Meercats

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I've been a tad slack in my blog posting as the last I did was from Scarborough, but there was an in-between episode.
On Saturday, I headed North as I had a mini-hobbit booked at Kinlochleven with the intention of doing Ben Nevis.  As usual, the plans went slightly???? off course.
I got to Lochearnhead at half eight in the morning in time to crash my friends for a coffee, but as she has just bought the post office there, she had to start at 9, so was left 'home alone'.
Then headed North, unpacked, and though I'd do a swift 2 hour stroll. No need for maps and compass then.  WRONG.  I got kind of lost as I'm wont to do.
I headed up to Blackwater reservoir to visit the dam.  All ok so far.  Then, instead of re-tracing my steps, I cut across the dam to the other side, and found what I now know is the Keiran Trail. I never knew it existed.
12 miles later, I staggered into home base. Huh!
This called for a few refreshments at the Ice Factor, which effectively cancelled out the Sundays plans.
On the plus side, I met a grand chap called Jim Mayburry who was doing the baggage run for his girls on the West Highland Way, which included the hauling of a Meercat statue around the highlands.  Don't ask me why...
Anyhow, he just sent me some pics from the time at Blackwater to post here.   Cheers Jim.

On the way home, I stopped of yet again at Lochearnhead and got to play with some chickens.  Oh Joy..

A non Meercat shot

Meercats on doorstep..

Home from Pinewood

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'Twas a long 2 days with the drive, but at last, Woodys Wagons are installed in their new home at Pinewood Park in Scarborough.
The park already had lots of tipis and cowboy shacks, so it was nice to see our wagons slotted in alongside them.
As usual for us, nothing came easy as the truck once again would never in a million years have negotiated the tight corners to get to where the wagons were to be sited...until Woody came up with the idea of trashing one of his fence between 2 cowboy shacks, and hey presto....superb access.
No nightime party though as (a), we were far too tired, and (b), I had partaken of enough fried chicken to feed a multitude, courtesy of our hosts, and could barely move.
Then an early start to finish the handrails and fit the wheels...then home.  Yee-Ha!!

Our Hosts

The Wagons

Almost weekend

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So...it's a 10 o'clock start tomorrow, and all we have to do is load Woodys Wagons onto the truck, which will then get stored in the yard over the weekend and we'll meet them in Scarborough about 10.30 on Monday morning.
Therefore...quiz night for me tonight.  Hurrah!
Then as soon as the units are loaded, I'll be heading North to Blackwater Hostel in Kinlochleven where I have a Mini-Hobbit booked for the weekend, and will have a crack at a mountain or 2, dependent of course on the hospitality of the barstaff in the Ice Factor next to the hostel.

I'm in the huff with Gary as he never bought me a birthday present, so he can go whistle dixie when his
comes along.  He did give me a new CD player for the car....then tried to charge me for it.  I'll give him the cash soon (not)....

                              Blackwater in Kinlochleven

Beware of age

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It's my birthday today, and I came across this list from my old mucker Andy who I know from our 'oil patch days' out in the Middle East.    Cheers mate!!!

You're getting old when.................

1. Kidnappers are not very interested in you.
2. In a hostage situation you are likely to be released first.
3. People call at 9PM and ask, "Did I wake you?"
5. People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.
6. There is nothing left to learn the hard way.
7. Things you buy now won't wear out.
8. You can eat dinner at 4 PM.
9. You can live without sex but not without glasses
10. You enjoy hearing arguments about pension plans.
11. You have a party and the neighbours don't even realize it.
12. You no longer think of speed limits as a challenge.
13. You quit trying to hold your stomach in, no matter who
walks into the room.
14. You sing along with elevator music.
15. Your eyes won't get much worse.
16. No one expects you to run into a burning building. 
17. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to
pay off.
18. Your joints are a more accurate meteorologist than the
national weather service. 19. Your back goes out more than you do. 
20. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't
remember them either.
21. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to a manageable
size. 22. You can't remember where you read this list....

Woodys Wagons are go!!

