October break, 11 October 2025

Heightington, Shropshire

The Swan Whisperer went for a short run this morning before breakfast, along the Lancaster canal! After breakfast, we both went down to explore a bit, and saw varies narrow boats,

as well as trains on the WCML in the background, one of which must have been a special, although I don't seem to have any photos of it. 

We had a fairly long drive down today, and went a rather more scenic route via Chester and Shrewsbury, which meant we didn't have to negotiate the Birmingham system. We arrived at the Swan Whisperer's brother-in-law's place about 15:30, and had a cup of tea with him and his son who popped in later. Then we all drove down to our niece's place, where we are parked up for the night. Their local church had its Harvest Festival service this evening, so we went to that with them and then back to theirs for a meal, which was lovely. And so to bed, as we have a very early start in the morning! 

October break, 10 October 2025

Claughton-on-Brock, Preston, Lancashire

We had to start heading south this morning, but before we did so, we the Swan Whisperer went for a walk around the area. It was low tide, so not very beautiful, but I still took a couple of photos! 

It was about 11:00 when we set off, as we had to use the services before we could go anywhere. But once the grey was empty, the water full, and the loo empty, we set off. 

Our first port of call was Tesco's in Dumfries, which we first went to many years ago when we were at a skating competition there and then took a couple of days' break afterwards. I hope I won't need to shop again until we get home, although we might have to get milk. Once I had shopped, we had lunch, and then set off on the long, dreary route down the A75 and M6. I slept a lot of the way - I haven't been knitting lately because of my eyesight, although I probably could again now, and I can't read in a moving car, so there's nothing much else to do. 

We arrived here at this very nice Certificated Location (tiny campsite on someone's farm) at about 5:00. The owner was very friendly and welcoming, and showed us where things were, and made change for the EHU, which only takes coins. The SW went out for a walk to discover the Lancaster canal and the nearby railway line - I hope to do so in the morning, but we have another long drive, and are meeting family, so mustn't be too long. Also, we have to be away by 11:00.

October break, 9 October 2025

Gairlieston, Dumfries & and Galloway

This morning after breakfast I stewed up the plums and cooking apples I'd bought the other day - quite delicious, even if I do say so myself! We didn't set off until just before 11:00, only narrowly missing having to pay a late fee! But we didn't have far to go, and wanted to make a bit of a day of it. 

First port of call was a small Morrissons where I bought some stuff for lunch and some flowers for our hostess this evening. Then we headed south to the Irish sea, passing Ailsa Craig,

until we got to Cairnryan, where we had hoped to stop for lunch. However, the picnic area we had planned to stop at boringly had height restrictions, so that was a bust. I suppose they don't want lorries taking up the car park, fair enough, but they might think of us poor motorhome! So we headed a little further south, and on the outskirts of Stranraer found a nice place to park up just outside a static caravan park, and had lunch there.

It was not much further to drive until we got to our campsite, about 20 minutes south of Wigtown, where we parked up and had a cup of tea before heading out again back to Wigtown to visit the Swan Whisperer's sister's widower's brother's widow, who is a dear friend.

One of her daughters (she has 9 children; 5 boys and at least 4 girls, although one of the girls died as a teenager, and 19 grandchildren ranging in age from 30 to 10 months old. No great-grandchildren as yet, though!) was there, and cooked us a delicious roast chicken with vegetables and mashed potatoes. One of her sons called in later on and it was good to see him, too. We had a very happy few hours with them, and then headed back down to the campsite for the night. After a very wet morning, it is a lovely evening, and the moon is just past full! 

October break, 8 October 2025

Kilkerran, Maybole, Scotland

First thing, the Swan Whisperer went for a run round the lake in Strathclyde Country Park, which I don't think was either as long or as enjoyable as he had hoped.

We had arranged to call on his sister-in-law this morning, if she felt well enough (she is never in very good health, but has good and bad days). She said she would love to see us, so after doing some shopping at Tesco's, we called on her and spent a most agreeable hour with her.

When she had had enough of us, we came away and had lunch in the WoMo, before heading over here to this very pretty campsite in Ayrshire. It calls itself "The Walled Garden", and that is just what it is. For some reason I was very, very sleepy, and slept most of the way to it, and then again while watching a video! I just hope I get a decent night's sleep tonight - I haven't slept very well for several nights, which might explain why I've been so sleepy today. 

The SW went on an explore, but it seems his phone is dying - it is an old one of mine which is why I replaced it, but it has served its purpose since he got his stolen some months ago. It runs out of battery almost before it is unplugged. And I packed two chargers for his smartwatch, but none for my own, which is now resembling a brick and will do so until I get it home! I'm still wearing it, though, as my wrist would feel very odd without. 

I haven't taken any photos today, so here is one I took in Peebles yesterday:

October break, 7 October 2025

Strathclyde Country Park, Glasgow

We had arranged to meet our friend J at the John Buchan museum in Peebles this morning, so we had no need to hurry.  The SW went for a run, and came back very out of breath - I should have sent him out to cool down properly, but was about to go into the shower, so didn't. 

