Home too early!! But its Report Time!!
Home a few days early, but i thought i'd post a report. Couple of POI updates, and some new locations too. Photos will follow when I find my camera!
1st night was my old regular spot from my transport days (LR Beattock 2, along side M74)
Day 2. Loved the new M74 extension. Brimmed the tank near Dumbarton and headed off into the wild. No real plan, but I ended up in Campbelltown!!! Via stops @ Firkin Point, Rest & Be Thankful & Westport Beach. Bit of shopping, then back up the east coast of Kintire. Was planning to stay at Torisdale Bay, but someone was already set up, MH, tent, washing line, the whole lot!! So carried on to Carisdale to buy some beer. And stayed the night at Grogport (LR Grogport (B842) (Argyll & Bute)). This was also the time I realised I'd left the Jungle Formula at home!!!!
Day 3. Started off badly, with a crown coming loose at breakfast. But had a walk along the coast at Claonaig with the dog (That was still before 7am!! I got up stupidly early for some reason). Feeling fit, I decided to head for Torinturk. I've stayed here before (very very quiet) but never done the walk to the Dun above it. BTW, when you turn in for the CP @ Torinturk done panic!! It looks like the road ends after 50yrds, but it actually takes a sharp left behind a tree, and the CP is approx 300 yrds up the track. Great little walk taking in the 'Giants Grave', bit steep in parts, & I was almost on my hands & knees doing the final climb upto the dun. Back on the road, I'd been advised to call in at Lochgilphead Hospital regarding the missing crown. Told to come back at 2pm. So time to go to Crinan area & back for a couple of hours.
UPDATE FOR CANALSMAN: CU Tayvallich now has N/O signs & 'for use of village hall only'.
NEW POI: CR Glean a Gealbhan. Its quite small and anything over 20ft may have trouble. However its a great little shady area, great for kids & dogs, and has a walk that goes down to the lochside.
Anyway, back to Lochgilphead, 30 min wait, and crown re-glued back in place. Cost £8.52!!! (When it happens at home it costs me £36!!)
Left Lochgilphead heading for Leacainn Forest Drive. Unfortunately, its more just Leacainn Drive right now!!! From here up the west side of Loch Awe to spend the night at Glen Nant (56.395973,-5.210459). Great night, shared it with a local scientist doing some kind of survey on noctural insects.
Day 3. Another early start heading for Oban and the Kerrera Ferry. Caught the first ferry over with the postie and walked the recommended 3hr loop in just less than 2hrs!!!! Now Totally Knackered!!! Quick shop in Oban. Topped up the tank and headed north. There's a temporary closure of LR Loch Creran 3 due to logging! Continued to Glen Coe (quick stop for kindling & another bbq) and headed for Glen Etive. Really busy, lots of tenters in the Glen, but I was heading for the Loch. Stopped at the car park at the head of Loch Etive. Again due to Logging the OR Loch Etive POI is temporalily unavailable. HOWEVER I was disgusted with the mess that had been left by stupid moronic idiots. Burnt out chairs, loads of rubbish and 100's of beer bottles. Picked a few bits up close to the van, but I could have filled the van if I'd picked up everything!
Oo!! Top tip. While barbequing, slow burn a little green grass on an old used disposable BBQ to create a smokescreen against the midges. I've found fern leaves to be best, but anything green will give of some good smoke.
Had a great tea here, BBQ venison grill steaks with chili, mushroom & onion on a toasted Panini. Actually toasted the panini on the BBQ I was using to create a smokescreen. & tess had a great time running up and down the shore.
Day 4. Headed for CR Loch Tulla (Argyll & Bute) for breakfast. 5 vans stayed there that night. Met a great guy from Cornwall who's name I forget. He's just had a Ford Transit Connect converted to a 1 man camper. Got talking about the sight, and when I mentioned it was just £15, he said he'd def be checking us all out, so look out for him soon!! Target for today was the Trossachs. Took in Tyndrum & Killin & Callander (more beer needed). Loch Lubnaig CP POI's were stuffed full of C******ers. 6 or 7 parked nose to tail along the shore, awnings up. Really over abusing the system (imo). Loch Achray was pretty similar. I stayed a mile away at the Leannach CP. All alone on a Friday night, and as I was nowhere near the Loch, there was virtually no midges
Day 5. Roadtrip loop. Took a trip up to Stronachlachar. Sounds like I stood next to Runnach's van while taking a pic at Loch Chon. Then Aberfoyle, Doune Antique Centre, Dumblane, Auchterarder, Creiff, and then back to Leannach CP for another night. Got joined by 2 other vans that night.
Day 6. Off to Edinburgh to see my mates new baby daughter. But spent the night in a quiet layby approx 1 mile north of Galashiels. (55.635918,-2.825933).
Day 7. OH MY GOD!!! First the van wouldn't start. With a bit of help from my dad down the phone & a squirt of WD40 it started. We think its the solenoid thats playing up. Into Galasheils, parked up, and went into town for a few bits. Just 15 mins later, I'm back at the van, which rolled forward 20ft into a lamppost. And has a parking ticket on it. Lamppost was jamming my wheel so I could get the steering lock off. Had a passing police van drag my off. Still hoping to have ticket recinded as it was clear something had gone wrong. Plus the police where p***ed off as the jobsworth should have reported it to them first. Anyway, 5 mins on my back underneath sorted the problem by re-adjusting the handbrake cable. Not perfect, but good enough to get me home!. Now since the police got involved they had to do a vehicle check. No problem. However it gets worse!!! 20 mins later I'm at a junction near Melrose and I got rear-ended by a police car. No damage to me, but my huge rear step went straight through its bumper and tore into the radiator. Because it was a copper involved, we had to wait for his Sarge to come out and do a report. So for the 2nd time in half an hour, I'm having my van checked out on their computer!!! another hour later I final got to leave!!!
Decided just to head for my next stop, which was at Grey Mare's Tails Waterfall. & thank God thats over!!
Day 8. Into Moffat, then cruised down to Dalbeatie, Kirkcudbright & Castle Douglas aiming to stay at my parents cottage at Crossmichael. New POI found in Kirkcudbright. From the centre, head up past Tesco towards Gelston & the Wild Life Park. After about half a mile there's a hairpin bend with a junction heading off to the right. There's a Forestry CP here too with 2 small parking areas. Great woodland walk. (54.835129,-4.042738). Anyway when I got to my parents holiday cottage, I arrived to a disaster! lead on roof had split & it'd been raining in big time!!. Which is why I'm home early, so my folks can go up there and sort it out and I'm running the business again.
Anyway. I've done just shy of 1200 miles on just less than 2.5 tanksful (£245 worth of Diesel). And I've spent approx £40 on beer & £100 of foods. (And £300 on new stock, but that doesn't count). Used approx 15 litres of water which is a little more than normal, but thats mainly because there aren't many truckstops where I've been. BUT more importantly ZERO on Campsites
Photo's will follow very soon
Ste
