tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-65521617117559722502024-03-13T21:39:28.106+00:00Friends of CarlottaThis is us having fun.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-76569000600277174402015-04-24T13:17:00.002+01:002015-04-24T13:17:55.229+01:00The CamargueEaster and a return to the South of France, it was such an invigorating trip last year we decided to return, not to the Cote D'azur but The Camargue. We did a one day visit last year and that was enough to entice us back to Saintes Maries de la mar.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our van under the stars.</td></tr>
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Managed an early escape on the Good Friday afternoon and got as far as Strathclyde Park campsite, which meant I could once more take part in the Parkrun there. Then off to Cambridge to find the certificated site I had booked there was totally inadequate, we were in danger of getting bogged down and not getting to the ferry next day. The 3 horseshoes inn in Madingley said we could park in the carpark if we bought a meal and that was very good of them, it was nice and quiet there. Next day, Easter Sunday off onto the ferry and over to France, made it as far as Floret de'Orient, an ideal stopping off point, so well positioned we stopped there again on the return.<br />
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Planned to stop over for a couple of nights in Arles but a big festival was on and the had built the fun fare right on top of the camping car parking, driving round the city was a nightmare so decided to go on to Saintes Maries instead.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Js8UUIA8pO4/VTi6G5z1JFI/AAAAAAAAAis/mYTUmvx6T3A/s1600/Gladiator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Js8UUIA8pO4/VTi6G5z1JFI/AAAAAAAAAis/mYTUmvx6T3A/s1600/Gladiator.jpg" height="225" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Colosseum, Arles.</td></tr>
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On the way we passed hundreds of cars heading into Arles, no idea where they thought they would get a park. A couple of nights on an aire but then went onto Camping de la Bris for another 5 nights, we were so comfy and layed back, kept putting off moving and exploring further.<br />
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Found there was a bus that went into Arles, 1 euro per trip, Arles has lots of great Roman ruins so had a good look around the Colosseum and theatre, was able to collect a few more medals the French government produce for the various landmarks and antiquities.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The auditorium, Arles.</td></tr>
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Took a boat trip onto The Camargue, see the Bulls and White horses<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bulls and white horses</td></tr>
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Generally I spent my time walking or cycling, even a little running around the area as well as managing to claim a few geocaches.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stork</td></tr>
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The last couple of days in the South were spent at Aigues-Mortes a fantastic place dating back to the Crusades.<br />
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We camped at Les Poisson D'Argent, very unusual aire as the price of camping included the right to fish. This was different in itself as it was a salt water lake. Think the restaurant had quite a good reputation as well, but we never partook. Took a walk along the main road into Aigues-Mortes.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkxJKzb9Ems/VTjAlr9swkI/AAAAAAAAAjU/NkNlvU9FkW8/s1600/Agienes-Mortes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LkxJKzb9Ems/VTjAlr9swkI/AAAAAAAAAjU/NkNlvU9FkW8/s1600/Agienes-Mortes.jpg" height="380" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aigues-Mortes</td></tr>
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On the way back to Calais called in once more at Floret D'Orient, what a difference 9 days made, trees now in leaf or blossom, and 30c this time around.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6NhMn4Ty0/VTozjSNRkxI/AAAAAAAAAjo/7is0CQ5_nx4/s1600/Khali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-y-6NhMn4Ty0/VTozjSNRkxI/AAAAAAAAAjo/7is0CQ5_nx4/s1600/Khali.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khali enjoying the warmth, blossom and bird song.</td></tr>
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Khali fitted in very well, enjoying the warmth as she seem to be a bit of a cold critter, this was her first trip abroad and her longest, she was a little star.<br />
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Looking back it seemed to be a very foodie holiday with the cordon bleu meal at the 3 horseshoes, Bull steaks in Sta Maries and ending at <a href="http://www.calais-guide.co.uk/restaurants/au-cote-dargent.html" style="background-color: white; color: #355b99; font-family: Arial; font-size: 14px; line-height: 22.3999996185303px; text-decoration: none;">Au Côte d’Argent</a> in Calais.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0Bouches-du-Rhone, France43.496767753439109 4.526367187543.128111753439107 3.8809201875 43.86542375343911 5.1718141875tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-64843974620404090992014-12-24T14:13:00.000+00:002014-12-24T14:13:58.196+00:00Still runningI have been running now for about 3 months, not continuously of course. The dark nights make it quite difficult to keep motivated but I have been doing the 5K Parkrun on a Saturday morning and some indoor exercise's in the evening, just half an hour of light weights and stretching. <br />
Too keep thing moving I did a Santa run for charity, raising £130 so far and signed up for the 10K Balmoral run after Easter. <br />
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<span id="goog_1420512021"></span><span id="goog_1420512022"><br /></span>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-24753723221643303282014-11-14T14:11:00.000+00:002014-11-14T14:13:51.357+00:00Autumn break 2014<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdQbILngdF0/VGYHyNLsNfI/AAAAAAAAAfg/HwhkwJNZYgg/s1600/10703845_866704876680757_357030431191966081_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EdQbILngdF0/VGYHyNLsNfI/AAAAAAAAAfg/HwhkwJNZYgg/s1600/10703845_866704876680757_357030431191966081_n.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alnwick Gardens</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">We spent a week of out October break in Northumberland, near to the coast. Met up with a couple of friends we hadnt seen for a few years, Alnwick Castle gardens</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Alnwick Gardens</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Visited a few little villages along that coast, doing a few geocaches in the areas, end of the day we had a walk around the foot of Bamburgh Castle.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Had a full day on Lindisfarne, walking around most of it, again doing a few of the geocaches on there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Had a whole day walking around the ground and house of <a href="http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cragside/" target="_blank">Cragside</a>, very interesting place with some installation art on show, connected with light.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Joseph Swan inverted the light bulb.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">A quick visit to see the kids on Teesside and off home via Edinburgh We had a couple of night in Edinburgh, at our usual stopping off point, Mortonhall, however, it seem to have changed hands or at least the restaurant/bar on the site. Just not the same, food wasn't as good as before, we were even getting to know some of the staff after years of visiting. Dont think we will be going back, probably start using the Caravan Club site on the other side of the city, better site anyway, just no bar.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Will miss these guys at Mortonhall.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Khali cat has really taken to the camper van, well behaved and very much at home and I managed to keep up with the running.</span>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-14977785195054276402014-10-31T10:44:00.001+00:002014-10-31T10:44:48.611+00:00I started running<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The end of the summer break and back to college, we had a few weekend visits up to Banff links camp, Khali's first trip out in the motorhome and she took to it like a duck to water, really calmed down over the last month or so, catnip helps.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khali in the camper.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">I decided to try to take up running once more and started the <a href="http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/c25k/Pages/couch-to-5k.aspx" target="_blank">Couch to 5K</a> program, happy to say it went really well and I am now running continuously for over 30 minutes, completing the program.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">On our final outing I did a little beach fishing, I didnt catch anything but met another fisherman who taught me lots about making traces and casting.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View one morning from Banff links.</td></tr>
