Susie's Report No 27

Guten Morgen to All,

I thought I had better hurry up and keep writing as, we will be back in FRANCE soon to visit Ken & Jen then onto ITALY to visit John & Maddie.This will all be great catch ups….

BAD HERRENALB - The Black Forrest, enchanting & dark. We parked in a stellplatz in the middle of town, so I set off for a walk (knowing that I can’t get lost solo) I did a double take walking past the Apotheke, there in the front window was a taxidermied Kangaroo with a short story (in german) which of course I couldn’t read.

 So I popped into the shop and tried to ask about the display, (it actually looked like a wallaby). I knew that our National icon would not have any medicinal remedies/cures for anything and I tried to explain that I was Australian and these animals could actually grow well over 6ft tall etc., ( this is where charades are good) but anyway I think they were trying to tell me that they do a feature for the window, I suppose its a lot better on the eye than toilet paper and cough mixture etc.

Back to the black forrest, driving thru on a dull day it looks very foreboding and cold, we took the scenic winding road and ended up at the town of HECHINGEN.

Now, it has an amazing castle, and worth a Google. It is perched about 1000ft on a hill, BURG HOHENZOLLERN.

You drive to a car park, then you have a decision to make, either walk or catch the bus (what do you think we did) right !!! We walked - what a killer on the lungs & legs. Once at the top, there were stunning views and of course lots of history. Around the perimeter are huge life like statues of the family (all the male heirs) they weren’t a handsome lot, but never the less a very busy lot, defending their heritage.

We’re back out of the forrest and now into MEERSBURG- Lake Constance, (KONSTANZ)

 O.M. Gosh! I think the border is in the middle of the lake, Germany, Austria and Switzerland, with just a ferry ride away about 15 mins. This is a another beautiful tourist town. Our stellplatz was high on  a hill with cascading grape vines and lots & lots of Apple & Pear trees (strudel) I guess ? The ride going down was good (it’s great to have working brakes) we had a very scenic ride and saw also a BLIMP/ZEPPLIN lazily floating around the skies, I nearly had a crash into the bush trying to watch this, the view would be spectacular from up there.  Coming back up the hills was tough pushing the bikes all the way, but worth it.  

NESSELWANG is our next stop. The stellplatz is at the base of a a Ski/Snowboarding area.

So we thought, lets do it - up we go on the chairlift right to the top, we had to change half way up, to an amazing view of Lake Fussen and surrounding areas.We wandered around for a bit, it was starting to close in (rain & mist) so we said hello to the cows with their big bells around their neck. These particular dairy breed make excellent yummy cheese.

 

The view coming back down (we took a gondola this time) was spectacular. We got back to H.H. just in time, the mist covered the mountain/ski slopes and the rain set in.

Next stop FUSSEN. This doubly beautiful town is known as the romantic soul of Bavaria, its full of wild mountains and gentle hills and Oh,the Lakes. It would be fabulous to see this covered in snow, and Oh, the castles. Two in fact, One a Fairy tale medieval castle of the Grail, NEUSCHWANSTEIN,

 

 It is white and the other, HOHENSCHWANGAU, golden colour, set on the shore of Lake Alpee,  I think there a 3 lakes, we circumnavigated the smaller on our bikes, its just too beautiful.

The castles are worth a google as well, they are too hard to describe without boring you to tears… and we don’t want to do that!

Next, we move 20 Klms down the road…. big day out on the road and end up at LECHBRUCK AM SEE. Off on our bikes looking for a trail, I think we saw the same hills & farmhouses about 3 times before we found it, and ended up doing our own eco challenge/trail bike ride (and we don’t HAVE trail bikes). Anyway it had rained heavily the night before, so the trail was mud and sludge. Up hills, down again, boggy puddles, dodging barb wire fences, (please no) slippery tree roots and horse poo.

Walking the bikes down a steep flight of wooden steps, across wooden bridge, with white water rapids below.

Finally back onto some gravel, and in between this saying hello to the local cows & goats and on the other side geese, ducks & swans, IT WAS A VERY BUSY MORNING !!!! Then back to H.H. for lunch, cup of tea and a rest .

We had a bibulous, riparian meal that evening (roast chook) in the space oven overlooking the lake.

