Act III – Scene VIII - Edinburgh2003 Saturday 15 March fine, 11°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then walked along to Gorgie Farm (petting zoo), free · Walked around looking at the animals then walked to the Water of Leith and along to Dean Village · Climbed up to Dean Gallery and looked around the grounds of the 2 buildings · Caught free bus back to Princes St @ 1:00 · Lunch @ Bakers Oven then walked along Princes St, through Princes St gardens · Took photos of daffidils then walked along to end of Princes St, Liz looking @ prescription sunglasses · Bus to Fountainbridge and bought movie tickets to “Catch me if you can” · Walked home · Out @ 6:30, bus to Fountainbridge, tea @ Dealto (£25) then to movie @ 8:30 · Out @ 11:00, walked home Sunday 16 March foggy / fine / hazy, 12°C · Up @ 10:00, had breakfast then out @ 11:00 · Drove to Ingleston Markets, looked around, then to Forth Road Bridge · Drove across and parked, walked back across then back to van (2 miles) · Drove to Livingston (through roadworks) @ 2:00 · Had lunch then looked around shops, Liz ordered prescription sunglasses (£100) · Left @ 4:00, drove back to Edinburgh, went to Matalan to look around · Home @ 5:00 · Had tea @ home Monday 17 March foggy, 5°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 18 March foggy / fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 (Liz working 9 to 5) · Left @ 5:45, met Liz, bus home, arr 6:15 Wednesday 19 March foggy / fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:15 · Liz home @ 8:30 Thursday 20 March fine, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 8:30, home @ 9:30 Friday 21 March fine, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council for drinks with guys from work · Liz arrived @ 7:00 · Left @ 8:30, walked to Garfunkels for tea (£20) · Bus home @ 10:00 Saturday 22 March fine, 11°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then walked into town · Got coffee @ Starbucks then sat by St Marys Church in the West End · Went into St Marys for a look around · Walked to Lothian Rd and bought tickets to see Ed Byne (£14 ea) on 5 April · Caught bus home @ 12:30 · Drove to Livingston and went to mall · Picked up Liz’s sunglasses and bought 2 cd’s · Had lunch then did some shopping · Drove to Union Canal near Edinburgh Bypass and walked along canal from 3:00 to 4:00 · Home @ 4:15, washed van · Got DVD (“My Little Eye”, £3.50) and pizza for tea @ 7:00 Sunday 23 March fine / hazy, 12°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast and left @ 10:00 · Drove to new flat to take photos then over the Forth Bridge · Turned of @ Loch Leven and drove through Leslie to Falkland, arr 11:00 · Falkland Palace closed till 1:00 so drove north to Tay River then to Bridge of Earn · Took photos of Highland Cows then to Perth for lunch @ St Johns mall @ 12:30 · Drove back to Falkland Palace @ 1:30 · Went into Palace and Gardens (National Trust site so free for us), looked around then @ Royal Tennis Court · Back to van @ 3:00, drove home on A92, arr 4:00 · Out for tea @ 7:00 to The Khukuri, home @ 8:30 Monday 24 March fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:45, bus home, arr 6:15 · Out for a walk @ 8:30, home @ 9:00 Tuesday 25 March cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Wednesday 26 March fine, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:15 Thursday 27 March fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, walked to Shandwick Place, met Liz and caught bus home, arr 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 9:00 Friday 28 March fine, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Pub for lunch · Left @ 5:00, walked to Hogshead pub for Hayden’s leaving · Met Liz @ pub @ 5:30 · TGI Fridays for tea @ 7:00 · Bus home @ 8:30 Saturday 29 March fine / partly couldy / breezy, 8°C · Up @ 9:00 · Caught bus to Craigleith @ 10:30 · Cashed in change from money tin (£70) then did some shopping · Had lunch then bus home @ 1:30 · Bus to Charlotte Sq @ 3:00, walked to Fettes Village · Met Vicki Brunton (Landlord) for new flat @ 4:00 · Got keys to flat and paid remainder of deposit and months rent (£900, £1200 total) · Left @ 5:30, bus home · Out @ 6:30 to Lothian Road then walked around looking for Chinese · Went to Wok Wok for tea (£30), bus home @ 9:00 New flat address: 1/10 North Werber Park Fettes Village Edinburgh EH4 1SY Sunday 30 March fine, 10°C · Up @ 8:00 (daylight saving started) · Started packing up flat and took first load to new flat in the van @ 10:00 · Back to old flat to pack more and left @ 12:30 · Lunch @ McDonalds on the way then took 2nd load to new flat · Unpacked and watched Engald / Ireland rugby game · Left @ 4:30, went to Craigleith to look for furniture etc · Back to old flat for last of our stuff @ 5:30 · Back to new flat @ 6:00 (last time) · Bus into town @ 7:00 for tea @ Standing Order (£13) · Bus home @ 8:00 Monday 31 March cloudy / breezy, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work from new flat (15 minutes), arr 8:20 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 5:50 · Out to Homebase to buy light bulbs and crockery (£12 for 4 dinner plates, side plates and bowls) · Liz home @ 8:15 Tuesday 1 April showers / fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:00 (o/night rain, first for 3 weeks), bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Out in van to out flat to get broadband modem then to Safeways near new flat · Met Liz @ 8:00 and did shopping · Home @ 9:00 Wednesday 2 April fine / partly cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:15 Thursday 3 April partly cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, walked home, arr 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 7:45 Friday 4 April partly cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council for drinks · Met Liz for tea @ Ryans Bar @ 8:15 · Bus home @ 9:30 Saturday 5 April fine / cloudy / fine, 8°C · Up @ 8:00 · Out @ 10:00, walked through Inverleith Park to Comely Bank high street · Bought bits and pieces for the flat · Bus back to flat @ 11:00, dropped off shopping · Bus into town @ 11:30, walked up the Royal Mile to Edinburgh Castle · Watched the 1 o’clock gun firing, then back down Royal Mile · Had lunch @ café then to Argo and bought corner TV/stereo unit (£35) · Bus home @ 1:30, dropped off tv unit · Drove to Ikea south of Edinburgh · Bought cooling rack, knife block, swedish cookie etc · Drove to Cameron Toll shopping mall @ 3:00 · Drove home @ 5:30 · Bus to town @ 6:30, had tea @ Pizza Hut then to Ed Byne show @ Usher Hall @ 8:00, very funny · Bus home @ 10:30 Sunday 6 April cloudy, 9°C · Up @ 9:00 · Went to Safeways to do shopping then home @ 12:30 · Soup for lunch then out @ 1:30 · Drove to old flat in Wardlaw Street for final inspection by landlord · All ok, drove to Gyle Shopping Centre @ 3:00 · Went to Matalan, Liz bought dressing gown, £12 · Drove home @ 4:30 · Out for tea @ 5:30 to Standing Order · Home @ 7:00 Monday 7 April cloudy, 8°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Liz home @ 7:30 Tuesday 8 April fine, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 6:45 · Liz home @ 7:30 Wednesday 9 April fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, walked home, picked up drycleaning on the way, arr 5:45 · Out to Homebase @ 7:00 to buy more plates · Liz home @ 7:30 · Out for a walk @ 8:30, home @ 9:00 Thursday 10 April fine, 8°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 7:45 Friday 11 April cloudy, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 7:45 Saturday 12 April partly cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 8:00 · Did some housework then walked to Comely Bank @ 10:30 · Had brunch @ café then walked around streets looking @ shops · Liz had haircut, AC sat in park · Walked home @ 2:00 · Out in the van @ 3:00 to Homebase and Sainsbury’s at Craigleith to do some shopping · Drove to B & Q @ Warriston, Liz bought some plants · Home @ 5:00 · Bus to Pizza Express in Comely Bank @ 6:30 for tea (£22) then walked home @ 8:00 · Watched DVD (Bourne Identity) Sunday 13 April fine / hazy, 9°C · Up @ 8:00 · Cleaned van in the morning then had lunch and waited for Telewest to come to connect internet · They didn’t show and after phoning them found out they hadn’t booked us in · Out for a drive @ 5:00, drove to Leith then to Safeways to do shopping · Home @ 6:00 · Takeaway curry for tea Monday 14 April cloudy / hazy, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 6:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:00 to return DVD to Comely Bank, home @ 9:00 Tuesday 15 April cloudy / hazy, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Wednesday 16 April hazy / fine, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Out for a walk @ 7:30 to Botanical Gardens and back, home @ 8:45 Thursday 17 April hazy / fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk to Safeways @ 8:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 18 April (Good Friday) hazy / fine, 19°C – Edinburgh to Portrush Up @ 8:00, packed up the van then left @ 9:00, drove to Edinburgh Bypass then around to the A702 and headed southwest through Biggar to the M74 then south to Lockerbie. Drove through Lockerbie and got petrol. Drove on A709 then onto A75, round Drumfries and out to Stranraer, arr 1:15. Had lunch @ café then checked in for the fast ferry (20 minutes delay) @ 2:15. Boarded ferry @ 2:45 and sailed @ 3:15. Arrived in Belfast @ 5:00, smooth crossing, very hazy. Drove off ferry and onto M2, headed north onto A26 then to Coleraine. Turned onto A29 to Portrush and found campsite south of town on a hill top (Hilltop Camp £12/night) check in etc and set up @ 7:30 Drove into Portrush for tea @
hotel @ 8:00 (£20) then back to camp @ 9:00 and setup properly. Relaxed then
bed Saturday 19 April fine / breezy, 20°C – Portrush to Glenariff Up @ 9:00, had breakfast, packed up the van (hadpaid for 2 nights but didn’t like the camp, very basic with just 1 toilet block). Drove through Portrush onto A2 and along to the Giants Causeway. Walked down to the causeway (20 minutes, free) then clambered around on the rocks. Very impressive. Bus back to van (£1.40). Drove east past Dunseverick Castle and White Park Bay to Carrick-a-rede, arr 11:00
Giants Causeway
Giants Causeway Walked along cliffs to rope bridge then across to Carrick-a-rede (free), very windy. Back to van then on to Ballycastle for lunch at Coffee Lounge @ 1:00. Drove east from Ballycastle around scenic route, past Tor Head along winding clifftop road then through Cushendun, Cushendall, Glenariff and to Glenariff Forest Park to camp site (£9, without power), arr 3:00. Set up camp and sat in the sun. Had tea @ 7:00 (curry) then sat in the sun.
Carrick-a-rede Sunday 20 April (Easter Sunday) - cloudy / fine, 13°C – Glenariff to Belfast Up @ 8:00, had breakfast then packed up and left @ 9:30. Drove across the road to the Glenariff Forest Park and went for a walk through the forest. Back to the van @ 10:30 and drove down the glen to Glenariff then south on the A2 around the coast, through Larne and Carrickfergus and into the camp @ Jordanstown (sealed carpark with facilities next to the shore), checked in and paid (£10 incl power). Drove through Belfast to Stormont castle and went for a walk up to see the Parliament Buildings then drove back into Belfast. Drove around Belfast looking for a parking area (all carparking buildings closed, along with all the shops etc) and eventually went to the Odyssey Complex on the east side of the River Lagan. Had lunch @ Soda Joes then walked along the river to the Weir.
Stormont Castle Left @ 2:00 and drove through town, then through Shankhill / Falls Road areas where the troubles where / are, looking @ security fences, watch towers etc. A bit sad really. Drove northeast past the Castle to the Zoo (£6 ea). Walked up through the zoo (on the side of a hill of course) with all the normal animals (lots of empty enclosures), and lots of kids. Left @ 4:30 and drove back to camp. Out for a walk along the shore to the get some shopping then back to the camp to relax and have tea. Monday 21 April cloudy / foggy, 11°C – Belfast to Edinburgh Up @ 7:00, had breakfast and packed up the van, left the camp @ 9:00. Drove to Stena Line ferry terminal and checked in. Boarded ferry and left @ 10:15. Smooth crossing, arrived in Stranraer @ 1:45. Drove north on the A75 through Ayr then onto the A71 through to Edinburgh. Arrived home @ 5:00. Unpacked etc then relaxed. Liz went in to work @ 9:00, home @ 10:00 Tuesday 22 April foggy / fine, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 7:45 Wednesday 23 April fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 6:15, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 7:45 Thursday 24 April cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 7:45 Friday 25 April cloudy / rain, 10°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council bar then to Qbar with guys form work · Met Liz @ 7:45 @ Ryans Bar for tea · Bus home @ 9:30 Saturday 26 April
cloudy, 11°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then out in van to Gorgie · Booked van in for service on Thursday then went to shops · Drove to Halfords to get cleaning / degreesing thjings for the bikes · Home @ 12:00 · Telewest man came @ 12:30 and set up broadband · Had lunch then out to Homebase and Sainsbury’s for shopping · Home @ 4:00 · Went to to Comely Bank to get DVD (Donnie Darko) and pizza · Bank home to watch DVD Sunday 27 April cloudy / showers, 10°C · Up @ 10:00, had breakfast then carried out maintenance on bikes · Out on bikes @ 12:30, rode down to Trinity then to Stockbridge for lunch @ 1:30 @ Maxi’s · Rode home @ 2:30 · Out in the van @ 3:00 to Ikea, bought footstool (£20) and cutlery set (£7) and towels · Drove home via Leith, looking @ Granton etc on the way, home @ 5:30 · Out to Far Pavilions for curry @ 7:00 (£30), home @ 8:30 · AC’s dad rang @ 10:30 to wish a happy birthday Monday 28 April cloudy / rain, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Bought cakes for guys @ work · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr @ 5:20 Tuesday 29 April cloudy / fine / breezy, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a walk to Safeways @ 8:00, home @ 8:45 Wednesday 30 April rain / fine / hail, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 5:50 Thursday 1 May terrential rain / cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 7:00 · Drove van through pouring rain to Gorgie to Tynecastle Garage for head gasket work and service (est £500) · Bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Booked tickets online to go to York on Saturday (£48 total) Friday 2 May cloudy / rain, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council bar, met Liz there @ 6:30 · Left @ 8:00, tea @ Burger King then bus home, arr 9:00 Saturday 3 May fine / cloudy / showers, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to Waverly Station @ 8:00, caught GNER train to York @ 9:00, arr 11:30 · Walked to the York Minster, closed for a service, walked into town and got lunch @ Bakers Oven · Walked through markets and throught the Shambles then got on Guide Friday bus tour (£7.50ea) for tour round town · Stayed on right round then walked to Ouse River and watched the rowing · Walked back and around on the city walls then back to the Minster @ 3:00 · Went into Minster @ 3:30, paid £3 ea to go up tower (275 steps, 200 ft) · Back down @ 4:00 · Started to rain, walked back through shopping streets then had tea @ Chinese buffet (£15 total) · Back to train station @ 5:30, caught GNER train @ 6:00 back to Edinburgh · Arr 8:40, bus home
