Here we go………..

Will the trailer be ok? can we tow ok? Will the car be ok? Who would know, well we would after around 3 hours and 115 miles. All seemed well. We did not unload as my old friend Eric was going to drive us around for a couple of days. So far so good.

“Eric the Viking” probably is un aware of the impact he had on shaping me as a person. Eric was my Tutor Constable way back in 1981. Apart from the finer arts of “plodding” and what constituted being a “dick” was my education in how to drink whiskey and play golf. These things have stayed with me to this day. Recently Eric tracked me down and it was more than lovely spending two days with Kerry and Eric reminiscing and catching up on the many years since I was a fresh faced naive young women. I remember that time with Eric very fondly.

The weather was so nasty but the company was so good and I was so happy to rekindle this friendship. A wet walk round Kirkby Lonsdale and a flash by Ingleton Falls made the day out, finished off with a legendary egg and chips meal at the Taylor residence. A home that should have in my opinion featured in “grand designs”. A home built by Eric and Kerry’s son, very nice.

Kerry & Denise @ a wet Kirkby Lonsadale

 

Eric, thank you for the EDRADOUR ………………”a whiskey of rare distinction” ……..hmmmmm

Next stop was a campsite next to the M74 and the Strathclyde Country park. It was an excellent site, not their fault the long term and major 24hr a day road works gave off a constant drone of road and heavy vehicle noise. The noise did not bother us. We did have to unload the car and we realised that the tow bar needed to be dropped even more. More spanner work for the old girls, who knows if we did a good job? I can only say so far so good! What I mean is, is that nothing so far has fallen off. Fingers crossed I don’t have to talk about that in the future.

Over the three full days we were here we visited the Falkirk Wheel (built in Ripley), The Kelpies, Edinburgh, and Glasgow. What has been great is that JarJar has been everywhere with us and been welcome. When we went to Glasgow we went on a train and the boy was on his best behaviour. This on a train means he lays out his full length in the gang way and will not move meaning people have to step over him much to our embarrassment. Now some time ago one of our dear friends referred to Jarjar as a “chic magnet” and sure enough he is. So the stepping over ritual apparently is ok because he is gorgeous. This was confirmed by two bag ladies in Glasgow, sure enough he is a magnet but the definition of “chic” is somewhat wanting. Or is that about the two old gals with him…..

Having done the tourist bits we loaded up again and set off for our first long term stop in Thurso. Thurso is in the Northern Highlands, it was a 7 hour drive on “A” roads. We had one scary moment on a 13% incline and hairpin bend (I did say “A” road) where we were down to 13 miles per hour in first gear. There was silence in the van with big high fives when we got to the top and got into second gear. Did I mention the torrential rain, wind and slippery road?

The reward was reaching Thurso, well really Dunnets Bay six miles east of Thurso is a beautiful bleak nothing here except for sand, sea and the elements. A fellow “Waggoner” referred to our planned 20 day stay here as brave. We prefer to think of it as heavenly, all though when the wind blows it bloody blows! Jarjar’s new garden is sand and sea as far as the eye can see. He is digging for Australia constantly! One very happy dog.

So, we are here for a bit and I am sure we will have stuff to report on, already we have enjoyed a brilliant day out driving the very small roads with astonishing scenery. We have also experienced the high winds and the damage that can be cause to Hobby Hobster. A repair job required on a calm day, in the mean time duck tape is a must in any tool kit.

As I am tapping the keys it’s pissing down, but we can see the beautiful beach and both of us have our favourite triples, Denise has a nice gin and I am enjoying “a whiskey of rare distinction”.