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So the main season finishes after the October break and Banff will close till next year, sadly.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-84299017738962081772014-10-28T10:58:00.001+00:002014-10-28T10:58:24.638+00:00Stac Polly Conquest<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">So after the disappointment of Skye and a brief time back in Aberdeen, off again to the West coast and Assynt, much quieter here as was glad to find. I tried a new site over there, <a href="http://www.clachtollbeachcampsite.co.uk/" target="_blank">Clachtoll campsite</a> and its idilic white beach, a real gem, even the drive up to it from the main road outside of Lochinver was a treat. Had a wild night as the remains of hurricane Bertha his us, tents blown down and the van rocking from side to side. In the morning the sky cleared and it became such a lovely day if still a little breezy, took a bike ride out onto the peninsula and played around with the video facility on my new camera. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">I didn't have much joy with the fishing around the camp site area itself but after a geocaching walk just outside Lochinver I tried my luck in the harbour, 18 mackerel in about 20 minutes and I nearly hooked a seal.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">After a few days at that site I went over to my favourite site at Altandu, did some more exploring on my bike as well. No joy on the brown trout fishing, still after one of those little devils in the lochans above the campsite. After a few attempts over the year, this time a eventually made it through the maze of towers to the top of Stac Polly, a hairy scramble at times, I later celebrated at the Am Faran Bar.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stac Polly</td></tr>
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-83338113048117525872014-10-17T14:16:00.000+01:002014-10-17T14:16:28.552+01:00Skye is fullFor the last few weeks of my summer break I did the usual and went over to Skye. Even though the weather wasn't that great it was full of tourists. I have noticed it getting more and more popular over the few years I have been visiting, but this summer it was terrible, so many people. Every where I went was inundated and it got to me in the end.<br />
Started with the usual stop at Loch Greshornish, a few nights and a visit from a friend (Helen), she was quite happy to sit in the quiet of the camper, drinking coffee, as all she had heard in the croft was the constant stream of traffic going passed.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walk into the Cuillins</td></tr>
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the best of days weather wise, blowing quite hard and rain on and off,
mostly on. So been out and got very wet despite being togged up. Poor
light for photography. Hill tops were always covered so no views to be
had up there. Just had some very nice scallops for my tea. Had a nice walk but failed to make the tops, had an idea I may take up running to help with stamina.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Loch Brittle and headland.</td></tr>
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Well this evening will stay with me for a while. Got all set up then had
my tea, omelette made with the lovely eggs Helen's chickens laid,.
then I went out for a walk, doing the other thing I like, looking for
lost tupperware. I took my fishing rod as well. After a 2+ mile walk out
onto the headland I found said tuppaware and wanted to continue to the
end. Going was very hard, the path disappeared and all the area just
turned into bog, the midgies came out and I tell you ski<span class="text_exposed_show">nsosoft
did nothing much to ease the situation, I was up to my knee on one
occasion and I do know how to work my way over such terrain. Anyway gave
up trying to get to the head and made my way back, again very difficult
and kept coming across bog. I made it back to the path with the help of
the GPSr and started back to camp, it was getting on a bit but as I was
a mile or so from the camp site and I saw a possible fishing spot so
thought I would give it a quick go. You see the guy in the campsite shop
said the further up the headland you can get the bigger the fish, that
why I wanted to get to the end. First cast and I caught the biggest
fish of my life, I tell you I didnt know what I had, I thought it would
jump out onto the land and start beating me up, like the pike in the Tom
and Jerry cartoons. That is one big Pollack</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show">I turned up at the Quarang, couldnt get a park, The Stour was the same, fortunatly I had plans to explore some less well known areas. The breaking point came when I visited the fairy pools and the place was inundated, at that point I left Skye and went home. The moral of this story, dont bother going to Skye in June, July and August, it could be full. </span>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-30799202334816132302014-10-14T13:36:00.000+01:002014-10-14T13:37:01.397+01:00Princess, Khaleesi or Khali.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0af-hCZfbY/VD0Wy1qQjkI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/qqa4LGCEptA/s1600/khali.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-J0af-hCZfbY/VD0Wy1qQjkI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/qqa4LGCEptA/s1600/khali.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Khali.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Well we couldnt resist, Felix had left such a hole in our lives we had to get another cat. Her previous name was Princess but neither of us fancied shouting that out loud, we toyed with Khaleesi after the Princess of Game of Thrones and shortened it to Khali.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-37906011384111926452014-10-14T13:24:00.000+01:002014-10-14T13:25:02.855+01:00Summer, June break.<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Started off as a very warm and sunny summer, warm enough for us, we were able to stick to the UK. First stop was the Pembrokeshire coast, St Davids. The campsite was pretty good as a point for walking and cycling with a little geocaching off course.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">This holliday turned out to be a bit of a twitching / boating break, with a visit to the Isle of Ramsay an RSPB reserve. On there we caught a fleeting glimpse of a Manx Shearwater and a pair of Choughs. We extended our visit with a boat trip around the Island which was quite exciting. We were quite taken aback by the attituded of the walkes we met whilst out and about, blanking you or not even relpying when greeted, guess they were just cold southerners.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Went fishing off a rocky point in Whitesands bay, no luck.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">We left South Wales and headed for The Norfolk broads but not before calling of in that there London for a few nights, this was one of our better ideas and we will do it again when the opertunity arises. Visited the The Natural History Museum, mostly looking at the minerals collection, on to the Saatche Gallery and took an open top bus tour, again an aquatic flavour as we took a boat trip down the Thames to Grenwich where we has a pub lunch before heading back to the campsite. Managed a geocaching walk along the river taking in The Tower of London & Tower bridge.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Saatchi Gallery</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Another day visit and we did the tourist thing, Trafalar Square, Buchingham Palace and the Houses of Parliment.After trying to muscle in on the TV interview with Michael Fallon outside the