We are now in the outskirts of MUNICH and staying at a stellplatz which is the parking area of ALLIANCE ARENA, home to the Munich Bayern Football Club. This is one of the great football stadiums of the World.

It has a 3 colour changing exterior, white, red, blue, which is an inflated wall of dry air panels.

it looks like a big tyre, it must look incredible from space. By the way, some useless info,  Europe has had the coolest August in 8 yrs. 

Now, since we were in the outskirts of Munich, we decided to have a look at another side/part of History, unfortunately DACHAU CONCENTRATION CAMP, THE MEMORIAL site 1933-1945, 12 yrs of Horror and I find this totally incomprehensible/unbelievable.  Firstly we made a wrong turn and ended up at the old S.S. headquarters!!!!!   Oops……..We walked around the camp, it is so big, I think its about 1.5 square kilometres, they have left it the way it was with 2 barracks standing, I think there were 34 in total. We watched a documentary film in english, and this was by no means the worst camp. The crematorium and the gas chambers were preserved, (the latter was apparently not used in this camp) but ready to be.

There is documentation and records to see.  Lots of original graphic photos/pictures, a lot taken by the S.S. Artists drawings, and a lot taken by the American liberators, Whoa!! There is a large stone with etched writing near the barracks saying  NEVER AGAIN……….

We are now mixing it with the fast cars on the Auto Bahn, I must admit there is nothing like the sound of a Porshe dropping back a gear and accelerating past H.H. at close to 200ks an hr, we are chugging away in the slow lane, with BMW,’s MERC’S, AUDI”S, flying along , just a blur in the distance. Actually we occasionally pass a truck. H.H. is really good on the flat, we got shaken up with all the slipstream.

BTW we came across this intriiging  road sign in Meersburg…...

Glad to see the tanks can’t do more than 50 kmph!!

Next notable will be France……….we are just biding time at the moment……….

 

 

Susie's Report No 26

Guten Morgen to All,

We arrived at a Stellplatz, the German version of a French “Aire” on the Mosel Rive,r with its massive transit of working cargo barges & canal cruising vessels plus the cruise holiday ships. This never fails to keep me occupied for a while, these ships look very luxurious indeed and I can dream on.

 

 

 But enough of gazing and on our bikes we go. You never know what you’ll come cross riding, we ended up down near a disused Nuclear Power Station near the town of KOBLENZ/URMITZ, the cooling towers are something else, these were shut down for various political reasons and now all we see EVERWHERE are those horrible (eyesore) wind turbines. Next day moved to a gorgeous town, COCHEM with a stunning castle high on a hill overlooking everything (as you did in those olden times) mind you, most castles have been re built for preservation/history.

Everywhere you look there are grapevines as far as the eye can see, way, way, up hillsides (I’m sure Oz Clarke & James May would of loved it here on their drink till you drop tour). We loved their TV series. Germany is picture perfect postcard stuff, with huge industry, huge amount of history, huge varieties of grape vines.

Still moseying around the Mosell, we had our view blocked one afternoon by a canal/river cruise boat - their tour was with bikes, which I think is fantastic - you ride to the next destination and the boat meets up with you.  We might stoway with them with a bit more confidence as we have finally bought a new rear wheel for Terry’s bike, it has a shiney new stainless steel wheel/spokes (rear only), the other one buckled KAPUT!! 60 euros later and we are back on the road again, lets hope it lasts. Its been extremely frustrating this bike, but you get what you pay for !!!

TRIER is another fascinating city, we think its the oldest in Germany something like 400BC.  When we get used to parking H.H. anywhere, we will really play the tourist bit, it’s about having the know all & confidence to do so. Speaking of H.H. we had a win the other day, we called into a huge Hymer Dealership to see about getting his handbrake re adjusted and they sent us to a Fiat garage.

We had to drive over a pit, the fellow tinkered with & tightened a few things, went to pay, he waved his hand and said “Welcome to Germany”. With many DANKE’S later we drove off, next destination the RHEINE RIVER.

 

 ANDERNACH was our next stopping point.- what can I say - this time we had our view blocked by the APT vessel, AMACELLO, 110 m long - you know the ones you see in the Telegraph/Sunday Mail travel section, its too long to take a photo of.

 Also another company called Travel Marvel had similar vessels, where we met some of the passengers, they were telling us they are the budget version of APT. As soon as we saw the Oz Flag flying on the ship, we grabbed a couple of ours and these MAD dutch people we had met, were walking around with our flag and parading it out the front of our vans.

