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European Adventure 2017
Well the midges beat us. Poor Charlie had a dreadful night, covered with bites and very unwell with it as well. Strange that he is the only one affected as Geoff was outside with him most of the time. Apparently it takes 24 hours for the itch to come and that lasts for 5 days - he is not a Happy chappie! We left that part of the highlands heading towards Loch Ness but not before heading to a pharmacy for Charlie. (Who is now very quiet and sleepy in the comer after all his medication!). We stopped off at the Loch Ness Exhibition Centre and got educated on the myths surrounding dear old Nessie. One of the more interesting facts was how the land mass of Scotland was formed and how you can sail right through the middle via a series of lochs and canals linking the east and west. The scenery once again was stunning and it was a slow trip so that we didn't miss any of the vistas. One problem with the Motorhomes and freedom camping is getting rid of the black waste from the toilet. As responsible campers If there are no services available we then look for a public convenience to empty our cassettes. You soon that that major tourist spots with heaps of buses and cars pulling in are the least desirable place for that sort of activity. As luck would have it we found a small quiet train station with rubbish disposal and toilet facilities. The one cubicle in the men's was occupied and since there were two in the ladies and no one around Charlie ducked in there. No sooner than he had disappeared from view a car pulled up and three females got out and headed straight to the loo. Next a bus pulled in but luckily no one needed the loo, so poor Charlie was trapped in the ladies until the coast was clear! Along our route was the very picturesque Rogie Falls, which is an impressive waterfall but it also has a salmon ladder to help the returning salmon get up the top of the falls and on to the spawning grounds. It was the first time we had seen one and we waited patiently to see if a salmon was going to try to get up it. We knew there were fish in the river as we had spotted a few in the quiet pool at the top of the falls and soon our patience was rewarded as we saw several salmon throw themselves at the big waterfall in an attempt to get up to the top. It was amazing how high these fish could leap with each attempt. If only we could have told them there was an easier track to take just over to the right via the ladder. We are assured that eventually they give up on the big waterfall and go back a hundred metres to the quiet pool which leads off to the ladder. It would have been great to see them using it but today wasn't our day. Still it was great to see the wild salmon leaping up the river. Tonight we are freedom camping again parked beside a small road beside a very small loch. Still the odd car passing and while we were having our meal tonight half a dozen sheep wandered up the road (always the way when you have no mint sauce!)
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Shirley We too loved Scotland - maybe because my father was born in Glasgow & we'd heard about it all our lives - perhaps that's why I felt so at home there. Lucky you to see the heather in bloom. Envy you with the freedom camping, but us being on our own felt safer in a conventional camp. Packing the bags today - we leave on Thursday & of course looking forward to it - not the plane trip!.