We’re off on a new adventure!!
With a plan of following the Wild Atlantic Coast of Ireland for the next three weeks, we headed off in the campervan to Stranraer late afternoon. The motorway north was quiet and unremarkable, the day warm with the threat of rain. We’re due to catch the Cairnryan to Belfast ferry at 11am tomorrow morning and have booked a night at the Aird Donald campsite on the edge of Stranraer so we’re not rushing in the morning. We’ve been here before, almost 2 years exactly, with our old dog in tow and probably one of her last trips before she passed. With our new pup (already a hardened traveller), it’s a sort of bittersweet feeling – old memories recalled and new ones to be made.
We peeled off the M6 at Gretna Green and began the 97 mile trundle along the south Galloway coast – it doesn’t look far on a map, but it’s a long drive. Being a really pretty scenic ride (especially further west you go) with views of the coast and the Solway Firth, rolling green countryside and distant mountains, it softens the possible tedious of such a run. We had just one hairy moment, when a trucker, seemingly in a rush to make port, decided it was a great idea to overtake two cars on a single carriageway. Halfway through his hairbrained scheme, an oncoming car appeared -much to all our consternation – and suddenly this huge lorry is barging his way between us and the blue car behind. The blue car braked violently, allowing the lorry driver to slip in, but not content on almost taking out three vehicles, the lorry driver decided to berate us for not letting him overtake. He leant on his horn and flashed his lights and then preceded to hang onto our bumper, our rear window filled with an angry grille. At a suitable spot, we let him pass, fed up with him hassling us, just as we noticed a sign for a Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency checkpoint. Oh please, a little dusting of instant karma for this idiot, please. So imagine our delight as we came round the corner to find him stopped by a DVSA officer in the middle of the road, the agitated driver hanging out of his window in frantic discussion. We had no sympathy.
We arrived in Stranraer with darkening clouds gathering above the town. After a quick shop in the local Morrisons for something for tea, we checked in at the campsite just as the heavens opened. Perfect timing. The proprietor donned a heavy duty rain coat and walked in front of us, stopping to point out the facilities – we did offer for him to jump in the van with us, but he politely declined. The rain didn’t let up all evening so we’re unable to put up our little awning and have the side door open. So with the door firmly closed and the Van rapidly steaming up, we huddled together with a picky tea and a hot mug of tea and listened to the rain beating on the roof. We just hoped that this was the start of a run of bad weather………..
apathtosomewhere 