It was a pleasant walk along Peebles High Street to the museum, which was very interesting.  John Buchan, as you probably know, was the author of adventure stories like "The Thirty-Nine Steps", "Prester John" and many more.  He was also a diplomat, and ended up being ennobled - he took the title Baron Tweedsmuir - and made Governor-General of Canada.  Unlike most Governors-General, he really wanted to know what life was like in the country, and to try to unite the disparate peoples - First Nations, English-speaking settlers and French-speaking ones.  Sadly, a lot of his recommendations were ignored by the then government - his role being purely advisory - but he appears to have been much respected by the First Nations.  His sister, Anna, who wrote under the name O Douglas (many of her novels being set in a fictionalised Peebles called Priorsford), is also commemorated.

After we had seen the museum, we crossed the road to the Eastgate Theatre, where we had lunch in the café - our friend is a trustee of the theatre and has been very involved in it.  It was a delicious lunch - I had a jacket potato with bacon, brie and cranberry, and the other two also had jacket potatoes with bacon and other things.  Then we walked back to the motor home along the Tweed, which was also a glorious walk, except that it began to rain.  We said goodbye to our friend, who took a short-cut across the cemetery to where she was going, and headed off on the relatively short drive to the Strathclyde Country Park and the campsite here.  Which is all right, and we have a pleasant pitch near the sanitaires, with EHU and everything.  The Satnav, for some reason, took us off the motorway (only a very short bit of the drive was motorway - most of it was lovely country roads) and literally all round the houses to get to the campsite!  We do not know why.  

Plus the fridge has taken to randomly beeping whenever it gets very wet outside - we think it is affected by condensation, but have no idea how to deal with it.  It did it the first full day, and then stopped, but started up again now.  We have had the heating on, which may have settled it.  

October break, 6 October 2025

Peebles, Scotland

I slept extremely badly, as my glasses have been rubbing my nose and made the whole thing hurt - not just while they rub.  And it was hurting badly enough to keep waking me up in the night. Which basically meant I really didn't want to get up this morning!  The Swan Whisperer went for a walk after breakfast, and we set off around 10:30, I think.  First port of call was a nearby Lidl, where I did a shopping, and then we headed up towards Scotland.  We stopped at a petrol station to get diesel, commenting on how very much cheaper it is up here - £1.39 per litre as opposed to £1.48 or thereabouts further south (you can get it for £1.44, but you have to shop around). On our way to the main road, we went past the Grand Hotel Gosforth Park, where I stayed for the NCC AGM a few weeks ago!

Our first stopping point was Jedburgh, where there was a lovely free car park, so we had lunch and then walked across the bridge to visit Jedburgh Abbey, which was definitely worth the visit, although we both got rather chilled as it was exposed and windy!  We very much enjoyed seeing it, though.  

And then it was time to head on to Peebles, driving along the river Tweed.  There were anglers, and I saw at least one manipulating their landing-net, so I hope it was a good-sized trout or even salmon!  I have never fished the Tweed, but it looked a lovely place to fish.

We are parked up for the night outside a cemetery in Peebles, prior to meeting a friend for lunch tomorrow and visiting the John Buchan museum with her.  Looking forward to it!  It's our last night of "wild camping"; we are mostly in official campsites or CLs now until the last night, when we are staying with relations.  The Swan Whisperer has gone for a walk, and I'm vaguely wondering what to do with the salmon pieces I bought for supper - rice or pasta?  We shall see.....

October break, 5 October

Backworth Miners' Welfare, Backworth, Newcastle.

The Swan Whisperer went for a short run this morning before breakfast, which was our usual Sunday poached egg with leftover baked beans. Then we got redd up - emptying the loo, filling the clean water and finally emptying the grey, which, at that campsite, is the last thing you do after checking out. There was a sign suggesting one took photos:

so we did:

When we had finished fooling around (The SW said "You're cutting off your chin!", to which I replied: "Which one?"), we headed on.  As we had only a relatively short drive today, we decided to go via Scarborough, which made it a lovely drive.  We stopped there to listen to our church service - they have just installed a new camera, and the sound quality was infinitely better than it usually is, and one could hear what is going on.  It does want tweaking, but the SW and the guy who has helped set it up can do that when we get back.   After Scarborough, and with a very quick stop for me to buy tomatoes and cucumber, which I had forgotten yesterday, we had a truly lovely drive over the North Yorkshire moors, stopping in a lay by not far from Fylingdales to have lunch and to mourn the burnt heather in the area.  Eventually, of course,  our route took us back to the main roads and the Tyne Tunnel, which I slept all the way through!   Then we arrived here in Backworth, where they have a dedicated motorhome aire including services (no grey emptying alas, but water and loo emptying), and the SW went for a walk and I did some tai chi (even ten minutes is enough to set  me up for the evening!), and now we are each engrossed in our own things.  Soon I will make a chicken casserole for supper, which should be good.  I hope!