a camping holiday




















We are back from camping. I needed this so much, time away from the house, the computer, work and all the chores. After months in the house getting into a fully packed car felt like getting out of prison. We had a booking for our favourite campsite, Solway View near Kirkcudbright in Dumfries & Galloway. I felt quite anxious about the trip, in particular about using the shared facilities. That part was ok actually. Hand sanitiser at the door to the small shower block, mandatory mask wearing, only two persons at any one time allowed in, doors wide open for ventilation. Hand sanitiser stations all around the campsite, for example at gates and for the playground. Some guests were not compliant with the hygiene guidelines and were told to follow the rules or pack up and leave. 

With that sorted, all we needed to do is relax. And relax we did. We walked the dog on the beach, we threw sticks for him to fetch and we watched the boys tentatively dip their skinny legs in the cold seawater. James went as far as the belly button. Richard swam. Annie joined us a few days later, as did another family, good friends of ours. Being outdoors all the time makes it easy to maintain adequate distance, even around the fire. We relaxed some more, threw more sticks and balls for Jack and his best dog pal Rudie. We sat around the fire and chatted, drank coffee and ate cakes. We drank some wine, too. We barbecued more food that would seem possible (and ate it). It was good. 

We visited Carrick beach, which is just beautiful. The tide was in but we found a spot to sit and watch the dogs fetch more sticks and balls. We could see the Isle of Man in the distance. 

We visited Cream o' Galloway for ice creams. This is a dairy farm, ice cream factory and activity centre all in one. It is not my kind of place, all a bit 1970s with a whiff of neglect.We only ever visit the ice cream parlour, the kids love it. It was a bit of a faff to get the ice cream due to physical distancing requirements but the kids thought it was worth the wait.

I did my usual runs but slowly. The scenery is stunning around the campsite and I enjoyed plenty of walking breaks to take in the views. I tried "trail" running, following a narrow path in the woods which should have lead me to a beach, from where I thought I would run back along the road. Alas, the path disappeared and I lost my direction. I found a logging road instead which took me to the main road, about 1 km from the beach I had intended to reach. So much for trail running. 

I sewed a few blocks of my new EPP quilt and I knitted a few rounds of my jumper, too. I listened to Dervla McTiernan's "The Ruin", started "The Scholar" and I read a couple of rather shallow novels. I didn't think of work for a whole week. 

The weather was mixed, some days really good, others absolutely miserable. Our tent is nine years old and has lived through a few storms, never letting us down. This time however, we found puddles of water after a particularly stormy night, which was not fun. Richard found a couple of breaches in the roof, where the sleeping pods attach and where the sealing tape had come loose. The damage is fixed and Richard also coated the tent in a layer of NIKWAX tent and gear waterproofing spray for good measure. Fingers crossed we get another season or two with this tent. It is a sturdy Outwell Vermont tent with steel poles that withstand the worst Scottish storms and has served us well over the years. 

We were lucky to pack the tent away dry, always a relief. We got back yesterday evening. Now I am working my way through the laundry mountain. Everything smelled damp and smokey. Eau de Camping at its best. 

I am off work for another week and will try really hard not to open my work email. Our cat Pippin is scheduled for surgery on Tuesday. She has a little lump on her flank that is potentially cancerous.  We have to buy school uniforms for the kids, which I'll do online. Although the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection is currently very low here in Scotland (four new infections today, which amounts to 0.2% of people newly tested, no deaths for 10 days), I am not keen to venture out to crowded shops. Other than that, we have no plans. Fingers crossed for some sunshine!

Thanks for visiting today. I hope to catch up with your own blogs this week, I missed reading what is happening in your part of the world. 

Comments

  1. Welcome home! It sounds like it was a perfectly wonderful camping vacation. I enjoyed each and every photo you shared. Enjoy week #2. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  2. Your camping holiday sounds wonderful. The perfect way to get away from all those parts of life that are busy and stressful. I love the photo of Jack, he looks like he is really enjoying himself and smiling! I hope your second week of being off work is good too and you manage to stay away from those work emails. Hope Pippin's surgery goes ok tomorrow.

