Guess where I am.

[runnach]

More David Attenborough stuff. Seal Scrap just now. Well a few handbags were out.

Our East Coast Seals would have had that West Coast Seal, east coast seals rulezzzz

 

[runnach]

You'll get a bigger fright if this Seal comes at you Barry, maybe you can both dedicate a song to the Arran Seals, similar to the Sannox tune?

 

[barryd]

Our East Coast Seals would have had that West Coast Seal, east coast seals rulezzzz

Bloody East Coast ASBO Riff Raff seals!

 

[barryd]

You'll get a bigger fright if this Seal comes at you Barry, maybe you can both dedicate a song to the Arran Seals, similar to the Sannox tune?

View attachment 143266

Get lost! I got into bother last time I listened to you about the Arran ferry song! I'm still wearing my Clouseau disguise.

 

[runnach]

Get lost! I got into bother last time I listened to you about the Arran ferry song! I'm still wearing my Clouseau disguise.

Sealed With a Kiss, and the theme, Barry on his canoe surrounded by acrobatic Seals and Dolphins, doing backward flips and 360 degree spins. Your Youtube channel will go viral.

Oh I forgot, Lions Mane Jellies doing backing vocals.

 

[Pudsey Bear]

 

[barryd]

Why do we have a photo of an empty Aire somewhere in Europe on my Exciting adventure thread?

 

[runnach]

Why do we have a photo of an empty Aire somewhere in Europe on my Exciting adventure thread?

Post number, I may have stopped there?

 

[barryd]

We are both a bit knackered now. Seems to have been a long busy day of activities with a very early start. I was going to go out Kayaking again tonight but everything hurts. I might have a few drinks first and then see about it.

Had a very late lunch / early dinner down in Lamlash and my bloody phone kept ringing and texting all the time we were riding down there. Thinking it was something important I pulled over and its fecking Kev (Pudsey) in France wanting to know how to use the Jeton service point, presumably at that random Aire he posted earlier. So I told him to feck off and then if I didn't get another call five minutes later which I also told to feck off thinking it was Kev again but it turned out to be one of my old clients.

Few more pics including the memorial in Lamlash to the poor sailors who lost their lives there in WW2 when their submarine that was just four days old sank.

Oh yeah and we spotted Feather McGraw (Penquin) from Wallace and Gromit in Corrie just now.

HMS Vandal - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[runnach]

I have never heard of HMS Vandal, Barry, nor did I see the memorial during our week on the Island.

Over at Ardrossan is memorial to HMS Dasher, nearly 400 men lost their lives while the dasher sank, some were horrendous deaths, burned alive, does not bear thinking about.

HMS Dasher (D37) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[barryd]

I have never heard of HMS Vandal, Barry, nor did I see the memorial during our week on the Island.

Over at Ardrossan is memorial to HMS Dasher, nearly 400 men lost their lives while the dasher sank, some were horrendous deaths, burned alive, does not bear thinking about.

HMS Dasher (D37) - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

I think the ferry stops and lays wreaths for Dasher every year. As you say it was truly horrendous. RIP.

 

[barryd]

On a cheerier note. It had to to be done. Too stunning an evening not to. I might publish a guide to Drink Kayaking which I imagine is more sociably acceptable to drink driving. The kayak definitely needs beer holders so ill have to work on that one but one tip is not to leave your beer on the kayak spray cover in a bit of a chop as they most definitely fall off. In the absence of a beer holder what I suggest is you wedge each can between your feet. Perfect and very hand for a swig on the go. Store the rest in the back behind your seat so you can easily reach round for a fresh one having lobbed the empties at any passing dodgy seals from the East coast.

 

[barryd]

Sadly the weather has broken and looks set to remain so. We were due to leave early Thursday morning but changed the ferry to tomorrow now. Its been epic but we both want the memories of this trip to be one of wall to wall sunshine. Lots to do to prepare for the next leg. Next stop Rutland water, Canterbury and then an entire summer in France.

 

[runnach]

You certainly cracked it with the weather, Barry. Our October trip to Arran was okay, but we did have a near consecutive two solid days of rain, fortunately we found a spot looking over to Kintyre, to sit it out.

At that time we had a gennie, if I did not have the gennie, we would have been goosed. Nor was there anyone else around to bother, it was remote.

Heading towards Italy tomorrow, weather has been fickle so far this year in France, and I kid you not, I packed one fleece on this trip, I bought another, a couple day ago. Bear this in mind for your June trip

 

[barryd]

You certainly cracked it with the weather, Barry. Our October trip to Arran was okay, but we did have a near consecutive two solid days of rain, fortunately we found a spot looking over to Kintyre, to sit it out.

At that time we had a gennie, if I did not have the gennie, we would have been goosed. Nor was there anyone else around to bother, it was remote.

Heading towards Italy tomorrow, weather has been fickle so far this year in France, and I kid you not, I packed one fleece on this trip, I bought another, a couple day ago. Bear this in mind for your June trip

I suspect with a slight change of plan we wont hit France until late June now. Hopefully good weather when we do!

Its been a funny day weatherwise here. I was expecting the worst and for a while we lost the top of Goatfell (highest mountain here) in Brodick but over in Lamlash three miles further south it was practically tropical and people in the sea. Wondering if we have made the right choice going tomorrow but too late now Mind you when we sail at 10:30am BBC weather is forecasting 40mph winds so that might put the ferry out of action. We will see.

Feeling a bit sad now. Always the way at the end of a trip which this time has come sooner than expected. This one will go down as one of the best ever though if a short one for us. On a par with last springs Lake District trip where we were lucky enough to get fantastic weather also.

Some stats. In three and a half weeks we have done 278 miles in the van (165 or so to home) and wait for it.........1021 on the bike. Both the Gaslow and Calor or running nearly empty but the biggest success has been the new solar and battery system. Thanks Merl!

Three miles apart around 4:30pm. Lamlash and Brodick.

 

[Fisherman]

We won’t get there until October Barry.
Did you get on board the Glen Sannox, if so was it worth £200 million plus.

 

[barryd]

We won’t get there until October Barry.
Did you get on board the Glen Sannox, if so was it worth £200 million plus.

Yep we did. Not sure if it was worth however many million quids but it was fine. Very quiet and very smooth. Lets see how it copes with Gale Force winds tomorrow.

 

[barryd]

Michelle decides to go out for a last walk around Corrie village just as the heavens open. Taken from the nice and dry inside of the van just now.

 

[runnach]

Barry, my Dales Marine leak (an auld apprentice of mine) has told the Sannox is being dry docked at Girvin, to do with a dodgy weld, looks like you ain’t sailing mate

 

[barryd]

Barry, my Dales Marine leak (an auld apprentice of mine) has told the Sannox is being dry docked at Girvin, to do with a dodgy weld, looks like you ain’t sailing mate

Give over. Its not April 1st!