29 August 2020 Stonehaven

Up early again for our 5 mile walk to Dunnottar castle then back for coffee, lunch then anwalk up to St Mary’s church (Cowie Church) small and interesting lots of family graves and an old Morte. We noticed on this walk the railway company is doing lots of work on the line above the road ready for briging in the heavy lifting gear to the crash. Evening walk to the Harbour.

30 August 2020 Stonehaven

Up early again for our 5 mile walk to Dunnottar castle as we have done this a few times for a change I went down and back up the 180 steps to the castle Phew! Coffee and lots of walkabouts some new places as we used our (never go down the same road twice in life) saying this morning, hand washing a few items today as fine and windy.

28 August 2020 Stonehaven

Up early dull and windy just right for an early morning walk along the cliff path to Dunnuttor Castle Fab walk. It’s so good to get early exercise and rewarding to do a 5 mile walk or a 3 hour cycle and wonder what you can do from 0800 onwards.

Back into town our usual café has outdoor seating now still popular as tables with booked on some tables and the time of the booking lovely coffee back for lunch.

More Walking? Yesterday I mentioned about the stones of the beach and not many stone painters around here WELL look below how fab you can click on the image for a larger picture.

We may!!! Have some fish n chips here as the chippy has a good rating (we hope)?

27 August 2020 Stonehaven

Good walk early this morning before the rain arrived then some shopping before a slow drive up to Stonehaven due to lots of surface water on the roads arrived early afternoon and got a good pitch. A walk along the beach, coffee and time for a shower. Looking at the sign below I don’t think they get many stone painters here.

The Picture below looks like we caught the Loch Ness Monster on the beach here.

24 August 2020 Edinburgh

Cycled up into Edinburgh on the old railway lines coming into town via Murryfield Stadium. Tried coming back a different way down to Granton but the cycleway closed due to bridge repairs (NO not me!). Had a couple of good walks in the afternoon.

25 August 2020 Edinburgh

CANCELLED due to storm Frances

26 August 2020 Edinburgh

Still raining but managed an early morning walk towards Cramond Island. No cycling today weather still unsteady so a walk again to Cramond and again in the evening. Spotted this aeroplane must have crashed into the sea.

23 August 2020 Edinburgh

Up early as usual and set off for a cycle up to The Forth road Bridge we did the route in reverse this time route 1 out then back route 76 through the Dalmeny estate.

Cycled over the Bridge to North Queensferry and back we noticed a bus coming over the bridge towards us a number 747 (no wings on it).  Stopped for a coffee in South Queensferry before coming back a good 3 hour cycle.

On arriving back it rained heavy what brilliant timing. We managed an afternoon walk and hope to have one this evening.

22 August 2020 Edinburgh

Up nice and early as moving day and wanted to get in the toilets’ BUT closed at 0600 for cleaning while 0750 ? Good drive up after a bit of shopping at Berwick arriving at 1015 good pitch. Lots of movement on site. Went for a walk along to Cramond Island what a lot of rubbish about.

Yesterday afternoon the lifeboat was called out just as we were on the pier it was to 3 swimmers in trouble in the sea just of the Links car park Bamburgh all 3 were OK.

This morning walked to Beadnell Bay with a slight detour as we couldn’t cross the stream on the beach due to last nights rainfall. Tried our first Fish n Chips for 6 months from Pinnacles Seahouses and now realise why the queue was so long at Neptunes.

A windy day but managed to catch a photo of a spoilt 15 year old on the Harbour.

18 – 20 August Seahouses Northumberland

Good journey up from Harrogate arrived at 1400 had all the information to Enter the site and find our pitch, the campsite is full and Seahouses very busy. Had a walk down to the harbour then into town for food.

Next day up at 0700 but the toilets’ were being cleaned so a walk down to the harbour. These toilets’ are fogged so we cannot enter until 0750. Cycled down to Beadnall kilns then back up to Bamburgh for a distanced coffee outside then back for lunch then a cycle to Beadnall again for an ice cream, in the evening a short 1 Hr walk on the Beach.

Next day up early again and had a 3 Hr walk up to Bamburgh and back. Lunch then a cycle to Bamburgh but too busy to stop for coffee.

14 August 2020 Harrogate

We are on the move again a busy journey down due to road closure at one point and the drive through the Lake district unbelievable (What Pandemic)! Wall to wall traffic from Grasmere to the M6. Just to minimise risk we did not stop at are usual bacon buttie stop (The Harvester) and carried on to the campsite no contact arrival point instructions in an envelope.

Met some friends from Harrogate at Fodders for coffee Track and Trace good, outside seating available and well-spaced inside seating chose late afternoon. Toilet block on site open and we waited just until 1700 to enter when it had just been cleaned BUT one caravaner moved the cleaning chain to use the toilet (####).  3 people only at 1 time as limited facilities WHAT (####) 4 people in there (####) Sorry but expect a lot of swear words over the next few weeks.

15 – 17 August 2020 Harrogate

Cycle to Knaresborough this morning. Went to check the campsite on the outskirts of the town, too far out. Cycled around the town then back for coffee. Decided to try out the cycle route into Harrogate. Off main roads most of the way so quite good. Met our friends again for coffee.

The following day had a good walk on a new path for us then after lunch met some more friends for a walk then coffee.

17 August 2020 Harrogate

Cycle day again today. Went to Knaresborough again but Darian got a puncture so we stopped in the Market Place and repaired it. Cycled back to the campsite for a toilet then set off for Harrogate and on leaving the site Maureen got a puncture so back to the van to repair it. Set off again and only got 5 minutes away and Darian got another puncture so Maureen pushed Darian’s bike back to the site abd Darian continued on Maureen’s bike to the cycle in Harrogate . 500 yards from the shop Darian got another puncture on Maureen’s bike. Bought 3 inner tubes, some tyre levers and some patches. Changed the damaged tube and cycled back to the campsite to repair Darian’s puncture. Met friends for coffee again, then rung the psychiatrist.

Below is a young couples campervan parked on a small non awning pitch parked at the wrong side with an awning on the grass too close to us usually this site is brilliant but due to the current situation things have lapsed.

11 August 2020 The Lake District

Had a ride up to Silloth and spotted the lifeboat out didn’t stop long still feel uncomfortable when in crowds.

Great thunderstorm last night its a while since we had one like that. Great cycle this morning. Below are some photos of the Keswick railway line cycleway (getting there)!

Managed to get a new Duvet a lovely print.