo of it saying 2000 so had to go out and do a short ride just so I could get that photo. And to make it extra nice I got the photo outside the Killin hotel which is a great place to eat and drink but it was too early this morning.

Another walk was called for followed by lunch. So we drove to Tay forest park and started our walk up hill. Nikki was having second thoughts but I persuaded her to carry on and I would buy her lunch. The walk was a loop and only about three and half miles but did include some uphills. But she was glad she did it.

The lunch stop was a knitting and craft shop with a cafe which Nikki wanted to have a look at. I just wanted the food part of it. We sat out side with a great view of fields and mountains which made the walk seem so much nicer. After lunch Nikki had a look around the shop while I waited outside.

The wild flowers on site are still popping up all over the site and in a tub by our compound are wild strawberries which Nikki keeps eating before the birds get them. We also have raspberry bushes which again Nikki goes and picks.

As I sit here typing this blog it is raining again heavily and is set for the next couple of days. I checked the weather this morning and it said yellow rain warning. Now I have been warned about eating yellow snow but never heard about yellow rain. I just imagine it means it will be pissing down.

Tomorrow marks the 7 weeks until we shut the site. We are starting to plan our winter trip and a big change is on the cards for us. Will tell you more as the weeks go by.

We have two days off a week and look forward to them, but it’s never enough because we have so much we want to do and see and also sometimes we just want to do nothing and potter about at home.

I also check the weather for our our days off which makes a decision on what we will do. With the weather looking bad for our first day off we decided to take a drive out to a national trust property called Hill House at Helensburgh.

The house was built in 1902/1904 , designed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh and his wife. It’s very art nouveau inside. The outside was clad in Portland cement which was a flawed material choice so the house was crumbling away over the years with the wind and rain.

The house was donated to the national trust in 1982 and in 2019 they clad the house in a transparent chain mail and put a huge roof over the whole house. This lets the house breathe and dry out over time so they can renovate the outside.

The structure is also a good way of viewing the outside because you can walk all around it at different levels including a Birds Eye view from above it. Nikki stayed on ground level and of course I had to do the whole experience. To get photos.

With the structure surrounding the house it meant that this was a good choice of things to do on a rain forecast day. But it didn’t rain.

The inside was very art nouveau with some great features. This made a change from a lot national trust properties which are much older.

To get to the house we drove along side Loch Lomond. A very popular place for people coming to Scotland but not the best of roads for so much traffic being narrow in a lot of places. This is fine but you get a lot of hired motorhomes with people driving them who have never driven anything bigger than a car before. And then they meet a caravan or lorry coming the other way and go into panic mode.

As we drove along the edge of the loch we saw a place called Firkin Point and it just made me laugh so much. I decided that was where we’re going to have to stop on the way back. So we did. It’s a small picnic area with an old tree on the edge of the Loch and a small beach area. Some girls were swimming in the loch.

The next day I went out on my bike. I had wanted to do a big loop for ages but my fitness was not good last year so had planned to do it this year. Again my fitness is not good, it’s a bit better than last year. I didn’t plan on doing it that day because I had not been on my bike for six weeks because we were doing other stuff.

As I went off down the hill I thought I would go towards the loop and yes you guessed I ended up doing the big loop I wanted to do. 35 miles and 3195 ft of elevation. Taking in great views and three dams and a bit of Scottish traffic ( Highland cows)

The route was 95% on single track roads of which the most was a very old road which is all broken up in places so is not used, only by farmers and mad bikers.

After getting back and having some lunch I chilled for the rest of the day but felt good and then went to work the next day for a rest. Talking of work, we only have ten weeks to go before our season is over and we shut the site up. But that’s enough talk of work, let’s talk about the last two days which we had off.

Another thing on our list of things to do on our days off was to see the Kelpies and the Falkirk wheel. We didn’t get round to seeing them last year, yesterday we went out to put this right.

The Kelpies are two giant horses heads set in the Helix visitor centre. They stand 30 metres tall and are made from stainless steal. Crafted by artist Andy Scott they pay homage to the horses that once powered scotlands industry. They are very impressive. You get a glimpse of them if you’re driving up on the M9 motorway but they are worth going to see up close. I took so many photos of them but will not bore you with all of them just a couple and an arty farty shot.