View from York Minster
Sunday 4 May cloudy / fine / cloudy / rain, 12°C · Up @ 9:00 · Did housework, then AC out for a bike ride @ 12:30, Liz went swimming · Home @ 1:45 · Had lunch then walked to Craigleith, Liz bought swimming goggles (£3) and other shopping · Walked home @ 3:30 · Caught bus to Pizza Express for tea @ 6:00, home @ 8:00 Monday 5 May fine / rain / breezy, 12°C · Up @ 8:00, Liz to work @ 10:00 · Out for a ride @ 1:00 to Comely Bank to get some shopping · Liz home @ 6:00 Tuesday 6 May fine / cloudy / breezy, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Posted Mothers Days cards to NZ (£1.12 ea) · Left work @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:45 Wednesday 7 May fine / partly cloudy / windy / rain, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 (caught bus with Liz heading to doctor) · Left work @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:30 · Stormy weather arrived in the evening Thursday 8 May fine / breezy, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 · Out for a walk @ 9:00, home @ 9:45 Friday 9 May fine / showers / fine / showers, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council for drinks · Met Liz @ 8:30 · Went to tea @ Garfunkels @ 9:00 (£20) · Bus home @ 10:30 Saturday 10 May mainly fine / showers, 12°C · Up @ 9:00 · Bus into town @ 10:30, dropped off drycleaning and banked cheque · Walked along Princes St, AC bought blank CD’s (£10 for 10), Liz bought slip on sneakers (£25) · Caught bus to Safeways and had lunch and did some shopping · Back home @ 2:00 · Out for a ride @ 2:30, rode to Botanical Gardens and had a walk around · Rode back home @ 4:00 · Out for tea @ 7:00 to numchai thai restaurant (£25) and home @ 8:30 · Liz rang her mum for mothers day Sunday 11 May “sunshine and showers” and hail, 11°C · Up @ 9:00 · Out @ 11:00, bus into town, went up Scotts Monument (200 ft, 287 steps) · Walked through Old Town and down to Bean Scene for lunch @ 1:30 · Went to Queens Gallery to see Faberge exhibition (£4 ea) · Walked up the Royal Mile and caught bus to Kinniard Retail Park · AC bought CD (Mother Love Bone) · Bus back to near home and walked home, arr 6:00 · Takeaway Pizzahut for tea
View from top of Scotts Monument looking to Castle over Princes St Gardens
Monday 12 May fine / rain, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Tuesday 13 May mainly fine, 11°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Out for a walk @ 9:00, home @ 9:45 Wednesday 14 May fine / showers, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Had drinks @ work @ 5:00, and out to dinner with work to Est Est Est @ 7:30 · Left @ 11:15, bus home, arr 11:30 Thursday 15 May partly cloudy, 13°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a walk @ 8:00, home @ 9:15 Friday 16 May partly cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to Gorgie to pick up passports from our van @ garage, then to work · Arr work @ 9:15 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 Saturday 17 May cloudy / showers, 16°C – Edinburgh to Frankfurt Up @ 7:00, left @ 8:30, bus to airport, arr 9:15. Checked in etc. Left on plane @ 12:30 (Lufthansa), arr Frankfurt @ 3:30 (Euro time). Through custom etc (hand luggage only). Caught S-bahn to Hauptwache then U6 to Ostbahnhof, then 10 minute walk to hotel (Golden Leaf ApartHotel). Out @ 5:00, U6 to Zoo then tram to Hauptbahnhof. Looked around then back on tram to Zoo. Tea @ restaurant near zoo (€28) @ 6:30. U6/walk back to hotel @ 8:30 Sunday 18 May fine / cloudy / rain / cloudy / fine, 16°C – Frankfurt Up @ 9:00, breakfast @ hotel (€11ea) then walked to U6 to Konstablerwache. Walked to Romerberg, past Dom and then down to Main River. Back up past St Paulskirche and up to Zeil through shopping area (shops shut because it’s Sunday). Walked up through Zeilgalerie mall onto roof. Back down and waited for the rain to ease, then up Grosse Eschenheimerstrasse then along Schillerstrasse to Borseplatz to see Borse (Frankfurt stock exchange).
Romerburg
View from top of Zeilgalerie of Frankfurt Walked along Borsestrasse to Hochstrasse and around to the Alte Oper (Old Operahouse). Walked through gardens to Taunusanlage to catch S-bahn to Hauptbahnhof. AC bought umbrella (€15) then had Bratwurst in a bun for lunch (€4 for 2), and crepes (€4 for 2). Walked along Kaiserstrasse then through to Romerberg @ 1:00. Liz bought bear for Luti’s birthday (€22). Caught tour tram (€5 ea incl drink and salt sticks) which went past Hauptbahnhof, Messe (Tradefair area), then south of the river and around back to the zoo. Got off @ zoo and back to hotel @ 2:40 for a rest. Out @ 4:00 to Zoo (€7ea), and walked around the zoo, very nice and green. Left @ 6:30 from rear exit, walked along Habsburgallee to Danzigplatz, then U6 back to Zoo stop. Tea @ Pizza Hut @ 7:00 (€24) then back to hotel on U6 @ 8:30 Monday 19 May cloudy / rain, 16°C Up @ 6:45, had breakfast at hotel then left @ 7:45. Walked to U6 then to Hauptbahnhof via Konstablerwache. Exchanged ICE train ticket for reserved seat (€68 (for 2) for ticket, €5 for seat reservation) Waited for train, got on and sat in front wagon (could see through to the driver and front window). Left @ 9:00, stopped @ Airport then north to Koln (up to 290km/h). Arrived @ 10:20 Changed platforms and waited for next train to Koblenz (€30 for both), left @ 10:55. Arrived @ 11:50. Put bags in locker (€2) then went to tourist info to get map. Walked in rain through town to Lohr-center to look around shops. Had lunch (bratwurst in bun for Liz, slab of pork in bun for AC, and Berliners (jam donuts)) Walked into old part of town (past old church next to Lohr-center), and along shopping streets. Very pretty town. Walked north to Mosel River then along to Deutches Eck (German Corner) at junction of Mosel and Rhein Rivers. Walked along Rhein and had coffee sitting outside under a canopy (€7!) and watched the torrential rain falling @ 2:30 Walked back through town and then back to Lohr-center, Liz bought shoes (€20). Walked back to Hauptbahnhof @ 4:00 (sick of the rain) and waited for 4:50 train. Train arrived and left on time (€30) and travelled up the Rhein past castles etc, got held up @ Mainz and then arrived @ Frankfurt Airport @ 6:20 Checked in etc then through customs etc and into waiting lounge. Had tea (ciabatta) and waited. Boarded @ 9:15 (onto bus out