Escape to England (Saturday)

After taking a leisurely start to the day, we find that most of the other hardy campervan campers also decide that it's the day to leave.  But due to inclement conditions they appear to be stuck on the site.  So with a bit of brute force and mostly the use of Kevin's 4x4, we push and pull and tow about 7 vans out of the snow and ice to the road.  This includes ourselves, but we are proud to say that we got the furthest under our own steam - after all we had the socks on the tyres...

So fond farewells later we hit the road, about 11am and start the trek south.  Exacly 1000km's on the trip meter.  Once we're on the A9 there's really no sign of weather related problems, except for a jacknifed lorry to the side of the road and one car we spot in a ditch.  We head for Edinburgh across the Forth Road Bridge, fill up and then Dave picks the A7 for the route south.  It's a lovely scenic road, but a bit windy for quick distance munching.  We finally get the M6 just north of Carlisle at about 4pm and stop for lunch!

More motorway miles later and a small scare of flooding on the M1 which proves to be nothing we sail home, arriving Watford shortly after 9.  So 10 hours door to door, with 2 fill ups and one extra comfort break.  I don't think that's bad, even though it's a long day in the saddle.  Trip meter now says 1850km.  Drop Dave off and head home to Fran.  I'll unpack tomorrow.

We're on are way hoom? (Friday later)

A walk in the woods which allowed some minor artistic talent to be expressed - see the photos!

 

On a bit of theme?

And later another walk to the pub for some beer and pool, 3-1 to Dave, but the table was wonky.

It would appear that the roads will be open either tonight or tomorrow morning so we're going to try and get home.

Powder but no play (Friday)

More snow overnight but only 6 inches or so, which still means we're buried.  So dug the van out, chatted to the locals and neighbours and went for a walk.  Wandered to the snow gate which unsurprisingly is closed with a gaggle of mountain rescue and snow ploughs parked up.

The plan was to wade up to the pub for a swift half, but that doesn't open until 5, so we've come to the cafe for coffee / hot chocolate and cake, which seems a reasonable compromise.  So we're sat in the cafe watching the bird tables covered in chaffinch, greenfinch and various tits!  Dave saw a red squirrel up here yesterday and apparentlty there was a pine martin scavenging earlier today.  The ducks that roost down below have gone for a swim.

Snow din (Thursday)

2 foot of snow overnight, maybe more.  Which kind of stuffs up any plans for moving the van.  All roads shut, resort shut, shop open.

So we just have to make the best of it.  A pretty slow day involving lots of digging with shovels and attempts at artistic photos.  The ducks seem to be enjoying themselvelves at least.

I spent most of the afternoon sat in the van with Robert Ludlum and Dave tried to find an incline to slide down.  He found the incline but struggled staying upright in 3 foot drifts.

It looks like we'll be staying here until the roads clear and we can get out of Scotland.  Which by all accounts isn't going to be very soon - they're saying Saturday or Sunday at the earliest at the moment, it's pretty extreme conditions.

Snow 'n' Socks (Wednesday)

Not so cold last night - woke at 7am to 2°C, which given the previous nights temperatures can mean only one thing - it's snowing,  Which is a good thing, probably, as long as we can get up the hill.  Which we can, and only a few other people seem to have the same idea.

Zero to nill visiblity at the top of the mountain with what we're told is 40mph winds!  You can feel snow in your face when it hits you at that speed...  And it doesn't abate at all, all day, but we persist and have a few good runs.  It's great snow /powder, the only problem is that you can only see about 3 feet.

End of the day and I've given up but Dave is off on his last run so I sort the van out for departure.  All the cars are slip sliding and they've shut the road to up traffic.  The ranger station tells me that it'll be ok because the volume of traffic down the mountain will keep it clear.  My arse.  I help a volvo slide out of his parking space with another 5 people, and then a mercedes.  I decide it's time for the Autosocks, so I fit them.

I met Shane, guess the nationality mate, who is after a lift so when Dave comes back we all get in the van, which is now full of snow and scoot off.  Sceptical as I am, it's nice to be proven wrong - the autosocks are brilliant to be honest, and about half way down I'm confident they can be removed, so we do.  Blimey, it's slippery now but we make the rest of the journey.  And drop Shane at the Youth Hostel, cobber.

Dave and I trek off to the lodge in a blizzard, but we've clearly made it because this has been published.  If you don't hear more in the next couple of days, someone please send the search party to Glenmore Lodge access road, Ta.

Sun 'n' Ice (Tuesday)

Another fine day. Late start since we decided to wait for reception to open and extend the stay until Saturday. Bought 4 more days worth of tickets too, it's only money.

First photo is a where's wally picture; answer down below.

A bit of videoing and general larking aboot oon the hill including lots more ice than yesterday. We need some more snow! Sorted with New Hope Trust to miss out furniture work on Friday so I don't feel guilty about staying on the hill.


Looked at a map in the evening to work out the way home and decided we will drive back via Nevis and Glencoe ski areas to take a look, but NOT stop and play!

Here's wally - what a ridulous outfit for a ski slope?!!

Decision made, probably (Monday)

Beer does wonders and clears/ clouds the head, so I think we've decided to stay in the same campsite and suffer the same delights of the Cairngorm resort for the rest of the week.  Why not, since the snow is good and there's more forecast.  Partly concerned that we'll never get home because they forecast something like 2 foot mid-week, but I've certainly got nothing else to do, and Dave has only got to make an attempt for Monday.