As we woke up in Hoddam it was very foggy and for the first time in a long time I put on a thick jumper. We always enjoy the journey from here going further north and over to Perth. The roads will be even quieter and the scenery is great. First stop would be Cairn Lodge Services at Happenden, this is a model for a good service station in my mind. It is off the main road, there is plenty of parking, the facilities are good, the food offering is varied, ie sweet and savoury, and of good quality, there is a farm shop and also a gift section of nice things. It is now part of the Westmorland group and has thus recently improved greatly over the years we have been stopping here.
Getting into the wool vibe, I treated myself to some sheep inspired poems….
The journey on to Perth was uneventful until we reached Perth and I missed the turn off! For the first time, but not the last, we would be very grateful for using Google Maps as a back up Sat Nav, Michael was able to redirect me using his phone. (One of the many wonders of technology.)
As always the campsite at Perth (Scone Palace) was impeccable and it makes such a difference! It would be a real treat to have Wi-Fi and Radio 4 too. Unfortunately DAB, and hence Times Radio, which I have come to prefer to Radio 4 are off the agenda until we are back into England for us. I am usually able to take photos of some super fungi around the Perth campsite. However, I could not find any this year which must say something for the weather, so instead I walked along the perimeter and just enjoyed the woodland.
These succulents seemed to manage !
a beautiful autumn day
So tomorrow we would drive a short distance on to Aberdeen and complete the first 523 miles of the journey. We had a leisurely start and just drove east of Perth for a second breakfast at Glendoik Garden Centre, another spot we really like. Food is good, lots of savoury choices for me and nice views over parts of their gardens.
Looking down on the garden
I would also be able to look round the garden centre and try and spot some bulbs to take back with us when we stopped on the way back.
The Christmas decorations would be in the Garden Centre when we came back and one was keeping watch over the ‘facilities’ today.
The plan today was to investigate parking at the quay at Stonehaven so we could make ourselves lunch and overlook the sea. We got there before lunch and found somewhere to park. It was nice to take my camera and potter on the beach and look at yet another collection of different stones which I find great for natural colours in knitwear inspiration. It also looked as if the the crossing tonight would be calm. We made lunch and then suddenly lots of other motorhomes arrived and then we realised they must be trying to find a ‘wild camping’ spot for the night. Our motorhome is the size of a delivery van and we like to stay on a campsite and also add to the local economy where we can. So to be hemmed in by massive vehicles was overwhelming and we decided to move off.
We arrived at the ferry terminal late afternoon and for the first time, we were let into the holding area before the official opening time as the queue for the ferry was reaching back to the main road. We had not experienced this before. If loading went as usual we would be one of the very last loaded. This was the case tonight too. Departure time was 19.00. Once the van was parked on the car deck I went to the Magnus Lounge to get a table for dinner and was very surprised how quiet this was given the number of cars and motorhomes taking the ferry that night. There were many more motorhomes than we could remember seeing before and wondered how busy the campsites would be in Shetland. We had a lovely dinner and I did not need to open my new packet of Kwells! We chatted to people in the lounge after dinner. It seemed that getting a cabin on the ferry has become a real problem. A Shetland lady had been to a funeral on mainland and had to wait 8 days to return to Shetland. She was bemoaning the fact that the ferry is a a lifeline service but that is not that at the moment. The construction of the wind farm and extra workers for the space centre in Unst were thought to be adding to the lack of capacity problem.
I did some knitting! The fingerless gloves to match this year’s yoked jumper are on their way (post of 12 Oct for the completed ones)
Once I got to the cabin I was pleased to see the complimentary Shetland Times had the results of classes at Unst Show. Scanning through the knit related results I noticed several names I knew and was pleased to see that Hazel Laurenson had won the Sandison Trophy for best lace, hand knit openwork article.
How lovely to see so many classes for knit items, in the County show in Norfolk there are now no classes for handicrafts. Such a shame given the importance of spinning, knitting and weaving in the history of the county.
No comments:
Post a Comment