Next minute we see cameras and lots of hands waving to us, also in very loud voices COOO EEEEEEEE & AUSSIE AUSSIE AUSSIE OI!!. OI!.OI! It was very funny & patriotic. They went on their tour, came back and said hello to all of us, I had my Wallabies t-shirt on so it was a discussion on the Bledisloe Cup. We waved them off and all we could hear again as the ship was sailing off was (you guessed it ) very loudly, these were OLD people (probably the same age as us), having a great time. I think we will be staring in some holiday videos. Next APT ship in was the AMABELLA and of course we were all near the disembarkation point - I must point out that this is also a very large Stellplatz where we all are parked full of motorhomes (about 80) and tour buses. As we are standing around talking, we could hear the Purser/whoever on her very loud microphone telling all the passengers . "Please be careful, going through the carpark as it is full of GYPSY vans, go straight to the buses, there are GYPSIES there, do not talk to any of them”. WHAT!!!!!!!!! Did I just hear what I thought I did. Those around us that could understand English were shocked  - what an ill informed/ignorant person, it was insulting & embarrassing. If she had cared to look, she would have seen Millions of Euros worth of Motorhomes/Camping Cars in the Stellplatz.

So that’s it. We now are officially “Gypsie” Yeah!

 

The day after, we arrived at BACHARACH, very scenic and from HH’s window we could count five castles!, Actually between Koblenz & Mainz there are about 40 Castles, they are everywhere. I’m also getting familiar with a lot of the names of the ships plying the waters here between the Mosell and the Rheine.

Its non stop movement, 24 hrs a day.

The bike rides are great and my basket always has some bread in it for the ducks and geese, and also my little favourites, the sparrows. Europe is notable for it’s distinct lack of bird life!

I almost forgot to tell you all that H.H. got himself bogged AGAIN! and had to be pulled out by a tractor down by a river ( I think it was the Mosell) but we won’t talk about it as it embarrass’s him, so moving right along….  (not bad) once in England & once in Germany.

I must also tell you that I caught T.Lee out the other day. HE was wearing white socks with his fake beige crocs,( 4 euros in Spain). He had some lame excuse that he was just trying to fit in with the locals, but I said most Europeans wear BLACK socks with anything i.e. crocs (fake & real) sandals, thongs and anything really, and especially shorts with braces (not a good look).Terry’s also come up with another interesting cunning plan, he’s been having a few German Beers before dinner and Germany has a refund policy, every bottle you get 25p refund. You put your empties into a machine at the supermarkets, it counts & returns you a docket to spend in the shops. His saying is finally coming true,,,, THE MORE YOU DRINK, THE MORE YOU SAVE, HuH!! work that one out for yourselves, its actually great re cycling.

The Geraniums & Roses are prolific in their colours at the moment, beautiful hanging baskets everywhere, Actually in Germany they often have small fields of flowers of mostly Gladioli, Dahlias & Sun Flowers beside the side of the road. It,s a company called “Blumen”, armed with your own scissors you can pick what you like and there’s an honesty box/tin on site, each row is marked with a price.  Dame Edna Everidge would be delighted to see the Gladys.

We are now leaving the waterways and going to the dramatic scenery of the Black Forrest, with it’s wonderful parks and gardens.

Anyway I think I’ve talked enough, I tell you about the Black Forrest next time round, Hope all is well with everybody.

Lots of love to all from Germany.

 Susie, Terry and our dear work horse  H.H. x x x

 

  

Susie's report No 25

Guten Abend to All,

Before I tell you all about Germany, I must tell you we nearly had another mishap, well! - I suppose we did.  Leaving the C.L. site on our way to the Ferry with the Tom Tom activated & co-ordinates good, we exit the site (some of the farmers say do not use G.P.S. take the other road’s in/out) so what did we do? - we follow the voice and end up in another F….ing skinny lane covered in hedges  ...BANG!!!!! There goes the mirror again…..and the force shot the cutlery draw out spewing bits on the floor, BLOODY HELL!!.   We inch our way out, my side mirror is bent to buggery AGAIN!! Now it’s got a lean to the right.It couldn’t shatter as this one is plastic, we had to have put over the original glass to pass M.O.T. anyway, we pull over at a safe spot and try to straighten it, poor H.H.he does get himself into strife now & again.  We make it to the Ferry with a good crossing into Calais confused seas but O.K. it took 1hr 15mins . We meet this funny Welsh guy called Gary in the line up to the ferry, he is off to a V.W. convention in Dijon France for the weekend, he’s driving an original everything, paint work included, 1964  V.W. Van, but with only one windscreen wiper, the other fell off on the trip to get here.

