Day 1 - Road, Rain and Relatives

This blog post is a day late, sorry about that! The campsite we stayed on didn't have agreat phone signal!!

Byland Abbey

Today was a bit of a crazy day to be honest. Teapot needed an emergency trip to the dentist in the morning so we couldn't leave when planned at around 10/1030 but thought its ok we'll leave around midday and miss the early traffic, good plan. Except I get all the way to Duxford (about 40 minutes) and think 'did I pack HARVe's batteries?' back home, only to find yes, I did indeed pack them!

Byland Abbey

The drive from my house to Yorkshire was both uneventful and dreadfully boring... M11/A14 all the way... very very boring.

We did, however, decide that yes we could have a little stop in Ampleforth and say hello to our Aunt and our Grandad, and caught them just as they were on the way out. My Aunt has a Corgi mix dog and my Grandad has some odd mix that's Corgi/Chihuahua/Goodness knows what so Prince and Princess had a great time hanging out with them for an hour or so!

On the way to Ampleforth there are two options, there's Sutton Bank which is an enormous hill that lorries aren't allowed up (but with one of the most beautiful views in England; see picture!) or there is the 'Caravan Route' which goes past the ruins of Byland Abbey.

View from Sutton Bank taken a while ago on my phone

Love a bit of decay!!

I chose the Caravan Route because I wasn't sure how my car would car dragging the trailer up Sutton Bank (and didn't really want to be towed home on the first day) but also because my great-Grandmother used to like in Old Byland and my dad remembers playing in the ruins of Byland Abbey as a child (before English Heretics took it over and charge you a fortune to go in...).

Byland Abbey ruins are beautiful and well worth a look if you've got time or arrive there before they lock the gate! The ruins really do show what a magnificent building it must have been!

Almost at Ampleforth!

Back on the journey from North Yorkshire to Northumberland, another two hours to Bellingham where the campsite was. Bit scary as it got dark and we were followed through the back roads of Northumberland National Park by a taxi driver flashing his lights wanting me to pull over. I'm not a violent person but neither am I stupid... I will not be pulling over for a random taxi in the middle of moorland! Nothing was wrong though (think he was just being an arse) and after about an hour of searching we finally found the campsite, ready for a whole night of torrential rain!!

Dinnertime for my little prince <3

 Live photo album: https://goo.gl/photos/Gos9KaSACAwi4n7b7

Things I have learnt from this trip:
1. Robert Burns was right; “the best laid plans of mice and men often go awry”
2. Even clean wet dog smells just like wet dog
3. A wool and linen cloak is an incredibly versatile piece of clothing and I've no idea why it went out of fashion from the 15th Century onwards?!

Less than 24 hours....

Less than 24 hours to go and I honestly can't say I'm totally packed...!!

Water To Go bottle
Fantastic because I can drink
water from anywhere
thanks to the filter!

My living room looks like some kind of bomb has hit it, a bomb that includes clothes and bags and stuff sacs, pots, pans, camera parts, bottles... anything really!!

My "tech bag" is full to over flowing with spare batteries and lenses, cameras, chargers and all sorts! I've borrowed two batteries from a friend for HARVe (the Hovel Aerial Reconnaissance Vehicle, otherwise known as my quadcopter!)so I've got roughly an hour of flight at a time with him, so hoping to get some lovely aerial shots and footage. Especially of Loch Ness... mostly of Loch Ness!!

Princess testing out
her backpack!

With Google's new Photos I can upload photos (upto 16MP) and video (full 1080p HD)completely free and unlimited storage! Which is fab!! I will make my Scotland 2015 photo album publicly available for you all to look at!


Other than a few bits, I think we're pretty much packed! Prince and Princess look so cute in their matching camo backpacks and have been a mixure of excitement and total confusion all day with all the packing. Prince will be SO happy about being in the car tomorrow, I can guarantee!!

Very misleading front cover story

 Teapot brought home the Daily Star today, apparently its a slow news day because the headline is a misleading story about a chap who's been searching for the Loch Ness Monster and has yet to find him so he's finally given up. Good on him for trying, now move over and let me give it a go is what I say!! :)

My handsome Prince

Little Princess

 Well, I think that's it for now! Tomorrow will be a roughly 6 hour drive upto Northumberland to our first campsite. Not looking forward to the long and boring drive, but really looking forward to the scenery from Yorkshire onwards!

Until tomorrow, over and out folks!

xx

N.B. As usual, I've changed names; even the dogs. I don't believe in using people's real names on my blog, so don't worry... the dogs aren't ACTUALLY called Prince and Princess! ;)

Preparations (AKA The Spray Tan Begins)

Hello!

Welcome to my travelling blog!

This trip has been in the planning for a good few months now and honestly I can't wait!

