Out with the old, in with the new.

Its been a while since out Ireland trip and Bessie hasn't really turned a wheel since other than a trip to the garage to get her new rubber fitted. New tyres are fitted all round, 2 full winter tyres on the front as we have been using for the last 4 years, and 2 Mud and Snow marked tyres on the rear, they are not full winter treads but that's a long story that I don't want to go into here. It's all to do with load ratings and I simply couldn't find suitable rated winter tyres for the back of the van where more of the weight is.

Last New Year we had a great few days away, the first night at The Clachaig, the 2nd in The Sheildaig Bar and Kitchen and the 3rd (Hogmanay) in The Applecross Inn. All were good evenings, with a few beers and good food, it was also a very snowy winters trip. We hoped to repeat that trip or do something similar this year. However it didn't start well, we phoned The Applecross Inn and tried to book a table for Hogmanay and they were fully booked......so we booked a table in Sheildaig instead, that was fine by us as we thought of the 3 places the food was best there, it doesn't have quite the same setting as The Applecross Inn but Torridon is certainly not 2nd best or lacking when it come to scenery.

Christmas was a non starter for me this year year in respect of time off, I was only off Christmas Day, however we had 6 full days available at new year and planned to spend 3 or 4 of them in the Motorhome, leaving on the Sunday and returning on either the Wednesday or Thursday depending on where we ended up and the weather. We had a busy day on the Saturday getting the van prepared and also had my Mum and Aunt Jan down for their late Christmas dinner as we all had bugs on the day we had planned at Christmas. We got up not too early on the Sunday and loaded the final few bits and bobs-apart from food you almost need as much for 3 days as you do for 3 weeks!! So after an early lunch we got on the road, it was mild unlike last year, and a bit dull but not raining. We headed west through Callander and up across Rannoch Moor where we commented on the misfortune of a car driver who's 18 plate Peugeot was getting loaded onto the back of a transporter having broken down on a really bad bend. when a modern vehicle breaks down you have almost no chance of sorting it yourself these days. the journey went well and we had a couple of brief stops to let the boys use the loo. After a quick stop in the lay-by after dropping down out of Glencoe I noticed the battery light on on the dash of the van, I stopped and restarted the engine and the light stayed on, not good!! The van ran fine and we carried on up to Fort William where I planned to refuel before heading on towards Glen Sheil area for the first night. But upon checking the charge going into the battery, which was only 11.5 Volts, the fact it was now dark and we would have lights, wipers etc all on the plan was quickly altered. An emergency overnight stop was decided upon in the big carpark by the sea in Fort William. There were around 6 or 8 other vans in the carpark so we figured all was good for parking here, we later found this to be incorrect. We redid the van for the night and decided that as we might not get to Sheildaig for our Hogmanay dinner that we would eat out tonight, after a bit of to-ing and fro-ing along the high street we eventually settled on an old established favourite The Grog and Gruel. There is a Witherspoons that we though of but it doesn't help local businesses using a big chain restaurant. We did consider an Indian or Chinese but The Grog and Gruel won and it was quite a good call. It was busy but we got a table ok, and a few pints of Red Revival Ale from The Glean Spean brewery and pretty good food cheered me up no end. The vans issues could wait till the morning. The boys went to bed and we followed not too long after, I don't get to bed early enough at home and try and get good sleeps in the van. The reality is I sleep well anywhere, I just don't get enough of it. There were a few boy racers in the carpark for a bit but they didn't stay long, we had a game of scrabble a drink or two then hit the sack.

Next day we woke, it was Hogmanay, we had breakfast and tidied the van. I investigated what I could, the light was still on and still only 11.5 Volts going to the battery's. I googled for a motor mechanic, we found his shop but it was shut. we headed to McConnechys and they ran some checks and confirmed what our read outs were saying. The engine battery is good, but something was very wrong, everything is pointing to there alternator, not something that can be bought or replaced on Hogmanay.  We were going no further north today, we cancelled our table at Sheildaig and did another google search and discovered Linnhe Caravan Park was open over the festive period so we decided to head there, if nothing else we would get a hook up and recharge things as best we could to try and get us home on New Years day, it also meant we would be somewhere different other than home for the bells, which we quite like. We drove round to Linnhe and got checked in, it was VERY busy but he lady found us a pitch with a hook up-when will more businesses catch on to the fact that more and more people want to be away in their vans or caravans at this time of year, there is serious potential for more businesses to capitalise if they just had the foresight to open up. It would also help alleviate the growing issue of too many motorhomes and camper vans parking up in every lay-by and causing such a visual (and environmental) impact on our countryside, I say this as a motor homer myself and am well aware of the growing issues of the number of vans on the roads. We got parked up, and hooked up and decided to charge for a couple of hours and then head back to Glen Nevis for a walk. This we did, by now of course the rain was on quite heavy, but myself and the boys donned the waterproofs and walked from the lower falls carpark up one side of the river, crossed the bridge at the upper falls and walked back down the road. Joyce who has been struggling with bugs for a while decided to give it a miss and grabbed a bit shut eye while we were out. We got fairly wet but it was still a nice walk and it gave Mum a nice rest for an hour and a bit. After our walk we headed back to Linnhe and got settled for the night and hooked back up. Our Hogmanay dinner this year was a pizza, salad and baked potato washed down with some wine and beer in our van, not quite what we had planned but tasty and cozy none the less. We played some dominos and snakes and ladders with Callum and Logan and then got them ready for bed, they are still too young to stay up for the bells. Myself and Joyce had our usual game of scrabble and then almost headed to bed ourselves, but in the end decided to hear in the bells and have a wee dram. This we did, we chinked glasses and wished each other a Happy New Year, we sent texts to family and friends and watched and listened to some fireworks being let off around the site. Our neighbouring van provided us with some musical entertainment for a while, nothing too obtrusive or  enough to wake the boys and then we hit the sack. We also decided that we would try and get home the next morning as the van was worrying us and we couldn't fix it just now.

