30 July. Only one campsite this time, this is a short three night trip. Driving through Inverness we stopped at the Co-op to raid their biscuit shelf. We have a new favourite, Abernethy biscuits. We are heading to the northeastern corner of Scotland, Caithness. The landscape is so different to that of the west coast. Flat.
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We’re heading to the Scottish borders, to Dumfries and Galloway. That is the southwestern corner of Scotland. Our first campsite in Sorbie is over five hours’ drive away so we decided to break the journey at Inver Mill campsite near Dunkeld. We’ve stayed there before. On the way down we stopped at the House of Bruar for lunch as we often do when driving by. We got up early the next morning and were on the road at 8:30. We had a pit stop at a service station and had a couple sandwiches and coffee in Bruno. We got to a late start because we were waiting for the express delivery of our mattress topper. Bill got email saying it would be delivered between 16:12 and 17:12. It was delivered at 16:12, precisely. We ripped it out of its packaging and were off.
Travels with Bertie are now travels with Bruno, son on Bertie. We sold Bertie, our WV Crafter conversion, in the autumn and during the winter started looking for a new campervan. Bertie was a good introduction into campervaning. After days online Bill found Bruno, an 18 month old WV California Coast. Bayleaf green. The price and colour were right. At the time we were in Finland for a three month stay, so we flew into Scotland, took a train to Penrith in England and drove up the next day. (Second hand cars don't wait for your return a month later.) Bill drove Bruno and I followed in Fifi, a ten year old Fiesta we bought to use as a shopping bag and for other shorter drives. We then flew back to Finland. Our second trip takes us to Acharacle and then to Camusdarach in Arisaig. We start by taking the same road as before to Fort William, to M&S for some food shopping. From Fort William we drive on to Glenfinnan where Bonnie Prince Charlie in 1745 raised the standard after he and a small band of loyal supporters sailed up Loch Shiel to start the Jacobite Rebellion. His quest to restore the Stuarts to the British throne. The monument was built in 1815 as a tribute to the Highlanders who fought in that uprising. Introduction Bertie came into our family in mid-February. He’s a 2013 VW Crafter campervan conversion, very well looked after by the previous owners. We knew some things needed fixing and after a health check and the fixes he now is ready for the road. Why “Bertie”? We both enjoy Alexander McCall Smith’s 44 Scotland Street books. One of the characters is the six-year-old Bertie who has a very domineering mother. Bertie wants to be less programmed, he wants to be free and, with a sigh, is counting the years when he’ll be eighteen and no longer has to listen to his mother. We are setting Bertie free now. We arrived here at the end of February. At the time, there were only two Covid cases in Finland and none in the Highlands. However, as we passed through three airports we thought it would be a good idea to self-isolate for two weeks. On arrival we did our shopping. That was a big shop, but we weren’t exactly hoarding. We were back after four months in Finland and all we had was muesli and porridge oats. At this time, there were no shortages on supermarket shelves. The sewage of the condo I live in is undergoing renovations. The pipes are being lined with something, so it’s a fairly quick procedure. Nothing needs to be ripped out or installed. Still, I’m not allowed to use any drains for three weeks. The closest toilet and showers are either five floors up or five floors down, out, and then into the next building. No cooking facilities available. I mentioned this to a friend of mine last summer, and she said I could stay in their apartment. Thank you, Friend! |
AuthorI'm Piisa and I will be sharing with you my thoughts on this and that, maybe even on whatever. Archives
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