Houses of Parliment, I spotted John Prescott, I did ask him if
it was ok for the photo but he got a little upset when I complemented
his work on <a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/hignfy?source=feed_text&story_id=812809702070275"><span class="_58cl">#</span><span class="_58cm">HIGNFY</span></a>. After that I went around seeing how many tourist photos I could photobomb until Di told me off !</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John at the Houses of Parliment.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Then off again and on to the Norfolk Broads, somewhere we had both always fancied visiting, a bit flat and boring for my tastes but we hired a boat for the day and had lots of fun with that.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ESus7xUhoY/VD0SEmWCZLI/AAAAAAAAAc4/D6lPSMaLJIY/s1600/Di%2Bon%2BBoat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6ESus7xUhoY/VD0SEmWCZLI/AAAAAAAAAc4/D6lPSMaLJIY/s1600/Di%2Bon%2BBoat.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diane driving the boat.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">It was all pretty enough, great for walking and the bikes but dont think I would go again. Had a day out at Great Yarmouth, fishing off the pier and caught 3 whiting, a first for me.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">The long hot spell was broken by thunder and lightning storms but only at night, never spoiling our days. We returned home calling in to see the kids on the way, I went to the South Gare off Redcar and caught a couple of good sized Mackerel. Di was eager to get back and pick up Princess ?</span><br />
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-72174208713514754482014-06-13T19:52:00.000+01:002014-06-13T19:55:42.808+01:00South of France, Easter.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--N2UqbNrNl4/U4zO4t4pv9I/AAAAAAAAAbM/dt-e_R1wQdY/s1600/felix_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--N2UqbNrNl4/U4zO4t4pv9I/AAAAAAAAAbM/dt-e_R1wQdY/s1600/felix_edited-2.jpg" height="200" width="112" /></a></div>
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A very sad start to this holiday as Felix passed away a few days before our departure, he will be sadly missed especially on our camper van trips.</div>
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Took a day to travel down to Cambridge after stopping the night we got an early start for Dover and the ferry, we then travelled for a few hours to reach the village of Bellicourt, a commune in the department of Aisne in Picardy in northern France. We used the aire outside the tourist information center. </div>
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The area was the site of numerous intense combat actions and battles during World War 1 and an interesting area to see the St-Quentin canal, the canal at this time formed part of the Hindenburg Line, a German defensive position built during the winter of 1916–1917.<br />
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Off again, next stop Chalon-sur-Saone to pay homage to Nicéphore Niépce with a visit to the photography museum. Had enough time to visit the museum and a bit of a walk around exploring the area and do a few geocaches.<br />
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Then a dash all the way down to the South coast and Agay, a campsite that once set up we had half a dozen step to the beach and a couple more to the Mediterranean sea, below is a view of the site from across the bay.<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dA_dgUPx8g/U4zRXZ66R6I/AAAAAAAAAbg/fMXm7sYUKgo/s1600/04+09_0253.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1dA_dgUPx8g/U4zRXZ66R6I/AAAAAAAAAbg/fMXm7sYUKgo/s1600/04+09_0253.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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Had a few walks around the area, one around the bay of Agay.</div>
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Two more in the hills above the town</div>
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A day trip to Nice with a walk along the <span rel="v:address"><span class="format_address"><span class="street-address">Promenade des Anglais, a trip around the old city on a mini train, but most of the time was spent on the hill above the city, looking and photographing around the old graveyards.</span></span></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVpf0YW13sY/U4zMcy4PiII/AAAAAAAAAbA/59eD1aZ3roM/s1600/Agay_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PVpf0YW13sY/U4zMcy4PiII/AAAAAAAAAbA/59eD1aZ3roM/s1600/Agay_edited-1.jpg" height="238" width="320" /></a></div>
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At some point towards the end of our stay, Germany's schools seemed to have kicked out and they descended on us, the campsite became a lot more noisy, so we decided to pack up a day early and go off to the Camargue.</div>
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<span style="font-size: small;">Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, "Saint Marys of the Sea", is the capital of the<u> <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Camargue" title="Camargue">Camargue</a></u> we stopped for one night on another Aire. Getting the early afternoon we seemed to squeeze a lot into 18 hours. A walk around the town souvenir hunting and a visit to the panoramic church fortress, back to the van and an hour or so fishing as the Aire was right on the beach, an early evening stroll around part of the marsh seeing Flamingos and White Egrets. Out on the town later for a meal meeting the only English people on this trip.</span></div>
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On our way back now to Calais, stopped off at Bellville Rhone for the night but still found time to walk around another clean and tidy town, a final french geocache or two. The Aire was just a car park but quiet and safe.</div>
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Got to Calais early evening for the ferry first thing in the morning.</div>
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After a short visit with the kids, called in at Scone for the weekend before getting home.</div>
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A fantastic trip just at the right lime of year for the weather. </div>
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A trip of around 2800 miles over 2 weeks.</div>
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Next year will do something similar but travel via Hull and Zeebrugge, taking in Bruges. </div>
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-36579259252940228432014-01-16T20:29:00.000+00:002014-10-14T13:39:07.696+01:00Substitute<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR6dkQa8SeA/Utg6uOLJFII/AAAAAAAAAXQ/yqbslmASbPI/s1600/shores+of+Lochness.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cR6dkQa8SeA/Utg6uOLJFII/AAAAAAAAAXQ/yqbslmASbPI/s1600/shores+of+Lochness.jpg" height="180" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the banks of Loch Ness</td></tr>
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Since the campsite at Cullen on the Moray coast went over to the dark side ( statics only ), we have been looking for a substitute, we loved that site. We found Banff links, right on the beach with a fish and chip shop close to and a do able dash on a Friday evening after work from Aberdeen.<br />
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October break took us to The Lake district, weather was terrible, raining most of the time, but I did manage a good walk out of the C&CC site at Keswick onto Skiddaw.<br />
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Once the dark nights came in and the fact that most sites close after the October hols, we moved our weekend get away to Stonehaven, the new Caravan Club site there is very good. Its a plan for next year to hopefully see the fireballs celebration there next year.<br />
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Christmas break was at another new site at Loch Ness, again very wet weather kept us in doors a lot of the time, but good views of the Loch. A very scary drive home in extremely wind conditions. <br />
