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Post by jayjay on Apr 18, 2008 19:56:07 GMT
was hoping your reply would be " go for it, you'll love every minute etc etc etc" ;D We think we can now stretch the break to 19 days in total, it would still be a big journey. The problem we have is that there is so much of Scotland we want to see, both inland and by the coast and we don't have that much time off. We want to do it this year because we are planning on getting married later in the year or early next year and also want to start a family in the not too distant future. The van will then become redundant to us.  Hi Glen! I'm sorry if I put you off - I really didn't mean to, I do apologise!! I couldn't be that cruel to say go for it, etc - when I know how big the place is... and what the inland is like in August - just stick to the coast and you'll be fine!! If you've never been, you won't comprehend the vastness - Scotland is approx one third of the UK! However, having said that, there's usually just you on the roads. Even the A74(M) has been so quiet in places at times that I've thought I've taken a wrong turning! Does seem a little ambitious though, driving 200 miles a day... When are you going to relax and go for walks with your little doggie? Put your feet up and enjoy the view? All you'll see will be through a cab window? Actually , thinking about it - you are young after all - and like you say, plans for the immediate future might curtail plans for returning. But then again Scotland ain't going anywhere - they will let you go more than once LOL! You never know what's around the corner however old you are. I was wavering on doing the Outer Hebrides as well as Skye until I thought, 'you never know if you'll ever be able to go for it another time, so go now while you can'. Perhaps that's what I should have said to you guys! Just be prepared for those midges!! ;D Edited to add: Good luck with the plans for marriage and families - what wonderful news! |
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Post by pendel on Apr 18, 2008 20:27:26 GMT
Hiya JayJay. Just a line to say "Hope your doggie is okay after surgery, let us know how she is" Your trip to Scotland looks fantastic . I think you are very brave going off on your own like that. Penny
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Post by Graham on Apr 18, 2008 20:59:27 GMT
We want to do it this year because we are planning on getting married later in the year or early next year and also want to start a family in the not too distant future. The van will then become redundant to us. Hi Glen Congratulations to you and Claire (I take it that its Claire your marrying ;D) on your forthcoming marriage, don't get rid of the van put it in the garage till the kids are grown up, believe me it will seem like 5 minutes. Graham |
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Post by jayjay on Apr 19, 2008 8:27:23 GMT
Hiya JayJay. Just a line to say "Hope your doggie is okay after surgery, let us know how she is" Your trip to Scotland looks fantastic . I think you are very brave going off on your own like that. Penny She's fine now! (Apart from the blinking lampshade we have to put up with for another week..) The most frightening thing is the change to my bank balance! Hopefully the insurance should refund me for some of it though. She had a tumour underneath a nipple. Long story, vet wanted to take that out and the next two nipples with it (just to make sure) and have her spayed (just in case of future probs). Talking a thousand or so here. I decided just to have the lump removed and analysed before doing anything so radical (she's 10 years old!) so that's what I paid for, along with a cyst on her back knee. The histology report has come back and the tumor is benign ;D, no sign of anything in surrounding tissues, so I did the right thing. The vet was still saying she ought to be spayed yesterday at check-up. I countered that with 'my womb might cause problems in future years too, but I wouldn't take it out just in case.' Just goes to show you should trust your instincts. Shame you can't rely on a vets' advice.  |
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Post by glenw on Apr 19, 2008 13:55:21 GMT
Thanks Jayjay, don't worry you haven't put us off completely. We are now thinking about doing the trip in october instead of July to avoid the midges and slighly changing the plans so that we are only driving every other day. Its still only a plan so far, nothing booked at all!! we're off to the cotswolds for a week in June travelling a lot less miles but staying at 3 different sites to see if we can do the touring thing! Thanks also to you and Graham for the kindness re our wedding. It is Claire she was daft enough to ASK me to marry her!!  I doubt we'll keep this van, just sell it and get a bigger one that we can take kids in!! ;D |
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Post by jayjay on Apr 19, 2008 15:24:53 GMT
I doubt we'll keep this van, just sell it and get a bigger one that we can take kids in!! ;D Or chuck em in the luton!! Sounds like a good plan! There are sooo many places to go, I don't know where to start! Think I'll do a 'coast' thing sometime.. go to North Wales and just follow the coast roads right the way around the UK. After that, Ireland! ;D |
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iansal
15+ posts.... a Uni wheeler!
Posts: 17
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Post by iansal on Apr 23, 2008 18:38:26 GMT
We are going to do one of the hopscotch trips in May
do not be put off by the stories of the midges I have lived in Scotland most of my life living in places from north of Aberdeen to south of Glasgow and have also spent time in the Islands and unless you visit wooded areas around dusk there is not much of a problem although if you are worried there are many lotions etc which may give you more confidence, remember if while cooking some of the clouds of midges land in your cooking, stir fast, you will never notice and it cuts the midge population as well as adding flavour.
hope to see you around in May
cheers
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Post by glenw on Apr 23, 2008 20:32:57 GMT
We haven't been put off, more like postponed!!
We have decided to go south in july, to see kent, sussex etc and then go to scotland in october. We are stuck with 16 days off in July but can stretch our october leave to about 19 days which will give us more time to see the sites!!!!
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Post by jayjay on Apr 30, 2008 9:09:58 GMT
We haven't been put off, more like postponed!! We have decided to go south in july, to see kent, sussex etc and then go to scotland in october. We are stuck with 16 days off in July but can stretch our october leave to about 19 days which will give us more time to see the sites!!!! Hi Glen, I think you've got it the right way around! It can be lovely in the highlands in October. The light and skies are just amazing at that time of year - take time out to see the stars, it's amazing! (You have to get your eyes used to the dark before you can see everything, and then - WOw! Breathtaking! Take a heater/radiator for the nights, it gets cold at night, sometimes frosty (depending where you are) although the days can sometimes be sunbathing temperature! As Billy Connolly said, 'there's no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes!" Tell you what - I'm already thinking of the midges on Skye even in May! And will go armed with all the stuff I mentioned above. Like I said, they don't really bother me - as in they don't bite/I dont have a reaction to the bites - but it's the crawling everywhere I can't be doing with! Making me itch now just thinking about it! |
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Post by glenw on Apr 30, 2008 19:07:39 GMT
thanks for all the advise Jayjay, we are taking note!! ;-)
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Post by glenw on May 5, 2008 22:33:14 GMT
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Post by jayjay on May 7, 2008 17:08:18 GMT
Hehe that's a good one! It's not 'live' at the mo, so perhaps there aren't any yet! Just worked out thaton the CalMac Ferries, two singles , Ullapool to Stornoway then Tarbert to Skye will cost exactly the same as booking the Hopscotch. The only difference is that if you take the hopscotch, then you get a 3rd ferry (Armadale-Mallaig) for free which makes it cheaper. As we were thinking of passing on the 3rd ferry anyway and using the now-free bridge to get back to Aviemore, I might just book the singles at Ullapool when I get there! That's the day before we make the crossing... Edited to add: just checked and it's a bank holiday when we're going, so have to book in advance. Going for the hopscotch as it's the same price, might just take that 3rd ferry just because I CAN! LOL! |
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Post by playallday on May 15, 2008 8:16:14 GMT
Hi Jacki
Just to say good luck..bon voyage and all that stuff! Hope you have a great time. Don't be nervous, you have prepared so well I am sure you will be fine. I shall look forward to your posting when you get back ;D
Jean
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