A 42 Night Tour Wales, England & Scotland of places we have not seen/visited! [Archive]

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 11:34 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 1

The ‘Plan’:

With all the overseas places we have spent time going to, and like a heck of a lot of other people, we have never really spent any time in our own ‘back yard’ but with some of the places in the UK (Wales, England & Scotland) that have been shown on TV in various programs, and looked fabulous both on the ground and at around 2000ft from the window of an aircraft we decided that now might be a good time to try!

So although we cannot get the ‘Tin Tent’ to fly or the XC70 for that matter, our plan on this trip, was to go and see or visit those places at ‘Ground level’ plus a few others whose names ‘popped up’ and as you get deeper into life’s pathway they take a bit of time for the names to rise to the surface!

The Route:

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/UKTour2011.jpg

So here goes as my feet are once again getting ‘itchy’ and ‘Flamenco Red’ is straining at the Turbo to be off again!

We hope you enjoy the ride if you are in the ‘Third Seat’!

Home to Aberporth (South Wales)

I am not sure if it sounds as good as the line from ‘Men in Black’:
“It’s 113Miles to Aberporth, we got a full tank of gas, now hit it!” But….

After calling in to pack away the remaining items and collect the ‘Tin Tent’ from secure storage it was not long before we were trundling along the M4 Motorway to West Wales.

Final ‘Loading Up’!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP1.jpg

It was a nice easy run to start with, except for a thunderous Cloudburst on the M4 just outside Swansea that slowed us to a 25mph crawl until we drove out of it & to our first 2 night halt.

Arrival at Campsite!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP2.jpg

(Note, Since the last Trip ‘Flamenco Red’ has undergone a Window Tint on the rear passenger, side and tailgate windows which was darker & maybe not surprisingly 50% Cheaper than specifying it from Volvo!)

View of Aberporth from campsite.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP3.jpg

After a nice lunch we decided as the weather was now being kind to trundle into the Town which has all of 2 Shops, and have a look around!

A local person we spoke to while in town tells us that you only get to see these guys in the Winter! So we are a bit early, and will have to make do with this wooden carving!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP4.jpg

View across the first beach.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP5.jpg

Looking back up the road we came in on and it looks quite narrow here!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP6.jpg

Meanwhile in a very small car park by the beach was this Mural made of broken tiles and depicting local scenes, one of which features a Misile!
It turns out that the MOD (Ministry of Defence) establishment behind the campsite we are on ‘tests’ Electronic Warfare Guided Weapons!
Now we know what the loud ‘WHOOOSH’ was yesterday evening.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP7.jpg

View across to the second beach.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP8.jpg

Anyone fancy 2 weeks in a little Holiday Cottage?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP9.jpg

Back on site and the view from the rear window of the ‘Tin Tent’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP10.jpg

Tomorrow we are off for a trip up the coast and hopefully a couple of nice places to have a look around!

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 11:37 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 2

New Quay (South Wales

First stop was the small but quite commercialsed ‘Town’ of New Quay where we hoped as our first objective on this trip to see some Bottle Nosed Dolphins.

Down the ‘Main Street’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP11.jpg

Small ‘Cottage’at the bottom of the main street

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP12.jpg

Looking back from the Quayside

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP13.jpg

I then after hearing a ‘squeal’ from Jan looked over the sea wall to see…..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP14.jpg

So I guess that local person must need to visit the opticians quite soon!

We then moved around the coast a bit to see what was happening with a couple of Dolphin Safari Boats and managed to see this nice display which I think was put on for the people in the boats!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP15.jpg

As we planned to spend just a couple of hours in New Quay but the first ‘Private’ car park wanted £2.80!
The owner told us was a “1 Price for 1 hour or 1 day”, so I replied that I was not prepared to spend that for 2 hours which she didn’t like, but I thought tough! We then found a Council Car Park however our time was running out on the Car Park Ticket that cost us £0.70 for 2 hours so the £2.10 saved went towards the cost of Lunch and we decided to push on to our next stop which was….

Aberaeron (South Wales)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP16.jpg

The view from the Sea Wall back to the town, with the tide out!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP17.jpg

Wooden Bridge across the river

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP19.jpg

Even the rear of the houses are brightly painted!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP20.jpg

View across the Inner Harbour

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP21.jpg

Looking back along the beach towards New Quay

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/AP22.jpg

Move on tomorrow and hopefully the heavy showers will die away as we travel further North and then North East.

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 11:42 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 3

Welshpool

Absolutely diabolical night last night. Just as we dropped off to sleep the rain started….then stopped….just dropping off again….and it started again, and so it went on for most of the night and finally stopped around 04:00hrs this morning!

A short ‘hop’ sees us at another small campsite just outside Welshpool, still in Wales but only here for 1 night before we head further North.

Looking back to Aberystwyth

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP1.jpg

Then across the hills

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP2.jpg

Having arrived at the campsite there is a small collection of Aircraft Cockpits in a shed that are in various stages of dis-assembly along with an Ex Gulf War Jaguar Jet, so as I went to pay for our 1 night I took the ‘Brownie Camera’ with me for a couple of pictures….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP4.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP6.jpg

Quick bite to eat and off into Welshpool for a look see as it was an old linen linen town

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP7.jpg

The Narrowboat Canal that was used for transporting materials and finished goods

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP8.jpg

Yes the Canal is still in use!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP9.jpg

Town Centre

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP10.jpg

Town Hall in the distance

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/WP11.jpg

Sadly the rains have returned which cut short any further exploration, so it was back to the ‘Tin Tent’ and a good cup of coffee.

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 11:57 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 4

Lydiate

Another ‘hop’ to our next destination which is Lydiate just outside Liverpool.

Set off this morning from the campsite near Welshpool along ¾ of a mile of narrow road to get to the main road for which you ‘Pray’ there is no one coming the other way, and thankfully there wasn’t!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV1.jpg

Quite a nice morning to start with but that as we would find out later would change considerably!
It was also surprising to find that even though it is a Bank Holiday Weekend the traffic was relatively light and our run to Lydiate encountered no hold ups.

Not long and we came over the Runcorn – Widnes Bridge with the tell tale signs of recent rain.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV2.jpg

Then just a few miles further on we ran into the ‘Downpour’ with speed reduced from 60 to 25Mph even on the Motorway with quite a few drivers who don’t know where there switch for the vehicles lights are, it was a bit scary in places!

Overshot the entrance to the campsite so had to go another 500yds and do a 180 degree turn at a road junction which was a bit hairy with two cars who wanted to turn right around the back of the ‘TinTent’ but they made it and so did we!

Down to the entrance and into the driveway then onto the campsite and wait for the rain to ease off before we pitched up!
‘Phew’ what a morning and it ain’t half over yet!

Lydiate ‘Windmill’ (The ‘Sails’ and Top were removed many years ago)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV3.jpg

The campsite after the rain.
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV3A.jpg

This afternoon was spent inbetween showers repairing a couple of minor ‘problems’ one of which was replacing the Rear Power Supply Outlet Fuse that is to be found under the Glove Box!
You need to be highly flexible to get at, and Volvo do not supply an ‘extraction’ tool so you have to use your wits to get the Mini Fuse out, which is not easy due to it’s location.

Now it’s shower time and off to the Pub for dinner with friends!

Tomorrow is my ‘Home Town’ (Liverpool) where weather permitting there is a ‘Mathew Street Extravaganza’ but more of that tomorrow!

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 12:13 PM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 5

A ‘Special Day’ in Liverpool

Quick breakfast then over to meet our friends in Formby before we give ‘Flamenco Red’the day off and we head in on the train to Liverpool.

Off the train then across to the old Birkenhead Tunnel Entrance for a quick coffee….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV4.jpg

Turn around having already heard the music and we are at the start of the Mathew Street Festival with the ‘Merseybeatles’ kicking off the 2 days of festival.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV5.jpg

The guy in the White Suit on stage did look a bit like John Lennon but the music was very good, the only person missing was the Left Hand Guitar of Paul McCartney!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV6.jpg

Then we moved off to another venue of which there were 5 in and around the city centre, which was totally closed to traffic!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV7.jpg

The next one was by the Tower which I could not get far away to get both Stage and Tower in on one picture.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV9.jpg

From there off we went to one of my old haunts where I would take off from School, get on the Bus into the City, off and straight into Mathew Street and down the steps of the Cavern Club after passing the man collecting the entrance fee.
Dance like mad till it closed 2+hours later, come out take of my shirt, wring it out then make my way back to the Bus and go home! Great Times!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV11.jpg

Up the road and turm right and there in front is the Town Hall

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV12.jpg

Get there and turn left and the next Festival Venue came into view with a session on Motown ‘Classics’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV13.jpg

‘The Supremes’ (Diana Ross couldn’t make it!)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV14.jpg

Followed by ‘The Drifters’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV15.jpg

Then ‘The Jackson Five’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV16.jpg

‘Picnic Time’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV17.jpg
While they changed to instruments on stage for…..