A few days at home over Christmas itself before taking off for the New year on Teesside. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lower Falls of Foyers, nr Loch Ness</td></tr>
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New year on Teesside a bit of geocaching with the kids, before returning home, again calling in at Mortonhall to break the journey up. Had the opportunity to go into Edinburgh and partake in the last few days of the festivities, as well as having a bit of fun on a ghost tour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDwPr1ck3mU/Utg966PFc1I/AAAAAAAAAXc/PAV8rQ6mw2E/s1600/Edinburgh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eDwPr1ck3mU/Utg966PFc1I/AAAAAAAAAXc/PAV8rQ6mw2E/s1600/Edinburgh.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We went on the big wheel.</td></tr>
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That's it 2013, I have had trouble keeping up to date with this blog so to try help I thought I would make a travel journal for 2014.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collaged Travel journal.</td></tr>
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<br />Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0Highland, UK57.254862712896312 -4.498686790466308657.253789212896315 -4.5012082904663089 57.255936212896309 -4.4961652904663083tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-12194823247628809142014-01-16T19:44:00.000+00:002014-01-16T19:46:45.303+00:00Autumn in The Lakes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="text-align: start;">20/10/13</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmhpm4F3j3c/UtbiRk1F7GI/AAAAAAAAAW4/1ICYmmEDExg/s1600/workings_edited-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-wmhpm4F3j3c/UtbiRk1F7GI/AAAAAAAAAW4/1ICYmmEDExg/s1600/workings_edited-2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the Old Man of Coniston.</td></tr>
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It rained a lot in the week we were here, I climbed Skiddaw from Keswick and went part way up the Old man of Coniston.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kids in the camper, watching Mars Attacks</td></tr>
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Also had a few days in the northeast of England having a night out with the kids in the campervan, did a little geocaching around Whitley Bay<br />
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<span id="goog_839220815"></span><span id="goog_839220816"><br /></span>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0Keswick, Cumbria CA12, UK54.601356352407628 -3.152260780334472754.599056852407628 -3.1573032803344727 54.603655852407627 -3.1472182803344726tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-61739520074802430642013-11-25T19:47:00.001+00:002013-11-25T19:50:43.243+00:00Friends on SkyeAugust 9th and I was off to Skye for a few days, meeting a couple of friends who recently move onto Skye and another who was just visiting.<br />
Always happy to visit the island especially to do a bit of fishing, not a great deal of luck in that area but I did get put onto a possible spot for the future.<br />
Camped on Steve and Helen's drive for the night before going on a nice lone walk to see <a href="http://www.walkhighlands.co.uk/skye/macleodsmaidens.shtml" target="_blank">macleods maidens</a> .<br />
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Camping at one of my favourite site on loch Greshornish. I had decided to do a walk from one of my many guide books, The Islands, pocket mountain series. Up Ben Tianaveg offering views over Portree and on to The Storr. On the way up I met a French guy, said his name was Fred ! and he was from Paris. Anyway he was looking at another guide with a little bit of a different route, his was just up and down mine, was a little more convoluted, he joined me on my walk. We got lost a little along the way, but my navigation skills got us through in the end, but a 2.40 hour walk turned into a 4 hour one. We had explored the area more than we might have and I hadn't expected to take in a scramble, saw 5 white tailed eagles, one came very close, oh and no rain.<br />
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Jane needing some first aid from Helen.</div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: #37404e; display: inline; font-family: "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 18px; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-44435545706748398312013-10-21T18:07:00.001+01:002013-10-21T18:11:19.362+01:00France July 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4SFp4wQDA4/UjSV3Ip6C3I/AAAAAAAAATo/Dknizk_4exA/s1600/PicturesLab_Sharpen_FX_2013-07-18_10-50-56.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-R4SFp4wQDA4/UjSV3Ip6C3I/AAAAAAAAATo/Dknizk_4exA/s320/PicturesLab_Sharpen_FX_2013-07-18_10-50-56.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting to embark.</td></tr>
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Its been a couple of months since our adventures in France came to an end, memories are fading so I'd better get them down.<br />
Start off on the 16th of July we took a couple of days to get down to Dover, calling off at Hayfield in the Peak District for the night, wanted to visit a friend there, then Canterbury so we were in a good position for the ferry. Record breaking temperatures in London as we were sitting on the M25.<br />
On arriving in France we headed off for Honfleur, never seeing a hint of Calais, picking up where we left off last year, stopping at the Aire there, finally after a year of waiting we had our meal in a restaurant by the quayside, bliss.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our van on the Aire at Honfleur.</td></tr>
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Next stop was Mont Saint Michel, could see signs of the Tour de France that had gone through the area a few days earlier. Stopped in the car park over night, we were getting the hang of living off the leisure battery with the fridge running on gas. Walked along the causeway onto the island there and back. Think we did our first French geocache of the visit.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n5Mcev91ztM/UjSdKi-LThI/AAAAAAAAAUI/GK58K-_4hPo/s1600/PicturesLab_Vintage_FX_2013-07-19_19-17-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n5Mcev91ztM/UjSdKi-LThI/AAAAAAAAAUI/GK58K-_4hPo/s320/PicturesLab_Vintage_FX_2013-07-19_19-17-27.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mont Saint Michel</td></tr>
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La Rochelle was the next port of call, first stopping off just outside at Coulon, a little village with an Aire, could have done with more time here, a little more exploring, but that could have been said of most places we visited. The main reason for visiting was that it was close to La Rochelle and if we couldn't find anywhere to stay we would go back, no need to worry we found a campsite in the city itself. Another evening on the town and we were starting to get in the swing of things, practicing the French as well as enjoying the street entertainment and taking a ride on a Ferris wheel. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carlotta @ La Rochelle</td></tr>
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Would certainly visit here again and have been told to go onto the adjoining island.<br />
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Off now too the Pyrenees where we spent a whole week in a site at Estaing with a visit to Cauterets-Pont d’Espagne, and Lourdes. The journey to the Bridge of Spain was very nervous, twisty with plenty of subsided roads, we were able to admire the panoramic view of the famous Lac de Gaube, praised by the famous author Victor Hugo and the Romantics, higher up in the mountains but easy accessible to us as we took the cable car and chair lift. On the way back to the campsite returning through Cauterets which like other places around midday had looked like a ghost town, was now party central, we never got used to that. <br />
Lourdes was a place we felt we had to visit being just down the road, it was fairly interesting but felt it was just like Scarborough but without the kiss me quick hats, very tacky.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJFTnWirCXU/UmVZ3aSbQVI/AAAAAAAAAU8/VyeaxpcgGFQ/s1600/PicturesLab_AutoAdjust_FX_2013-07-29_16-25-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DJFTnWirCXU/UmVZ3aSbQVI/AAAAAAAAAU8/VyeaxpcgGFQ/s320/PicturesLab_AutoAdjust_FX_2013-07-29_16-25-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Campsite Pyrénées Natura </td></tr>