to plane) then took off @ 9:45, ok flight, landed @ 10:30 (UK time) and caught taxi home, arr 11:30. Crashed into bed Tuesday 20 May partly cloudy / showers, 12°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 Wednesday 21 May mainly fine, late showers, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:30 · Watched the Celtic vs Porto Uefa Cup final (Porto 3-2) Thursday 22 May partly cloudy / showers,15 °C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:15 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 7:00 · Liz home @ 7:40 Friday 23 May cloudy / fine / showers, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council, left @ 7:30, bus home, arr 8:00 Saturday 24 May fine / cloudy / rain / cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then to Comely Bank @ 10:30, liz posted parcel to John and Luti for birthdays · Got “Good Girl” DVD and waited for the rain to stop · Bus to town then to Gorgie @ 11:00 · AC bought USB/serial adapter and did shopping · Bus back to town @ 12:00 and lunch @ McDonalds · Bus home @ 1:30 · Pottered around in the afternoon · Out for tea to Yo Below @ 6:30 (£35), bus home @ 9:00 · Watched Eurovision (UK 0 points) Sunday 25 May fine / showers / fine, 15°C · Up @ 9:30, had breakfast etc · Out @ 12:00, bus to town, walked up the Royal Mile and had lunch @ The Hub, sat outside · Fine and hot in the sun, then the rain came! · Left @ 2:30, walked down to Grassmarket for a coffee then through to the The Meadows for a walk around · Caught bus to Hanover St, then bus to Ocean Terminal to look @ Festival of the Sea · £15ea to get in so walked to Ferry Rd and caught a bus home @ 5:30 · Pot noodles for tea · Watched DVD, didn’t work properly Monday 26 May cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to Comely Bank, dropped off DVD, then bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus to Gorgie, picked up van after head replacement and service (£800) · Drove home, walked to Liz’s work, then went shopping, home @ 7:00 Tuesday 27 May cloudy, 14°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out @ 7:00, bus to Gorgie to Tyncastle Stadium to watch NZ vs Scotland soccer game (1-1) · Left @ 10:00, bus home, arr 10:45 Wednesday 28 May cloudy / showers, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 Thursday 29 May cloudy / drizzle, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a walk @ 8:00 to get some shopping, home @ 8:30 Friday 30 May fine / thunderstorm/hazy/partly cloudy, 22°C Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr @ 8:30. Left @ 12:30, bus home, arr 1:00 Packed up van and left @ 1:30. Drove through to bypass (in traffic jams), onto bypass @ 2:00. Drove round to A702 then south. Got caught in torrential downpour, lightning, hail etc for ½ hour just north of Biggar. Stopped @ service station in Biggar to get drink etc, they had no power. Weather cleared to sunshine south of Biggar. Joined M74 south across border, onto A7 then M6, turned off @ Penrith onto A66 then A592. Stopped for petrol (£29 for 40 litres). Onwards on A592, along the side of Ullswater (very pretty), stopped @ Glenridding to take photos and look @ lake. Carried on up and over Kirkstone Pass (1500 ft) then down to Windermere and Bowness-on-Windermere, arr 6:00. Parked and wandered around shops (lots of pubs / trendy shops), bought meat etc. Went to camp ground “Braithwaite Fold” and checked in (£13.50) and setup. Had tea @ 7:30 then out for a walk to the ferry across Lake Windermere and along lake shore to Bowness Pier. Back to camp @ 9:30 and relaxed. Saturday 31 May partly cloudy / fine, 21°C Up @ 8:30, had breakfast then walked to Bowness Pier, bought tickets for boat cruise (£4.50 ea, 45 minutes). Got on boat @ 10:20 and cruised around islands then down to Storrs and back to Bowness Bay. Got off boat then walked back to camp @ 11:30, packed and checked out.
Lake Windermere Drove to car ferry across lake and joined queue, got on ferry @ 12:00 and crossed to west side of lake (£2:50 for the van). Drove up the hill, past Beatrix Potter’s house and over to Coniston. Parked van up the hill @ the old railway station then walked down to town. Had lunch @ pub and sat in sun.
Coniston Left @ 2:00 and drove down the east side of the lake and stopped near the south end and sat on the (pebble) beach, and paddled in the water (cold). Left there and drove to A5092 then west to A595 then south to Barrow-in-furness. Looked at dock area, had ice cream then drove east to A5087 and up the coast of “Lancaster Sound”, tide was out so large area of mudflats.
Coniston Water Onto A590 @ Ulverston then east to Meathop to camp “Meathop Fell”, checked in (£11.50) then setup @ 4:30. Drove to Grange-over-sands looking for pool, couldn’t find it so back to camp @ 5:30. Relaxed in the sun and had tea. Walked around the camp, talked to the cows then more relaxing. Sunday 1 June fine, 22°C Up @ 8:30. Had breakfast, packed up and left @ 9:30, drove north on A590 then A591 then onto A6. Drove through Kendal (closed) then north on A6 over Shap Fells. Stopped @ Shap for a drink then onward north on A6, through Penrith. Turned onto B6263, then A69 to Brampton then onto back roads to see Bank Turret, Hadrians Wall and then to Birdoswald Roman Fort. Looked around fort (£3 ea) then bought sandwiches and ate in the sunshine @ 12:30.
Hadrians Wall Left and headed through Gilsland back onto A69, to Brampton. Got petrol (£30 for 32 litres) then drove A6071 to Longtown then north on A7 into Scotland and up to Hawick and Galashiels then into Edinburgh. Arrived home @ 4:30. Sat in the sun and had takeaway pizza for tea. Out for a walk @ 7:15, home @ 8:00 Monday 2 June drizzle / fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:15 Tuesday 3 June cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:15 Wednesday 4 June fine / cloudy / rain, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 7:00 · Liz home @ 8:00 Thursday 5 June cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz, walked to Leith Walk and had tea @ Tapas Bar (£30) · Went to “Cats” @ Edinburgh Playhouse, finished @ 10:30 · Bus home, arr 11:00 Friday 6 June fine / partly cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, drinks with guys from work till 7:45, bus home Saturday 7 June fine, 19°C Up @ 8:00, packed bags etc and left @ 8:45. Drove through town and onto A7, then A68 through Jedburgh, then onto A696 to Newcastle. Stopped @ Angel of the North @ 11:30, then south on A167 to Chester-le-street. Parked van (50p for 2 hours) and wandered along High Street. Lunch @ Bakers Oven then wandered some more. Bought new cushions / pillows for the van (£13 for 2 inners and covers) then back to the van @ 1:30.
Angel of the North
Angel of the North
Liz Caldwell on Angel's feet, Angel of the North Drove south on A167 to Durham then A690 to camp site near A1 (The Grange, £12.80). Parked and setup then walked to nearby village of Carville and caught bus @ 2:30 into Durham (2 miles, 5 minutes £1.15 ea!). Walked down to Framwelgate Bridge then up though town centre to Palace Green, past the Castle then into the Cathedral (free), walked around (very impressive and “solid”). Went up the central tower (325 steps, £2ea) for view of surrounding area. Back down then walked through University area to north of Cathedral then back to the town centre to buy a drink.