‘The Beach Boys’ (With Beach Balls being knocked into the air by the audience!)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV18.jpg

From there we made our way to the Pier Head and the Temporary Landing Stage as the old one had been ripped from it’s moorings in a gale and the new one had not been delivered!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV19.jpg

While to the left we saw the Liverpool Museum that has recently been finished

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV20.jpg

The view across to Birkenhead…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV21.jpg

While turning through 360 Degrees we see these buildings along the waterfront

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV23.jpg

The down the side of the Museum was this rather nice ‘Liverpool Lambananna’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV24.jpg

While making our way to Albert Dock we get the contrast of ‘Old & New’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV25.jpg

With finally one of the ‘Mobile Groups’ that were going around the city.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LV26.jpg

Our day for me brought back a lot of happy memories, but time once again to move on, so tomorrow we are heading further North.

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 12:17 PM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 6

Early start this morning as we head off up North to a place called Longriggthorn for 2 nights at another campsite.
Being ‘Bank Holiday Monday’ I didn’t fancy being stuck in a line of non-moving traffic as it was projected that 16 MILLION Motorists would be on the road in the UK, so we left at 07:30 and had a good run!

There is something about ‘Driving into the Hills/Mountains’ for me that has a special feeling, possibly because of the majestic nature of them, but also if you were able to look down from the very top then you would possibly look about the size of an ant crawling along a very narrow pathway!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW2.jpg

Approaching the summit of ‘Shap’ on the M6 Motorway in Lake District Country.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW3.jpg

After calling into a Fuel Station just off Junction 43 we continued on to the campsite near Longriggthorn, passing Carlisle Airport which has a small Aviation Museum and the following aircraft that is now ‘Grounded’ but part of the collection.

The Vulcan V Bomber

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW4.jpg

Got to the campsite along another quite narrow lane, and after setting up and a quick lunch we set off to have a look at a couple of places now far away but along the route we saw this fabulous Purple Carpet of colour in the wild Heather on the hillsides

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW5.jpg

First stop was Lambley Viaduct

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW6.jpg

Quite a climb down to get to it….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW7.jpg

Then I will let the pictures tell the story…..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW13.jpg

Looking out from the top we see….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW14.jpg

But looking closer….Oops!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW15.jpg

While looking over the other side….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW16.jpg

Next stop was Featherstone Castle that according to the Internet was a POW Camp for German Officers in WWII, but as we were able to meet the owner on the day we went as it is not normally open to the public, he told us the story was incorrect and it was a school all the time.
There was a POW Camp down by the river but except for 2 small towers it is now a ruin.

‘Featherstone Castle’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW18.jpg

Next stop was ‘Haltwhistle’ which lays claim to being…..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW19.jpg

Here is the small square in Haltwhistle that is ‘The Centre of Britain’
While the LARGE 7 Tonne ‘Rock’ on the left was a gift in recognition of the mining in the area some years ago that used the Lambley Viaduct for transportation by rail.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW20.jpg

Final stop for the day was ‘Hadrian’s Wall and we got to one of the better sections of it….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW21.jpg

It’s the ‘Thicker’ section in the next pictures…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW22.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW23.jpg

The wild heather as you climb up…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW24.jpg

The width of the wall as it comes up over the face of the hill.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW25.jpg

After this it was time to head back to the campsite and think about something for dinner.

Tomorrow? Well at the moment we are not sure about going one way or the other, so will have to wait and see!

XCovlov70

09-05-2011, 12:20 PM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 7

Decision time….Carlisle or Hexham?

Well thanks to our wonderful English weather and the pathetic Weather Forecasters (Dry Overcast Day) when it turned out to be Total Cloud Cover and constant Rain the coin fell for Carlisle!

So here are a few pictures from around the City….

Dixons Tower which was part of a Cotton Mill

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW26.jpg

Anyone need a BIG Power Drill? (Yes the drill bit was turning!)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW27.jpg

Carlisle Castle

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW28.jpg

One of the Old Entrance Gates to the city

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW29.jpg

Carlisle Cathedral

Bit of History about it….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW30.jpg

And Now.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW31.jpg

Inside….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW33.jpg

The wood carvings looked a bit like ‘Hogwarts’ out of Harry Potter, but on a smaller scale!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW34.jpg

The roof which has been rebuilt due to crumbling woodwork

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW35.jpg

The right in the centre of the roof is the face of The Virgin Mary

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW36.jpg

A replica of one of the swords that killed St Thomas Becket

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW37.jpg

Outside some of the other buildings…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW38.jpg

Notice the little house in the middle of the picture…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW39.jpg

Partial remains from another building destroyed by Oliver Cromwell

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW40.jpg
Hats on as the rain is now heavier and off into the City Centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW41.jpg

City Centre

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW42.jpg

Continue across to City Main Gate…

Left side…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW43.jpg

Right side…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW44.jpg

Railway Station…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW45.jpg

Excuse me Sir, sorry to advise but that train is cancelled for today!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW46.jpg

Station Platforms with quite nice footbridge

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW47.jpg

Time to head back to campsite as weather getting worse but on the way back we pass this very nice Thatched Cottage…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HW48.jpg

Off again tomorrow and over the Border into Scotland, so can only hope that the weather improves!

mrslomo

09-05-2011, 09:40 PM

WOW! My husband and I have dreamed of taking a driving tour like this. Now, we could just ride in your third seat and kick back! Thanks! What's for breakfast tomorrow?

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:09 AM

WOW! My husband and I have dreamed of taking a driving tour like this. Now, we could just ride in your third seat and kick back! Thanks! What's for breakfast tomorrow?

I have been having Porridge with a spoon of Honey and half a Banana sliced.
Glass of Orange Juice and a Coffee.
Hope that's OK? :D

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:17 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 8

More Motorway driving passing the Exit…

‘Quickie’ Marriage for anyone at the Blacksmith’s Shop?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU1.jpg

Entering Scotland you immediately notice an increase in the number of Fir Trees growing along the Motorway!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU2.jpg

Not long and we are going over the Kincardine Bridge

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU3.jpg

Next stop was our campsite for the next 2 nights at ‘Blair Mains’ and after we got set up it was time for some ‘Laundry’ after being on the road for a week!

So out came the Twin Tub and Inverter with soap powder etc!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU4.jpg

With the ‘end result’ and a nice view across the Firth of Forth

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU5.jpg

Next was a spot of lunch and then a short ‘Off Road’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU6.jpg

Before we made our way to Culross which turned out to be a very nice little village…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU7.jpg

With a view from the carpark along the Firth of Forth

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU8.jpg

Then into the village centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU12.jpg

Making our way higher in the village towards the Abbey

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU16.jpg

Then ever higher…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU17.jpg

With possibly ‘The Final Resting Place?’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU18.jpg

But if you get ‘caught short’ there is always the ‘1673 WC’!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU19.jpg

Looking back there is ‘Snuff Cottage’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU20.jpg

While not much further….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU21.jpg

Then inside….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU26.jpg

Then a bit further gets you at Culross Church Entrance…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU27.jpg

Just inside…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU28.jpg

1 “Merk” = £0.66p ($1)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU29.jpg

While inside the Church…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU33.jpg

This Gentleman as you will see later was very wealthy in his time…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU34.jpg

Finally the Church Organ

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU35.jpg

Interestingly there was no ‘Entrance Fee’ to the Church but a donation was requested on the basis that the Church cost £200/DAY to run!