He was causing a lot of attention with the old girl….. He has already been offered 5000 pounds more than he paid for it!

As soon as we arrive in France, we high tail it to the supermarket “Carrefour" for our Rum & Rouge Wine to stock up, that done, we head to Gravelines near Dunkirk for our first night, then into Belgium next night, then into the Netherlands. There we had some really nice bike rides along canals again.  Some of these canal boats are to die for along with your wallet/purse.

 

I’m willing to give it a go one day. As I mentioned we are ONLY a LOTTO win away from it all.  What we would also like to do is put some Solar panels on H.H.’s roof, our leisure battery doesn’t do what we thought, but good enough at the moment, amongst other things it would be good to be able to run a fan without power (electricity).  Only a lotto win away!!!!!!

We are in a town called Sas Van Gent a massive inland shipping port. The opening/closing of the main bridge has kept me entertained watching the Cargo/Bulk Carrier ships tooing & froing. We are parked opposite the canal in a “free Aire” with no facilities, the town is across the road, its 27degs with a light breeze, just lovely.  The local Geese and Ducks are very noisy and busy pacing up & down the road doing what they do, wait to be fed by passers by.  We decided to go for a ride and have a look at some of the ships - I realised we had just ridden in 5 seconds from the Nederlands to Belgium and back again - how good is that? These bulk carriers are av. 135mm x 11,5mm (big).

Not much freeboard here!

Next day back in to Belgium and onto ANTWERP, onto our bikes and into town we ride, everybody is either on their bikes or sitting in Cafe/Restaurants watching the world go by, they also have the most incredible “TANS”. Bikes are given right of way - it’s amazing to see and be part of, there are proper bike lanes everywhere.

 Antwerp’s magnificent cathedral.

 Monday and the roads are full of Trucks again, it’s extraordinary the amount of freight being moved around Europe by Road, Shipping, Rail etc. But I’m not too sure about some of their Company names!

On leaving Belgium we pass through an industrial area, and I noticed a massive manufacturing plant/wharehouse with a beautiful sign that says “ESTEE LAUDER”, I nearly wept with sorrow & loss, “hah” a bit out of my league now, as over the years I have made a great contribution to the Estee Lauder House of gorgeous  cosmetics & perfume fund and to pay for the B.M.W's. sitting in the carpark!!!!!! Oh well!!   Nivea works just as well.

We end up at LEOPOLDSBERG by the canal in an motorhome stop.

We had just come back from a ride, and Terry’s bike decided to break a spoke again!!!! I decided I would ride on further to see if I could find a bike shop, but I didn’t tell him that!,  I said I was just ridding around the park, quick answer!, none to be found, unfortunately I wasn’t paying attention to where I had ridden, and I finally had to admit to myself on returning, I was LOST! !  But I kept riding thinking I must recognise the area soon, do you know it made me feel sick and panicky, horrible, it was hot and I had nothing with me, I finally rode into a service station and tried to ask directions,(language barrier) what made it worse was I couldn't remember the correct name, only  the "berg” part and we were on the canal, finally a lady said I had missed the roundabout, with many thanks I rode off and found my way back, after much berating from T.Lee as to the stupidity of my actions.  I had to agree with him, I am usually a lot more careful with my solo expeditions.

Most of the older generation in Belgium are cheats with their bikes, we couldn’t work out why they were passing us, little old nanas, old granddads. They are so fast, then we found that most have electric bikes! Underneath their panniers are battery packs. Good for 100k’s and can reach speed up to 25kph. It’s a very social outing here, almost all the women are beautifully dressed even riding in heels and all their finery. I guess its a means to get to “A to B” without taking the car. The bikes cost an average about AUD 3000! But everybody seems to have one.

