Thursday-
After a hectic day around the house sorting everything out for our trip, Nikki came home and we were finally ready and on our way. Not before of course that I had gone to Spinneys caravan shop and invested in a new Avtex 15inch TV/dvd player. You know what’s its like, something you have to have. So Nikki finished work and then that was it we were on our way. For a bank holiday weekend the traffic was quite light. We had decided to head to Nikki’s brothers in Auchterader in order to stay on his drive and break the journey up. We arrived at about 10pm so a 5 hour drive and we were there for sleep. A couple of short stops to let Tara do her business and that was that. A quick hello to the family and off too bed.
Friday-
After an early start we set off for our first destination of our tour. We headed for Loch Ness campsite. A site we had stayed on several times since we commenced motor homing. We aimed to arrive early as we were hosting a little motorhomefun meet, it was the first meet we had arranged and we were expecting 10 vans. On arriving after another uneventful journey, we were greeted by a few that had beat us!. With Tara walked, the van unpacked and the dinner cooked we decided we would sit outside Ash’s van and have a nice quiet drink. A Mh pulled in next to Ash’s van and then immediately complained about us being there drinking. I sincerely suspect this gentleman and his family were simply not allowed to or ever had had fun in their life. Following them moving we went to the other extreme. A nice couple from Scotland arrived and promptly joined in, however this couple drank a little more than the governments recommended allowance and in fact had probably all our allowances at the same time. Needless to say that by the time we arrived at the bar for the night time festivities they were well and truly wasted!! All the vans from the meet arrived and joined us in having a good time and the night went very well.
Saturday
Well surprisingly I awoke with no hang over. it’s a funny thing this owning a dog, especially a Newfoundland. |When I wake up I have a purpose, I have ot walk the dog, which I love doing but at the same time it means you have to try and keep some routine whilst away which is a little novelty for me. After the family awoke we joined and Nikki’s brother and his family for a nice 6 mile hike with the dog. A nice walk along the great Glenn way and back. On arriving back to the site, the final guest of the meet arrived and we were then settled in for a little chat. DISASTER STRIKES--- Well we shut the van doors and left Harley and his cousin Bruce in the van whilst we walked to the bar to inform the others that we would not be going to the bar for a meal. We had been in the bar area for about 5 mins and for some reason decided to walk out and back to the van. On the way back which was a walk of about 200 yards I heard a screaming. Then coming down the site road towards me was Tara, closely followed by Harley and Bruce. Harley was screaming uncontrollably I knelt down and Tara came straight to me. I asked what had happened and this is how it was answered. Harley informed me that he had gone to get out of the Mh when Tara pushed out behind him and ran off looking for me. Harley and Bruce gave chase and of course this led Tara to think she was playing a great game. Tara ran straight out of the site and across the A82. A Volvo car was travelling the road and bang, hit Tara knocking her in to the ditch. This had been witnessed by Harley and Bruce whom were in hot pursuit. The driver of the car and her husband stopped and pulled in to the campsite. Tara seemed in complete shock. The Volvo driver informed me she had been doing about 50 mph and Tara and the children came from nowhere. She reported she was lucky not to hit the kids. Tara and I went back to the MH to assess how damaged she was. I had looked at the front of the Volvo and it was quite damaged, I became quite emotional worried about Tara and of course how Harley would feel if she was seriously hurt being he had witnessed the event. On top of this I felt extremely embarrassed as if it was our fault. The site maintenance man was very helpful and a former farm hand so his help was like gold dust. He gave me the number of a vet (Lorna) whom I gave a call too. She was so so nice, she was not interested in the money, just Tara’s welfare. She gave me a few tests and then made and emergency appointment for the am for me to bring Tara to Inverness. The night was going to be a long night worrying about Tara and wandering if she would survive the night.
SUNDAY
Ok so not much sleep and Tara was still with us wandering what all the fuss was about.
She appeared ok but nether the less it was off to Inverness Vets to have Tara looked at. Lorna was awaiting us and when we walked in to the vets with Tara, Tara seemed fine. Lorna gave Tara a thorough examination and other than a broken nail seemed absolutely fine. We know not why or how she got through this, we are just glad we did. We truly believe that after our shocking start to the year that someone looked down on us and did not want to see two of his grandchildren more upset than they were. The Volvo after all was in a mess, the dog however was fine, a £56-00 bill later and a pain killer injection and we were on our way to Clachtoll beach.
