And so a quick pit stop at the Gurney's to sort ourselves out for week 2. The van was going nowhere so we left it in North Berwick's finest garage, and I nipped back home to Kirkintilloch to get the car. Stocked up on food and other supplies, we were back on our way. The Gurney's joined us for our first night in St Abbs which was lovely, and we arrived to discover our cottage really did have sea views from all windows and really was only 5 minutes walk to the beach, which was a total bonus.
Views over St Abbs
The local beach at Coldingham
We had a wonderful week in St Abbs. Highlights were trips to the beach, walks along cliffs, watching 40,000 breeding guilliemots, the steam train at Heatherslaw, exploring the harbour and fishing boats, the ubiquitous rapeseed fields, and for me, just spending more lovely time with my girls.
Apart from having a wonderfully colourful name, it appears Drumnadrochit also has some wonderfully colourful weather. And in the first week of our holiday we managed to experience most of it. Snow and sunshine, downpours and gales, made for interesting week utilising all the rich variety of clothing we had bought with us. But being a typical Highland May, woolly hats featured plenty, as did waterproofs and wellies.
Travelling in style
Feeding Pharaoh was a daily highlight
And storytime was a personal favourite
The local eggs were top class - all 6 were double yokers!
Dandelions featured plenty too...
The dizzyingly impressive Plodda Falls
Wading in rivers was a joy
And trying to push over trees
Success at last!
Sheer Highland joy
Getting to pet rabbits
Out with Mummy
More stream wading
Still, a bit of weather never stopped the Rooke's holiday adventures
and there was much to keep us amused. There were some stunning walks in Glen
Affric (which has to be one of my favourite glens); waterfalls and more
waterfalls; playing in rivers and lochs; cycle rides on big bikes and little bikes; managing another couple of munros; a trip to the animal park; Daddy/Daughter story time; searching
for Nessie; and meeting up with Tanya’s school friend, Hayley and her family. All in all, a cracking first week of our May holiday, which, despite appearances, really is the best month to explore Scotland's wild places...
Videoclip: Travelling in all weathers
But then nothing in life is straight forward, and trouble can strike at any moment on a campervan adventure. So despite DDU (our campervan/my 4th love) being on great form for a change and thoroughly enjoying being back on the road, he decided to break his clutch about 200yds before the Forth Road Bridge. Not a good place to break down. In fact, not good full stop. This didn't bode well for week two...
The girls were unimpressed and ignored Daddy in the back of the recovery van
Lowering the tone at the Gurney's in North Berwick
Being a supreme being, Emily is already trialling the skills
required for high society. Her love of books bodes well for taking on the
classics. Her joy at running and jumping is preparing her deportment well for
her first May Ball. And her love of food gives her a head start in fine dining
and the gourmet delights enjoyed by the upper crust.
One particular skill she has developed recently is tomato eating
‘in an oyster stylee’. It is a culinary delight which gives her much
satisfaction. The deft and dextrous way in which she ‘sups’ on the red fruit
might leave the beholder in no doubt that this little lady is destined for the
higher echelons of society. Or then again maybe it might not. Whether this be true only time will tell. Till
then I’ll leave you to make your own mind up…
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