We then went on to ‘Preston Island’ & ‘Valleyfield Ash Lagoons’ where ash from the local Coal Fired Power Station was used on Preston Island to fill in the Lagoons and create a Wildfowl Reserve of currently around 600 acres and 3 miles from one side to the other which we walked and subsequently slept like logs that night!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU36.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU37.jpg

‘Ash Roadway’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU39.jpg

‘Ash Mounds’ from controlled Truck Tipping…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU40.jpg

The Firth of Forth Rail & Road Bridges from ‘Preston Island’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU41.jpg

The derelict buildings from the 1st Coal Pit Head that went under the Firth of Forth & built by Sir Robert Preston

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU42.jpg

The mined coal was used to boil off the river water leaving ‘Scottish Salt’ behind

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU43.jpg

Then just up river we have the Power Station producing the Ash…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU44.jpg

With a clearer view of both bridges looking back down stream…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU45.jpg

The part of the 3 mile walk around ‘Preston Island’ which was enjoyable but quite knackering!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU46.jpg

Tomorrow is somewhere else to explore but at the moment both my legs and brain are a bit stressed so we will have to wait and see what happens in the morning!

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:20 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 9

Off to have a look at the town of Alloa this morning

Town Hall

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU47.jpg

Next was a War Memorial with some nice floral displays around it

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU48.jpg

One of the schools in Alloa

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU49.jpg

Alloa Law Courts…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU50.jpg

Alloa ‘Tower’ and one of the best preserved examples

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU51.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU52.jpg

Main street in town centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU53.jpg

The top of one of the old Beer Vat from the local Brewery

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU54.jpg

Good Scottish Food and this portion was priced at £1 ($1.60)!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU55.jpg

Coming out of Alloa and on our way to Clackmannan we spot this rather nice metal sculpture that decorated a traffic island…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU56.jpg

Then in the centre of Clacmannan we see ‘The Market Cross’, ‘The Stone of Mannan’ and ‘The Tollbooth’

Hope you can read the description…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU58.jpg

The ‘Stone of Mannan is to the right of the Tollbooth and the Market Cross is set on a stepped plinth and vertical against the Tollboth wall

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU59.jpg

Made our way back to the campsite to see this sight…..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/CU60.jpg

We think they were all having a discussion about which way to fly for the forthcoming flight to a warmer climate for Winter as the ‘chatter’ was quite loud!

On the road again tomorrow but not far to go, however hoping for some nice scenery along the road.

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:23 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 10

Left Blair Mains this morning for the short journey to Benderloch only to encounter a ‘wee problem’ less than 6 miles from the end of the trip, but more of that later.

At least it was dry when we set off this morning but the ‘Pitter Patter’ of the rain started around 02:00 this morning as we heard on the roof of the ‘Tin Tent’ then came and went with each passing cloud or shower!

Not very far and we are in open countryside with a nice railway viaduct off to the left…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL1.jpg

As we trundled along we came into Crianlarich at around 09:00 to be met with a sign saying ‘A82 ROAD CLOSED CONNEL’ So I pulled over and walked back to a local hotel to see if they could advise me why.

The cause was a traffic accident with fatalities and it would not be open for at least 4 to 5 hours. The ‘diversion’ consisted of around 70 miles and half of that going South, so we decided to carry on and wait out the road being reopened.

Meanwhile a short way further on a welcome coffee stop…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL2.jpg

Nice little Mountain Stream and I was nearly tempted to fill the kettle for the coffee from it!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL3.jpg

As we went a bit further we then came to one of four ‘Special’ Hydro Electric Stations in the UK where during ‘Off Peak’ they pump the water used to generate the electricity back up into the resorvoir above and use it again and again!
Unfortunately the management would not allow any cameras or bags to be taken into the Mountain as the use of Flash could upset the operators even though we saw no one!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL4.jpg

Generator Water Outlet, fenced off to stop fish or Canoists from getting stuck!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL5.jpg

While on the far side of Loch Awe was this Osprey’s nest set in the middle of a Vodaphone Mobile Mast! It did appear that the birds have flown South for the Winter…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL6.jpg

The from the car park was this nice view of part of Loch Awe…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL7.jpg

Not long after we came to a ‘HALT’ and joined the queue of traffic waiting for the accident to be removed and at 14:15 we were finally on our way again to Connel, then over the Bridge to Benderloch…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL10.jpg

Where the Black Clouds came back along with the rain just as we started to get set up on our next campsite!

The forecast is not good for tomorrow but we still intend to head off into Oban for a look see.

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:25 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 11

Oban

Couple of pictures of the campsite we are on which is split into 4 sections…

Our field, and notice how nice the grass is as the owner was found to be very jealous of this ‘Lawn/Golf Course’ type grass as we found out later!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL11.jpg

Down around the back for Motorhomes (RV’s)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL12.jpg

Then the ‘Rally Field’ and beyond that there is another small section for 5 units.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL13.jpg

While it rained most of the night we had a dry spell this morning which let us get off into Oban for a look around with the following results around the town…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL17.jpg

The Iona Ferry coming in…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL19.jpg

Anyone fancy a ‘wee dram’ before lunch?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL20.jpg

Or maybe a trip up the coast on a ‘Double Header Diesel Train’?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL21.jpg

Meanwhile at a small ‘Fresh Fish Shop’ on the quayside you can see the guys filleting the fish right next door before you buy, and we are having some tonight for dinner!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL22.jpg

After another very heavy downpour of rain we set off back to the campsite and drove up to the ‘Tin Tent’ intending to off load our groceries and a few other items without having to make several journeys between car and unit to carry them getting ‘PWT’ in the process as you are asked to park in front of the house to ‘preserve’ the grass.

The following was the result and ‘Er Indoors’ was not at all pleased!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BL23.jpg

I don’t think we will be back, not only because of that but Oban is a real pain to get around as very few of the roads/streets have their ‘Nameplates’ on!

Next stop The Isle of Skye!

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 12:29 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 12

Isle of Skye

Today we made the journey from Benderloch to the Isle of Skye

‘Stalker’ Castle on a small island near Portnacroish

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE1.jpg

The view across Loch Linnie…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE2.jpg

Mixed sky as we get near Fort William

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE3.jpg

Better as we enter Fort William

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE4.jpg

Continued on to Spean Bridge where we turned left and 1 mile further we came to…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE6.jpg

With some nice vews around the monument looking across to Ben Nevis but covered in cloud

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE7.jpg

While further up the road we had these nice rolling hills…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE8.jpg

Followed by a Scottish Hydro Dam

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE9.jpg

Then this house surrounded by trees on the opposite side of Loch Garry

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE10.jpg

On to Inverinate…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE12.jpg

Then past Eilean Donath Castle which we could not stop at as we were to big to fit in the carpark!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE13.jpg

Then we got to the Kyle of Lochalsh and the ‘Skye Bridge’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE17.jpg

Over the bridge and onwards to the next campsite….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE18.jpg

Passing a nice water fall on the way…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE19.jpg

Bit further along the road….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE21.jpg

Turn right into the 1.2 mile single track road to the campsite….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE24.jpg

Finally arrived with the view left…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE25.jpg

Then to the right…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE26.jpg

Then in front….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE27.jpg

Quick lunch then off for a look around the top end of the Isle of Skye as we will not get much time here!

First stop Uig as we get the ferry there tomorrow at 04.45 for Tarbert in the Outer Hebrides, and we see the afternon ferry as we get there!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE29.jpg

Next we set off on a road with ‘Passing Places’ to Skye Museum but find when we get there that it is closed…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE32.jpg

A bit further up the road is the grave of Flora MacDonald who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape from Skye…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE33.jpg

Her gravestone…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE34.jpg

The view over the sea…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE35.jpg

Back on the road going clockwise around Skye we get this nice view with the Outer Hebrides in the background…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE36.jpg

While up the road the Ram & Ewe are having a peaceful afternoon from the top of a small mound of earth just watching all the traffic go by…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE37.jpg

Next right turn takes us via a piece of ‘White Road’ (As depicted on the map) across country and back to Uig…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE43.jpg

Finally back to the road to the campsite and liked the colour of the Heather as a backdrop for ‘Flamenco Red’!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE44.jpg

While across the road was this nice ‘babbling brook’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE45.jpg

Did not expect to find that it was ‘Midges Season’ up here (Small flies that can bite!) and while using the BBQ this evening for dinner I managed to get covered in the little blighters and boy can they ‘bite’ even with just face and hands exposed!

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 10:15 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 13

The Outer Hebrides for a 3 day visit.

Up at 03:45 this morning, as we have a ‘Date’ with the Uig – Tarbert Ferry and to help it was pitch black outside and raining which kept the Midges away!