A short drive from the Kelpies is the Falkirk wheel which is a rotating boat lift connecting the Forth and Clyde canal with the Union canal. Opened in 2002 this fantastic 1800 tonne boat lift structure rotates to transport canal boats/ barges 35 metres up or down to join the canals. To do a complete circle it uses the same power as eight domestic kettles. It didn’t say how many cups of tea that is.

To stand there and watch it revolve is amazing and they don’t spill any water. We were lucky that not many people were about.

And no the boats don’t go upside down as it turns, the designers thought of that luckily. The marina at the lower level had a couple of nice old barges on.

From the Falkirk wheel we went into Stirling to do some food shopping to include some BBQ food for today because the weather people said it was going to be nice today. They lied. The weather people are the only people that constantly get their job wrong and don’t get the sack. we will see what it’s like later but I am not holding my breath. I know the rest of the U.K. is basking in higher temperatures and we are about ten degrees cooler up here in Scotland but to be honest I am happy with that as long as it’s not raining.

The river Dochart was really low in the dry spell we had making the falls of Dochart no more than a stream. Not good for the tourists who flock to see them. Now they are getting their moneys worth because of all the rain the river is flowing and the falls are looking as good as they get. Happy tourists although they moan about the rain.

We took Bertie out for a run again at the start of June and then stopped on the site down in Killin so we could go out for a few beers and a bite to eat with the crew down there. A great night was had by all. And then the next morning as I looked out the window there on top of the mountains was snow. It was the fourth of June.

Scrufty has continued to visit the feeders and he looks more normal now his winter coat has gone and the other day there was a friend of his on the feeders also so we had two red squirrels around. One seemed to think he was an Australian though and got in the most weird position just to get some food.

About twenty minutes drive from here is a cafe called Mhor 84. It’s a cafe, bar, restaurant, motel. We were going out for the day so decided the first stop would be there for breakfast. I had already looked at the menu on line so knew what I was having. It’s a really nice place and the staff are very nice also.

After eating our breakfast Nikki noticed some nice cakes so we just had to have a cake each to take away. We were going to be out for a while so we had to have something in reserve. Our next destination was to see Rob Roy’s grave at Balquhidder.

Rob Roy was an outlaw and a hero, not very famous unless you live in Scotland. His grave is in the Balquhidder church grounds with his wife and two sons.

It’s a lovely old church and as we pulled into the parking spot a guy who looks after it said it was open if we wanted to look inside. I love old churches and the thought of all the people that have passed through the doors over the years.

After leaving the church we headed out to Loch Katrina where a steam powered boat does tours on the loch. There is another boat that does a shorter tour. It’s a nice scenic drive to get there and then when you get there you wonder how the coaches etc get there but they have come the same way, just lucky we didn’t meet any on route.

Some great photo opportunities so I was happy. Nikki had a slow walk around and a sit on a bench with a view while I opted to go up to the scenic watchtower. A few steep steps and some boardwalk and you get to the tower and look out over the loch.

Sir Walter Scott was using rowing boats on the loch and then a steamer. The steamer is called Sir Walter Scott and does the two hour tour. I was lucky to get photos as it came into view coming back from its tour.

After a stroll around and a sit down we headed off to a parking spot overlooking another loch to eat our cakes and very nice they were too. I won’t show you photos of them because I don’t want you dribbling on your laptop.

Yesterday we went for a walk from the site. Across the field avoiding the cows and a big bull, and around the golf course and around the edge of Loch Tay, along the old railway line, past the falls of Dochart and back through Killin and then up the hill back to site. We don’t normally use the road to get back but we thought we would give it a go. Not much traffic and Nikki found it easier than coming back up the hill via the golf course and field. She just doesn’t like hills full stop.

The field on the way down was covered in meadow buttercups and other wild flowers and looked fantastic and we also saw some other nice purple flowers.

So that’s us up to date. I am off out on my bike soon. The weather is set to cheer up from tomorrow but not as hot as the rest of the country but will still be nice. And Saturday is the longest day so the nights will start to draw in. And we only have about 12 weeks work left.

Killin where we are based for the season used to have a railway station. There is an old railway line which is now made into a cycle way that goes all the way to Callander. About 21 miles it goes through some woodland and beside the river etc. It’s on my list of to do bike rides.

I wanted to find the old station which is off the main cycle way but still accessible by bike. I headed off on my bike joining the start of the cycle way and then took a detour up through the forest and further on and then rejoined the cycle way. Then another detour onto what would have been the original railway line.

