Killantringan Bay

As we and our fellow nomads prepared for a new day, we enjoyed the warm sunshine in our beautiful setting amongst the trees. Prosecco lady appeared and as predicted looked a little worse for wear. On throwing a second bowl of water into the hedge behind her van John pointed out the waste water area behind Marge. She knew it was there but was only throwing away clean water. Oh well we hope you like flies because they will love your clean water!

Whilst we waited to top up Marges water tank some newbies were struggling with their hosepipe, they had just the one tap connector, the wrong one. Angela offered to help, as we soon learnt whilst in Europe you need a selection which we now have. Whilst the wife was appreciative the husband was determined to persist. Oh well the offer was there. Leaving him to struggle Angela offered some advice to the wife. Don't feel you have to fill your water tank right up, water is available at some garages, especially Asda and Morrisons in Scotland or by five litre containers from a supermarket, so carry a funnel to make pouring it in your water tank easier. and wash your smalls every day. leave them on the dashboard and they will dry during the day (she didn't say make sure you bring your beat pants as everyone will get to see them). Drive over a drain to empty grey water, don't cart it around with you, adopt a his and her toilet regime and use wash powder tablets not chemical in your loo, for easier emptying. In four days', time they were booked on a camp site the husband said to address all these issues. That was Angela told. Bet he thought she was a right no all!

Our journey today took us along a fast road which headed to Stranraer which at times hugged the coast. As Marge bowled happily along, we saw a brown tourist sign for Cairn Holy Cairn. A quick google by John resulted in Marge being turned around and driven back to take a look. The road up to the cairn was steep and narrow but it didn't faze Marge. This was the joy of our travels we could visit, stop or change our itinerary at any time.

Cairn Holy is the site of two Neolithic chambered tombs enjoying views across the mull of Galloway. Besides us there were one other couple visiting. How many people we wondered just drove by, this really was secret Scotland.

Our late lunch stop was Port Patrick, a small picturesque coastal village with a wrap around harbour which in the 18th and 19th century was an important ferry port to northern Ireland. We had come here as it featured in our 100 best places to visit in Scotland book, an alternative to the regular guide books. All car parks clearly stated No Overnight Camping, Sleeping or Cooking.

Yet a poster by the harbour asked visitors to spend in the local shops and businesses. Well let the vans stay overnight then! Ousted from Port Patrick we moved a few miles along the coast to Killantringan Bay where we are parked on the cliff top with a few other vans.

All afternoon Marge has been much admired and the same happened here as soon as she arrived. After settling in we walked along the sands on the beach below. Yet another secret Scotland location.

This evening the rain has arrived, our first of the trip, let's hope it clears by the morning. Tomorrow morning, we will check our map and decide where we want to visit next, but we're sure it will change as the day progresses.

Caeverlock Castle - Dumfries

Another early start this morning after an exceptionally quiet night, you'd never have guessed we were just a short walk from Chester city centre. First stop Higher Tranmere to visit John's daughter, coffee and cakes were waiting, today had started well. After a couple of hours catching up with her and taking advantage of a facility to empty our waste and top up our water, we set off, our destination Carlisle.

As the M6 wound its way through the mountains of the lake district we wondered if there was a better view from an English motorway. Arriving late afternoon in Carlisle we were greeted by the cheers of the football crowd at Carlisle United's ground in the Warwick road , perhaps they had just scored one of their winning goals against Salford City. Our destination was Rickerby park, recommended on park4the night. It turned out not for us. Some undesirables had set up a tent alongside a VW crafter van (as Marge is). Straight away their eyes were drawn to her. Don't worry Marge we're off, there was no way we felt comfortable about spending the night let alone leaving her whilst we took a walk. Decision made we decided to cross the Scottish border.

Just before 5 pm we crossed into Scotland. Failte Gu Alba Marge, Welcome to Scotland. Now in Scotland Marge soon found herself on narrow country roads but she wasn't fazed. Been here and done this before, bring it on.