On board on the boat I pictured yesterday

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH1.jpg

1.5 hours later as the morning light comes up we see the Outer Hebrides…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH2.jpg

Then we start making our way through the channels to Tarbert…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH3.jpg

And finally we are there…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH4.jpg

Drive on…..drive off…so up goesd the front of the ship…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH5.jpg

Then we drive off…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH6.jpg

Turn right and head off to ‘Roghadal’ which is the furthest point South on ‘South Harris’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH7.jpg
With a few pictures on the way…..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH10.jpg

Young Highland Cow…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH11.jpg

Older Highland Cow who did not like looking up while I was getting eaten by Midges taking the picture…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH12.jpg

St Clement’s Church built around 1500AD and at the bottom of South Harris…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH14.jpg

‘Sheep Traffic Jam’…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH15.jpg

Ferry to North Uist….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH16.jpg

White Sand and Blue Sea….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH21.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH22.jpg

Meanwhile back in Tarbert as we came through the Town Centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH23.jpg

But as the ATM was not dispensing any cash we had to drive the 40 Miles to Stornoway for the next ATM which was working!

So off we go again….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH29.jpg

Then we get there!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH30.jpg

With some nice places around the town….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH33.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH36.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH43.jpg

Having taken the previous picture of the Horse and Cart the heavens opened and the rain came hammering down, so sooner that get drenched very quickly we stepped into a doorway that was open and 15 minutes later this very nice lady asked us if we would like to come in for a tea or a coffee, which was really nice!

It is called “Catch 23 Drop-in” and is run by “The Western Isles Association for Mental Health” (W.I.A.M.H)
http://www.wiamh.org/

We were made very welcome by all the ladies and gents who were there.
and had a really interesting time with the conversations that went on between all of us.
We then learned that the members of the centre had been asked to make some exhibits for an exhibition one of which was a model of a man in paper pushing against a wall of all the types of problems that can happen to anyone in this day and age….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH44.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH45.jpg

We really hope the exhibition goes well for them and wish them well for the future.

Sadly it was time for us to move on so went back to ‘Flamenco Red’ and set off back South to our accomodation for the next 2 nights which is a Youth Hostel in a really nice spot but you will have to wait for the pictures of that, dinner and a good shower has priority, sorry!

XCovlov70

09-06-2011, 10:18 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 14

The Outer Hebrides 2nd Day.

We were hoping for a nice Sunset yesterday but sadly a nice bank of black cloud rolled in so it didn’t happen, however before that I managed to get a couple of pictures from our bedroom window of the YHA we are staying at….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH46.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH47.jpg

After a reasonable lie in this morning, well till 07:30 when I made a drink, after breakfast a bit later we set off to visit the Clanais Standing Stones which have been ‘Vertical’ for around 5000 YEARS, so they are ‘wearing’ quite well in view of the weather up here!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH49.jpg

Then around to the Vistor Centre, which was a nice café and a ‘Film Room’ with the same information that you got on the BIG picture by the stones.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH50.jpg

However inside was a model of a ‘Neolithic Shaman’ which looked like the Mother In Law dressed up and ready to go out to the Local Bingo Session!!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH51.jpg

While outside a bit further away was a ‘Blackhouse’ that looks like it is being renovated.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH52.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH53.jpg

Back on the road to our next destination and we pass this ‘Fish Factory’ that is still in use…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH54.jpg

Then a bit further on we come to….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH55.jpg

The name ‘Blackhouse’ came from the fact that as there were no windows then inside the houses were ‘BLACK’ as there were no electric lamps to illuminate them, and possibly no candles!

Complete with faint rainbow!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH56.jpg

Fuel for heating/cooking ‘Peat’ cut from the fields around about…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH57.jpg

Inside the ‘Museum House’ set up as it would have been…

The inside of the roof…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH58.jpg

Spinning loom for the Harris Tweed yarn, and ‘Peat’ fuel for the fire…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH59.jpg

Living room with ‘Peat Fire’ also used for cooking…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH60.jpg

Main Bedroom which was also the Living/Eating Room

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH61.jpg

Childrens bedroom,

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH62.jpg

Spinning loom and chest of drawers that still had clothes in from the period!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH63.jpg

Finally looking back down the Living Room

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH64.jpg

With another view of the weaving looms for the Harris Tweed cloth…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH65.jpg

Then the view of the rear of the ‘Blackhouse’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH66.jpg

A view of the small bay from the ‘village’ of Blackhouses

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH67.jpg

The local sheep some of whom were interested in our presence!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH68.jpg

Just outside the village they were putting together the bases for 3 Wind Turbines that we were told were being erected well away from the Blackhouses.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH69.jpg

Time to leave and head off to the next destination…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH70.jpg

While on the way we pass the current ‘Peat Cutting’ sections…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH71.jpg

In the picture below that did not turn out to well thanks to the driving rain, it is actually a ‘Bus Stop’ and consists of a LARGE Circular Concrete top sat on 4 walls of concrete in the shape of a ‘X’.
The design is to keep you dry as the wind and rain come from all directions here, so you stand in the corner that is out of the wind/rain till the bus comes!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH72.jpg

Next stop ‘The Butt of Lewis’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH73.jpg

With some fantastic rock formations from when the World was being formed…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH74.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH75.jpg

Cormorants waiting for a meal…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH76.jpg

Coastline…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH77.jpg

Small waterfall with brown water from the Peat soil…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH78.jpg

Then the Lighthouse and history…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH79.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH80.jpg

While walking a bit further over we see these ‘cracks’ in the cliff that makes you stop and think about going to close to the edge!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH81.jpg

The small harbour of Ness just a bit further up the road…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH82.jpg

With a nice chunk of ‘Pancake Rocks’ in the harbour!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH83.jpg

Then finally it was time to make our way back to our YHA and to get to it we had to drive right around the Loch…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OH84.jpg

Tomorrow is our last day here in the Outer Hebrides as our Ferry is at 16:00 back to Uig.
I am not sure however when the next update will be as Internet access is a bit difficult.

XCovlov70

09-14-2011, 04:40 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 15

The Outer Hebrides 3rd & Final Day.

After our second night in the YHA it was nice to get up and see a reasonable day outside, windy, cloudy but NO Rain!

So after a nice breakfast and putting together some Tuna & Cucumber Sandwiches for lunch we set off to first of all go to the end of the road from the YHA for a look see, with the following results….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H4.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H6.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H13.jpg

A derelict ‘Blackhouse’ but even though the thatch has gone the next layer is still there on the roof.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H14.jpg

Hold On!!!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H17.jpg

Time for a quick Bath maybe?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H18.jpg

Back to the Scenery…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H21.jpg

I thought the Loch Ness Monster had escaped for a minute when I saw this rock formation out to sea…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H22.jpg

At this point we had also reached the ‘End of the Road’ so it was turn around and head back, which gave me the chance for this next picture of…

A better picture of an Outer Hebrides ‘Bus Stop’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H23.jpg

Then opposite the ‘Bus Pull In’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H24.jpg

On our way we decided to call back in and say ‘Thank you’ to the YHA Manager for the nice time we had had and found that they had a small ‘Community Museum’ on site….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H32.jpg

A hand operated ‘Air Raid Siren’ as there was NO Electricity at that time!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H33.jpg

Whilst the YHA Manager originally came from Edinburgh she told us that she remembered a few of the items on display!

Then after a nice coffee with views across the Loch like from our bedroom it was back on the road making our way back finally to Tarbert and the Ferry,
then a bit further along a surprise find in a Monument to ‘Bonnie Price Charlie’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H35.jpg

Followed by more great scenery…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H36.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H41.jpg
Crossing the ‘Border’ from the Isle of Harris to…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H43.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H44.jpg

Then we started to come across sections of the ‘Old Road’ as the new one was only a couple of years old…
‘Old Road’ on the right in the picture that was just Single Track!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H45.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H46.jpg

Another section of the Old Road on the right…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H50.jpg

Just after the previous picture we turned Right towards ‘Hushinish’ with the following scenes along the road…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H51.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H52.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H53.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H54.jpg

A privately owned Castle not on the Tourist Map but the road went through the grounds…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H56.jpg

Yet another ‘Single Track Road with Passing Places’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H57.jpg

Nearing the end of the road after 14 miles of Single Track Road that took over 40 minutes to go along!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H58.jpg

‘Flamenco Red’ at the Seaside, now where did I put the Bucket & Spade!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H59.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H60.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H61.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H62.jpg

Rabbit hole…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H63.jpg

Over the fields from the Crofts…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H64.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H65.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H66.jpg

Meet one of the ‘Locals’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H67.jpg

After eating lunch it was time to head back and make for Tarbert..
So we start climbing back out…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H68.jpg

No we have not suddenly gone to Mongolia but that is a ‘Yurt’ (Scottish style!)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H69.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H70.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H71.jpg

The Castle from the other side…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H72.jpg

Cannot see it now as we came down the other side and around the bend…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H73.jpg

Then the ‘Gate’ is back..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H74.jpg

Now the Castle…
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H75.jpg

Then part of a really nice Waterfall that you cannot see coming the other way and cannot get a good picture from top to bottom as the grounds are sign posted ‘Private Gardens’ and there is a guy with a 12 Bore Shotgun hanging out of one of the windows just in case you put a foot wrong!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H76.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H77.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H78.jpg

‘Blind Summit’ but you get ‘worried’ as you cannot see anything coming the other way!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H79.jpg

Thankfully the other side was clear….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H80.jpg

Then just up the road in the middle of nowhere….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/H81.jpg

Finally got back to Tarbert with 1 hour to spare before Check In commenced for the Ferry, we had managed to cover 315 Miles with Flamenco Red while just going around the Isles of Lewis & Harris in our time there, but it was well worth it .