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Carcassonne was next on our list, well worth the visit, maybe could have done with another night. Another Camping in the City site, we had been looking for an Aire but having got disoriented and taking the van on a little scrape along the ancient city walls I was glad to find this site.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carcassonne</td></tr>
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Oradour Sur Glane, two nights here and a very moving visit, saw this place on the opening of the landmark series The World at War, again on an Aire, free but no electric except for very short period, by this time we were adept at living without a hook up, just off the leisure battery, running the fridge off the gas. The new village is modern of course with some nice little bars which we never got to use, pity. We had an evening walking around the area and a whole day in the <a href="http://www.oradour.info/" target="_blank">martyrs village</a> itself.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Martyrs village</td></tr>
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Blois is the is the capital of the Loire valley but for us was just an Aire stop off on the way to Calais and home. By this time the heat was really up there, all of us were feeling it including Felix.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Felix "chillin"</td></tr>
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Only just getting used to the lifestyle but the heat slowed us well down, once again wanted more time here, but the three weeks was a real learning curve, in terms of how to travel over longer period as well a abroad in the van.<br />
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The van itself performed brilliantly and the cruise control was a god send as was the shower.<br />
Now just looking forward to Easter and the Côte d'Azur.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Off home.</td></tr>
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21/10/13 and finally finished this page sitting on a very we pitch in the Lake District.<br />
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-13665602787300175932013-07-15T22:10:00.000+01:002013-07-15T22:10:13.090+01:00Start of the summer.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiRDIfoZoCo/UeRk8yepy8I/AAAAAAAAATU/2wq4MRemwOU/s1600/2deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZiRDIfoZoCo/UeRk8yepy8I/AAAAAAAAATU/2wq4MRemwOU/s320/2deer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Had a couple of days on the Applecross peninsula, Carlotta had never been and I thought it was a good opportunity to test the van on mountain roads. Great Sunday teatime meal in the Applecross Inn, Andy Murray was winning Wimbledon and there were folk musicians playing, they seem quite good. Took a cycle ride around the area and did a geocache at Sand, saw a couple of deer close up.<br />
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A couple of days later I went over to Althandu, one of my favourite places, Took a walk out to the Suilven, a very warm day that seemed to sap my strength, took so long in getting there didn't have time to actually climb it, will try from the other side another time. Had a days fishing for brown trout, not much look there as the weather had changed becoming quite cold over on the West Coast and western isles, the rest of Britain sweltered in a heat wave.<br />
Tomorrow we leave for France.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iul5rumyGYY/UeRg5jHkb2I/AAAAAAAAATE/cuQLBECVECM/s1600/Suilven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-iul5rumyGYY/UeRg5jHkb2I/AAAAAAAAATE/cuQLBECVECM/s400/Suilven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suilven., Inverpolly</td></tr>
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-50980549783283212702013-06-25T18:37:00.000+01:002013-06-25T18:37:16.105+01:00Its a Hymer (again)<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEyP4gqGb34/UcmEb_0St5I/AAAAAAAAASc/yh8etpdHNgk/s1600/new+van+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XEyP4gqGb34/UcmEb_0St5I/AAAAAAAAASc/yh8etpdHNgk/s320/new+van+(2).jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hymer Tramp GT</td></tr>
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Well the MOT didn't go well, lots of minor things to sort out, mostly electric. Aberdeen is a pain in the arse if you want anything like this done and impossible to get it done cheap, had got a Polish auto electrician lined up to give it a look over, he went on a drinking binge apparently, 2 weeks later and he was still on it. In the end decided to cut our losses and really start all over again.</div>
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We started looking around for yet another van, we knew what attributes it needed to have and put the old one up on eBay, spares or repair. Paid a couple of visits to Perthshire as there are two good reputable dealers there and took our time, we actually missed one we really wanted but that was a blessing in the end.</div>
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When we spotted the Hymer Tramp GT it was love at first sight and Perthshire caravans we great people to deal with. We've had the van for a couple of months now and had a few little jaunts out and about along the Moray coast. Its near brand new only done 7000 miles, the interior is very smart and modern, interior décor can sometimes be a little garish but not this one. Funny thing, as you can see in the photo, it was parked right next to a Mobilvetta driver 52 which was our first camper.</div>
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My summer vacation starts next week and we have 3 weeks in France planned, making our way to the Pyrenees via Honfluer, Dover to Calais this time seemed a better route.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4BnDvI2IlE/UcmNb-JLMeI/AAAAAAAAASs/Cv7uAEC_0lA/s1600/interior.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-p4BnDvI2IlE/UcmNb-JLMeI/AAAAAAAAASs/Cv7uAEC_0lA/s320/interior.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Interior details</td></tr>
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Its been a poor spring, about a month late but weather has been good over the last few weeks, got out on some great walks mostly over Dufftown way up in the Ladder hills. Geocaching has been sparing, but I have my eyes on some over a few Munro's but there is still snow on the Cairngorms.</div>
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Well that us up to date I guess but really must write these things up as they happen.</div>
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Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-32052360738183945242013-04-24T18:57:00.003+01:002013-04-24T18:57:53.882+01:00Here's hoping.<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rA21MPtsjg/UTx8OfnnANI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oYgis-P-3FI/s1600/d40a6193-9c64-4ecb-951f-69b4a7efaa2f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3rA21MPtsjg/UTx8OfnnANI/AAAAAAAAAPs/oYgis-P-3FI/s400/d40a6193-9c64-4ecb-951f-69b4a7efaa2f.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Its coming up to MOT time and I hope everything is going to go fine. We took it out for a little spin last week, staying at Grantown of Spey for the night and had a nice curry in town, the site was very good.<br />
I brought the van over to give it a a good wash and to put some vinyl tiles down, it snowed over night. Chances are if all goes well we will go to France at Easter.<br />
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Well the MOT didn't go well so we never went to France, failed in lots and lots of minor ways, I wont go into detail here, just to say the van is up on ebay as spares or repairs, Id had enough.<br />
We did get away to Althandu for a week so that was good, had my birthday and a couple of nice meals over there. Quite a laid back week, a bit of walking, nothing too strenuous, weather was better over there than here on the east coast, spring seems to be about a month late this year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpTNYekgLQ/UXgYJV5i-yI/AAAAAAAAARs/xkWr1kbxtRc/s1600/from+stac+Polly+ii.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4WpTNYekgLQ/UXgYJV5i-yI/AAAAAAAAARs/xkWr1kbxtRc/s320/from+stac+Polly+ii.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cul mor from Stac Polly.</td></tr>