The plan is to go up to Scotland and then do the "North Coast 500" 500 mile road trip around the very northern coastal roads of The Highlands, breaking the journey to spend a few extra days in the Isle of Skye before journeying back on!

I've been really looking forward to this for a long time and it's now officially a week and half until we go! Time to start applying the spray tan... come on, it's Scotland! My pasty white legs aren't going to go a nice golden brown any other way are they?!?

So without further ado,  here's what I'm taking with me! Teapot will probably have pretty similar kit I think...

1. Clothing

Actually not taking as much clothing as I thought...

• 3 T-shirts (2 quick dry high wicking ones, one very comfy quick dry which I'll wear on day 1)
• 2 string vests
• 3 pairs of hiking socks (one pair I'll wear on day 1 if I'm wearing boots)
• 1 pair ultra warm socks (for BED!)
• 2 pairs quick dry trousers (one worn)
• 1 pair quick dry trousers/shorts combo
• 1 pair silly Hawaiian swimming shorts
• 1 pair PJ trousers
• 1 pair pj shorts & pj vest
• 1 collarless fleece (good for sleeping in if it's cold)
• 1 zip down fleece (not pictured, will be wearing that)
• 1 shemagh scarf
• Swimming costume
• Goggles & nose clip... might even buy a snorkel!
• 4 sets underthings (not pictured, obviously!)

2. Cooking

The pots & pans are obviously for both of us to use...

• 1 stove each (will restock with gas along the way)
• pots and pans nest (2 sauce pans and 2 mini frying pans)
• 1 actual non stick frying pan (as the above lies... and I like pancakes)
• 1 set cutlery (awesome set knife, fork, spoon and CHOPSTICKS!)
• 5L collapsible water carrier
• collapsible washing-up bowl
• small bottle of Ecover washing up liquid
• 2 dish cloths
• tea towel (not pictured)
• big hand santiser
• cup with lid
• small bowl with lid
• large "salad" (HAHA) bowl with lid, dressing pot and thermal cover (great for keeping rice warm once you've cooked it!)
• Water-To-Go bottle
• fire extinguisher

3. Shoes

Apparently 4 pairs of shoes is too many for 2 weeks... I think its not enough personally...

• Hiking boots (swapping the ones pictured for my goretex ones... the Regatta ones are a bit rubbish in comparison)
• Crocs (seriously, if you're going camping... pack crocs)
• Regatta sandals (be wearing these if not hiking boots on day 1)
• Swimming shoes (they're for divers but great for wild swimming!)

4. Gadgets & Tech

My favourite section!! Before I list the stuff I will say that I'm planning to blog and vlog this whole trip... so, while it may seem a bit excessive, all of the items are very well needed!! 

• Pentax K-50 DSLR camra 
• 2 Lenses (18-55mm and 80-200mm lens)
• SJ4000 action camera (plus a shitload of connectors)
• Dog harness for the SJCAM (DOGGY CAM!!)
• Tripods x2 (one not pictured and the other little grippy one)
• Nexus 10 (for editing photos)
• Nexus 7 (for reading in my tent...)
• Nexus 5 (my phone!)
• blue tooth speaker 
• Netbook (for blogging!!)
• Campsite electric hookup (not pictured)
• large leisure battery with 12v socket (not pictured)
• A tonne of connectors, chargers and wires for the above gadgetry

5. Things for Finlay

He's my little boy, he deserves only the best...

• jumper
• wax jacket
• back pack
• spare harness
• Duck (not picutred)
• Blanky (not pictured)
• Life jacket (in case he wants to go swimming...)
• First aid kit (not pictured)
• bowls & water bottle (not pictured)

6. Comfort & Sleeping

... and herein lies the reason I needed everything else to pack down small...

• My self inflating air matress (Vango Comfort 10 double... it's HUGE but woth it!!)
• 13.5T feather duvet, and duvet cover, in a vacuum bag
•  Stuff sack for stuffing clothes into a pillow (not pictured) 
• small camping pillow
• make-up
• face wipes (will have to restock on the way)
• deoderant (not pictured, made it into a cream so it wont melt!)
• flannel
• 2 micro fibre towels (HUGE Gelert one and smaller Lifeventure one)
•  nose warmer (hand knitted by Teapot)
• lightbulb lantern for tent
• head torch (not pictured)
• Life venture all-purpose bio degradable soap (for personal washing and clothes!)
• perfume (Lady GaGa's Fame!)
• Spray tan....

7. Misc Item

Other stuffs...

• 2 small bags for packing this lot in...
• chair
• table (not pictured)
• small awning (not pictured)
• tent (not pictured)
• First aid kit (not pictured)

I think that's about it!! Hopefully! We'll see come next Thursday!