Force 6 on the crossing but the Skipper put out the Stabilisers and it was relatively smooth going across.

Got off in Uig on time and managed to get back to the ‘Tin Tent’ before once again the heavens opened and the rain came thundering down, but thankfully the gas had kept alight so everything in the Fridge/Freezer was still OK.

Back on the road tomorrow for a place called Elphin.

XCovlov70

09-14-2011, 04:42 AM

Sorry it's taken so long for this update. Just spent over 2.5hours in McDonalds trying to get 85 Pictures and a piece of text into the Blog! [cussing][cussing]

Hope you enjoy!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 06:42 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 16

Isle of Skye to Elphin.

07:30 Rise and shine this morning after the usual 3 stages of the Rain Showers namely “light, then heavier, then thunderous” that came through during the night with a regular frequency of about 2 minutes between each one!

Still musn’t grumble as I managed to make my bowl of Porridge for breakfast.

However getting the ‘Tin Tent’ ready for the road was a different story as we were inundated with thousands and thousands of Midges all trying to take a bit out of any part of you where flesh was showing!

It seems the humid weather along with the rain makes them more active, so getting ready for the ‘Off’ was completed a bit quicker than normal today!

Once again ‘On the Road’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E4.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E6.jpg

Pulled into a layby for a drink and found that we were opposite to the Burial Site of Roderick Mackenzie….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E9.jpg

Then we got to see Loch Ness, but no sign of you know who!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E11.jpg

While a bit further up the road on the side of the Loch is…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E13.jpg

Having then turned off the main road and successfully climbed a couple more 15% gradients with the ‘Tin Tent’ on the back and not dropping below 3rd Gear we see this nice outfit coming towards us….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E14.jpg

Then back on the open road….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E21.jpg

Then we spot this strange set up off to the left so pull in to go and have a look…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E22.jpg

The river is on the left…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E23.jpg

While just next to it is….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E25.jpg

Not sure what it was, but next to that is a complete Meterological Station…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E26.jpg

But it still couldn’t tell us when the rain would stop!

Round a few more bends and we come to Ullapool…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E27.jpg

Didn’t stop as we wanted to get to the next campsite, so on we went…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E31.jpg

Got to the campsite and just as we did the heavans opened again so we waited for that to end which seemed to take forever, got set up and then went back into Ullapool for some groceries and sadly Fuel.
I say ‘sadly’ as the Diesel was £1.48/Litre (£6.48/UK Gallon) which compared to what we paid in Carlisle £1.34/Litre was a significant hike in price.

So now a couple of pictures around Ullapool….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E32.jpg

Interesting ‘Town Clock’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E33.jpg

Fortress style Hotel…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E34.jpg

Harbour views with old fishing boats, there was no Ferry berthed as I think it was still out bobbing up and down on the sea!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E36.jpg

Then it was back to the campsite…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E37.jpg

But a small detour on the way to do with Knockan Crag…

Car park

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E38.jpg

Loo’s with a Heather Roof!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E40.jpg

The Eco-Friendly Information Centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E41.jpg

The ‘Puzzle’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E42.jpg

The visual ‘Puzzle’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E43.jpg

The answer in ‘The Rock Room’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E44.jpg

The Geologists who found out…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E45.jpg

Then back to the campsite…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E46.jpg

While just over the back of us on the site…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/E47.jpg

Continue East, then North tomorrow but now the rain and wind are back with a vengance!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 06:54 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 17

Elphin to West Murkle (Near John O’Groats).

Set off at 08:30 this morning for the relatively short trip to West Murkle which is about 10 miles from John O’Groats.

After around 5 miles of ‘Normal’ road we then got onto the ‘Single Track with Passing Places’ section that went on for around 15 Miles and surprisingly was quite busy with traffic coming towards us!

The little ‘Diamond’ shaped sign on the pole at the side of the road indicated the ‘Passing Place’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR4.jpg

Even the Bridges were Single Track!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR5.jpg

After around a further 45miles on normal 2 Lane roads we came to the campsite that will be ‘Home’ for the next couple of nights, got set up and while sorting out some bits my good lady found the left lens of her glasses that fell out of the frames yesterday and we thought it had come out on the ferry back from Tarbert!

So we decided to go over to Wick, find an Optician and also see if we could get some cheaper fuel at the Supermarket along with some more food.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR6.jpg

Got in the town, making our way to the Opticians and we see this coming along after it had made a left hand turn.
I’m rather glad it was not on the Single Track Road as the ‘Passing Place’ would have been useless with the length!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR7.jpg

Optician visited and glasses successfully repaired!
We then walked back to the town centre for a look around….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR9.jpg

Nice ‘Floral Clock’ in the front garden and it was working and accurate!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR10.jpg

Town scene that we found inside the Railway Station that perked the station up a bit!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR11.jpg

Across the river to a church with a rather interesting Spire/Turret.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR12.jpg

While in the car park was this 1958 Wolseley 1500cc with less than 70,000 Miles on the clock, driven by an Irishman who was asked to leave Ireland as his name was McGregor!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR13.jpg

While for the first time in Scotland at a local Butcher we see ‘Haggis’!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR14.jpg

Made our way back to ‘Flamenco Red’ and off we went to the BIG Supermarket and with the groceries I got a Discount Voucher for any fuel purchase which brought the cost to £1.339/Litre ($2.14/Litre) which was a good saving from yesterday at £1.479/Litre and with 60 Litres going into the tank it gave us our Bread for the next 3 days!

Then it was back to the campsite and get sorted out, but once again the rain was not far away.

Hopefully we are off for a Day Trip to the Orkney Isles tomorrow!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 07:10 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 18

A Day trip to The Orkneys.

Set off at 08:00 this morning for the relatively short trip to John O’Groats, and then the 40 Minute Ferry trip across the Pentland Firth to The Orkney Islands.

Thanks to the continous rain, the ferry was full with Standing Room only for about 20 or 30 passengers as we had 5 Coaches onboard plus a few other passengers, this resulted in a slightly slower trip across but a lot less ‘wobbly’ with the rather choppy sea!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR15.jpg

Once we arrived in ‘Burvid’ it was off the Ferry, Hoods up to stay dry from the rain and head for our coach then the 44 minute run to Kirkwall which was our first stop.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR16.jpg

On the way we pass over a number of the ‘Churchill Barriers’ that were made by some 9000 Italian Prisoners of War using moulded blocks of concrete of between 5 & 10 Tonnes in weight.
There are 5 Churchill Barriers in all, constructed from an order made by Winston Churchill after a German U Boat got through ships that had been deliberately sunk in Scapa Flow to stop the enemy attacking the Royal Navy ships that were moored there, and sank HMS Royal Oak with the loss of 833 lives, of whom the average age of the seamen was just 18yrs.