Next day we pass into 3 countries again before lunch, Belgium, Nederlands, Germany.  My risk of Heart Attack, and mowed down fingernails has now eased  A LOT!!!!! We are on main roads again, and now into GERMANY, Deutchland.  Driving along we kept on seeing this sign that says AUSFAHRT. When you say it quickly it sounds a bit like toilet humour, (small things amuse small minds) anyway… we kept on seeing this sign on the motorway and thinking this is either a very big town or many roads lead to it!!!! Until finally we realised it meant EXIT!! Duh!! We are slow learners - the other one was EINFAHRT, we think means entrance?  To go anywhere you have to have the right  Fahrt, there are lots of FAHRT’S….out there.

Enough, We are going to leave you there and say goodbye for now.    Love to all Susie, Terry = H.H. x x x 

Susie's Report No 24

 

We crossed back over the border into England and went to see the Lindisfarne Castle/ Priory, the only way to get there is via a causeway, so you have to have the tides right for entry/exit of the Holy Island.  This castle was owned for along time by the family who owned "Country Life Magazine" and this was just their “weekender."  Stunning…….

We arrive at our C.L. Site and we are greeted by the owner Sam, she’s about 40 ish and we are chatting away and she says I’ve NEVER “SEEN" AUSTRALIAN'S BEFORE, and I, trying not to laugh , asked her WELL !!! How do we look!!!!!! Not like Aliens I hope, she said I meant to say “MET," lovely girl but obviously has led a quiet life on the farm.

Onto the Yorkshire Dales and back onto the winding roads again, we are on a road where Caravans are prohibited & HGV’S are recommended to use other routes, the signs are all "stay in LOW GEAR" which we stay in most of the climb, so you can imagine what it was like for H.H. ( our little workhorse powered on ). The view progressing up was fabulous, there was signs everywhere saying " Bends DEAD Ahead “ and giving figures of how many times the road has been blocked with vehicles struggling to get around these bends, coming down the other side was a piece of cake.

Moving along, and after many more C.L.sites we arrive at GEDDINGTON  which is the ancestral village of Terry’s 4 x times Great Grandfather Samuel Lee, died 1708, very pretty village.

We unbelievably found a spot to park H.H. right near the Church,“The Mary Magdalene” we thought we would wander the graveyard.

A really beautiful and interesting Church. All the Lee’s were christened and/or married here. 

 In the mean time I was taking a photo of the Geddington Visitors Church Guide, when this man comes running up to me saying "DON’T TAKE IT, IT’S ALL WRONG/IT’S NOT RIGHT", I thought my god !!!!! Who am I going to offend this time !!!!! Turns out he is the Church Tour Guide and is extremely passionate about the correctness of the this board I was reading, he’s saying the configurations are incorrect and so is most of the information, he disagrees with just about all of it, I then INHALED DEEPLY after realising I was not going to be ostracised or locked up, and he then proceeded to enlighten me for twenty minutes. Igot the low down on the church for the last 500 YEARS!!!!!!!! Which King, Queen & whoever passed through this particular door and who stood on this floor, he barely paused for breath and then Terry came along, and he started all over again, hopefully he didn’t see the glazed look in my eyes, OH BOY!!!!! Thanks be to GOD that he had a tour starting soon and had to go “Hallelujah”!!!!!!!!. 

  

 His tour ended up to be about 30 GOGO MOBILES or Messerschmidt’s - what an incredible sight, watching these tiny 3 wheelers roll into the village, all different colours, there were hard and soft tops  (sporty version) 1 & 2 seaters - just fascinating.  They all parked by the Queen Eleanor’s Cross monument for the talk, then slowly moved off out of town. We said our many thanks and bolted back to H.H. - then he found US!!! As H.H. sticks out like a sore thumb, he gave us his business card and happily we all left, he loved a captive audience.

 

Good to see the Lee’s have left their mark here in Geddington!

 

  

 Next couple of days we went to see “Minley Manor” in Hampshire - this is where my Paternal Grandparents met & worked.  It is up for sale for a measley 5,000,000 pounds, it has changed hands many times and it currently owned by the Military.  So of course we arrive and there is a guard at the gates, we give him a HUGE sob story = ( Australians, come along way, Ancestral visit- blah blah blah !!!!!!!) No go!!! .

