5th May
And they’re off – like a ferret down the trousers, like a greyhound out the trap, like Red Rum winning the Grand National – more like a snail with the scent of a Pansy in it’s olfactory senses. After the stress of getting the dash light sorted (previous post) we were all packed and ready to go with an early start in mind. Thwarted at the last minute – Janette runs a couple of chocolate shops with an online presence (Chocolate Gourmet) and the checkout system was not working. I attempted to sort but it was having none of it – I suspect a recent upgrade may be the issue.
Anyway this is about our trip not work! We decided to take 3 days to get up to Inverness, the start point for the tour. Setting off about 9:00am, destination Lochmaben close to Dumfries, a little CL site. Weather was gorgeous, no annoying dashboard light, Hilma purring up the motorway like a seasoned traveller, what is not to like. The sense of release and freedom always surprises me when we set off whether it be for 2 days or 20.
This is the start our second year with Hilma and so far (and I can’t see this changing), we love it.
6th May
An early(ish) start for the drive to the next site in The Trossachs (I know all those jokes rattling around – sounds painful, etc.). Maragowan was the destination, a CC site, very pretty, sitting next to the River Lochay running into Loch Tay. Very busy – we do prefer the smaller sites but this was a convenient stopover so we would only be here one night. Booked a meal at the Bridge of Lochay Inn, a short walk from the site, talking ourselves into treating ourselves ‘as we were on holiday’.
7th May
I have got back in to my running and had a fantastic early morning run along the river before breakfast – beautiful sunshine but chilly. We were on the road by 9:30am and driving on the A827 along the side of Loch Tay. Mrs.Garmin tried to take us down a road that had a narrow bridge (7.5ft) and as Hilma is of the same girth we gave that a serious miss (although I’m sure the drive would have been spectacular). Warning – this A road felt like a B road – twisty and sometimes narrow. Our next destination was Culloden Moor just outside Inverness ready for the true start of the NC 500. Great views all the way and we found the site easily enough – went for the usual afternoon walk to stretch the legs.
An Oystercatcher had decided to take up residence on Pitch no.43 and was duly roped off!