View from top of Durham Cathedral Went back across Framwelgate Bridge and down beside the River Wear, watched man dive off bridge to applause of his Geordie mates. Sat by the river then back up to Safeways and bought some supplies. Caught bus back to Carville @ 4:30 and walked back to camp. Relaxed, had tea @ 7:00, relaxed some more.
River Wear
and Durham Cathedral
Sunday 8 June rain / showers, 17°C Up @ 8:30, had breakfast and packed up, left the camp @ 9:30. Rain stopped. Drove north on the A1 to Chester-le-street then west to Beamish, went to the Beamish Open Air Museum. Old buildings etc to explore, went into an old coal mine, went on a tram etc. Very interesting and enjoyable.
Beamish Museum Had lunch @ museum then went to the oldest surviving single span railway bridge, then drove south through West Auckland (!) to Caldwell, North Yorkshire. Stopped for photos then west through Barnard Castle and onto A66 and over the Penines (raining heavily) to Penrith then north on M6. Stopped for a coffee at a service area @ 4:00 then onwards north, onto the M74 then the A702, arr home @ 7:00
Caldwell, North Yorkshire
Monday 9 June fine / cloudy, 18°C · Off sick from work, flu. · Liz went to work @ 7:30, home @ 5:30 Tuesday 10 June cloudy / showers, 17°C · Off sick again · Liz to work @ 7:30 · Went to tax dept. to see if I was owed money (no) · Picked Liz up after work @ 5:00 Wednesday 11 June cloudy / showers / fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home@ 7:30 Thursday 12 June fine / rain / fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz (been on course), bus home, arr 5:30 Friday 13 June cloudy / fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council for drinks · Liz came to Prive @ 5:30 · Left @ 7:30, tea @ Garfunkels (£15) then bus home, arr 8:30 Saturday 14 June fine, 19°C · Up @ 11:00 (Liz up @ 9:00) · Liz went out @ 11:30 to go to Leith Gala · Walked to Comely Bank, got lunch and sat in the sun @ 2:00 · Walked home @ 3:30, met Liz on the way · Sat in the sun · Out for tea to Pizza Express @ 7:00 (£17) · Bus home @ 8:30 Sunday 15 June cloudy / mainly fine, 18°C · Up @ 9:00 · Out @ 10:00, went to Craigleith, bought aphid spray, cough medicine, etc · Drove north across Forth Bridge to Glenrothes looking for caravan store, then to Kirkcaldy · Nothing open till 12:00 · Went to Kirkcaldy High Street, bought tin opener for van · Drove to caravan store in Kirkcaldy (Randolph Ind Est) and bought leveling blocks for the van · Drove round Kirkcaldy, KFC for lunch · Drove back to Forth Rd Bridge on the B925 · Drove to Hopetoun House and looked around (£6 ea), very interesting · Drove to B&Q and bought new slop bucket for van · Home @ 3:30 · Both fell asleep from 5:00 to 7:00, cheese on toast / noodles for tea
Hopetoun House
Monday 16 June cloudy / partly fine, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, took van to Tynecastle Garage for tappit tightening etc · Bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus to Gorgie to pick up van (£66) then home · Liz home @ 8:00 Tuesday 17 June fine / showers, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Liz home sick · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Wednesday 18 June cloudy / breezy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Liz home sick again · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Thursday 19 June cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 Friday 20 June mainly fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, drink at “Prive Council” · Left @7:30, bus home, arr 8:15 Saturday 21 June cloudy / showers, 17°C · Up @ 8:00 · Packed up the van, left @ 9:00, drove north over Forth Bridge, onto M90 to Perth then A93 through Glenshee ski area to Braemar and through to Balmoral, arr 12:30 · Went into Castle grounds (£4.50 ea) and wandered around · Had lunch @ café then watched young pipe band and wandered around some more · Left @ 3:00, drove east along River Dee · Stopped in Banchory to get cough medicine for AC and a thermometer for the van · Drove along A93 to Aberdeen then south on A90 · Stopped at Dunottar Castle for photos then ontwards south · Stopped in Perth @ 7:00 for tea @ Pizza Hut · Left Perth @ 8:30, home on M90, arr 9:15
Balmoral Castle
River Dee, Balmoral
Balmoral Castle
Dunottar Castle
Sunday 22 June hazy / cloudy / drizzle, 16°C · Up @ 10:30 (!), went to Comely Bank for brunch then bus into town · Went up the Royal Mile and picked up a Fringe booklet then to Princes Street · Bought Kylie and John’s wedding presernt (Rennie MacIntosh picture frame) £35 from Jenners · Wandered around the shops then sat in Princes St gardens, had an ice-cream · Bus home @ 4:00 · Takeaway Indian for tea
Monday 23 June partly cloudy, 16°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 Tuesday 24 June fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz after her “Sercurities” exam, bus home, arr 6:00 Wednesday 25 June fine, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out for a bike ride @ 7:00, home @ 8:30 Thursday 26 June fine, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out for a walk @ 7:00, home @ 8:30 Friday 27 June mainly fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, drinks in Prive Council · Met Liz @ 6:00 · Left @ 8:30, Garfunkels for tea · Bus home, arr 10:00 Saturday 28 June cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 9:00 · Packed up the van to go away · Drove out past airport but oil leak too bad, too much smoke so drove home again · Bus into town @ 11:00 · AC bought Arthur C Clarke book, dropped off drycleaning · Had lunch @ Milnes pub · Walked around shops · Caught bus to Haymarket to go to car rental places, closed · Caught bus to airport and rented car from Alamo (£55) for a day @ 4:30 · Drove home · Tea @ home Sunday 29 June misty / fine / misty, 20°C · Up @ 9:00 · Left @ 10:00, drove to M9 then to Stirling to Blair Drummond Safari Park (£9 each) · Drove through the animal enclosure then parked and walked around petting zoo etc · Went to bird of prey display @ 12:40 then had lunch · Left @ 1:15 · Drove to Callander then to Loch Katrine (didn’t stop, too busy) · Drove south through Aberfoyle on A81 then through Carron Valley on B818 · Drove north on M9 to Bridge of Allan then back through Stirling to M9 and back to Edinburgh Airport to drop off car @ 5:00 · Bus back to town (full of people for Robbie Williams concert) · Tea @ Auld Hundred pub (£15) then walked home @ 7:00, arr 7:45
Blair Drummond Safari Park and Blair Drummond Castle Monday 30 June partly cloudy / rain, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 8:00 Tuesday 1 July cloudy / rain, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 8:00, then back to work @ 9:15, home again @ 10:00 Wednesday 2 July cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a bike ride @ 6:30, home @ 7:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 Thursday 3 July fine, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, to Queens Arms for Adrian Pacitti’s leaving do · Bus home @ 12:00, arr 12:15