 

 

We cannot come in and even take a photo without permission, he suggests we drive down to Headquarters - same sob story - not interested - there just happened to be nobody around with any Authority (all in meetings) HAH!!!.  It was very dissapointing,  the Manor and grounds are deserted  and in need of some T.L.C.Its slowly decaying.   My imagination took over and I could picture this area in its hay-day’s a working manor.  Originally it had 2,500 acres which ofcourse has been sold off over the years.  I guess we could of looked a bit suspect, we could have been old age terrorists, one never knows, it’s better to be safe H.H. could have been an armoured vehicle equipped with all sorts of things!!!! We left.

So, next day we thought we would have a look at the TOP GEAR (TV) site, Gambon cnr etc, maybe take a photo of H.H. on the track.  AGAIN !!!! We have been rebuffed by security (same old) HAVE YOU GOT PERMISSION, answer NO??? We tried the lost Australian angle, plus we’ve come along way, could we PLEASE have a look, another sob story, answer NO!!! This guy has no compassion !  We knew we couldn’t but it was worth a try, this site is run by The Civil Aviation Authority.  There was a plane parked on a disused runway and Terry asked him what it was (to make small talk/conversation) and he said - I don’t know I’m not into planes  (boring fart!!!) so dejected/rejected we left. 

Lots more C.L/sites with lots of Harvesting smells of Barley and Wheat and of course Horse Poo.

 

 

 

    

 

 Then onto CANTERBURY again to do a shop, I love the 1 pound shop ,lots of interesting goodies and then onto a Caravan Site to do a last BIG wash. 

   

 Then off to our LAST C.L. site then onto the ferry Tuesday 29th, exactly 6 months since we left the U.K. into France for some much needed cheap wine & rum, then into Belgium & into GERMANY, Yeah !!! A new country to absorb ourselves into and hopefully some safe bike riding, can’t wait, and also back into the AIRES again.  The British Isles is beautiful and scenic, the weather has been brilliant, much to everyone’s shock, everyone goes mad when the sun is shinning, they get their chairs out and roast themselves, its good to see, and very interesting..  

This snail trail shows where we have been.

Talk to you all soon, Love Susie,Terry = H.H. x x x 

Susie's Report No 23

 

 Hi to all from Bonnie Scotland,

After pottering along on some scenic skinny roads, we arrived at the Bonnie Bonnie Banks of Loch Lomond at a Caravan site at LUSS,  Terry’s in at reception, and to his amazement he is told that our International Camping Card is not valid. It has been used and approved on countless occasions, SHE, behind the desk, didn’t like the fact that our card is hand written, ( a bit antiquated, but thats how they do it at N.R.M.A. at the Central Coast office - Sydney) SHE, behind the desk, decided that the Landlord would not approve!!  -  after a polite exchange of words and ME saying this is very UN-SCOTTISH - HER Leprechaun of a husband all 5ft of him asked ME to leave the office, and I nicely said back to him NO!!!!!!!! He shrunk back behind the desk. We had already pre-paid for 2 days, so we had to wait for a refund. We left and ended up at another site on the other side of the loch called MILAROCCHY BAY, they could not understand the fuss and either could the Customer relations fellow that rang us back, we had to sort this out for further usage. All O.K. Those other DILLS missed out on 40 pounds, I’m sure the landlord would be happy about that!!!!

Where we ended up was right next to Loch Lomond and very pretty.

 

Next stop was TROSSACHS NATIONAL PARK at LOCH KATRINE, we paid 10 pound for a 24hr pass plus an ovenite stay in the car park, we cycled about 20 miles in total, too many steep climbs, easy going down, realy tough coming back up.

 Beautiful scenery through patches of sunlight. That night the local goats set off the restaurant perimeter alarms 3 TIMES !!!!! It would finally reset itself after 20 minutes and finally we could get back to sleep. I was talking to an employee next day and he said they can’t even grow any flowers/shrubs in pots as the goats eat everything but the grass,however they were very cute. 

 The Alarm culprits.

Next site at OBAN, campsite in a Victorian Walled Garden, big wooden gates closed you in at night, we cycled on what pathways we could, too dangerous on the road (they have a National Cycle route but it’s often broken and you have to use the road).  You would think with all this cycling we would be Trim,Taught, and Terrific but alas NO as we enjoy our drinks and home cooked food. We can’t even call our drinks Sundowner’s as it doesn’t get dark till 10.45pm and its lite again at 3.45am, my Qantas eyeshades come in very handy.