The site at Caeverlock castle was busy, including Marge there were thirteen vans. Last year when we stopped here around the same time there were seven vans. Seeing how busy it was we expect to be vying for space in some locations as we travel further into Scotland. For now, Marge is tucked in near the service point next to a van called Maxine, although we know she would have preferred at Mark or Malcolm. The owner of Maxine had an accident with his drone this morning, he likes to film the motorhomes!! Each to their own. 

After showering we walked out leaving the two couples opposite in conversation. They were from Yorkshire and one of the women had an exceptionally loud voice, echoing everything her husband said and then talking over him. Well into a second bottle of prosecco she was celebrating being back in Scotland. Lucky Scotland. We agreed with Marge, bet she's not so chipper in the morning.

Conscious that the light would fade just after eight we took a path along the edge of the salt marshes offering a clear view across the Solway firth, and then into castle wood where we were surprised at just how much the leaves on the deciduous trees and shrubs were changing colour.

The red and purple of berries and last yellow flowers on a nearby honeysuckle showcased in the fading vegetation.

By the time we arrived back at Marge the evening air had cooled, a reminder we were just that little further north, but hey, we were on our travels, and Scotland is where you visit for the views not the weather, so we don't mind. Before we left Poole we invested in some new waterproof jackets and trousers to ensure we were comfortable whatever the weather decided to throw at us whilst we were here. 

Tomorrow we must plan a route for our onward journey. This year's visit will be different as we know that a Scottish A road can be a single-track road with passing places so there will hopefully be no surprises for Marge, but we can't promise!

Chester

This morning we were up early raring to break out our Brompton bikes and hit the cycleway.

A hint of yellow on some nearby trees signalled the end of summer, where had the last few months gone?

We cycled along the old railway line to the nearby village of Long Marston, calling in at the village shop for a much-needed snack.

Aptly named the 'Poppin' the shop was typical of a store in a small community, friendly and welcoming. As Angela entered the shop a conversation was underway by three women of a similar age as to what was worse, a builder's bum or stomach. What did Angela think? After ten miles of cycling, we realised how much we'd missed it. In 2020 when Angela was sixty, we'd hoped to go on a cycling holiday in Europe. Looks like it might have to wait until she'd sixty-two now.

A quick lunch in Marge, accompanied by the peel of wedding bells from the nearby church of Holy Trinity, where William Shakespeare is buried and then conscious of travelling on a Friday afternoon on the M6 we set off for Chester. The traffic around Birmingham was hellish, and soon after we rerouted off the M6. As we approached Chester, we saw a sign for Malpas, where some forty plus years ago John's Uncle Dave had a restaurant.

We were so near we took a detour to take a look for old times' sake.

The traffic and detour meant our journey to Chester took nearly four hours, so we were pleased to settle Marge and walk out along the River Dee and back through the roman gardens.

Tomorrow we head up to Cumbria once we've visited John's daughter and her family.

Stratford-upon-Avon

It was lunchtime before we set off from Poole.

Our neighbour asked how long we'd be away. We explained it depended on the weather, circumstance and Marge. Our visit to Scotland last September left us wanting more, so we are returning this time to revisit some favourite places and to discover some new ones. And we hope you'll all come along too.

Late afternoon we arrived at Stratford upon Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare. Our home for the night ten minutes' walk from the town at Stratford Greenway, a five-mile cycle route along the old Honeybourne line.

All day parking here is just £3, and a barrier secures the area overnight. Marge is settled here alongside a van from Wales, whose owners are from Merseyside. The man's step mother lives just along the road from John's daughter Dawn, who we will be visiting on Saturday morning. Small world.

The short walk alongside the river Avon in to the town was beautiful. Plums grew wild and John couldn't resist picking a few. At the lock we watched as a narrow boat slowly rose in the bubbling water. The swans hungry for food caught our attention, and across the river a squadron of them paddled frantically between two people keen to feed them.

The town was quiet, unnaturally quiet for such a tourist hotspot. We sat by the colourful narrowboats a while before walking over to Shakespeare's statue. Then tired, returned to Marge, passing by the RSC (Royal Shakespeare Company) where a small crowd were gathering to watch an evening outdoor performance in the garden theatre.

Tomorrow we hope to cycle along the greenway before heading off further north.