Friday 4 July fine, 25°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · ½ day so left @ 12:30 · walked to Princes St Gardens and sat in the shade and had lunch · bus home @ 3:00 · Liz home for lunch @ 3:30 · Out @ 5:30, bus to town then to Picardy Place to pick up car from Hertz (£93 for 3 days) · Drove home · Picked Liz up after work and went to Leith for tea @ Mya (thai) · Home @ 10:00 Saturday 5 July cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:30, had breakfast, packed up then left @ 8:30 · Drove north over Forth Road Bridge then north on M90 then onto A9 @ Perth · North to Aviemore, stopped for coffee @ 10:20 · AC bought zip off trousers (£37) · Left @ 11:15, north again through Inverness then over Moray Firth and Cromarty Firth and north on A9 up the coast of the Moray Firth · Onto A99, stopped @ Wick for lunch @ 2:00 · Had a quick walk around town then left @ 2:30 · Drove to Feswick to B&B, dropped off our bags, then drove to John O’Groats (just a big carpark at then end of the road), took the obligatory photos then left · Drove east to Duncansby Head for photos of the real end of the county and looking over to Orkney · Drove west past Castle of Mey and north to Dunnet Head, the northernmost point in the mainland UK · Drove around Dunnet Bay to Castletown then back to Dunnet @ 5:30 for tea @ Northern Sands pub (£16), very nice · Back to B&B @ 7:30, watched TV then to bed @ 10:30 (just after watching the sunset@ 10:15), still light
John O'Groats with the Orkney's in the background
Dunnet Head
Sunset @ Freswick Bay (10:30pm)
Sunday 6 July cloudy / showers, 16°C Up @ 7:30, had breakfast the left @ 8:15, drove to John O’Groats and paid for Ockney Maxi Tour tickets (£34 ea, incl ferry and bus tour). Boarded boat @ 8:45 and left @ 9:00. Smooth crossing but a bit cool. Arrived @ Burwick @ 9:45. Got onto bus for tour Drove north on South Ronaldsay, past St Margarets Hope and over the Churchill Barriers, past the “block ships” and into Kirkwall @ 10:30. Had ½ hour stop, went in St Magnus Cathedral and had look around. Back on the bus and off again @ 11:00. Drove around south end of “Mainland” overlooking Scapa Flow then into Stromness @ 12:00 for lunch stop. Walked along main street (quite because it’s Sunday) then had lunch @ café. AC bought his mum an Orkney shirt (£12)
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
St Magnus Cathedral, Kirkwall
Main St, Stromness Left @ 1:10 and drove to Scara Brae neolithic village (£5 for both). Walked around excavations (very impressive), in light rain, and then through Skail House. Bought “Skara Brae” t-shirts (£15 ea) and had a coffee, then back on bus and left @ 3:00
Skara Brae
Skara Brae
Skara Brae Drove across to Ring of Brodgar (henge) for a walk around then on to Standing Stones of Stenness for a photo. Carried on through Finstown back into Kirkwall @ 4:00. Walked around town then to pub for a drink. Left again @ 6:00 and drove south over Churchill Barriers, stopped @ Italian Chapel (built by Italian POW’s in WWII) then back to ferry @ 7:00.
Andrew Caldwell @ Ring of Brodgar
Ring of Brodgar Bumpier crossing back, arr in John O’Groats @ 7:45. Had light tea @ Seaview Pub (burgers and chips) then back to B&B @ 8:30. Crashed into bed @ 9:30 Monday 7 July cloudy / drizzle / rain / partly cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 8:30, had breakfast and packed up, left B&B @ 9:15 · Drove through to Thurso then south on A9 across “desert road” · Stopped @ Inverness @ 12:15 for lunch @ Bakers Oven and to stretch legs · Left @ 1:15, carried on south on A9 through the rain · Back home via A90 and Forth Road Bridge, arr 3:45 (5 ½ hours driving) · Unpacked then returned car @ 4:30 (£93 total) then bus home, arr 5:30 Tuesday 8 July partly cloudy, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Out for a bike ride @ 7:15, home @ 8:15 Wednesday 9 July partly cloudy / rain / fine, 23°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 Thursday 10 July cloudy / rain / partly cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:40 · Out for a bike ride @ 7:15, home @ 8:00 Friday 11 July cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, met Liz then bus home, arr 5:45 Saturday 12 July cloudy / fine breaks, 19°C · Up @ 8:30, had breakfast · Bus to Gorgie to pick up van from garage (£160 for replacement rocker cover), drove home · Left @ 10:00, drove on M8 through Glasgow to Loch Lomond and went to Scottish Open Golf · Watched Ernie Els and others play on pretty course · Left @ 4:30, held up in traffic, home @ 7:00 · Picked up chinese takeaway for tea Sunday 13 July fine, 25°C · Up @ 8:30, had breakfast · Left @ 10:15, rode bikes to Haymarket Station, caught 10:40 train to Linlithgow (£6.40 for 2 one way) · Rode our bikes along the Union Canal back to Edinburgh (20 miles, 2 ½ hours) · Arr home @2:00, relaxed for the rest of the afternoon · Had tea @ 6:00 then walk to the shops Monday 14 July fine, 24°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Liz home @ 8:00, back to work @ 9:15, home again @ 10:00 Tuesday 15 July hazy / fine / foggy, 24°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, stopped off on the way to get a bottle of wine to celebrate Liz passing her “futures” exam · Liz home @ 8:00 Wednesday 16 July fine, 23°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 8:00 Thursday 17 July murky / drizzle, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 7:00 · Liz home @ 8:00 Friday 18 July murky / drizzle / fine, 25°C – Edinburgh – Bristol - Christchurch · Up @ 6:00, left @ 6:45, bus to town then Airport bus, arr airport 7:30 · Checked in etc then through to lounge · Plane delayed from 8:35 to 8:55, actually left @ 9:15 · Arr Bristol @ 10:15 (Easyjet £67 rtn each) · Picked up rental car (£63 for 3 day from Hertz) · Drove through Bristol and Bath (1 hr to do 15 miles) · Drove south on A36, round Salisbury then A31 to Christchurch · Found hotel @ 1:30 (TravelInn) · Shower and changed, picked up by double decker bus @ 2:30 · Taken to Highcliffe Castle for John Redgrave and Kylie Watsons wedding · Short ceremony then drinks and finger food etc. Good weather, lovely setting · Saw Concorde fly over · Left @ 9:30, bus back to hotel @ 10:00
Kylie Watson with father and mother
John and Kylie Redgrave
Highcliffe Castle
Saturday 19 July partly cloudy, 22°C – Christchurch – Hereford Up @ 9:00, down for breakfast @ 9:30 (£4.50 ea). Packed car and left @ 10:00. Drove to Stour Road to drop of wedding present to Kylie’s mum. Left @ 10:30, drove through Bournemouth on A35 to Poole then north on A350 (got lost going through Blandford Forum, wound up on country roads then found sign posts back to main road) Stopped for lunch in Warminster @ 1:00 in café. Bought film, tissues etc then off again on A350 to M4 then west to M5 and north. Off @ A40 then west to Ross-on-Wye for a look around then north to Hereford. Tried to get room @ TravelInn but full so went to Hopbine Hotel B&B (£50). Went into town looking for a swimming pool, all closed so back to TravelInn for tea (£24) then parked by the Wye River and walked around old part of town. Walked across Victoria Bridge, through Castle Green, past the Cathedral and along old streets. Very pretty. Back to car and back to B&B @ 8:30