Apologies for the picture quality, but with the rain and a moving coach it was a bit difficult.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR18.jpg

The HMS Royal Oak Ships Bell and Crew List in Kirkwall Cathedral.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR20.jpg

On a couple of the Barriers it was still possible to see the ships that had been deliberately sunk but it was the strong current that turned a couple of the ships on the seabed so making a passage for the enemy to get through.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR21.jpg

Kirkwall was our first stop and the really striking aspect was….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR22.jpg

Built by the Norwegians in 1500 it was a fabulous stone structure…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR32.jpg

With another nice building just across the road….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR33.jpg

While some of the roads in the city centre were quite narrow…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR36.jpg

Then down at the Harbour with the ferry boats that go to some of the other 16 inhabited Islands out of the 70 Islands that make up the Orkney’s

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR37.jpg

Then on our way back to the coach we spot this custom of a ‘Bride to Be’ who gets Tarred & Feathered on the day before her wedding!
(In this case it was Molasses & Feathers, and the poor girl is the one in the red T Shirt)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR40.jpg

Next stop was Stromness…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR43.jpg

Even though the streets were quite narrow the traffic still came through!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR44.jpg

Distances to the different places in Orkney from Stromness…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR45.jpg

A bit further along we stopped in Stromness Community Centre for a coffee and while there spotted this nice apparatus in the window….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR46.jpg

It was the Tower Clock Mechanism that kept good time up until 1996 when it was swopped out for an Electric version. It was destined for the scrap heap until the Centre Manager took it in, cleaned it up and put it on display.

More sites of the town…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR50.jpg

Shows the ongoing ties with Norway

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR51.jpg

As close as we got to Stromness Museum as we had 30 Minutes to look around after we got off the coach, so all we got was a look through the front door!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR52.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR53.jpg

It seems that this was the ‘Red Light’ district of Stromness, maybe quite aptly named in view of that!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR54.jpg

Next stop was ‘Skara Brae’ which is one of Europe’s most remarkable Neolithic sites…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR56.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR58.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR59.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR60.jpg
Then on the left of Skara Brae is Skaill House…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR61.jpg

Next stop was ‘The Ring of Brodgar’….(Third largest in the UK at 130 Meters Diameter)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR62.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR63.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR64.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR65.jpg

Next stop was the ‘Italian Chapel’ that was built from 2 Nissan Huts during the War and is maintained by volunteers…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR66.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR67.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR68.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR69.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR70.jpg

The Italien Statue of George and the Dragon that was made from shaped steel wire that was then covered in concrete and shaped…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR71.jpg
Then it was back on the coach with a little read of a brochure that showed how proud the Orcadians are about there new flag and the link with Norway!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR72.jpg

On the way back to the Ferry we passed this house with the Whale Bones outside the garage from a recent BBQ!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR73.jpg

Then it was on the Ferry and start pulling away from the jetty for a rather bumpy ride back to John O’Groats as the sea was running a Force 6 swell, but as it had stopped raining we went on the upper deck which was uncovered and managed to see about 5 grey seals but was not fast enough with the camera, sorry!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR74.jpg

Finally got back to the campsite and got to see a rather nice coloured sky as the Sun went down for the day.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/OR75.jpg

Back on the road tomorrow!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 07:49 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 19

West Murkle to Inverbervie.

With the prospect of hurricane winds today we set off a bit early for the 220 mile trip from West Murkle to Inverbervie but interestingly after all the rain we had yesterday there was a lot of blue sky this morning.

Passing through Thurso…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE1-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE2-1.jpg

Open road and ‘Wind Farm’. They are getting a ,lot more common in Scotland

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE3-1.jpg

While the next picture is ‘Hazy’ due to sea mist it is of an Oil/Gas Platform off the coast that is still operational…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE4-1.jpg

While moving South….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE5-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE6-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE7-1.jpg

Through the town of ‘Tain’..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE8-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE9-1.jpg

A bit further down the road and my good lady says ‘Sheep Dog Trials’ to which I replied: “ I’m too old, I cannot run fast and I’m going slightly deaf” to which we both had a good chuckle!

Then we come to….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE10-1.jpg

With some Gas/Oil Platforms in the Moray Firth…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE11-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE12-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE13-1.jpg

Next over a low bridge…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE14-1.jpg

Followed fairly quickly by the bridge for Inverness…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE15-1.jpg

Then we start going ‘Cross Country’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE16-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE17-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE18-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE19-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE20-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE21-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE22-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE23-1.jpg

Then we pass through a small town called ‘Tomintoul’..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE24-1.jpg

Followed by some serious ‘Hill Climbing’ of between 14 & 20% gradients (4th or 3rd Gear gave no problems maintaining 40+Mph)
This took us through the Lecht Ski area…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE25-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE26-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE27-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE28-1.jpg

Then down the other side…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE29-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE30-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE31-1.jpg

Then came the Narrow Bridges…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE32-1.jpg

Patchwork Quilt Hills!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE33-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE34-1.jpg

Then through the Single Track Roads and another Narrow Bridge where we nearly ‘Grounded’ between the ‘Tin Tent’ and Flamenco Red as we went over the crest!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE35-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE36-1.jpg

Going over this bridge which nearly ‘Grounded’ the outfit, it felt like we were riding a Bucking Bronco as we went up, over the crest and back down again!!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE37-1.jpg

Turn left at this rather nice tower..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE38-1.jpg

Then through this Entrance Gate, with a hard Left just on the other side…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE39-1.jpg

Finally arrived at our next campsite where we will be for 2 nights.

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 07:58 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 20

Inverbervie.

Woke this morning to very high winds but thankfully the campsite we are on is only 1/3 of an acre and enclosed on 2 sides by high walls and high hedges on the other two so we are quite sheltered.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE40-1.jpg

After a late breakfast we decided to go over into…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE41-1.jpg

..which is the nearest town for a look around, and hope that the wind and squally showers that started to come through would not be too bad.

Made our way along a few streets in the Town Centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE42-1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE43-1.jpg

Then found ourselves outside the Montrose Academy which we are not sure is for Art or Music and we didn’t like to go and knock on the door and ask, but the building looked nice with it’s ‘Gold Top’ (Bit like one of the old Gold Top bottles of milk from the Milkman!)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE44-1.jpg

However just opposite we found Montrose Museum which was ‘Free Entry’ so never being one to look a gift horse in the mouth off we went inside…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE45-1.jpg

I will let some of the pictures ‘speak’ for themselves…
‘Item 9’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE46.jpg

Here it is…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE47.jpg

Wonderful model in a case…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE50.jpg

The local ‘Regiment’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE51.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE52.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE53.jpg

‘Item 1’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE54.jpg

The top 3 are the ‘Rolling Pins’ which I thought strange made of Glass and onboard a ship?

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE56.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE58.jpg

Now the local ‘Wildlife’, but all stuffed and in a glass case!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE59.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE60.jpg

This next one made stop and re-read the notice….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE61.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE62.jpg

From the top… Item 11, Item 12 & Item 13…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE63.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE64.jpg

Came out of the Museum and made our way back to the campsite as the wind was getting stronger, and as I sit here putting this together I can feel the ‘Tin Tent’ rocking quite a bit even though we are sheltered.

Spent a short time this afternoon/evening ‘pinching’ a few of the Apples that were growing on the campsite and giving the 4 Horses in the adjacent fields them.
The Apples had a few marks on them so would not be picked by anyone, and I think the horses quite enjoyed them, as everytime I walked past they came back for more!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE65.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/IE66.jpg

We are due to set off again tomorrow to go further South but at the moment they are only allowing cars to go over the Tay and Forth Road Bridges so tomorrow we will have to wait and see as a Detour could double the distance we would travel!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 08:10 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 21

Inverbervie to St Abbs.

Well the high winds stopped at 02:00 this morning but resumed again at 06:30 but the weather forecast said that they should subside and the Firth of Forth Road Bridge that we needed to get over was only closed to double decker buses although there was a 30Mph speed restriction in place, so we decided to give it a go and head for St Abbs.

Not sure if the gales took the plastic roof off these cloches or they were removed before the gales came…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA1.jpg

Road view from the A90

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA3.jpg

Typical ‘Road Sign’ on our trip South…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA4.jpg

Finally get to the Firth of Forth Road Bridge and find a 40Mph restriction instead of the 30Mph mentioned on the radio…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA5.jpg

Lowered ‘Maintenance Platform’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA6.jpg

While alongside is the Railway Bridge…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA8.jpg

As we make our way around Edinburgh in the distance we can just see ‘Arthur’s Seat’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA9.jpg

Further on we pass this ‘Glow in the Dark’ Nucleur Power Station called Totness…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA10.jpg

Turning right off the A1 ‘Great North Road’ a short way further on then after about 1 mile of Single Track Road we get to our next campsite which is a bigger and a bit more open than the last one and the wind is now gusting quite strongly again!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 08:42 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 22

St Abbs & Berwick upon Tweed.

“The Sun has got his hat on” Well that’s what it feels like today as we have for once got a beautiful blue sky with a bit of wind but the good sign is a rise in the Barometric Pressure which should be better weather!

