Day 3: Loch Lomond to the Mull of Kintyre

Set off up the loch after a false start through a shopping centre car park… Not particularly great views of the loch and the threat of rain setting in. Once we hung a left at Tarbert things looked up, but viewing the narrow Highland roads from the right hand seat of Le Baguette is a bit hairy, particularly when trusting the driver on blind right hand bends!
Le Baguette is an ancient grey French, diesel, Renault Kangoo belonging to my brother. Of course, it is left-hand drive and the view from the right hand 'driver's' seat can be disconcerting without a steering wheel - still - so far, so good...

Day 2: Barnard castle to Alexandria

Packing the car from the Coach and Horses, Ted said he wanted some postcards so when I finished I followed down in the warm spring sunshine. No sign, it seems Ted had found an old army colleague, Terry Nunn 'A' Squadron, the Rock Apes from his days at Startforth in '59 - '61. Small world!
We discovered the problem with depending on each other and then having concurrent 'senior moments' so forgetting to book breakfast. So, we scoured the horizon on a sunny A66, warm despite the snow on the Pennines, and stopped for brunch at the brilliant Llama Karma Kafe, near Penrith. Finding that llama was in the garden and not on the menu, I settled for what was obviously a local delicacy, bacon and black pudding Panini!

 

Wended our way through Glasgow to the Erskine Bridge and finally found ourselves in Helensburgh. Unfortunately we needed to be in Alexandria…

Had a quick look at the Argyle Motor Car factory in Alexandria - hopefully enough of the façade is safeguarded for now although the nicely restored grand staircase is getting rained on where the roof has failed.

 

 

The day ended spending a lovely evening with Irene over cups of tea in the kitchen.

 



Day 1 Barnard Castle

So, here we are at the beginning of an adventure to our home in the north. Along the way we hope to meet many of our relatives, some after many years since we last saw them, others for the first time. The A1 is not called the Great North Road for nothing. Catch it on a good day and it will show you why.

Tonight, we are in the Coach and Horses, Barnard Castle, settling down after a splendid Indian meal with Ann and Mark at the Spice Island.