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We took a trip down too Teesside to see the kids, called in to a number of motohome sales outlets and spied a few potential buys, so new acquisition is on the cards, in fact probable off this weekend to pick one out.<br />
Still got France in our sights but for the summer and the Atlantic coast rather than the Cote d'Azur, to hot and crowded down there during the summer, but would love to try for that next Easter. <br />
Still the opportunities for some weekend motorhoming between now and the summer break, nine and a half weeks to that.<br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; -webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: #edeff4; color: #333333; display: inline !important; float: none; font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 11px/14px "lucida grande", tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"></span><br />Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-64925817927888646372013-01-06T22:29:00.000+00:002013-01-06T22:29:19.121+00:00Its diesel you idiot.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van @ Braemar</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Having finished work for the holiday's we went off for the weekend to Braemar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I spent most of the time after that working on a new website for myself, publicising my landscape photography, </span><a href="http://www.northlightimages.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Northlightimages.</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Once Christmas itself was over we made off for Teesside again, stopping off at Mortonhall in Edinburgh. There was some high winds forecast so we set off on the afternoon and rushed for Edinburgh, in the rush I accidentally put in petrol instead of diesel, bringing the journey to an abrupt halt outside of Dundee. Anyway, managed to get a pick up, drain and back on the road in about 2 1/2 hours, but it cost £240 plus the £50 wasted on the petrol, hopefully a lesson well learnt. Waking up in Edinburgh on new years eve we heard the Forth road bridge has been closed to all but cars so we missed that at least.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">In England and I had the chance of a couple of photography location visits, Paddys hole at the South Gare and High Force, both on the river Tees. We stopped with the kids for about 3 days before our r</span><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">eturn to Aberdeen via Mortonhall again, the journey home was incident free.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS;">Planning this years France trip, I will be putting some work into the van as well as more walking and photography.</span></div>
Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-38860937066968306032012-12-05T22:32:00.000+00:002012-12-05T22:32:32.780+00:00Up until christmas11/11/12<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xG_kyU_9zt4/UKFw4Ov_S3I/AAAAAAAAAPE/ZyRaa9SWn1U/s1600/River+Braan+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xG_kyU_9zt4/UKFw4Ov_S3I/AAAAAAAAAPE/ZyRaa9SWn1U/s320/River+Braan+II.jpg" width="256" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Autumn colours</td></tr>
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Took a drive out to Blairgowrie was, The Hermitage and House of Bruar. Had a loverly walk along the river to The Hermitage then moved on with the idea of visiting the Falls of Bruar but as we found they had a sale on, got no further than the House of Bruar.<br />
Following week out to Lochnagar, I'v been up there a few times but finaly a visit with the top clear of cloud, fantastic clear day.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_45m2y-aGQA/UKqvDPFQH4I/AAAAAAAAAPY/zGbQtdw9KLs/s1600/Me+at+Lochnagar+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_45m2y-aGQA/UKqvDPFQH4I/AAAAAAAAAPY/zGbQtdw9KLs/s320/Me+at+Lochnagar+small.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me at Lochnagar.</td></tr>
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Just waiting for the christmas break, talk is of the coldest winter in 100 years, lots of snow from the 15th of december right into the new year, lets see. Had the first snow last night, 04/12/12<br />
Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-13703834371454135492012-10-31T20:57:00.001+00:002012-10-31T21:09:43.669+00:00Autumnal October.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dEZrSHrzxKg/UIpYDA3tmTI/AAAAAAAAAOk/2jcRNKb5N0Q/s1600/BV+small.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dEZrSHrzxKg/UIpYDA3tmTI/AAAAAAAAAOk/2jcRNKb5N0Q/s400/BV+small.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Venue.</td></tr>
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Picked Diane up from work on the Sunday afternoon and sped off to The Trossachs, stopping at Cobeland camping in the forest site for two nights. The site was almost empty during the time we were there, a pity as the area was very pretty with the autumn colours and mists. I spent the day climbing Ben Venue, It started out as what looked like the prettiest of walks, but due to forestry work it turned into a mucky muddy dangerous mess, detours adding a couple of extra miles and hours on to a very tedious walk. I finally got to the top of Ben Venue, in cloud so no view. Had to resort to a back up plan, came off the mountain via Bealach nam Bo where Liam Neesam used to run his rustled cattle, sorry that should read Rod Roy, that was the best move to make, took about 4 1/2 hours up and 2 hours down.<br />
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Rested my legs on the journey down to the Lake District for two night there, turned up at the Caravan Club site only to find I hadnt booked, it was at the Caravan and Camping Club site just down at Troutbeck Head where we were to be. This turned out great, a little closer to the fells and other walks, I didnt need to move the van which is always a bonus. I think I prefer this site to the other, we have been to both, and I'm sure we will go back, when we cant get into the Keswick site.</div>
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The following day I climbed Blencathera, a better day out even if the cloud was low again giving nothing much in the way of views. I had been hoping to go up via Sharp edge but I couldn't find my way on, not had much luck in the scrambling side of things, after a look around, visibility about 25 yards, I gave up and took the easy path to the top, but all in all not a bad day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DncKrgIiyvk/UJGL_dT499I/AAAAAAAAAO0/3qMPkWFlA7E/s1600/Van+@+Troutbeck+head..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-DncKrgIiyvk/UJGL_dT499I/AAAAAAAAAO0/3qMPkWFlA7E/s400/Van+@+Troutbeck+head..jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van at Troutbeck head, background Blencathra.</td></tr>
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Again after a couple of nights we left to see the kids on Teesside. We took the young ones to Whitewater campsite on the river Tees, just for the night, which they seemed to enjoy, especially watching Despicable Me. I took a walk over Carlton Bank, easy going and a nice wind down from the other walks.<br />
The van performed well no trouble from it, feel a little more confident about it. The arial worked well and we thought a bit more about doing up the inside, what we might do here and there. I did give it new wheel trims before this trip.</div>
Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-37625777794877793042012-10-07T20:33:00.001+01:002012-10-07T20:50:21.563+01:00St Cyrus.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lBlYMV8I1AU/UGiWbn2v4OI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ofRPyTkMsXc/s1600/Van+@+Miltonhaven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-lBlYMV8I1AU/UGiWbn2v4OI/AAAAAAAAAOM/ofRPyTkMsXc/s400/Van+@+Miltonhaven.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moonrise and Sunset at Miltonhaven.</td></tr>
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Last weekend of September, just a short trip and one night out at St Cyrus, a walk along the beach and a few caches. Miltonhaven, a decent site, great Internet connection, but been to better locally.<br />