Hereford Cathedral and River Wye Sunday 20 July partly cloudy / showers, 22°C Up @ 8:30, had breakfast then checked out of B&B. Drove west on A438 to Hay-on-wye then into Wales. North on A470 through Llanwrtyd Wells and Llandovery on A483. East to Sennybridge then south thru Breacon Beacons National Park to Dan-yr-Ogof Caves, arr 11:30 Looked through 3 caves and dinosaur park (£8.50 ea), then had lunch. Drove south on A4067 to Swansea and around to the Mumbles. Parked the car @ 2:00 and walked to the pier, played in the amusement arcade then started to rain so back to car. Drove back through Swansea and onto the M4 east past Cardiff and onto the M48, and over the Severn Bridge. Onto M32 and into Bristol. Drove around Bristol then out to Severn Beach by the M4 bridge. Back into Bristol for tea @ 5:30 @ KFC. Drove out to Airport, filled car with gas, returned car, and checked in @ 6:30. Thru security and onto the plane @ 7:10, took off on time @ 7:20. OK flight, arr 8:05 in Edinburgh. Got bags then Airport bus to town and bus home, arr 9:15 Monday 21 July cloudy / showers, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 Tuesday 22 July partly cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, took van to Tynecastle garage, then bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:00, bus to pick up van again, home @ 5:45 (£40 for oil leak) Wednesday 23 July cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:45 · Went to doctor @ 10:45 over sore hip, tendon strain, got anti-inflamatories (£6) · Left work @ 5:00, met Liz and caught bus home, arr 5:45 Thursday 24 July cloudy / showers, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Finished @ 5:00, out for drinks for Andrew Perries leaving · Home @ 1:00 Friday 25 July rain / clearing, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, picked up drycleaning then bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz went to work @ 9:15, home @ 10:00 Saturday 26 July cloudy / showers / fine, 20°C · Up @ 8:00, caught bus to Royal Mile, met Andy Brotchie from AC’s work then went to Three Sisters pub to watch All Blacks beat Australia 50 – 23 · Left @ 12:00, walked to Princes Street, bought takeaway lunch and sat in Princes Street Gardens · Walked to Dean Village then down to Stockbridge, bought a couple of bottles of wine then walked home, arr 2:30 · Snoozed for a couple of hours then had Pizza Hut for tea · Caught a bus @ 8:00 to James Carroll / Andy Brotchie / Leslieann Kirkland’s flat for their flat warming. · Taxi home @ 2:30 Sunday 27 July fine / cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then pottered around · Out for a drive @ 10:00, went to North Berwick to the Seabird centre to watch the puffins · Lunch @ North Berwick · Drove to East Fortune and went to Sunday Market · Drove back to Fort Kinnaird retail park and went to Argos (bought airbed £14) then to B&Q and bought “gazebo” (£14) for the van · Drove home @ 5:00 · Bus into town @ 6:00, tea @ Auld Hundred pub, £20 · Walked around town then bus home @ 8:30 Monday 28 July cloudy / rain, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 Tuesday 29 July cloudy / rain, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz home @ 8:00, back to work @ 9:15, home again @ 10:00 Wednesday 30 July cloudy / fine, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 Thursday 31 July cloudy / rain / cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Liz home @ 8:00 Friday 1 August partly cloudy, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive bar for some drinks · Liz came to Prive @ 8:00 · Left @ 9:30, garfunkels for tea then home @ 10:30 Saturday 2 August cloudy / fine spells, 17°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast etc then left @ 10:00 · Drove to Matalan for Liz to look @ clothes then out to Burntisland to see Liz’s cousin Margaret, arr 11:30 · Had lunch there and left @ 2:00, back to Edinburgh and went to Gyle Centre then home @ 3:30 · Liz out @ 4:00 into town for work night out · AC stayed @ home · Liz home @ 11:00 Sunday 3 August cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 9:00 · Into town @ 11:00, bought travel atlas’s (France and Spain) and Spanish dictionary · Had lunch @ burger King · Watched the Festival Cavalcade along Princes Street @ 2:00 · Finished @ 4:30, walked home, arr 5:15 · Went to Safeways to get tv dinners @ 6:30, home @ 7:00
Monday 4 August fine,
24°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 Tuesday 5 August misty / clearing / fine, 24°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, met Liz in town, went and sat in Princes St Gardens till 6:00 · Bus home, arr 6:30 · Thunder showers later on Wednesday 6 August hazy / fine, 25°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out in the van @ 7:30, washed van @ self wash then drove to Muirhouse for a walk along the waterfront · Home @ 9:00 Thursday 7 August fine / mist later, 25°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:00, bus home, arr 6:30 · Liz went back to work @ 9:00, home @ 10:00 Friday 8 August cloudy / fine, 22°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 4:00, went to pub for a couple of drinks then bus home @ 5:15, arr 5:45 · Phone call from Sam and Andrew Reid to say their flight had been delayed to 12:00 · Left home @ 12:30am, drove to the airport · Flight arrived @ 1:40am, drove home, arr 2:30, bed @ 3:30 Saturday 9 August fine / single rain shower, 27°C · Up @ 8:00, had breakfast then bus into town @ 10:00 · Got off in Frederick Street, walked up to the Royal Mile then up to the Castle · Went into Castle (£8.50 ea) and looked around, left @ 11:30 · Walked down the Royal Mile, watched a escapologist in Parliament Sq and other street entertainment · Walked to North Bridge to watch the 1 o’clock gun · Went to The Three Sisters and had lunch outside in the sun · Walked back up to the Royal Mile @ 2:30, walked down to Holyrood then back up Carlton Rd to Princes Street · Caught a bus home @ 3:30 · Relaxed · Out again @ 6:00, bus to South Bridge, and then walked through to The Pleasance, to Pleasance Courtyard · Had a drink then went to Rhys Darby (NZ comedian) (£7.50 ea), quite good, very hot in windowless room · Left @ 8:15, walked back to Hunter Sq and had tea outside @ restaurant (£45 for 4) · Walked up to the Esplanade (queued) @ 9:30 and got seated @ the Tattoo @ 10:30 · Walked a very good Tattoo, got 1 shower of rain, finished @ 12:30 with fireworks · Walked down to George St and caught cab @ 1:15 (£6), home @ 1:30, bed
Massed Pipes, Tattoo