Our first port of call today was the small village of St Abbs, which looked fabulous at 2000ft on the BBC program ‘Coast’ and still looked fabulous at ground level when we got there….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA21.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA22.jpg

We thought after having a walk around that we had better get back in Flamenco Red and skidaddle as the Car Parking came in at £5/Day ($8) so as we had only been there around 45 minutes it was definitely time to ‘exit stage left’!

Our next destination which we have never been to was Berwick upon Tweed and boy did we get a nice surprise…

We kick off with a picture of a copy of an L S Lowry painting as we did not park in the town centre but a short way outside, however at different places around the town are these information plates with a picture of a painting by L S Lowry…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA23.jpg

The behind the information plate is…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA24.jpg

Back into town over this ‘One way/Pedestrian’ bridge…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA25.jpg

While to the right we have the river mouth…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA26.jpg

Then to the left we have then Main Road bridge along with the Railway Bridge

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA27.jpg

Then a bit further on we can look back and see all 3 Bridges in the one picture..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA28.jpg

With a view to the South side of Town…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA29.jpg

Moving into the Town Centre…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA33.jpg

Then we came to the really interesting bit…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA36.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA39.jpg

We thought it was really nice of the Garrison inside the Town to put up a set of Goalposts for the Invaders, so on Sunday after Church they could all have a nice game of Football, before going back to trying to blow each others brains out!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA43.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA44.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA45.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA46.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA50.jpg

Another L S Lowry…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA51.jpg

But how nice it looks now…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA52.jpg

Along the waterfront…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA53.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA54.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA56.jpg

More views of the Town…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA58.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA59.jpg

Finally got back to the campsite…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA61.jpg

After ‘feeding’ Flamnco Red with the obligatory ‘Litres of Diesel’ to make sure we enjoyed some more miles South, it was time to feed ourselves so out came the BBQ and the result was some BBQ’d Pork with a good selection of vegetables, and a glass of a nice Chilean Merlot for Dinner!

Bon Appetit & Cheers!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/SA62.jpg

Tomorrow sees us on the way further South albeit a short ‘hop’ to a campsite near Lindisfarne.

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 09:02 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 23

Reston to Beal and Bamburgh Castle.

Lie in till 08:00 this morning as the next campsite is only 22 Miles away and had I known then what I found out when we got to it I would never have booked and been requested to pay for it at the same time, but that’s another story.

First off after we arrived was to get some washing out of the way, so as it was a nice day, our second in 3+ Weeks of being on the road that was sorted out before lunch and then it was off to Bamburgh Castle and what a fabulous place that turned out to be as I am sure you will see in the attached pictures…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA4.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA6.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA21.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA33.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA36.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA42.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA43.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA44.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA45.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA46.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA50.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA51.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA52.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA53.jpg

Maybe what every lady would like in her 'Christmas Stocking' A MAN TRAP!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA54.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA56.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA58.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA59.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA60.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA61.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA62.jpg

The ‘hatch’for the boy chimmney sweep was just above the ‘Range’ but I could not get it all in one picture so by putting one on top of the other below I hope you get the idea!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA63.jpg
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA64.jpg

Finally ‘The Dungeons’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA65.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA66.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA67.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA68.jpg

We then after eating our sandwiches while overlooking the Sea went off to have a look at the Grace Darling Memorials, however the Museum would not allow pictures to be taken inside so we just stuck with outside and the graveyard where she is buried….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA69.jpg

Grace Darling is actually buried in the Family Grave….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA70.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA71.jpg

This is the graveyard memorial that was erected and can be seen from the sea..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA72.jpg

While over on the Farne Islands, the White Building & Lighthouse is the Grace Darling Lighthouse…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA73.jpg

Our next stop was St Aidan Priory which is the Church in the cemetery of Grace Darling & St Aidan…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA74.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA75.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA76.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA77.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA78.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA79.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA80.jpg

The original memorial carving to Grace Darling

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA81.jpg

The exact spot where St Aidan died in the church…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA82.jpg

With finally a view over Bamburgh from the Castle…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BA83.jpg

Tomorrow is Lindisfarne…

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 09:33 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 24

Holy Island, Lindisfarne.

While it was supposed to only be 1 Mile from the campsite I think that was to the start of the Causeway that takes you over to Holy Island, having then traversed that you still have around 1.5 Miles to go before you get to the Village of Lindisfarne, and with today’s weather walking it was NOT an option as the rain and high winds have returned again!

The ‘Dire Warning’ for the Causeway!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI1.jpg

Covered over.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI2.jpg

Holy Island

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI3.jpg

Waiting to cross…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI4.jpg

OK to go…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI6.jpg

1.5 Miles after crossing…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI7.jpg

Lindisfarne…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI8.jpg

Lindisfarne village.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI12.jpg

This is the ‘Draw Arch’ and the ‘Eye’ where the burnt lime comes through.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI13.jpg

This is the ‘Funnel’ leading up to the top of one of the ‘Pots’ and you can see the ‘Eye’ (Vertical Bricks) in the bottom centre of the picture.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI14.jpg

This is the top one of the six ‘Pots’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI15.jpg

Lindisfarne from the rear.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI16.jpg

Old Boat Hulls, cut into sections, turned over and used for a variety of things.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI17.jpg

These 2 ‘Towers’ were used by ships coming into the harbour. The Captain would line up the Towers by eye to guide him through in the deepest water in the channel for the harbour.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI18.jpg

Coming back over the causeway, which resulted later in Flamenco Red getting the first fresh water wash in 3+ Weeks!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI21.jpg

The pillaging of St Cuthberts bones by the Vikings

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI25.jpg

St Aidan

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI26.jpg

The Priory.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI30.jpg

St Aidan from the front..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI31.jpg

Came back to the campsite and we saw this strange item on the roof of an RV. At first we thought it was an overgrown Teapot with handle but no Spout however it turns out to be a Satellite TV Receiver!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/LI32.jpg

Found we had a small problem with the 12v Circuit so unfortunately had to plug into the 240v, but went to the farmhouse to tell the owner, however no one was home, tried again while trying to resolve the problem still no one in.
1 hour later there is this LOUD banging on the outside of the ‘Tin Tent’ with a man standing there, whose first words were “I presume you are going to pay for the electric you are using” he clearly saw the mains cable being orange in colour!

With no introduction and definitely no manners, he got back just as good as he gave and was also advised that we were not the only ones who would definitely not be returning to his little “campsite from hell”.
Even the pathway up to the place had more holes in than a Swiss Cheese.

Hey Ho, some you win and some you lose, and this guy just lost 5 ‘future customers’ plus others who will hear about the bad news and not bother!

Tomorrow sees us staying just outside Durham for a look around that city, and hoping that the weather improves!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 09:43 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 25

Durham.

We left the ‘Campsite from Hell’ at 08:30 this morning for the short run to our next campsite which is quite close to the city of Durham and as we got out of the gate and set off down the road we had this rather nice view of a complete Rainbow, thankfully neither end was to be seen anywhere near the campsite we had just left!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D1.jpg

On our way to Durham we pass ‘The Angel of The North’ which is a sculpture made of Iron…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D2.jpg

Then after finding our campsite for the next 2 nights we catch some Public Transport in the form of a Bus to Durham City Centre and from there make our way to Durham Cathedral…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D3.jpg

Arriving at the Front Door we find…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D4.jpg

Sadly the ‘Knocker’ has now been made imobile as sanctuary is not now possible.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D6.jpg

Views from around and inside The Cloisters…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D14.jpg

Inside the Cathedral..Photographs Not Allowed by order of The Dean, and there were enough Church Wardens around to make sure it didn’t happen!

However personally I thought the Cathedral in Kirkwall (Orkney Islands) was much better from an architectural perspective and certainly more stunning inside.

Now outside but could not manage to get the whole building on one picture!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D17.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D20.jpg

Now we head for the city and found the Castle was closed for some major works being carried out.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D21.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D22.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D30.jpg

Then we were confronted by this ‘Gang of Convicts’ and a sole ‘Police Lady’.
It was the ‘Police Lady’s 40th Birthday so she ‘sprang’ a few friends from the local prison to help her celebrate!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D31.jpg

Couple more City views, then it was time to head back to the campsite…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D33.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/D34.jpg

I think if we had walked into the City we could have still been walking back to the campsite for some time in view of the rather steep roads!

Hopefully if the weather improves we will make it to Beamish Open Air Museum tomorrow, fingers crossed!

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 10:00 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 26

Beamish Open Air Museum.