Took the opportunity to put some new set covers on which helped to spruce her up. Noticed someone has put the bike rack on in such a way the back window can not be closed properly, letting in the elements, that's the next job.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyVN0soCo5o/UGiYv5rDsAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/QBPiRyuWvNo/s1600/new+seat+covers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uyVN0soCo5o/UGiYv5rDsAI/AAAAAAAAAOU/QBPiRyuWvNo/s320/new+seat+covers.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New seat covers</td></tr>
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Sorted that bike rack issue out, can still use it but the back window is fixed shut but that's OK, fitted new lighting tubes over the cooking area and removed the stupid latches from the bonnet. Measured up for some floor tiles and some other bits and pieces including an aerial are on order. Blocked off the water too the shower area, we are thinking of using it as a wardrobe in some way as we usually use site showers so it wouldn't be missed.<br />
We are going to have a weekend cleaning and sorting bits and pieces out, then the following weekend we are off on our first major trip, a couple of nights in the Trossachs, then the Lake district before we visit the kids.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-34723775120709242492012-09-16T20:53:00.000+01:002012-09-16T22:01:49.964+01:00Portsoy<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6DKvu0gTqcQ/UFYfe-inRuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/mLEhegkk4SQ/s1600/Portsoy+sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="170" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6DKvu0gTqcQ/UFYfe-inRuI/AAAAAAAAAN8/mLEhegkk4SQ/s400/Portsoy+sunset.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portsoy sunset.</td></tr>
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We had a short weekend at Portsoy, first time outing in the new van, on a nice little site run by Aberdeenshire council, right on the sea front. We arrived on Saturday, noon and left the same time Sunday, took a walk around the bay in the evening. Living four floors up in the city the van is our garden, its just great to get out and have a different view, we prefere a view of the sea.<br />
I replaced the camlocks on the bonnet, they came with multi-cam fitting which was lucky and one configuration worked, now I can get rid of the terrible bodge job of buckles, new travel catch on the fridge. We found that when the toilet or hand basin tap was turned on, water also came out of the shower, going to seal that off, wouldn't really use it as there are plenty on the sites we stop at, may even turn it into a wardrobe. Still looking for a substitute for the site at Cullen, this wasnt quite it.<br />
Got plenty to do to her before before the October break, I have started to learn French.<br />
Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-30528482066184803162012-09-09T20:25:00.003+01:002012-09-30T20:44:20.122+01:00Our new van.We got our new van, well new to us. Its a Hymermobil B564 ‘A’ Class, a design classic, 1991. It has a Fiat Ducato 2500 cc engine and chassis, ever since we started Campervaning we would see the Hymers buzzing around and admired them.<br />
We bought it from Leeds and in bringing it to Aberdeen covered 339 miles, I worked it out that we got 27 mpg, I filled it up twice with £40 worth of diesel each time, 57 litres in total. We suffered no mechanical problems.<br />
When saw this one for sale, it was a bit different, decor wise but all that was superficial, once we started cleaning and measuring and really getting to know it. Became quite obvious its under gone a lot of bodging from some of its owners, cant believe some of the handy work its had over the past 20 + years.<br />
We have started working towards getting it a bit more shipshape, plans are afoot and it is already looking better, we got rid of the black carpets making it a whole lot brighter, managed to drop a cable down from the flat and gave it all a good vacuum and steam clean.. If it lasts us over the next 5 years that will do fine.<br />
Next weekend we will spend our first night in it, going to Portsoy and I start my French classes. <br />
I dont have any photos yet but this is a very similar model. <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5xP35tbT0s" target="_blank">David Bowie and the B534</a>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-74763926134787139422012-08-18T20:58:00.000+01:002012-08-18T20:58:41.013+01:00End of an era.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjz2SwCtqus/UC_q2rchuEI/AAAAAAAAANs/ycxSxTFH3DU/s1600/Sch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Rjz2SwCtqus/UC_q2rchuEI/AAAAAAAAANs/ycxSxTFH3DU/s400/Sch.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schiehallion (3553ft) in Perthshire</td></tr>
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Towards the end of the Summer vacation period, I took advantage of the last few days and went off to Killin. Got there early enough to bag Schiehallion before the sun set, that late in the day had it almost to myself. This was going to be the last camp in this van as well, at least for us. The motorhome floor is dropping out, not going to go into a rant about who's fault that might be, they'll get no business from me if I can help it.<br />
I had a cycle along Loch Tay, 16 miles and around 28 geocaches, this included one at the disused gold and copper mine used in Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Had wanted to visit this for years and it did not disappoint. I was very grateful for being able to get a bus back to the other end of the loch. Very knackered after that so had a couple of days just chillin as weather was good.<br />
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So have managed to sell the van on ebay, got a decent price for it I think, we are now looking for another camper. Have a couple of options and still thinking about which way to go with it. Will keep you apprised.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-72222329017324102392012-08-08T19:56:00.003+01:002012-09-16T21:40:34.566+01:00France, first time visit.<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_LCkSIdQGU/UCKkIPGCyoI/AAAAAAAAAMw/tVy9TFcmC9Y/s1600/Basin+le+Honfleur.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D_LCkSIdQGU/UCKkIPGCyoI/AAAAAAAAAMw/tVy9TFcmC9Y/s400/Basin+le+Honfleur.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Honfleur.</td></tr>
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We decided it was time we had a taste of foreign roads so had a trip to France. Planning started a good while before, not choosing the site or how to get there, but what was needed to take Felix (the cat) along. <br />
First he needed chipping and his anti-rabbis shots, he needed a passport, then worming and tick skin drops just before travelling. Information is hazy on the government website for cats, clear enough for dogs. All in all it was trouble free, with all our and the cats info being held on computers the authorities know exactly who you are. The only interest in Felix was leaving France and that came from the border policewomen who were just interested in seeing and cooing over him.<br />
I booked everything through the Caravan Club, a package of ferry tickets and campsite, some sites, this being one of them, don't take pets full stop, others no dogs of certain breeds. Before booking I fired off an email to the site explaining he never leaves the van, would it be OK to bring him, they said yes as long as he stayed indoors.<br />
We set off on our adventure mid afternoon, picking Diane up from work and heading south, first stop Glenrothes, got there for teatime, just north of Edinburgh and handy for the motorways. Next day off to just south of Birmingham for an overnight stop before going to Portsmouth for the evening ferry. The idea was to take it nice and easy on the way down, could have been done speedier and next time we probably will, giving us more time over there, for our first time I was a little apprehensive. Got too Portsmouth so early we had a little detour into Southsea, being a very hot sunny summers day at the start of the English school hols the place was heaving. Had a good look round, did a few caches and had a curry, we were still queueing for the ferry four hour early, but still not the first there.<br />
