About Us

My photo
In 1977 we hired our first narrowboat from Anglo Welsh at Market Harborough.From that moment our destiny was set. In 2006 we finally purchased our own brand new 57' narrowboat which we named 'Free Spirit'. Our aim is to travel the length and breadth of all the navigable rivers and canals of the UK. This will be our story as it unfolds.

Monday 19 August 2019

Large vehicle, small car park...eek

Watched as the last boat trip went onto the Wheel. Takes approximately 5 minutes to rotate and what an amazing piece of engineering. Click here to learn more. I have included two videos. Hope they work!





l



Awoke this morning after another night of rain. Was the trip on the Falkirk wheel to be a washout then? But no. By 9am the sun was out so waterproofs packed away for another day, jumpers on 'cos it was a tad chilly and by 9 40 we had somehow managed to be first in line to get the prime seats...right at the front.



Behind us sat a Dutch family with a great sense of humour.

This is what should have been taken.



 So lucky with the weather as no sooner had we completed the trip then the heavens opened once again. Didn't deter the plan to see the Kelpies though. Trouble was the amount charged for parking there. £6 the price it was, outrages we thought, so asked the attendant if we could just turn around and leave. Ian then pipes up that the misses wants to take a photo. No probs, said she, just park at the bus stop, remain with the vehicle and the wife can quickly go to take a photo. We mentioned Kev and Gunda behind us in their motorhome and she also let them do the same thing so we got to see these magnificent beasties for free.




Next plan was to head for Fort William with an overnight stop at Glen Coe. On route, we spied a waterfall to go and see. As lead motorhome, we turned into the car park and ...oh dear...two motorhomes already parked, a tiny car park and what seemed an impossibility to turn around!
 Ian tried and failed but he was right at the very end. There was not enough room behind to swing the rear end and what with that motorhome in front! Kev was further back at a wider bit and with multiple turns managed to get around. With the Beast, a bit smaller Ian managed to mirror Kevs manoeuvring and with a sigh of relief that no reversing back into a busy main road was necessary, continued on our journey with Kevs "Stop trying to see waterfalls and getting us stuck in carparks" ringing in our ears.





The weather turned nasty and all we could see of this beautiful part of the Highlands was mist and drizzle. Plenty of places to stop except for one small problem. They were either full of water or full of cars! So onwards to a place called Corran and a place at a pub we knew we could park at. but unbeknown to us, a trip across the Ferry was necessary!!

Kev managed to get onto the first ferry leaving us behind. Hmm, how do we catch them up from here?  but we needn't have worried as the Inn at Ardgour pub was opposite where the ferry docked. Such a nice publican to let us stay the night although we did have to move as far back as possible to free up car parking space.


Bye bye Kev




Not sure we can open our door.

I am sitting here in the Beast and watching the ferry fill up with car after car and queues stretching back for miles Apparently there has been a huge accident close by closing the road completely and the only way for commuters to get home is via the ferry. At £8.50 a trip the company must be raking it in!

And yes it is still raining.

And this I found amusing


The only way to travel on a motorbike.

And finally some wildlife!




No comments:

Blog Archive