Where were we: Carradale
Date: 22-25 June 2018
Intended destination: Carradale
Car: Andy Tait's big white Car
Beautiful Weather in a Beautiful Area
I can't remember quite what time we left but I know it was well early on Friday 22nd of June 2018. Both Andy's arrived at my house in Irvine about 5am. I know that is outrageously early but I've come round to the early starts as you get the best of the day (I sound like my Dad) and what a day it was!! The summer so far was as good as I remembered it when I was young. And now, as I'm writing this blog a month later, it has been as good as I can ever remember. It's taps aff on the Clyde coast. (I have added in this sentence a further 6 and a half months later and not long til Christmas. I'm putting the pictures in and I hope I get them in the right order).
Carradale wasn't on the original list but I fancied the Kintyre Peninsula, it was within 3 hours drive and both Andys were game. After heading off we had our usual stop at Linwood McDonald's for breakfast. It filled our stomachs and we were are ready for an active day and a few beers. It was around then that Vanessa Feltz was on Radio 2. I was amused when Andy Tait referred to her as 'a pure wahoo who talks rapid!!' That kind of talk is pure Garnick Valley dialect.
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| The usual excitement at the start |
At the stop in Inverary we took some pictures. Andy C has since put these together with pictures from the same spot on our first trip. We are 11 years older but still having as much fun.
After some stops we arrived at our destination around 10am. We parked the car at a forestry car park and we headed off to find a spot somewhere within the vicinity. Andy C had, as usual, spent hours searching the area using google maps and it looked promising that we'd find a quiet cove beside the sea at the edge of the forest and within walking distance of a pub. We are experienced at this game and headed off with only some beers and a frisbee. Leaving our heavy bags behind until we found a suitable spot. You may remember from Lochranza some years ago that google maps doesn't really show flat camping ground!! Well it's also difficult to spot sheer cliffs and there was a cliff between the forest and the sea that was impenetrable no matter how far we walked along. However, we have learned from experience and the journey was part of the adventure. We must have scoured the area drinking beer and playing frisbee for a good 3 hours. We considered the forest but the ground was rough and uneven and the midgies looked like they could become unbearable.
I should mention that we lost the frisbee and even though Andy C's search was exhaustive (incredible effort Andrew) it never did show up. We cooked lunch in the forestry car park then headed for Carradale as there were more car parks near the village that looked suitable. When we parked on the edge of Carradale myself and Andy C got out the car. I said to him 'what do you think? And he said: how about here? We don't normally go so near to public places but the car park was empty had two picnic tables and a great flat area to camp.
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| Hunting for a spot. Unfortunately the bay was inaccessible from here |
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| During the hunting we still took time to relax |
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| Can you see Andy Cowan hunting for the frisbee? |
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| Cooking lunch by the car at the failed spot |
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| Great spot! We couldn't have a fire but that didn't matter |
We then walked in to a nearby pub that had a great screen to watch the World Cup and a pool table. This ticked more boxes. We headed on to the harbour that had a toilet and fresh water. The sun was shining and things were looking unbelievably good. On the way back we took a sign for a castle. We never did find that castle but the views from the 4th tee on the golf course were sensational!!
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| The fourth tee |
On the way back to the tent we could see a man shouting and waving. Surely it couldn't be at us. But it was. And, the man was to be one of the best characters we have met on any camping trip. 'Heellllloooo there!' He was shouting in a high pitched voice from a distance whilst waving. As we got closer he said 'Is this your first time? Are you staying? Where are you staying?' 'We are camping we replied' he said 'do you know who my father is? And have you seen my book? He's in my book? He worked in the shark factory. Did you know there was a shark factory in Carradale' 'No I haven't' I said as he shook my hand and introduced himself. Quickly he got his book out and moved to page 23 to show me the back of a mans head in a boat. 'Fantastic I said but we really must move on. It was nice to meet you.' Andy C had moved swiftly on but this was a happy guy and it wouldn't be our last encounter.
We headed to the beach and had an amazing night with a fire, frisbee and some whiskies. Later on in the tent in an unfortunate turn of events my seat broke. There was to be no sympathy from my friends however as I don't think they laughed at anything more all holiday. It wasn't too late due to the early start. The next day we headed to Campbeltown. We replaced our frisbee. I got a seat out the Campbeltown Factory Shop. I bought a football and we decided to go into a nearby AstroTurf for a game. After two spectacular early volleys Andy C was a spent force. That twenty minutes summed up his entire career. I, true to form, cleared a couple over the high fence and Andy T was his usual boring effective self.
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| Andy Cowan looking as if he is on a guided tour round a European city |
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| On the way back from Campbeltown me and Andy Tait couldn't have been more relaxed in this spot but Andy C was desperate to move for some reason and chased us. There was a seal down in the water putting on a great show for us. |
We went home went to the pub again and met our friend. 'Hello' he said and then what seemed like a blur 'firsttimesharkfactorybook'a nearby guy walked away but we spoke to him again. We then decided to walk to a view point. The walk started from our car park and partly followed the Kintyre way. Incredibly we somehow missed the viewpoint. If you think that was bad then spare a thought for poor Andy Tait who's bowels decided to start pushing early in the walk and the whole thing became what looked like a concerningly difficult slog. Ultimately he made it to within 100 yards of the tent. All I'll add is that the deposit was hidden away in a safe wild camping way that obeys all rules. As usual we then played a load of cards and headed to bed.
On Sunday we watched some more football and enjoyed lunch in the pub. Of course we met our friend in the street and in the pub. Usual chat was given and he headed on. He was certainly one of the happiest guys I've ever met. The best part of the day was the evening as we headed back to the fourth and down the harbour to enjoy surely the greatest sunset of any camping trip. I'm glad at times like these that there are three of us as two guys enjoying this may raise questions! The pictures are below and we finished the trip on a high.
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| Our pictures of all of us were much better on this trip. However, this one wasn't ideal. |
The long weekend had been amazing. The forestry car parks were terrific for a short wild camp and Carradale and its people was amazing.