We got up the next day to a gorgeous morning, the rain had stopped, we had breakfast and I went to the shore for a while with the boys as they like to throw stones in and look for crabs. Then we got on the road, we set off early enough so we would need minimum power, no lights, no wipers. We pulled out the caravan site drive onto the open road, up through first, 2nd gear-the battery light went out as the revs rose......it briefly came back on but after 3rd gear and higher revs it stayed off........bloody typical!! Decisions had been made though so we pointed Bessie south through Fort William and prayed we would get home. I stopped at the same carpark in Glencoe to say hello to my good friend Ian. He had been on the road in his van for a few days and I knew he was there. We chatted for a while, he had wanted to be in The Clachaig on Hogmanay but he said it was so busy he could hardly move, so he had just had one pint and then back to the comfort of his van. Ian's trips and ours never quite seem to coincide, we are often out at the same same time but never quite close enough at the right time to hook up for a proper beer, one of these days they will hopefully. I have great memories of our fishing trips and beer nights afterwards in Oban, Mull of Galloway and Ireland. We bid him farewell and headed for home. The light was behaving itself and we had the full 14 Volts(ish) going into the battery again, everything back to normal-which is actually not good, I would rather the fault had stayed so it could be properly investigated. We made it to Callander and the boys needed the loo, so we pulled into the big carpark, sorted them out, had a play at the big park and then waked up the side of the river almost as far as The Lade Inn, it wasn't our intention to eat out. We about turned and went back to van ready to head home. I can't remember who asked the question (it may have been me), but as we were about to leave the carpark we discussed whether to stay out for another night, things were working fine, we were all charged up, had food and beers and were much closer to home. It was "turn right" at the end of the wee road for home, OR "turn left" and a scout about for a parking space and another night out, I know it was me who decided left, LOL.

We turned left passed the Lade Inn and along towards Brig O Turk where the were a few places I thought possible. We stopped in the carpark for Ben Venue and the decision was sealed (by Joyce this time). I chatted to a couple from Crieff who had been swimming in Loch Venechar and who were staying here for the night also. We got parked up and readied for the night, it was crystal clear and definitely going to be a chilly. It was New Years Day and by tradition it was a homemade pie for tea, not Steak pie but a delicious Chicken and Mushroom pie made by Joyce, all it needed was reheated and the pastry put in the oven. It was a quality meal, very fitting for the day. It was finished with Ginger cake and Vienetta, who needs expensive restaurants when we can eat like this for much cheapness in beautiful surroundings and comfort, Joyce never fails to create something good to eat.  Again we played Dominos and Snakes and Ladders, its great to involve the boys in a game they can play, and which is also educational for them. Callum is definitely understanding both games and enjoying them, he is a quick learner though his concentration span is sometimes rather short........I took Callum out to look at all the stars which were shining brightly, he liked that but it was very chilly and frosty so headed back in for jammies and bedtime. Scrabble, beers and a dram were again enjoyed and we bedded down for the night. I slept like a log as usual, but Joyce struggled, her bugs are still bothering her but it was also a cold night, It was 0 degrees Centigrade on the thermostat in the morning when we woke, our water and waste water pipes were both frozen up. Fortunately we have a water carrier in the van, so we were not stuck. Once the fire has been on for a while and the kettles been boiled the inside temperature soon rises and we get moving. The boys had cold feet, but some nights they refuse to keep their socks on. Other than that we were all fine. 

We got sorted and the plan was to climb up Ben A'an today, Our carpark was filling up so we moved along the road the Ben An carpark.........however, it was mobbed, no room for our big van. There were cars abandoning on the roadside verges so we quickly turned and went back to the original carpark before it got full too. This should have raised alarm bells for me but didn't. We walked the extra half mile and headed upwards, the boys are good now and quite capable of a steep climb with just a hand for the steeper bits. However, this was a bad choice of hill for the day, it was worse than Sauchiehall Street on a busy day. There were people already coming down as well as hundreds going up. Everyone was friendly and helpful but it didn't make for an enjoyable experience. It was icy in the upper section and also cold, both boys managed fine but its actually pretty steep and not fun with so many walkers on it. The views from the top were excellent as ever, but lunch was quick in the cold and soon we headed down. We got back to van at about 3 o'clock and had a cuppa, and myself and Joyce looked at each other, we each knew the question.........

