Kendal, Lake District

Hang on, you might well ask. Why are you tonight in the Lake District, and last night you were out on the Outer Hebridean island of Vatersay. Well, we think Margery may be a little put out that we've left her at home and gone  away in Muddy Marge. Late yesterday afternoon her vehicle alarm set off for around twenty minutes. Because of the intermittent mobile signal out on the islands, we didn't see the message from our next door neighbour to tell us until around nine in the evening. Long story short, we are in possession of the vehicle keys, a spare set wasn't accessible for Angela's son to take a look. At this moment in time she hasn't thrown another wobbly, but we couldn't risk it happening again. Our neighbours were probably not best pleased. So late last night we managed to book ourselves on the early morning sailing from Barra back to Oban. And early it certainly was.

We were up at four-thirty, away by five-thirty with only the sheep to see us off.

As we drove along the narrow roads we felt sad our Scottish adventure had been curtailed. Last check in for the ferry was five to six, we couldn't be late. So as the sun rose over Castlebay, the vessel slipped its berth and we began the start of what would be a very long day.

Fortunately, despite spending six hours on board the trip across was calm, unlike our journey over. The wind of the last few days had abated, the sky once again postcard blue.

On the approach to Oban we were informed there would be a lifeboat practice, which we watched, glad it wasn't a real evacuation. Marge second vehicle off the ferry at Oban headed south with a purpose. The road wound through the mountains, pine trees carpeted their slopes with a pallet of greens, and then the waters of Loch Lomond, sparkling and dancing in the sunlight. We stopped for lunch at The Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum where we bought hot scotch pies, John's dad would have loved them as they were his favourites. We needed comfort food in abundance.

Our original plan was to stop overnight at the Corner Campsite near to Dumfries, but on reflection John thought it best not to divert and carry on down to the Lake District.

We made sure we stopped regularly, it being many hours since we got up after only a few hours sleep.

Eventually we arrived at Kendal around seven. It was now fourteen hours since we'd set off.

So here we are at Kendal Cricket club, a favourite stopover of ours. A chinese take away purchased we reflected on the last twenty four hours. This is the third time now something has happened whilst we've been away and we've had to return early. Let's hope it will be the last. Hopefully Margery's problem will be just a low battery and can be easily rectified, so we can pack up and set off again in a few days. As inconvenient as this all is, it is what it is. That's life for you!

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. 

Kendal, Lake District.

Coronation Day. We still find it quite unbelievable that Queen Elizabeth II passed away last year. This morning we were a very shocked and saddened to hear John's brother in law Loz had passed away from a cardiac arrest.

After four nights at Grandtully it was time for Marge to take to the road again. Before leaving, to relieve some of the aches and pains from yesterday's self rescue on the river, we walked down to the nearby river Tay, to watch the slalom, but the kayakers were taking a break, their kayaks strewn across the grassy bank.

In no rush, as tonight we would be staying at Kendal cricket club, where we knew a match was being played this afternoon, we stopped at Perth to look around a large outdoor shop. Now we had more of an idea about packrafting, more gear would be needed. The day was warm, our onward journey Marge ate up the miles. As we approached the border with England the rain began. Welcome back Marge.

Despite the weather we enjoyed fantastic views from the road that crossed from the motorway to Kendal. The characteristic stone wall field boundaries crisscrossed grasslands where sheep unaware of our presence grazed. John spotted several snails, brought out by the weather.

Kendal is a favourite overnight stop for us. One of the reasons, there is a very good Chinese take-away in the town. Need we say anymore? As for the weather, rain, rain, rain, well we are in the Lake District Marge. Please don't leak too much.