We are back on the coast again at a C.L. site (farm) overlooking the Ocean. God we love it!!!!!! It’s so good to feel sand between your toes again, its a little nippy though, wetsuits are the beach attire. I’m sitting outside H.H. watching some sail boats/yachts thinking  - I’m  so glad its them not us - been there done that.  It was pouring with rain on our journey here.

Waterfalls everywhere, the terrain is so hilly it was gushing from every crevice - and so many heavy trucks on the road. We stopped off on the way at the historic town of FORT WILLIAM for some supplies.

Beachfront apartment on the West Coast of Scotland

The scenery here was spectacular.

 

Next day we head off for the ISLE OF SKYE - onto a car ferry & 30 mins later here we are, great trip across. Our first stop was at SLIGACHAN campsite.

The weather in Scotland changes dramatically, its truly beautiful. Next day we follow the coast road and naturally they are all built for Morris Minors.

We find a lay by on a cliff top, put the kettle on for a cup of tea (cause we could) and a Scottish shortbread and watched the ever changing landscape and the undulating ocean below.  

The sun is shinning, the view spectacular.

I must tell you there are more things on the road than just scary trucks, there are now SHEEP & DEER !!!!!!!!!!

They just wander about on the verges/middle of the road  - no wonder I have developed Cold Sores, I haven’t had one in years, maybe, I should wear the Qantas shades sitting in the passenger seat ( remember we are left hand drive = left hand side of the road.

Moving back down the coast again we end up at the EILEAN DONAN CASTLE. It was great to see the real thing other than a post card. There was a young fellow busking at the entrance in full kilt etc. playing his Bag Pipes (fantastic). LOCH DUICH stunning. Terry worked on a Singapore Airlines commercial here back in 1985 (he thinks!)

 

 That night we stayed close by and the nights entertainment was a FREE RANGE CHOOK, confronting two innocent backpackers on his turf!!! This girl was frightened and was backed up against a fence, with horror on her face challenged by a chook ( mind you she could of been a prize winning layer ). We sat in H.H. and watched this !!!! Till, Terry being gallant, called a truce with 2 slices of bread, the free range willingly gave up and chose the food presented, ate and wandered off into the distance, happy! The girls then reluctantly put up their minuscule tent, all was quiet.

 

Thanks to reading “Diana Gabaldon” books, fiction with some fact and also our limited history lessons, we went to the CULLODEN BATTLEFIELDS.  Just looking at the lay of the land and the vegetation which they are trying to turn it back to its natural state, it obviously was a very fierce battle in 1746.  

The vegetation alone is very boggy, so wet, full of thistles,and scratchy shrubs, and other bitey things, the Highlanders were slaughtered, they are still finding bits of amunition, musket balls, metal bits, buttons off coats etc.They were tough times.

We have covered a lot of ground in Scotland and its beautiful, the Lochs are unbelievable, we couldn’t stop at Loch Ness as there were lots of Buses and tourist cars everywhere, just too hard, we’ll try next time.

Loch Duich from our campsite.

  We drove into EDINBURGH for a look see, this also will have to be next time around, we are slowly working our way south again. 

I had my first drive of H.H. today on a disused runway,(Top Gear and Sig…., eat your heart out!), excellent, but everything was on the wrong side, went to change gear with left hand but needed right, funny feeling, don’t think I’m ready to tackle the main roads yet, as I don’t think the general driving public would be ready for me, YIKES. !!!!!

 

Also went to the local markets and then onto The Scottish National Museum of Flight.

 

This is situated on an airfield used in WW1 and WW2, very impressive. amongst others their Military & Civil Aviation hangers were great, also the “Concorde” hangar to which you could go onboard.

 

 

 it cruised at Mach 2, very claustrophobic inside. Terry had to duck right down to enter, very narrow aisles & seating, the cockpit was mind boggling with hundreds of dials and looking very confined, unbelievable.

They called it sleek sophistication, I called it, tiny & cramped, a great day out & about with a bit of history thrown in.

Terry thought he had spotted a cheap helicopter, but thought the spare parts might be a problem!

 

Anyway, will be crossing back over the border next couple of days and will write then.

Love to all,  Susie,Terry = H.H.   x x x