Jointly we decided to complete our New Year plan and spend the last night out in the van. We had been told about new hook up and showering facilities at Loch Katrine and decided that would be perfect. We drove the short distance along and went to find the warden, paid our money, got shown around and settled down for the night. It was £10 just to park up, or £18 for hook up etc which we chose, excellent, another company investing in facilities and catering for us at this time of year, this is better. We were by now running low on food but defrosted some Bolognaise, boiled some pasta and toasted some pitta breads, we still had beer and wine so all was good. You know the routine by now, Dominos, Snakes and Ladders, bed for the boys and scrabble and a dram for us. It was a warmer night but still our water hadn't thawed out (it did later in the night according to Joyce who heard a gurgle as the waste pipe cleared) but there was water on tap right beside the van along with our hook up. We decided that if the boat trip was running the next day that we would do that, a fine finale to our trip and bound to be popular with Callum and Logan.

We woke the next morning and had a rationed breakfast, It was actually perfect but we have become accustomed to so many luxuries in our lives that we think our porridge won't be edible if made with water rather than milk........clearly it was and very tasty with a banana sliced up on it and a drizzle of honey..........we are so fortunate, but so spoiled these days. The boat was running today at 11.30 so it was game on. We took a wander along the road and had a look at the Eco lodges that have been built there, the lady cleaning them gave us a look inside one and it was very luxurious with all mod cons and very cozy. Underfloor heating, double bed, toilet, shower, kitchen with sink, oven, they are in a perfect little horseshoe setting looking right over the loch towards Ben Venue.........absolutely perfect and something we would definitely do if we didn't have Bessie. I think the boys would love it actually so I can see us doing it anyway. We had our tickets for the boat (with 20% off as we stayed last

night) and boarded the boat for our trip. There were only about 10 people onboard which was nice for us, apparently it had been totally full both previous days, for all sailings. We were on the Lady of The Lake rather than the Sir Walter Scott as there were less people, fine by us today. Loch Katrine was like a millpond, flat as a pancake with only the bow waves from the boat to ripple the surface. Myself and Callum went up top for a look and chatted to the captain and of course Callum was offered a chance to skipper the boat and take the wheel, he's becoming quite an expert at this now.

 We departed the boat and headed back to van for our by now rationed lunch, I say this tongue in cheek as we were never going to starve. We were lower than normal on food stocks but as per breakfast a tasty lunch was rustled up. Bacon, eggs, mushrooms and toasted pitta's...why do women think as soon as there's no milk or bread that a trip to the shops is overdue.....I don't know!! Oh, and we were right out of sweetener's for the coffee, surely the end of the world by now, lol. Had we been out for another night, a shop visit would definitely have been needed, I was out of beer and that truly is a crisis!! But alas we weren't, we had to go home now. I was working the following day. We were home at around 4pm, the van behaved perfectly and I am now at a bit of a loss as to exactly what the issue was, there's a few different charging issues mentioned on the internet, from the obvious alternator, to poor or corroded earth straps between engine and chassis or an bad connection somewhere, or a relay issue....... I may not get to the root of this unless it shows again and I am able to test properly but given that we plan on a long European tour this summer I wish it hadn't righted itself. I made a school boy error this trip, We have a big folder with all the info about the workings of Bessie, and normally it lives in the van, however it had been in the house as I had been checking some stuff out a few months back. It was tidied but not put back, and I realised this after we left for this trip, and of course this was the time it was needed, this meant I didn't have wiring diagrams or the information that may have helped me, that's a lesson learned. A couple of other minor niggles happened this time, the spark ignition on both the cooker and fire have given up the ghost and the freezer door needs a repair, so a couple of jobs need addressed before our next trip. There is always something to do.

We salvaged our trip, and it was very enjoyable. I love the motorhome, it means we are a much closer little family unit compared to when at home, we are right on top of each other and in close proximity. Often when I come home after a days work I am tired and quite grateful that the boys are up in their room playing and giving me a bit space. in the van e all wake at the same time, we all love the outdoors and the countryside and we all enjoy it together. Theres no TV to distract us so conversation and interactions are better. We have to come back to reality of course, and those who know me, know that I am unhappy with my work life balance. We are lucky to earn a decent wages but the boys are growing very fast, almost school for Callum. I would happily sacrifice my earnings to be able to spend more time with them. A part time job of some description would suffice easily allowing more time together and mini adventures like the one we just had, but for the time being we will do as we are until I can't anymore, or reach 55 whichever comes first......

All for now, and all the very best for 2019 to all our family and friends. Bob, Joyce, Callum and Logan.