windswept

We are back from our camping holiday. If you are a long term reader, you'll know that I love camping. There is something special about going to sleep in a tent, tucked up in my down sleeping bag on my comfortable mat. This time of year, it gets really hot but I still like to pre-warm my sleeping bag with a hot water bottle, for extra comfort. Later, I usually need to unzip and stick my hot feet out into the cool night air. I sleep well when camping. 

We went to our all time favourite campsite, Solway View, which is about 4 miles from Kirkcudbright in Dumfries and Galloway. We went there first in September 2009 with a group of friends and have been regulars ever since. It was good to catch up with Patricia and Neil, who run the campsite and own the farm it is on. The pitches are generous and this year we had the biggest pitch ever, with a sea view. Fabulous. We also had an electric hookup, which is a nice wee luxury for an otherwise modest holiday. The weather was as expected for July in Scotland a mixed bag (a shame of course after the glorious weather in June). Our tent is on its last leg after 12 years of facing the Scottish weather and there was some water inside during the worst of the weather, annoying but manageable. Some more tears appeared in the fabric during a particularly stormy night but again. manageable. We had to drive the pegs deep into the ground this year, so much wind. Duct tape and tent repair stuff is always useful to have handy when camping. We'll have to get a new tent for the next season, maybe one of those inflatable ones as our steel-poled one is hard on Richard's back when we pitch it. Maybe a smaller one, too. 

The time passed quickly in between walking on the beach, visiting nearby towns, a National Trust garden (Threave), going to the pub for dinner and simply enjoying the views while sipping coffee by the tent. The boys went to Loch Ken for an afternoon of watersports. I had been there once for a work day out and remember feeling panicky far off the shore in a one person sailboat after an hour of learning to use it. Returning this year, I noticed that the loch is narrow there and rather tranquil, very different from my mildly traumatic memory...  Back then, I convinced myself I would be swept out to sea, not noticing I was on a freshwater loch. Oops.

We went on a farm tour with Neil (on a trailer pulled by a tractor). He used to farm dairy cattle but sold the herd. The farm now focuses on rewilding the land and improving biodiversity. A small drift of Tamworth pigs is helping with this, churning up the the earth and creating space for new, diverse growth. The farm also owns two small (<10) herds of cattle, one of Highland Cattle, the other Belted Galloways, for conservation grazing. It will be great to see how this project develops over time. 

We visited the Dumfries & Galloway aviation museum for a bit of a change. The focus was on the Second World War, not aviation in general. I found it excruciatingly boring (as did the dog) the males thought it was ok and the gift shop was very popular with the teens. 

I discovered a secret fabric shop in Castle Douglas. The shop front said "The Gemshop and Craft Centre" and I went in to look for sock yarn because there was yarn displayed in the shop window. I wandered up the stairs and discovered a backroom full of quilting fabrics. Hundreds of fabrics. I went back another day for more. It was amazing if a bit messy. I chose a good selection of fabrics to add to my stash. I explained to Richard that I was building up said stash in preparation for retirement in 14 years because I would not be able to afford it then on my ever decreasing pension. 

We celebrated James' 16th birthday while away camping. We bought a cake at the local Tesco and surprised him with it, candles and all. I had wrapped his presents before leaving home. He wanted a red fluffy dressing gown (this teenager lives in his dressing gown) but was otherwise happy to receive whatever we thought was fun. Breakfast was cake followed by a fry-up. He went on a bike ride with Richard and for dinner, we booked a table at the Ship's Inn in Gatehouse of Fleet. 

I recorded many bird songs. Most of birds I was not familiar with (being a city dweller). The loudest of all was the sedge warbler, a migratory bird that will soon head off for Eastern Africa. It was tiny, considering its loud vocalisations. I also saw (and heard) meadow pipits and there was an abundance of swallows. Some grey wagtails, skylarks and the odd goldfinch. I heard owls in the night but never spotted one. 

In, summary, a good summer holiday 😊