Kendal Cricket Club, Kendal, (Day 2)

After the cricketers left yesterday evening we sat watching and listening to the Oyster Catchers as they scoured the manicured grass on the cricket field. Since the very first day we arrived in Scotland they have been present almost ever day. We consider them to be our guardian angels. We cannot explain how much joy they give us. As we always do when we stay here in Kendal, we walked into town to pick up a Chinese takeaway. To us Kendal means Chinese. 

This morning with time to kill, as we were only planning to move a short way over to lake Windermere we walked back into town for morning coffee. Stopping to look in the outdoor shops, taking time to look at the architecture and history of the town. First impressions of Kendal are a down at heal town, buildings blackened by traffic pollution. If you visit and look a little deeper you'll see a town with interesting shops mixed with high street stores, beautiful buildings and many plaques explaining the towns intriguing history. 

Back at Marge, The county teams of Cumbria and Cambridge were still playing cricket. Angela desperate for the toilet was straight on the Boxio, warning John not open the back door, otherwise the sight might distract the teams from play. We lunched, the beautiful weather, tropical to us pleasant. Last night's stormed had passed by without coming near, but we'd heard of heavy downpours in nearby regions. Lunch eaten we planned to leave for South Windermere by mid afternoon. Our overnight stop was at the Lakeside centre, ten pounds for the night, and we wanted to arrive once the day visitors had left. But John couldn't find his car keys! Haven't we been here twice before this trip? The chances of finding them this time nil. There was no way we could be third time lucky. So we walked back into town, retracing our steps of this morning and yesterday evening. Stopping at shops and pubs to see if they'd been handed in. At one shop a helpful lady posted an appeal on the local Facebook. The day was slipping by. So to make something of it we walked up the hill to Kendal Castle.

Our legs already tired and complaining from walking around town. The castle belonged to the Parr family. Yes the family of Catherine Parr the sixth wife of Henry VII.

Back at Marge, Angela a little despondent we weren't going over to Lake Windermere reminded John we were still searching for his keys. Low and behold he found them in our fruit cupboard. They'd fallen off the shelf above through an opening. There were no words! So our ten pounds tonight will be given to Kendal Cricket Club. Sadly for them they were beaten by Cambridge. 

Beautiful disguised Buff Tip moth, though not so effective on a white painted wall.

Kendal Cricket Club, Kendal

Yesterday evening after all the day visitors left the site was peaceful. Marge and a dozen other vans, a few English the rest Europeans. Thankfully no Spanish. Before the 'big' match, we walked up to the tunnel that the Union canal flows through. A beautiful orange sunset was just beginning.

Quiet now, the canal belonged to the ducks and damselflies, their metallic blue colouring flashing as they moved swiftly feeding off the small insects that inhabited the vegetation on the canal bank. As we watched England play Spain at football with one eye, we watched the sunset with the other.

Two dramas unfolding at the same time. After both had finished we stepped outside for some air. As the night before our neighbours were Dutch, and they came over to chat, asking which  Scottish islands they should visit. Scottish islands, they were talking to the right people, we felt we were qualified in the subject. Well they must visit Mull of course, and Arran and of course Skye. We've been told the Isle of Skye is expecting a million visitors this year. How the island will cope we don't know. 

This morning summer had officially arrived. It was warm, dry and there was no wind. We felt hot! The Scottish would say this was 'roasting' on another level. Setting off early, we decided to head down to Glencaple and stay near the castle, but as we drove we realised this took us away from our route south so decided to cross back into England to Kendal in the Lake District. The traffic was heavy, and stopping at Gretna services we nearly had a meltdown. So, so busy with Scottish families heading south for their holidays. The temperature creeping up to, wait for it 30 c. Hot children in hot cars, surrounded by luggage. In one a set of golf clubs was wedged between the children. Hopefully this evening they have all arrived safely at their accommodations.

Just after one thirty we crossed the border into England, the last nine weeks suddenly seemed a dream. We felt so sad to be on our way home. The drive through the lake district is always beautiful. Rolling green hills, zig zagging stone walls, and stunning views. We stopped on Shap Fell to take it all in. Stunning as it was, it wasn't Scotland. 