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At last the canvas coverings for the Wild West Wagons arrived, so it was a day of 'boy scout' knot tying today.
All went splendidly, apart from Gary falling off the ladders (yet again), but luckily he landed on his wallet which broke his fall.

We even got some tidying up done, and the cnc machine has re-emerged from beneath the piles of wood stock.

The transport is to arrive on Friday, so we can load the wagons, then have the weekend off.  Hmmm. Glencoe seems to beckoning, or mayhaps just have a stroll over the Lomonds instead.

Woodys Wagons

www.microlodge.co.uk

Brrr..   We seem to have reverted to winter again, or we had a 2 week Spring and I've missed Summer and Autumn.

We are now well into the builds of the wagons for Pinewood in Scarborough, and fitted the wiring and insulation today. All the bunks are installed, and tomorrow we start fitting the external loglap cladding.
Gary got to leave the shop early today as he got the job of sourcing the tarp coverings.  The wagon wheels have arrived ok, so looking forward to seeing them rather than the 'dummy' plywood thingies I rigged up.  The rope is also on its way for the rigging, so I will also get to demonstrate my old seamanship skills with the backsplicing and knots.

Sunday was my day off, and so watched the rugby, and although we lost down south, Scotland at least showed some passion and we never got completely humiliated this time.

Laying out the frame and dummy wheels

Single bunks and kitchen fitted

Front porch cladded (awaiting seats)

Wild West Wagons

www.microlodge.co.uk

We have decided to take tomorrow off as we've still not recovered from the Welsh excursion and are both tired and grumpy and ready to throw hammers at each other.  Jeez, I've spent more time this week with Gary than his missus has done.  She must be a saint. :-)

We got sent some pics from Anna and Miles at The Willows, so I'll include these on this blog.  I never actually realised I was taller than Gary, although I knew he had a tad more girth than me...... (I'm being polite..)

Today, with the help of Kerry at Pinewood, we sourced the wheels for their Wild West Wagons. Both the base frames are now made and all the walls are ready to be fitted, so Sunday will see some good progress being made.

My cat is happier now that my weeks doggy-sitting is over and he is King of the House once again.  I even bought him treats to say sorry, although I must admit I miss the wee dog.  He was incredibly strong for his size and always managed to physically drag me into the Den Inn at walk times....

We were clean and smart 2 hours ago...honest.

Base frame all ready for us. You can still see the trucks axles at this point...

Cymru

www.microlodge.co.uk

Well....where to start...
4am start, and scraping ice from the windscreen in Scotland. Loaded sleeping bags and headed south encountering heavy rain by Manchester but upon arrival in Abersoch, t'was like Espana with roadside cafes and blazing sunshine.
Me and Gary, thinking we had lots of time sat and enjoyed the moment and the beautiful sea views until we found out we were actually miles away from our intended location.

A swift 'U'turn and we found the road to The Willows and flagged the truck in plenty of time and headed to the site.    So far, so good.

Then....it all went kind of weird...

The truck was far too long for bends that would normally accommodate 6 sheep and a dog and a tight squeeze ensued to the detriment of a concrete fence post and a section of hedging.  Ok, we can live with that.

Then the truck gets bogged down in the grass.

By this time, us, Anna and Miles and the driver are starting to panic just a tad.

Still, the Hobbit houses are landed on their perfectly level beds supplied by Miles...and we think the problems are over.....Think again...

Luckily, a local farmer, who has a tractor, as farmers are wont to have, bailed us out and dragged the truck back onto terra firma and we were saved.  Hurrah!!!!

Then, as darkness fell, we finished for the evening and headed to the local watering hole, where we can only assume the locals were friendly, but not too sure as they were speaking in Welsh.

Next day consisted of repairing the truck damage to the paths and field, with Gary wielding his fork and spade and putting a St. Andrews greenkeeper to shame, followed by a long...long drive home.

Never mind, at the end of the day, the Hobbits are in position and the views are so stunning and the site is well worth its 'best site in Wales' status, and I will most surely be back as a customer and have a go at climbing Snowdon.

If you also wish to visit, go to http://www.the-willows-abersoch.co.uk/index.htm  for details. There are some great deals on offer on the website.