Back on the road, day four

 As I said previously, day four seemed like a rerun of day three but with worse weather. Again we headed down to Portree as its the only way to get to another friends croft. They weren't in, haha we had forgotten that it was Mothers Day.

However, as we drove through Portree I spotted the Gavin who we tried to catch up with the previous day, we caught up on the gossip and I may have done some shopping.

Gavin's shop Skye Batiks has been a favourite of ours ever since we bought my first scarf from him in 1989.

This time it was trousers and another jacket as my existing ones are a little too big :-)

I may still head back in for another patchwork jacket as I've had the last one for a good few years now.

We followed this up with coffee and ciabatta, nipped to the co-op for some food and came out to a serious hail storm which turned to snow.

We were glad to get back to our accommodation for the week and given the 50mph winds we were thankful that we weren't in the van as the campsites aren't open.

More of Scotland in a van

Being away in the van rather than the usual rented cottage gave us chance to slow down and chill out. We landed up on Skye on the Sunday and called at the Old Byre for a chat with Claire and Neil before carrying on to the campsite at Edinbane. 

Skye bridge coming into view

Our conversation as usual was about moving onto the Island, we have discussed this many times but at the moment we both want to travel and do a few festivals before settling down somewhere out of the way.

The campsite was a bit of an eyeopener... we are used to the Caravan and Motorhome sites where they let you have a look for a pitch you fancy then pop back to reception and tell them the pitch number. The Camping and Caravan Cub have a very different system which wasn't helped by our booking receipt showing a 6.3m motorhome and their receipt showing a 7m caravan which they somehow tried to make out it was our fault? I think we know what vehicle we have. Also they were a little put out or maybe surprised by me wanting to pay for the four nights in cash.

So they helped us fill up with water and then two of the wardens walked us to our allocated pitch and made sure that we were in place ( we would have preferred a proper van pitch ) All evening we watched a procession of vans and caravans being walked round the site. It reminded me a bit of a funeral.

We soon found that sunsets and sunrises could be glorious occasions and if we tried, we could ignore the cuckoos. Phone reception was non existent in spite of the new mast in the new field and it always amazes us how many people immediately set up there TVs on arrival.

There is a fold down TV in the van, we've watched a DVD on it once and now its just something that we hit our heads on occasionally, if it didn't double up as the reversing camera we would probably take it out.

For the next few days hubby cycled around, we caught a bus into Portree to catch up with gossip at Skye Batiks ( we've shopped there for maybe 29 years now) and dropped into Island at the Edge which was next to the campsite.

I even got to teach a drop spindle workshop which was great fun at Island at the Edge, there were six spinners and newbies, tea and cake and a wonderful view over the Loch.

And this is Puffin Skye, our latest travelling companion  and just to prove that my knitting isn't always strewn around the van I had a tidy up :-) Spot the home for the crutches.

That's about it for now,  have a great weekend xx

Scottish diaries, over the sea to ......

hi,

Anyone who reads this blog, does anyone still read blogs? will remember that we visit the Isle of Skye from tine to time and we were last up there in May.

From where we are based it's a 100 plus miles journey but the chance to catch up with people was to big a draw. Setting off at 8 we managed to make the first crossing at Glenelg at 10 and ticked off the first job on our list. Two dogs work on the ferry, inspecting travellers,checking the ferry is all there and still smells the same and All the other important things that dogs do.

One of them has his own Facebook page :-)

We dropped off dog biscuits and treats for them to share.

Next stop was the Windrush bookshop and café,  we have come to know the owners over the last few years and any cafe with a spinning wheel set up and obviously in use is the place for me. A quick hot chocolate and hubby wandered off to watch the shinty match at Portree leaving me to chat with some knitters and spinners that  knew from previous visits. 

After the shinty (skye lost) we wandered off to Skye Batiks. Now , anyone who knows me will have seen the patterned trousers that I usually were. These all come from Skye Batiks along with some of my bags and other clothing. This time we were picking up a parcel for someone I work with and dropping off two fairisle hats for two of the staff.

Several cups of coffee later we left having purchased several packets of there new range of curry spice mixes. I will report back on them later :-)

After a quick look at the harbour we had to head back, but we hope to be back on the island next May :-)

We took the bridge back...... not so much fun as the ferry though

Tour de Fleece day seven

Hi, this has been my first day without spinning :-( not through lack of inclination just a simple lack of time to get any done.

Still its Saturday tomorrow and hopefully I'll get chance to play with one of the spindles.

To make up for it, here's a photo or two from the isle of Skye earlier this year.

Craft demo at the Clan Donald centre, I called in and had a spin and met this lovely lady.

 The recipient of my first handspun and knit kep, looking very pleased with it ( and rather warm wearing it in the shop) His shop Skye Batiks has kept me in trousers for many years.

Phew !!

So people still read blogs, thank goodness for that, I didn't really want to be talking to myself for the next few months!

So, a quick recap on some of the stuff from last year, since I am still unable to travel by bike we packed up the car in September and headed back to our bolt hole...the Isle of Skye to try and unwind a bit. We always joke that one year we will stay up there and each time its more of a wrench to come back.

We had booked a cottage, made the journey in around 10/11 hours arriving in time to sit and stare at across the bay and let the island work its magic.

You can't lose with a view like this from the front door.

perfect for watching the cruise ship/yacht come in.

we spent our time revisiting familiar haunts, catching up with people we know and chilling as much as possible.

I took the opportunity to drop in and spend some time with the local spinners group where I was made very welcome and I will be heading back in a few months for another session with them.

Portree harbour looking very pretty with its boats and painted buildings

We left with some regrets, a very nice new jacket from Skye Batiks and headed down the coast to visit some of my family.

more next time...