Tonight we are settled at Kendal cricket club, in the beautiful old town of Kendal.

When we arrived a match was being played and we had to wait a long while for a space for Marge. Some light rain arrived and stopped play for a while. But it is so warm, it bothered no one. The night time temperature tonight is set to be 14 c. In Scotland we'd been happy with that as a daytime temperature. Scotland is behind us now, but we will be away for a few more days, and are looking forward to stopping to visit family on the way home. As always Marge is the star attraction and was more than happy to be surrounded by a group of young cricketers who marvelled at her. What a girl. She turns heads wherever we go. 

Falkirk Wheel, Falkirk

A forestry stop is normally a guaranteed peaceful stop. Not last night. The Dutch next to us, a very nice family took until half past midnight to organize themselves in a hire van they'd only picked up hours before. This morning at six, vans began to leave, and just after six thirty a group of women arrived to hill run. From that time until just after seven thirty they talked, loudly, cackled, shrieked and were generally very annoying! The Forestry park up was not free. A donation from each van of seven pounds which we don't mind. What Angela minds, is hearing one of the women say, 'we should have woken them all up by now'. Carry on like this ladies and no one will stay, and no money will be available on maintaining this lovely area. Also last night youngsters in cars. A couple who parked in with us watching something on an iPad for hours, leaving before eleven, and a few others driving normally up to the higher car park. No noise or trouble there. So, ladies you let yourselves down.

We are slowing things down now, so before taking the short drive to Falkirk we stopped at the cottage where John's mother was brought up. Known as the pink house to the locals, it sadly is in a bad state now. A lady walked by, stopped to chat for quite a while. We told her about the badly behaved woman and she was horrified.

We have spent the afternoon at the Falkirk wheel, and will stay overnight. It costs fifteen pounds but you have access to the toilets and showers at the marina. Later, after England have won the euros. We hope, we will be able to watch the spectacular light display on the wheel. Marge has been attracting attention all day. We always take the time to talk about her. Lots of people want to know about her fuel consumption. We don't know. All Angela can say is, 'she's muddy and she's a heavy drinker!'

One of Margery's favourite flowers, a shocking pink Dog Rose.

Pendreich Forestry Site, Bridge of Allan

The Scottish family parked next to us last night were fascinated by us and Marge. Every time we look out towards them they were watching us. We felt like goldfish in a bowl. Today was shower day, so we drove seven miles to nearby Aberfeldey to the Beyond Adventure outdoor activity centre.

A donation of three pounds is well worth it to use their excellent facilities. After eight weeks away we are starting to find hand washing tiring, and Angela has discovered her natural hair colour is grey! Another week and all that will be rectified.

We then had a walk around the Lower Birks of Aberfeldy.

Marge is also flagged a little. As we drove south through the lowlands we encountered a very long steep incline which John couldn't give Marge a good run at, thanks to the selfish driver of an oncoming car. Part way up she coughed a little, so we stopped. Come on Marge, you've carried us over three thousand miles don't give up now! We waited a while, John opening her bonnet and checking the coolant etc. Then turned the ignition key, and we were off once again. With twenty miles to our destination, as each mile ticked by we prayed all would be O.K. Clever Angela had found another forestry stop for tonight. What she didn't do was read the access details. Steep single track road. Great! We were worried now! But Marge is a strong old girl and we made it. Her wobble earlier a hot flush. Let's hope it's a one off Marge.

Tonight's stop overlooks the Wallace Monument and Stirling Castle. It feels very emotional to be here as this is where John's mother was born and raised, she even helped the waitress at the monument check visitors hadn't been left inside when the cafe closed. There are three other vans here with us, two are hire vans. A man from one asked us how to find drinking water to fill the water tank. We were shocked the hire company hadn't filled the tank for them. They also seemed to think a family of four could make the capacity of the chemical toilet stretch over three days until they booked on a campsite. We know it won't. If it was down to Angela they'd all be fitted with 'Boxio's. Can't keep her off it!