The old station house is now a holiday let property reached by a track. The only bit left of the station is the old platform which is slowly being reclaimed by nature. The last train to leave the station was on September 27th 1965 and the station was closed on November 1st 1965. I had missed the train by nearly sixty years. Maybe I should not have taken that detour up through the woods.

I carried on along the route which would have been a railway line only stopping to rescue a baby lamb which had got its head caught in a fence and was crying for mum. As I let the lamb go he/she skipped off and stopped for a moment and looked at me with a look that said Thanks Mike and hurried off to mum. I did 24 miles in total.

We had to do a first aid course for work which was in Stirling. So up bright and early and off for the day. I hate anything like this, being stuck in a classroom all day having to watch videos and answer questions. Reminds me of when I used to go to school. I did go sometimes….honest. To be fair though the course was good and the guy doing it made it fun and the day went quick and we got out early on good behaviour.

We were sitting out in our compound enjoying a cold drink when a flutter of feathers made us look up. A pigeon had landed nearby and was looking a bit confused. It was a homing pigeon but was obviously lost because he didn’t live with us. I gave him some water and some bird seed which he picked out the bits he liked.

I started to do some research because I could see he had rings on to identify him. He was around for a few days and started to be a nuisance even trying to get in the camper so I told him he was not welcome anymore and needed to reboot his sat nav and go home. Anyway he left the next day.

Another thing on my to do list was to climb the mountain behind the park in Killin. I didn’t manage to do it last year. It’s more of a hill really but it’s a big hill. Nikki was not feeling to good and was happy to just chill at home on our day off. I had itchy feet so just made my mind up I was going to climb up the hill.

So on with my walking boots, water bottle in the rucksack and a couple of chocolate cookies off I went. The walk from the camper to Killin is all down hill and looking up at the hill it looked a long way. And yes it was. But what a view. With a lot of wows, burning legs, lungs doing overtime and a lot of photo stops I made it. I sat at the top eating my chocolate cookies and just thinking how lucky I was.

Looking at the tiny houses down below and Loch Tay stretching out to the horizon flanked by more mountains. The sound of silence. I could have stayed up there all day but had no more food so had to come down because there is no way Nikki was going to bring my lunch to me.

Going back down is also hard because you’re stopping yourself running away and then I had to go back up to base for the last bit. A five mile found trip and about 1500 ft of elevation.

Another visitor while we were sat outside having a cold drink was a bug, not as big as the pigeon but very impressive. A North American saw fly. He must have been lost also. He looked very dangerous but was harmless and I moved him from the camper step so he didn’t get trodden on and he hung around then disappeared.

Killin has a small tractor cruise every year. Last year some on their way to Killin went past our entrance. We were working so could not go down into Killin to see them. This year again some went past on their way to Killin but then a couple of hours later I heard the sound of them coming back up the hill and all of them cruised past our entrance. They do a different route every year and this year I got lucky as they passed us. Some lovely old tractors.

Another day off so a small walk planned for Nikki. We drove towards Tyndrum and parked up at Tyndrum community woodland and then walked along the river and through the woodland to Tyndrum and had lunch there. The weather was supposed to be sunny spells with showers but we struck lucky and avoided the showers and only got the sun.

The site is looking great with all the wild flowers coming out and the bugs and bees and butterflies enjoying them. We have had some rain so after the hot spell everything is growing like mad. A couple of photos below of the bugs and raindrops on leafs.

As I write this the rain is falling and has been for a week or more now just as we were getting used to all that nice sunny weather. But we are in Scotland after all. I just think of the day I was up the hill in the sunshine eating my cookie and life seems good again rain or shine.

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.

The run of good weather has come to an end but more will follow hopefully. It was unusual weather for us up here in Scotland and other parts of the country. It was a good chance to test the bbq out and what comes with a BBQ, beer and wine of course. Never one to miss an opportunity for outside cooking, the only time I do cook I will add, and sit with a cold beer in the sun with a view to die for.

We had five BBQ’s over the warm sunny days and these included, Burgers, sausages, chicken portions with skin on, chicken skewers fried eggs, mushrooms, bacon and even some lovely steak. Not all at once I will add.

I know what you’re thinking, will the egg not fall through the grate. No, we put the eggs in a small stainless bowl and they cooked a treat, same with the mushrooms. I have other ideas for future.