We arrived at the site first, We were met by the owner Jim whom recognised that we had been before and gave us his normal welcome. The day was what can only be described as beautiful. The sun was shinning the beach was showing white sand and clear green sea. We then checked whom was coming and it was to be 5 vans totalling 15 people. A great turn out. As people were arriving all they could say was wow!! How did you find this place!!
The BBQ immediately came out and we commenced the evenings festivities of BBQs and beers.
MONDAY
We awake to find the sun shinning, and the place experiencing its true beauty. We then had a little bit of a discussion after I had walked Tara for about 2 hours about what we would do for tea. Eddie and his family whom we had met for the first time and turned out to be a top guy like his mate Pat that we had met several times managed to convince me that the 6 mile cycle ride in to Lochinver would be easy. Why I needed to go there was because we had ran out of BBQ food. I managed to convince myself that it would be a simple ride. What I had not bargained for was the several 1-10 hills that I would have to ride up. I borrowed Rays electric bike thinking that this would make things a little easier, HOW WRONG was I!!! 6 miles there 6 miles back phew the electric bike was a pedal assist not a motorbike, I was knacked on my return but hey ho I had completed my mission.
Nikki and I had our customary fall out with George resulting in his super tantrum and abuse towards me followed by my keeping in him in order. Why he behaves this way is beyond me, so if you know why or can help please do. This though could not prevent me from Di (eddies wife) telling me that at nursery they are not allowed to use the word naughty. What are we coming to?
We had a really good night, a great BBQ and followed by a few beers back at Rays van listening to Eddie & Pat telling stories that made us all laugh.
Tuesday
We awoke to find Patrick gone and said our goodbyes to Eddie, Ray and Nikki’s brother Mark. We set off on our way and decided to stop at Bone caves for a walk and bit of caving. A 2 mile walk to the cave uphill left us staring at some wonderful caves. Harley and I explored them whilst George and Nikki awaited outside with Tara. After exploring the caves we returned to the van and enjoyed what I can only describe as the best pie in the world from the world famous loch Inver pie shop. We set off again and headed for Westeross where for some reason seems to be an infatuation of Nikki’s. nice as it is we set about finding some wild camp spots and settled for one on the road to Cove overlooking fire moor sands.
Wednesday
Wednesday we awoke once more to Glorious sunshine. Absolutely gorgeous. We looked out of our window to see Fire moor beach in its glory. Beautiful sands along with blue sky and clear water. Me George, Harley and Tara went down the beach for a good bit of exercise whilst we decided on what we would do for the day. Nikki then came up with the idea of following the Westeross coastal trail. We set off and popped in to Gairloch for a little look around. Then on we went, only this time Nikki came up with the idea of moving across to Applecross. What a lovely drive this was. Difficult it must be said. The road was really narrow, really steep and with deadly drops either side, I LOVED IT. We travelled through the day stopping and looking at various things. We bumped in to a heard of Deer and a great looking stag in all his glory stared up the road at us. We kept on travelling throughout the day. Eventually we decided that we would wild camp around fort William area. When we arrived the fair was in town so that idea soon went. We then headed toward Glencoe looking for suitable places. We eventually found a nice safe place in the car park of Ator. The good thing about this little wild camp was that we were camped with real life hippies. They got a bit of a shock when we pulled in in our nice van but hey ho each to their own. A good walk for Tara and a good nights sleep ready for the next day.
Thursday.
We spoke to our friends that had started the tour with us. Ash and Lynn and Mark and Sharon. They had located a site in the lakes for £11 per night with hook up. We arranged to meet them there. We had a nice little run down going through the city of Glasgow and on and off the motorway until we came to our exit. As we left the motorway we pulled up behind the others as If by a miracle. We followed them in to the site which turned out to be a little more than £11 a night. In fact it was £23 including the dog. I don’t mind paying that as the site was nice and tidy with many tents and nice walks. Lambs lambing and calves calving all in eye shot. It was the fact that I think they lied to Ash when he made the enquiry, but hey ho it was paid and done with. The night kicked off with a good walk followed by a few drinks and a few more and even a few more. Before I knew it there was 6 adults and a large dog in our van thoroughly pissed, 1 son playing on the PS2 and 1 son playing with Sharon’s girls whom came home covered in make up and dressed in women’s clothes. I’m sure it was innocent or at least I hope so but at least the kids seemed happy again which had proved difficult this time round. Eventually we went to bed and it was all done.
Friday
Awoke, walked and set off for home. Our friends were going on to the swift rally and as we have no swift we went for home. A slow drive and before we knew it another holiday was done with and over.