After a short journey from the campsite over some interesting countryside with wonderful scenic views we arrived at the museum, and boy were we in for a surprise!
Having got inside it was like stepping back in time over 50 years!
So I am sure you will recognise some of the items in the pictures below…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE3.jpg

All aboard the Bus and make it the Top Deck!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE4.jpg

First stop ‘The Town’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE5.jpg

The Farm, Stables & Blacksmith
http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE6.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE8.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE9.jpg

‘Tack room’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE10.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE11.jpg

Sweet Shop!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE12.jpg

Everything in the next 3 pictures is still made in the shop, and it was all for sale!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE15.jpg

Something I haven’t seen or enjoyed for over 40 years! Cinder Toffee and it tasted as good now as it did then!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE16.jpg

The Sweetie making room!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE17.jpg

Making Barley Sugar…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE18.jpg

Now over to the Garage….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE19.jpg

I think this is a Model T Ford in Black of course!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE20.jpg

The car in the middle of the next picture was made by the Same Harbour Engineering Works (SHEW) near Birmingham and came with an Articulated Chassis but because it made the stearing extremely heavy it never went into production.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE21.jpg

Wooden front seat!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE22.jpg

Tools and machines…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE23.jpg

A Daimler flat bed truck…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE24.jpg

The Masonic Lodge from 1913…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE27.jpg

The Hardware Store, it was run by ‘The Co-op’ so if you bought anything then you also needed your Dividend Number which was worth a 20% Discount then!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE30.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE32.jpg

Having stuffed our faces on Cinder Toffee and other sweets it was time for a visit to….

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE33.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE36.jpg

The rest of the Dentist’s house where his family lived…
Built in Shower on the Bath!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE38.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE39.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE40.jpg

The Garden looking across to the Town…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE41.jpg

While at the top of the Garden was this rather old very large gun.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE42.jpg

A STEAM driven Merry Go Round…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE43.jpg

The Railway…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE44.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE45.jpg

Some Scottish Highlander Soldiers practising with a rather LOUD Corporal!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE46.jpg

Then we made our way over to the large Marquees for a look inside…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE48.jpg

Super sized Leeks!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE50.jpg

These Ladies were the ‘Judges’ in the Cake Baking contest, and the ‘tasting samples’ were being consumed quite easily…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE51.jpg

We then found a Bee Keeping demonstartion and were told that the Queen Bee was the one with the ‘White Spot’ on her back!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE52.jpg

A fabulous 2 year old Fish Eagle…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE53.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE54.jpg

Ladies ‘Pedal Power’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE55.jpg

Threshing machine with the crew in traditional costume..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE56.jpg

The ‘Steam Engine’ and ‘Music Organ’ of the Round about…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE58.jpg

Next a ride on the Tram over to..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE59.jpg

The Colliery & Village…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE60.jpg

The village school, Infants, and then Seniors…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE61.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE62.jpg

Miners Houses…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE63.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE64.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE65.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE66.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE67.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE68.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE69.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE70.jpg

The Pit Head. We were told that the flag was flying at half mast for the 4 Miners who were killed 3 days ago in a Drift Mine accident in Swansea (South Wales) by the Ex-Miner who was operating the Engine in the Winch Room.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE71.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE72.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE73.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE74.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE75.jpg

A Miners House Vegetable Garden…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE76.jpg

A Picture ‘Projector’ inside the Village Chapel…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE77.jpg

Open Cast Mine Coal Shovel..

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE78.jpg

The ‘Refurbishment Garage’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE79.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE80.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE81.jpg

It was then time to depart from Beamish Museum after a really nice and nostalgic day and make our way back to the ‘Tin Tent’ and on the way we spotted these…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE82.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE83.jpg

The views over the countryside were excellent…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE84.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE85.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BE86.jpg

Next stop Bowes.

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 10:13 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 27

Bowes for High Force Waterfall.

After another relatively short journey we arrived at our next stop out in the countryside at a village called Bowes and thankfully the Sun is currently shining but again would dissapear later!

Our first ‘outing’ after we got set up was to ‘High Force Waterfall’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO1.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO2.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO3.jpg

There it ‘rumbles’!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO4.jpg

Nice and quite downstream…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO5.jpg

While along the pathway is this explanation about the rock formation…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO6.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO7.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO8.jpg

While back on the road on our way back we get to see this landscape…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO9.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO10.jpg

Our trip takes us into a small village called Middleton-in-Teesdale which was rather nice…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO11.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO12.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO13.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO14.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO15.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO16.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO17.jpg

While just around the corner from the campsite is Bowes Castle…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO18.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO19.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO20.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO21.jpg

Tomorrow is Barnard Castle and Raby Castle.

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 10:25 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 28

Barnard & Raby Castles + a nice surprise!

Our campsite has got the nice facility of a Shower and separate WC.
Inside the WC is an item that according to the Farmers Wife is well over 100 years old as it was installed on the farm by her Husbands Grandfather…

A WOODEN Cistern that is still working and does not leak!!…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO22.jpg

After breakfast we set off today for a look around Barnard Castle, the town and Castle and then Raby Castle… (The Castle was unfortunately closed.)

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO23.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO24.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO25.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO26.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO27.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO28.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO29.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO30.jpg

The child's Rocking Horse in the picture below for which I apologise for the quality of the picture as it was taken through the window, will cost you £880 ($1400)!!! OUCH!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO31.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO32.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO33.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO34.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO35.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO36.jpg

Next stop was Raby Castle, which was also closed but still looked quite nice from the outside

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO37.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO38.jpg

And then we spotted the Deer in the grounds…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO39.jpg

Then looking closer we saw the ‘Albino Deer’

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO39A.jpg

While just back along the road was the nice small village of ‘Staindrop’ that was already showing signs of Autumn colours on the trees…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO40.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO41.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO42.jpg

Next stop was an addition to our planned trip, a town called ‘Richmond’ which was a little gem of a place…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO43.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO44.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO45.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO46.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO47.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO48.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO49.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO50.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO51.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO52.jpg

Hi Folks! I guess WINTER is on it's way otherwise I would not be getting stocks in!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO53.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO54.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO55.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO56.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO57.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO58.jpg

Then it was back to the campsite and start preparing for the journey tomorrow.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/BO59.jpg

Yesterday while crunching a piece of the Butterscotch from Beamish Open Air Museum I managed to crack and lose what feels like a rather large piece from a back tooth, at least it feels like it!
So having spoken to our Dentist the remainder of our trip has been curtailed and we have to return home to allow me to have an assessment done & temporary repair work carried out.

I am dissapointed but glad that we covered 90% of what we wanted to see and achieve.
The other 10% will be incorporated into another tour of places we have never visited at some point in the not to distant future.

XCovlov70

09-22-2011, 10:33 AM

2011 UK Tour of places not seen/visited Page 29

Homeward bound!

Last night in Bowes we were treated to a really stupendous ‘Sunset’…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB1.jpg

The following morning however the weather was back to it’s ‘normal’ dreary self of being wet, miserable and windy, so the views across the North Yorkshire Dales as we made our way back to the M6 Motorway were sadly not that clear!

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB2.jpg

I guess what made the trip more interesting was listening to the nice ‘GROWL’ of ‘Flamenco Red’s’ Turbo as we went up the 15% Hills with the Instant MPG readout showing 6.9 MPG! :mad:
Then coming down the other side on a 10% Descent with a nice ‘quiet turbo’ and an Instant MPG readout of 99.9MPG, :D and the crosswind trying to knock us off the road, still ‘Flamenco Red’ has got very ‘sticky feet’ at over 1 tonne in weight so is no easy pushover, and the ‘Tin Tent’ was doing OK at around 1500Kg! [thumbup][thumbup]

Once on the M6 Motorway it was a case of stay in place due to the sheer volumne of traffic that was ‘Southbound’.

Next to the M25 it must be one of the most congested roads in the UK, but thankfully after around 100 miles we got off to go to our overnight halt in a place called Sandbach, and found a nice surprise behind the campsite…

The Trent-Liverpool Canal…

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB3.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB4.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB5.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB6.jpg

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB7.jpg

This is the ‘Overflow channel’ that allows water from the canal to pass over it and into the next section when the gates are closed, however open the sluices to allow the water to fill the lock and this virtually dries up for about 2 minutes while the lock fills to allow the canal boat to go in.

http://i946.photobucket.com/albums/ad307/Traveller11/UK%20Tour%202011/HB8.jpg

Tomorrow it’s back on the M6 heading for home. :rolleyes: