Scotland Trip
I had to get up in the night for the loo and it was really creepy. What is only a short walk in the day seems like miles at night, especially with thoughts of the nearby serial killer's cottage in my mind. I made it back to the van in one piece and even risked a quick gaze up at the stars before I got back in - which were far brighter and more plentiful than in the bright lights of Stoke on Trent.
Fortunately we were up and about rather than still lazing in bed when the car park man arrived, as he wanted to check we'd paid. Good job we had. If we intend not to pay in future then we must get up earlier. Claire spotted a red squirrel while I was faffing around, which apparently had a blonde streak in it's tail.
The loch was like a millpond when I had my morning trip to the toilets (I did not go in the loch I hasten to add), but by the time we'd got ourselves and the boat on the water the wind had picked up and the mirror like surface was no more. Our first stop was after about five minutes at a ruined castle on a tiny island in the loch. We tied the canoe to a tree and had a look round. We disturbed some roosting crows (which almost gave Claire a heart attack) and climbed up a crumbling stone staircase to the first floor, which fortunately did not give way when we stood on it.
After that, the wind picked up some more and we were paddling into it all the way to the other end of the loch. We had a cheese sandwich and a flask of coffee in the sun and then made our way back round the other side of the loch. The wind had got even stronger, and despite the fact that it must have been behind us, it was still hard going. By the time we got back the waves had white crests on them and we were glad to be back on dry land. We realised just how windy it had got when it nearly blew the canoe out of our hands whilst lifting it over a fence on the way back to George!
We went into Aviemore after that to stock up on essential supplies (wine and cakes), and to get the outdoor stores out of Claire's system. This turned out to be an expensive exercise for me, as I bought a pair of trousers, and a matching hat and neck gaiter, whilst Claire didn't spend a penny.
We got chatting to a man working in the shop I bought my trousers from, who told us that some free lakeside overnight spots that we'd been eyeing up should be fine for us to stop over in without getting moved on. We are going to give them a try at some point this week as they are about as perfect a spot as you could find, with access to the loch literally only a few metres away. The same man also told us that the castle we'd explored earlier was haunted and cursed, although I think (hope) that was just to keep us in the shop longer.
After I'd spent all my money we went and had a cup of tea and some shortbread in one of the aforementioned lochside spots, and then headed over to our campsite for the night.
Tonight we are actually staying on an official campsite in Dalraddy, with showers, toilets, laundry, caravans and everything. We thought it was about time we had a shower really. For some reason the site is a lot cheaper than the ones only a short distance away, but nearer Aviemore. It's only £20 a night which includes electric hookup and free showers, which are actually hot enough and the right squirtyness. All of the other people here have pitched up as close as they can get to the toilet/shower block, but we have picked one of the far nicer secluded pitches in the woodland about a five minute walk away.
We've spent the evening drinking some of the newly purchased wine and eating some of the cakes. In a moment we are going to make the most of the electric hookup and put a DVD on. Tomorrow we are planning a walk somewhere fairly local, level of difficulty will depend on the weather.
Posted with Blogsy
No comments:
Post a Comment