The cold frosty mornings and warm days were much appreciated and view from our camper was nice one morning with the snow capped mountain with the sun shining on top and hazy atmosphere.

I needed some new walking boots so a trip to Stirling was the plan for an our day off. Now whenever I buy something I have to do a lot of research so I am sure I know what I am getting. I got the choice down to three different pairs of boots so off we went only stopping for breakfast on the way at the Scottish antique centre cafe. Which do such a nice breakfast.

The lady in the shop was very helpful and had all the time in the world for me and my trying different boots on. Proper old school service which I like. Pair one were very nice and fitted well, pair two were two narrow so thrown out of the mix, pair three were not in the shop, these were the ones I really wanted. So I had to make a decision. Do I take pair one or they could order pair three and get them sent to our base to try. After a few minutes umming and arring I decided to get the others sent out to try on.

The other boots arrived two days later, all excited I opened them up and gave a wow they are nice and then tried them on. Left foot fitted like a glove, right foot too tight so a little sad face and back in the box they went. It was as if they were two different sizes. The following week back to the shop and exchanged them for the first ones I had tried on.

So the season had started and the lorry that empty’s our cesspits arrived, a different driver to normal. As he turned into the driveway he hit the big white boulders and ruptured his diesel tank. Quick thinking I got him to pull out the entrance and into the pull in area where he sat with about 400 litres of diesel trickling out his tank. He had only filled it up the night before.

Phone calls were made and a rescue truck was on its way and a clear up crew. The driver was very upset about the whole thing but he calmed down and as I said to him. These things happen and no one was killed or seriously hurt and every thing else can be fixed.

Nice day day off time to get out on my bike. Having not been out on my bike much in the winter I was not going far this day. Only did sixteen miles but was nice to be out on the bike in Scotland again. I took a route I have been before and a bonus was I saw some deer which is always nice.

What you looking at

I have told you about the drive from here to the lovely tea room before. It’s a great drive so we had to get our first visit in of the season. A lovely sunny day and we were off towards the car park where we parked up and walked through the woods to get to the tea room. The walks are graded, blue, red and black. None of them are very long but the colours indicate the incline and difficulty. Blue being mostly flat, red not so flat and black bloody steep.

Because Nikki was with me we chose to go to the tea room via the blue route. A pink route was not available. It was a nice walk and the early lunch at the tea room was nice. Nikki walked back on the blue route while I chose to go via a red and black route and meet her back at the car. Was it steep, did it make me pant was I glad I went back that way. Yes.

The next day another walk was planned but from the campsite which would take us across the fields down the hill around the western end of the loch and back up the hill to base. While telling Nikki about the route she did suggest we take the car into Killin and walk from there but I said I was going to walk because we would pass the Killin hotel on the way back I might like to stop in there for a couple of pints which I could not do if I drove down there. At this point she changed her mind and said that would be nice so we walked down.

We took a picnic and had our lunch on the edge of the loch as it was so peaceful. Then continued our walk and tried to go past the hotel but a strange magnetic force dragged us into it. We sat in the garden overlooking the river. I know Nikki was thinking all the time. We have to walk up that bloody hill after we leave here but she did it. I waited for her at the top.

After building a BBQ bench in our compound I was getting creative so where a tree had been cut down we had decided it looked like something so some eyes were burnt into the stumps and a off cut was used for a mouth. Meet Stumpy.

After the poo truck incident we thought what could possibly go wrong now. Spoke too soon as last Saturday afternoon our water pump decided it had had enough. Our site water is via a bore hole with a pump which has been on its way out for the last two years. So more phone calls and emails resulting in everyone on site having to drive down the road a mile to fill their water barrels from our other site. The pump people called but couldn’t get here until Tuesday .

When they arrived they confirmed the pump had died, no kiss of life was bringing it back. We had to tell everyone to leave the site and all the bookings for the next week were cancelled. So we have a very quiet Easter weekend. And the pump is getting fixed next week hopefully.

Apart from my tractor breaking down, a caravan wheel falling off just down the road coming to us, another caravan hitting some small rocks on our entrance and getting stuck and a lady shouting at me about the lack of water life is going on as normal on a campsite. Never a dull day. The red squirrel has been spotted on different parts of the site and we have seen him ourselves and this morning I heard the first cuckoo.