Sunday 10 August cloudy / fine / cloudy, 22°C · Up @ 8:00, drove out @ 8:30 · Drove to Airport, had breakfast @ Weatherspoons · Sam and Andrew checked and went through @ 10:30 for 11:30 flight · Left the airport and drove to Livingston · Wandered around the shops, bought bike tubes, soldering iron. Liz bought 2 tank tops (£4 ea) · Left @ 12:00, drove back to Edinburgh through Ratho, then home · Slept / sat in the sun · Out @ 6:00, walked to Comely Bank, went to Pizza Express for tea (£17) · Bus home, arr 8:00 Monday 11 August cloudy / fine, 23°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:45 · Out for a walk @ 8:30, home @ 9:00 Tuesday 12 August cloudy / fine, 21°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 6:15, bus home, arr 6:45 · Liz home @ 7:30, then back to work @ 9:15, home again @ 10:00 Wednesday 13 August fine / cloudy / fine, 21°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:30 Thursday 14 August cloudy, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 7:30 Friday 15 August cloudy / fine, 21°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00 · Went for drinks for Mark Morrison’s leaving do · Walked home @ 10:45, home @ 11:15 Saturday 16 August fine, 21°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast · Drove to Leith, looked at Spaces self storage units, booked a 4’x4’x4’ locker · Booked the van in for an MOT @ the AA · Drove to Tranent to look @ caravan store · Drove to Gullane and parked the van @ 1:30 (£1.60), walked down to the beach and had lunch (takeaway from Greggs) · Sat on the beach in the sun · Left @ 3:00, drove back to the A1 then back home via Leith · Caught bus into town @ 4:00, went to Pleasance Courtyard · Met som of Liz’s workmates for a drink · Went to Mel and Sue (ok) @ 5:45, Bill Bailey (very funny) @ 7:15 · Had tea then walked to Bristo Sq and went to Puppetry of the Penis @ 10:00 (started @ 10:30), very good · Walked to Princes St @ 11:30 to watch the fireworks from the Tattoo · Caught bus home @ 1:00 Sunday 17 August cloudy / fine, 20°C · Up @ 10:00 · Out @ 11:00, drove to Livingston to caravan shop · Drove into Livingston and went to mall · Had lunch @ Bakers Oven · Walked around mall · Back to van @ 1:30, drove back through Newbridge then to north side of Airport to watch planes take off · Drove to Clermiston Hill for a walk through the forest then back home · Out for a walk to the supermarket @ 7:00 to get tea then home
Monday 18 August mainly
fine / breezy, 20°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:45 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:40 Tuesday 19 August partly cloudy / breezy, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home · James Carroll came around for dinner, dropped him home @ 9:00 Wednesday 20 August fine / cloudy, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:45 · Liz home @ 8:00, back to work @ 9:15, home again @ 10:15 Thursday 21 August cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:15, bus home, arr 5:30 Friday 22 August partly cloudy / fine, 20°C – Edinburgh to Arrochar · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 2:00, bus home, arr 2:30 · Liz home @ 3:00, packed up the van and on the road @ 3:45 · Drove to M8 then west through Glasgow (at rushhour) then over Erskine Bridge · Drove north on A83 then west to Arrochar. Went to Caravan Club site but they had no toilets so tried the site next door but they were full. · Found a pitch in a small camp behind the service station (£8) and set up @ 7:00 · Had tea then went for a walk along the shore of Loch Long through the village, back to camp @ 9:00 · Bed @ 10:00 Saturday 23 August fine / cloudy / misty, 19°C – Arrochar to Carradale · Up @ 8:00, had breakfast, packed up the van then left @ 9:45 · Drove south on A83 to Inveraray (amazing scenery) and stopped for look around @ 10:15 · Drove on tp Loch Gilphead and had a look at the Crinan Canal then on to Tarbet for a petrol stop · Carried on south on A83 down the west coast on Kintyre to Cambeltown, arr 12:30 · Parked in Tesco’s then walked to town, music festival on so people everywhere · Had lunch @ Palm Bistro, £9 · Looked around town then back to the van @ 1:30 · Drove north on B842 to Carradale camp, arr 2:00 · Checked in and setup (£26 for 2 nights) · Relaxed for a while then went for a walk @ 3:15 along the adjacent beach and into the village of Carradale, then back to camp along the road, arr 4:45 · Relaxed some more outside then inside when mist came down · Had tea @ 7:00 then out for a walk around the camp @ 8:00 · Bed @ 10:00
Inverary and Loch Fyne Sunday 24 August cloudy / fine, 23°C · Up @ 8:30, had breakfast then packed up the van and left the campsite @ 9:30 · Drove about 2 miles and broke the gearbox in the van · Called the AA and then waited for a man to come from Campbeltown · Man and truck arrived @ 11:00, picked up van and drove us all back to Campbeltown · Parked van outside R & M Motors, packed our bags then walked to town · Had lunch @ Palm Bistro then to Tescos · Walked back to van then sat in adjacent park and watched football game · Picked up our stuff out of the van and walked back to town to bus stop · Caught bus to Glasgow @ 5:00 (£26 for 2 people) · Arrived in Glasgow @ 9:15, caught bus to Edinburgh @ 9:30 (£8 for 2), arr Edinburgh @ 10:30 · Caught cab home
Campbeltown Harbour Monday 25 August cloudy, 19°C · Up @ 9:00, had breakfast then pottered around · Bus into town @ 12:00, and went to “American Pie 3” movie @ Warners in Leith Walk · Arranged replacement gearbox to be shipped to Cambeltown from Adrian in Leeds (£225) · Went shopping, then bus home, via Safeway for groceries · Home @ 6:00 Tuesday 26 August cloudy / drizzle / fine, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Liz home @ 8:00 · Out for a walk @ 9:00, home @ 10:00 Wednesday 27 August fine / cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 9:00 · Left @ 5:30, bus home, arr 6:00 · Liz home @ 8:00 Thursday 28 August cloudy / drizzle, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · LIz home @ 7:45 Friday 29 August cloudy, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, went to Prive Council for drinks · Left @ 7:30, bus home, arr 8:00 Saturday 30 August fine / partly cloudy, 21°C · Up @ 6:00, packed bags etc, caught bus to town @ 6:40 · Caught Glasgow bus @ 7:00 (£8 for 2), arr 8:15 · Had a cup of coffee then caught Cambeltown bus (£26 for 2) @ 9:00 · Arrived in Cambeltown @ 1:30, met guy from R & M Garage and picked up van (£260) · Did some shopping then drove south to Southend then on to Mull of Kintyre (along a narrow, steep and winding road) · Back to Cambeltown @ 3:00 then on to Carradale to camp · Picked up stuff left there from last week, set up and relaxed · Tea then bed @ 9:30
Southend Beach
End of the Road, Mull of Kintyre (Ireland in the distance)
Mull of Kintyre sign Sunday 31 August partly cloudy, 20°C · Up @ 8:00, packed up and left @ 9:00, drove north to Claonaig and caught 10:00 ferry across to Lochranza, Arran, arr 10:30 · Drove south and around island, very pretty and deserted · Stopped for lunch in Lamlash @ pub (£13) @ 12:30 · Drove north @ 1:30 to Brodick, wandered around the shops, Liz bought zip of trousers (£13) then waited · Caught ferry to Ardrossan @ 4:40, arr 5:35 (£58 for van + 2 persons, Cloanaig to Lochranza and Brodick to Ardrossan) · Drove home via A737 then M8, home @ 8:00 · Went to park the van and couldn’t get reverse gear! · Unpacked van
Claonaig to Lochranza car ferry with Arran in the background
Dougarie House, Arran
Brodick to Ardrossan car ferry, Brodick Monday 1 September partly cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Out for a bike ride @ 7:00, home @ 8:00 Tuesday 2 September cloudy, 17°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Had meeting in Glasgow all afternoon, left Glasgow @ 5:00, train then bus home, arr 6:30 Wednesday 3 September mainly fine, 18°C · Up @ 7:00, bus to work, arr 8:30 · Left @ 5:00, bus home, arr 5:30 · Had next tenant of our flat come round @ 6:30 for another look Thursday 4 September mainly fine, 19°C · Up @ 7:00, drove van to Tyncastle Garage to repair gearbox, bus to work, arr 8:45 · Left @ 6:30, bus home, arr 6:45 · Out for a bike ride @ 7:30, home @ 8:30
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