Euan booked up the second week of our holiday. His idea was to stop me waffling on about campervans by actually going away in one. I am mildly claustrophobic - I won't go into small spaces and avoid crowded rooms and shops.
So he booked up Bertie from a hire place along the road, convinced that I would hate the reality.
and we headed for Arran and then onto Islay - straight into a force 8 gale. You could see him smiling as we drove into the rain "well this will sort her, no more wingeing on for a camper now".
But then something happened - he started to love Bertie even more than I did. He started to hum as he drove along - his sarcastic "Well isn't this fun?" turned into a sincere "I wonder how much . . ." and "We could go to Sweden . . and take an extra tent"
First Arran - which was nice enough but then we got the ferry to Islay.
I am so smitten with Islay, the light, the ocean, the open spaces. We stayed in a campsite right in the dunes with nothing between us and America but sea. And despite the extreme weather which ricocheted between storms, gales and sunshine, we had the most amazing time. Here is Jasmine the amazing speeding dog.
We spent most of our time walking - the campsite was on the dunes on a 12 mile stretch of sand - so you could stagger out in the morning clutching a cup of coffee and drink it sitting on the beach - at night you could do the same with a glass of wine. Days of watching the light change and the oyster catchers chunter and fly, the fulmars dive like stones.
The girls - taken completely away from tv and computers - happily walked, climbed, drew, beach combed and were generally happy bobbling along.
Having Bertie really made the trip - so that when our tent looked like this (in Arran)
we could be inside like this
Waiting for the weather to get better so we could go back outside
The reason that I titled this The Last is that this was to be Bertie's last trip with Scotland by Camper - he's being retired, or remodeled or re-homed or whatever happens to old campers.
We in the meantime are saving our pennies for a Bertie of our own.
Wonderful when a scheming spouse has his plan fail so spectacularly.
you have to save Bertie
Posted by: tracy x | July 11, 2010 at 07:04 PM
So pleased that Euan was won round, especially when he did it all by himself!!
What a wonderful holiday you all had ... and by the sound of it will be having many more similar ones!!!
Sx
Posted by: Sue | July 11, 2010 at 07:14 PM
Sounds like a wonderful time, it looks like heaven being that close to the sea. I can just imagine a hubby smiling to himself thinking this'll fix her. Hee hee, how great that he was won round.
Posted by: Jennifer | July 11, 2010 at 07:31 PM
Think I recognise that campsite Jane. We used to have a VW and I'm hankering after one again. Just spent today packing trailer and car for camping up north. Hope we get a similar time to you guys.
Posted by: Karen | July 11, 2010 at 11:02 PM
Oh if only my hubby could be convinced that way!
Posted by: Lorraine | July 14, 2010 at 07:52 PM
You have no idea how happy I am over the outcome of the great Camper Van debate. I am expecting the hard sell on my hubby when we see you next week!
Posted by: Kirstin | July 15, 2010 at 05:45 PM
I cant tell you how much this post made me smile....
Posted by: suzie sews at Dotty Red | August 01, 2010 at 11:44 AM
Great post. It's amazing how many people are sceptical when it comes to caravans or campervans. But it's often a different viewpoint when they get out there.
The closest I've been to Islay is Oban but I remember the drive out there being amazing! Islay looks beautiful too.
Posted by: Caravans | March 15, 2011 at 01:42 PM