And then boom…with Covid-cuffs unlocked we were off. Due east across Scotland for 75 miles we travelled, to our old favourite of North Berwick. The Gurneys were away on an island tour of Mull so we had the run of the place once more. Sun-kissed we hoped for, but more wind-swept it was. That said, we weren’t for caring, it was just lovely to be by the sea. Friends visited, beaches were trod and the sea was paddled – all experiences we'd not had for some months. We peddled our bikes on pastures new and walked on footpaths of old. We even got a visit to the Farm Park. It was just nice to be out.
The week ended with a Tour de Grandparents. Nana and Baba came to Kirky and I went to Brum. It was just great to be back in touch in the flesh. We’re ready now for Part 3…
Just like everyone, holidays have been off the agenda in recent months. And as May/June and early July are the highlight of the annual weather calendar in Scotland, it’s been all about staycation, staycation, staycation.
No long weekends in the van, no trips to festies, no visits to see friends and family. But still we’ve made the best of things and the sunshine has really helped our activities. We’ve taken to walking the paths round and about – many new and untested by us until now. We’ve been enjoying Scotland's finest whether foraging for wild foods or watching nature as its grown through Spring into Summer. We’ve learned to travel in style…Niomi racing ahead on her bike, Mummy and Emily – on foot and scooter accordingly – deeply engrossed in Harry Potter chat, and Daddy – well he just potters along on his tod admiring the view.
Destinations have been woodland adventures, ruined castles, wee lochans and long distance paths. And when our allotted outdoor time expired then there’s been plenty of fun in the garden – we’ve had plenty of play with water (fun if you have a wetsuit), fed our resident robins from the hand, watched the newly hatched blue tits learn to fly, tasted the first bounty from the veggie beds and admired the flowers as they start to emerge all over. Books have also had a theme...Emily's devoured book after book - either reading herself or having all the Harry Potter series and the Hobbit read to her, whilst Niomi has started to recognise letters and is now reading her first words - more than ready for school in August.
And we've done our best to replace the gaping campervan void in our lives...I was given a campervan lego set for Father's Day (it'll be finished by Christmas), Emily's made her own campervan...and we've also treated DDU to a new tattoo.
All in all it’s become The Good Life all round, and we've enjoyed our our new found staycations. Now roll on Part 2 as we start to venture further than 5 miles...
Woodland Explorers I
Woodland Explorers II
Woodland Explorers III
Harry Potter chat and Niomi in the distance
Scooter Girl
We've tramped most of the feet of the Campsies
The baby blue tits first day out the nest - born and bred in the garden