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The overnight ferry was fine enough but we didn't get much in the way of sleep, getting into Le Havre about eight, it was only a 60 km or 40 minute drive to the campsite, one of the reasons for choosing that site, didn't know how I would take to driving on the wrong side of the road. Bit of a baptism of fire, as I had been told by a guy at the Birmingham site, its straight out of the port and into the city centre of Le Havre.<br />
Got to the site at Le Brevedent early but this wasn't a problem to the fantastic manager or owner, anyway waiting for the pitch to become vacant, managed to get some sleep in the car park.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDqCDQA9lDo/UCK1-wZlJGI/AAAAAAAAANA/FTQW1beOc9g/s1600/Van+@+Ch%C3%A2teau+Le+Brevedent.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kDqCDQA9lDo/UCK1-wZlJGI/AAAAAAAAANA/FTQW1beOc9g/s400/Van+@+Ch%C3%A2teau+Le+Brevedent.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Van at Castel Camping du Brevedent.</td></tr>
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When we woke up well after mid day the pitch was empty and about 30c, just wanting to settle in on our first day I sat out in the sun, in shorts and sandals, never had a real opportunity to do this combination of things in the four year of campervaning in the UK, one hour later my knees and feet were burnt. The site was great, the French really know how to do this family camping, it looked like a bit of a gypsy camp after the regimented Caravan or Camping & caravan Club site, with all the washing out drying on lines but hey ho !<br />
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Day two and not really into having a drive so we went for a walk. Not really walking county at least not the Normandy countryside, the coast maybe different, but the information area at the site reception had a map with walks around the quieter county lanes. So we set off for Blangy-le-Chateau, paths through woods and high hedged country lanes meant we were usually walking in the shade which was great given it was another hot sunny day. The village was very pretty, clean, marvellous how other countries can keep their environments clean of litter and fly tipping. Lots of allied national flags, saw them on large flagpoles in every town and village that I noticed, I guess in gratitude for kicking out the Nazis. Once the bar was open we had a drink, not used to this type of thing, usually driving, but it was great, probably should have made it two, don't know when I will get another opportunity, we then walked back to the site.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8p2cdhhww9Q/UCLKBopZ78I/AAAAAAAAANQ/0NZge5LCEjk/s1600/Di.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="302" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8p2cdhhww9Q/UCLKBopZ78I/AAAAAAAAANQ/0NZge5LCEjk/s400/Di.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Di with some locals.</td></tr>
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Day three and we headed off to the coast, don't think a visit to this area would be complete without a trip to the invasion beaches. We went off towards Ouistreham the eastern end of Sword beach, it was also a place to get some fuel. A lesson learnt 3/4 of a tank cost just over £50 even with the bank charge for the foreign transaction, normally £75, I didn't realise this till I viewed my statement, for the future fill up over there. Ouistreham seemed a little ordinary so we made our way along the coast to Lion-su-mar, walked along the stray and got photographed with a tank. When we got back to the van it had a note from the police on it, apparently we had parked in an area reserved for buses, we had seen this but there was another motor home parked there so thought it was maybe ok. I think the note said there could be a fine of 40 euro for this, didn't seem to say were you might pay it so I ignored it, think it was just a friendly warning, anyway we will see at the border control.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2KLjDWuO50/UCLKQKTZRcI/AAAAAAAAANY/9bTqwhJXbwo/s1600/Me+and+tank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-t2KLjDWuO50/UCLKQKTZRcI/AAAAAAAAANY/9bTqwhJXbwo/s400/Me+and+tank.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Me with a Churchill tank</td></tr>
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We travelled along the coast but it was all much of a muchness, decided to go off to Bayeux and if you go there you have to see the tapestry don't you. Another parking faux pas, think we parked in the museum staff car park, didn't notice till we got back they all had permits in the windows.<br />
The viewing of the Tapestry was great, the interactive talk was very good and informative, we both enjoyed this medieval experience and can recommend it. Had a little geocaching walk around the city centre, always a good fall back if you dont have a real plan.<br />
Off back to the campsite via the toll roads, very quick and comfortable and worth the 4 euros.<br />
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Last full day in France and decided on a whole day in Honfleur, sounded great from the Rough guide. Still a bit panicky driving in towns and this little place was very busy, desperate to find parking and seeing most had height restrictions, we saw a sign for Motorhomes. It wasn't just a car park as such you could stay for the night and even had electric hookup, 10 euro for 24 hours. I had heard of these places before, no frills but great for a night, in fact the only regret was we didn't stay for the night, could have had a night on the town and it seemed a great town to have a night on. This was another HOT day, laminated board said it had been 32 C but think it could have got up to 34 C.<br />
Honfleur is a lovely small harbour town, it reminded me very much of Whitby but with a bit of je ne sais quoi. Wonderful how they keep there villages and town nice and clean abroad.<br />
On the way back to the site we missed a turnoff somewhere along the way and went on a right satnav adventure, but got back for another lovely evening sat out.<br />
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We spent the morning on site making the most of the weather, then made our way slowly back to Le Harve. once again getting there early. Ferry back was a bit easier not going over night. Got a ferry pitch on a site just 20 mins out from Portsmouth, Caravan club staff still available just to guide you in, We will certainly be doing more of this, already making plans for next year, will spend more time over there, go further and learn some language.Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6552161711755972250.post-14758203656677121312012-08-05T10:35:00.000+01:002012-08-05T10:35:16.972+01:00Mad, Bad and Dangerous to KnowOur 50th cache hide had to be a little special and as I am also getting bored with searching for urban caches, I wasnt about to make this one. In fact I don't think I will bother hiding anymore in urban situations, unless somewhere really interesting.<br />I was looking for some scrabbling experience as I had failed at getting to the top of Stac Polly and Sgurr nan Gilliean.
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I found this in a book on walk and scrammbles in the Cairngorms, There wernt many as it was, for such a large area. The Stuic a rocky ridge on the Locknagar Massif, had been climbed way back by none other than Lord Byron. <span>Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Know was a phrase used by Lady Caroline Lamb to describe Lord Byron and as a child, lived for a short time at a farm adjacent to the South Deeside Road just east of Ballater. He spent some of his early childhood in Aberdeen where he attended the grammer school. He is reputed to have climbed The Stuic with a clubfoot and the time growing up in the area feature in some of his poetry, in paricular the area of Lochnagar</span><br /> I was a long walk in and not that exciting once I had left the ancient forsest, mostly moor and bog. I climbed it from loch nan Eun and got the most way up, them my way was barred, in hindsite I think I should have been further over too the right, but I made my way off to the side and up a scree gully for the final few fifty feet or so. I think I will probably have another go at it sometime, as I still need the scrambling practice and this isnt supposed to be that difficult.Looks like you can come off Lochnagar quite easily down to the Loch, then climb it, wants to be a good dry day as that granite is slippy when wet, unlike the gritty grabbo of Skye.</div>Friends of Carlottahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09426456797750303393noreply@blogger.com0