Wednesday 11th
We left home 8pm-ish for our first proper trip in The Rosabella. An hour later we were still eating our chips in Shrewsbury! We headed north, up the M6, turning off at Killington Lakes. After a bit of to-ing and fro-ing we found a little pull-in on a lane overlooking the lake and bedded down at about 1am. It was cold - again, our completely OTT anti-freeze measures did the trick.
Killington Lake
Thursday 12th
Heading further north through the odd snow flurry. We decidede to visit Colin and Diana (two of K's old students), and Ripley (their assistance dog!) in Glasgow on the way up in order that the trip home wouldn't be too hurried. Stopping for soup and sammos at the M74 services it was snowing heavily - gritters, snowploughs and a number of accidents was evidence of how bad the weather was becoming. After a cuppa with C&D we resumed the trek north with another couple of hours to do.
Glencoe was dark and scary but T remembered The Clachaig Inn which he'd visited on a climbing expedition years before. We stopped off there for food and a drink. The ambience was great and there was a bit of live music to boot.
We set off again, looking for a pitch, ending up in Glen Nevis. We bedded down at about midnight, not as cold as the previous night but slightly worried about being moved on - every layby except ours had 'no overnight' signs.
Glen Nevis
Friday 13th
Awoke from what K announced as 'the best night's sleep ever!' Although snow was all around it seemed much milder. T returned after his visit to nature's bathroom announcing that he'd had an audience of yaks (well, Highland cattle anyway).
After tea in bed T decided to see how far up the Glen we could take The Rosabella. K refused to move so we set off with her still esconced! The lane became more and more of a struggle and soon The Rosabella was behaving like a 'fairy on a gob o' lard', to use an old Black Country expression. The final fifty metres proved too much, resulting in a delicate reversing manoeuvre, on an ice slab, over a narrow wooden bridge. K looked a picture (of something) in her thermal jim-jams, walking boots and furry hat as she shouted (useless) directions to T through Rosabella's open rear doors.
As T brought Rosabella to rest, K made an unexpected friend. A robin, obviously highly entertained by our shenanegans ahd taken a shine to her. He followed her back to the bridge and before long was pitching on her fingers, confidently taking crumbs from her palm. He was joined by a great tit and while T recovered from the trauma of the reversing exercise they took turns sitting on her hand and feeding.
K makes a new friend, whilst T struggles!!!
We were close to the car park at the end of the track and in one last effort we pushed, revved, slipped and slid to the top. safely parked it was time for brekkie before we prepared for our walk to the Steall Falls.
K: "You said it was just a little ramble!"T: "It is"
K: "So why is there a sign saying 'Danger Of Death' at the start of the track?"
T: "That's to remind you not to give all of your food supplies to small birds!!"
The walk was spectacular and would have been an easy stroll if not for the ice covered rock underfoot. As it was it took a lot of concentration as we walked upstream, past water-cut gashes in the rock, solid waterfalls, along the edge of sheer drops to boulders. We squeezed between a couple of boulders and the vista opened in front of us - a big, snow-covered meadow with the waterfall, An Steall Ban, obvious in the distance At the far end, just below the falls there was a three-cable 'Burma Bridge' to be negotiated. K's arms were only just long enough but the crossing was one of the highlights of the day.
Cable bridge below Steall Falls
On the way back down we met three Canadian girls who were stereotypical accidents waiting to happen - trainers, jeans, thin jackets, setting out at 3.30pm on a midwinter day. T suggested to them that they may find it a bit of a struggle further up the track and, thank goodness, they turned back with us.
A quick cuppa and then back in to Fort William for supplies - tonight was going to be Haggis du Rosabella. A quick spin back to The Clachaig where K asked the receptionist if she knew of anywhere we could pitch for the night (a bit cheeky really seeing as how The Clachaig is a hotel!). The receptionist was very cool (in the positive sense) - 'no problem, just stay on the car park'. Result! Haggis was fab - the real thing for T, veggie version for K - although T preferred that as well - followed by an evening next to the huge log fire in the bar, lovely beer and a great atmosphere. The Rosabella was a short stagger away and we both slept like logs, apart from one short punctuation when we were entertained by a piper at two in the morning.
Without a doubt, one of our best days ever.
Saturday 14th
Back into Glencoe for brekkie opposite Bidean nam Bian, the fantastic triple cliff of the Three Sisters of Glencoe. Decided it would be bad form to park on the helicopter landing pad so parked in a layby for 'Princess Eggs' and photos.
Off south again - for part of K's bithday prezzie, coupled with Valentine's Day, we had a room booked in a hotel at Moffatt and wanted to be there in time to take advantage of warm baths. Spectacular views of snow on The Trossachs and lunch on the move as we made our way through the Glasgow traffic. We arrived at Moffatt at around 5.00pm, looking forward to said hot baths and changing into posh clothes for a special St Val's dinner. K, therefore, was very grumpy because the bath took for ever to run hot. It all worked out in the end though, and complimentary champagne cocktails made it all feel better.
Sunday 15th
After a great night and a huge brekkie it was off again with a plan to stop off at Samye Ling monastery on the way home. The Tibetan tea room was open this time, and the building of the new block is coming on apace. After a couple of hours, including an hour of very therapeutic meditation in the beautiful prayer room, it was back on the road again, heading for home. We stopped for a quick cup-a-soup at Gretna before continuing hammering (or as close as The Rosabella gets to hammering) south. Almost home and the 'phone rang - Keith wondering whether we were going to the pub that evening. We were still north of Manchester actually but decided we should milk every minute of the weekend and so kept going to Montgomery, The Dragon, supper and a good relaxing end to the trip with Keith, Lizzie and Sue.
All in all a good trip. We covered 860 miles, The Rosabella is fab, comfy and we didn't freeze to death - we can't wait for our next trip.
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