Lochbuie, Isle of Mull (day 2)

Around nine o'clock clock yesterday evening a lone sheep sauntered by, stopping to check us out. Yes, we've made our five pound donation. 

What a beautiful start to this morning.

A butter yellow sun warmed us and gave the chance to have an alfresco breakfast on the beach. We were glad we'd arrived here yesterday and able to secure a beautiful spot as the site is now becoming busier.

Feeling a little better, Angela was happy to walk around to the next bay, a sandy cove just past Moy castle. As we sat and watched the calm waters of the Atlantic kiss the volcanic sand. A man from Dumfrieshire stopped to chat. Coincidentally he lives just four miles from Caeverlock castle where we spent our first night in Scotland. Talking about Scottish tourism he informed us nobody involved in the tourist industry here was poor as they ripped off the visitors. Thanks for that information. Not sure it's true. 

By the time we returned to Muddy Marge for lunch Angela was tired. So she spent the afternoon reading whilst John scoured the rocks for suitable wood to purloin for tonight's open fire on which we will barbecue. 

We have decided we will probably stay here tomorrow night as well. Hopefully by Friday Angela will be feeling a lot better and we will move further around the island.

Lochbuie, Isle of Mull

The rain fell continuously through the night, and Angela coughed continuously through the night. It is now apparent that she has a chest infection. Plenty of fluids (no, not wine), and paracetamol.

It was late morning before we set off, having enjoyed very much The Red Squirrel Campsite. As we drove along the single track road down to the nearby village the mountains emerged from from behind their cloaks of grey, and a watery sunlight lit the road.

We were on our way. Leaving behind the whisky drinking Scottish men who full of merriment last night, sat miserably in their camp chairs this morning. Their slogan last night, I'd rather die happy' Well there you go.

A short ferry crossing took us to the Ardurmuchan peninsula. We just love it there and will spend some days at nearby Ardtoe after we leave Mull.

A narrow single track road wound it's way across the heath lands and hills. It really was a case of taking the slow road. To add to the twists and turns, sheep lingered on the verges, and snow white lambs skittish at our approach darted about. At Lochaline we boarded the afternoon ferry to the island of Mull, now we felt our holiday was really beginning.

Our destination was Lochbuie, where at the end of a challenging narrow road their is a small camping area near to the cafe. We stayed here in 2022 and vowed we would definitely return. This time being in the landrover, we've been able to secure a park up near to the cafe right by the shoreline. Muddy Marge as always is attracting attention of the male variety. What's she like!

Another wet evening, but thanks to our bat wing awning we were able to cook and sit outside. Late evening a pair of inquisitive seals came close by, and in the nearby woodland a cuckoo called. Perfect.

Red Squirrel Campsite, Ballachulish

Muddy Marge, a compact camper with a loo, that's the best description of our new camper. We've been fortunate to be able to take all our meals outside so far, but realize we need to be more organized should we not be able to so.

After last night's storm, the new day dawned dry and warm. We purchased cray fish and cheese and pickle rolls along with a salmon roll (salmon in a thin rolled pastry...delicious) from the Loch Fyne deli and set off. Our drive alongside the Loch was beautiful. The waters calm, the mountains in the background tinged blue by the cloud hovering above them. The blue purple from thousands of bluebells along the verges were mesmerizing, Scotland in springtime, beautiful.

An impromptu stop in the village of Loch awe at St. Conan's Kirk broke our journey to Oban.

The magical Loch side setting was beautiful, the other visitors entertaining. There were French motorhomes everywhere. Large French motorhomes , 7.5 metres plus. Parking was limited, so you can imagine the chaos. And as in France, the wives stand behind them when their husbands are reversing! 

Oban, as always was noisy and chaotic. The reason for our visit was to purchase a drone from Argos. Hopefully it will add exciting and fascinating footage to our blog.

This evening we are spending the night on a lovely campsite just outside Glencoe. The woodsmoke from the open fires we're allowed is playing havoc with Angela's chest, but despite this we cooked our meal on an open fire. The rain is once again upon us, but we are lucky to be able to sit out and enjoy the evening.

The plan for tomorrow is to take the ferry over to the island of Mull where we will stay for a few days. After three days of driving, we're really looking forward to slowing things down.

Loch Fyne Oyster Bar, Clachan

Despite being a beautiful evening last night we missed the northern lights, the cloud covered the late sky, and at 2 am we were in bed when the chance of seeing them occurred.

So this morning we were tired. Angela doesn't feel well. She's been suffering for a few days thinking it was just bad hay fever, but it's not. Upper respiratory, exactly what she suffered from in France early last year. With hardly any voice to help John,  navigating the awful road layouts of Glasgow was a challenge. 

We thought we had packed everything we needed but alas no. Yesterday we realised we'd forgotten our buoyancy aids, so had to divert to Decathlon on the edge of Glasgow. No buoyancy aids, no pack rafting, it's a risk we wouldn't take.

Leaving the chaos and noise of Glasgow behind we took to the mountains where we were rewarded with beautiful views and stunning landscape. Stopping at the top of the old military road at a viewpoint named 'The Rest and be Thankful', Muddy Marge took the limelight. Photograph her as much as you like. Yesterday at Stafford services a young man referred to her as a 'cool truck'. We are starting to realise she's a real attention grabber.

This evening we feel we are in the ' real Scotland', staying once again outside Loch Fyne Oysters adjacent to the loch. Upon our arrival the thunderstorm due all afternoon arrived obscuring all the surrounding scenery in it's anger. Fortunately within an hour the nearby mountains reappeared, now with foaming waters spewing and tumbling down them.

Even some Wild Garlic to go into John's breakfast omelette!

We are the only camper here, and don't mind. Just us and our Boxio compost loo which has now been christened. No taking it back to the shop now 😂

Caerverlock Castle, Dumfrieshire

Well here we are again at one of our favourite stops, just over the border into Scotland.

After an eight and a half hour journey from Thame in Oxfordshire seen off by Elliot, our grandson who insisted on counting how many toilet rolls we had on board.

We arrived in time to bag the last space in this beautiful wooded area alongside the Solway Firth.

The day didn't start well though. 'Ready for your road trip Muddy Marge?'. Apparently not. She refused to start. After some gentle persuasion she fired up. As a reward we filled up her fuel tank with an eye watering £165 of ultimate diesel, and with our fingers crossed set off.

The traffic lights, the weather beautiful we soon abandoned our planned overnight stops at Kendal in the Lake District and decided to make it to Scotland today. And boy are we glad we did....we've missed being up here, and what ever the weather has planned we'll go with it.