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  3. What a wonderful break. It sounds like the perfect way to unwind (leaky tent aside). The beach looks fabulous and I am going to make a note of that campsite for possible future camping trips.
    I hope all goes well tomorrow. X

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  4. It sounds like an idyllic holiday. I'm glad that you had a good rest and that the tent survives for another year. Fingers crossed for Pippin's op. Don't you go opening those work emails now. :O) xx

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  5. Sounds idyllic, so glad you had a well deserved break away. Good news the tent survived and will be good for another season or two, all ready for creating some more amazing camping stories. Hope all goes will with pippins op. Take care.

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  6. Sounds like a wonderful break in such a beautiful spot, glad you all had a good time and I'm glad you're having a break from work as well. I hope all is well with Pippin this week, I will be thinking of you. CJ xx

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  7. Glad your trip away happened despite the rain. No doubt you expected it. Sounds like a fun, relaxing time and good that you still have another week. Fingers crossed all is well with Pippin. B x

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  8. I am reminded of a camping trip where we ended up drying out our tents it a hotel. For ours it was just exterior wet but for daughter's there was some interior dampness as well.

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  9. Looks like you had a wonderful time.. even with the bouts of bad weather.
    I am not a camping sleep in a tent type person.

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  10. That sounds wonderful. I can't deny I'm jealous, haha. Beautiful photos, I enjoyed seeing them.
    Hope you enjoy your week off and stay away from those work emails. Also hoping it's good news for Pippin.

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  11. It sounds like a very nice vacation.
    And it's so good that you have another week to relax at home.

    I have to learn how to stay away from work emails. :)

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  12. From the photos and your words, Christina, it seems that everyone had a great camping vacation. And good to have another week to catch up on the aftermath of laundry. Hard to believe the school term is starting soon and good luck with the online buying. Also hope there’s good news for Pippin. And staying away from email opening is a great idea now.

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  13. That sounds like an amazing trip. I love the photos, especially the one of your little bookworm. How sweet. Good luck with all that laundry. Moms are such hard workers...

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  14. Your trip sounds amazing, just the perfect time to relax, read, chat and of course throw sticks and balls to sweet dogs. Glad you had a wonderful time, good luck this week as you tackle laundry and reinsert yourself to normal life. Stay safe.

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  15. I have never been big on camping but you sure made it look like great fun and very relaxing! How amazing to go anywhere - we in the US have to still be so cautious as many others here are not being careful. Glad your family had such a nice time together!

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  16. That looks wonderful I am glad you managed to get away from it all and have a good break. I hope you didn't have to leave the shower doors open while you were in them ;) We looked at a few sites that said they were not opening the shared facilities, I don't see that working very well for families? Enjoy the rest of the week. x

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  17. It sounds lovely. We are not brave enough to hit our favorite campground in Tahoe and cancelled our wee there. It is a VERY busy campground with many international vistors. I am sad about not going but better to be safe. Lovely pictures too!

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  18. I loved seeing the photos of your camping holiday. So nice to get away, a change of scenery a chance to unwind. I liked seeing your son enjoying a book, wrapped up in one of your quilts. Is that a teddy bear hanging out nearby? Jean/winnipeg

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  19. I have to say that sounds like a blissful week... and that is from someone who doesn't do camping!

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  20. How did I miss the camping!! Anyways you have shared some wonderful vistas and some peaceful family moments (I am guessing it was not an entirely peaceful week with all of you guys!) Jo xx

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  21. Sounds like a good break despite variable weather. I love that part of Scotland. Many years ago we spent our honeymoon there. I think Gatehouse of Fleet is particularly lovely.

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Thank you for visiting and leaving a comment, I love to hear from you, I really do. I sometimes reply by email but I am not all that reliable... Christina xx

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