JiM BoBs TraVeLs

Cumbria sunset

While I was pleased to have got a Sunday in this month as I had’ent worked a Sunday for a, so it was with great relief that I kicked off down the Afon valley with a very full load.

The load was four layers high, being made up of two banks of six metre columns in front of one another. I had a funny feeling that there was something wrong when a woman waved here arm from the passenger seat of a passing Rang Rover whilst passing Port Talbot steel works. All would be revealed in a few miles. As I passed under the bridge at Cardiff West there was the police with the blue lights flashing. As I drew level with the bottom of the slip road the sight of a police BMW filled me with dread as it neatly pulled in behind me. I knew straight away that Its me he wants and not a closer look at the workmanship of the ALC Workforce, I carried on for another hundred yards or so, and he poked his nose out to the middle lane and flashed his lights, at that, I think he wants a word. I pulled over, climbed out on the near side and went to the rear, meeting PC plod at the rear of the trailer. It turned out that a 999 call had been made by a member of the public informing them that I had a dangerous looking load, and that the load looked as if it was about to collapse. We both looked at it and both agreed that it was secure and not in imminent danger of collapse. So he suggested that to be on the safe side, follow him to Coryton junction on the motorway and put one last strap on the top two tears, just to make sure. We both went off to the wide load bay just of he M4 at Coryton and I dewly strapped the top two layers as requested. After that I was free to go. As you can see, yes it was a bit topsy turvey. With that delay in tow I only went as far as Moffat on the Sunday night, but with my first drop at Dundee I was in no great hurry anyway.

Oops a slight port list

Monday morning dawned bright and warm, producing some great views on the way over Beattock and on over the Scottish Central belt. By eleven I was into Clepington Rd in Dundee and getting the single ten meter duel hockey off. Then off to Forfar to get a good chunk of the load off. As ever the task of removing and reloading columns was met with the usual distain by the storman, but by late lunchtime I was on my way to Blackburn on the Western outskirts of Aberdeen to drop the two packs of hinge columns. From there I made my way over to the sleepy little village of Strichen, almost halfway between Fraserborough and Peterhead. Strichen has no great claim to fame except that you will never find a more peaceful and welcoming village anywhere in Britain.

Street boat Macduff

A quandary now. Do I make my way over to my next call at Elgin in Morey, or do I stop off at on of the pretty wee fishing villages on the Banff coast. Em!! I think with this hot sunny weather and the chance of a good sunset, I think I’ll plump for the sleepy wee fishing village. I made my way North out of Strichen to join the Fraserborough to Elgin road at New Pitsligo, I often wonder if the place has anything to do with the western Ireland town of Sligo. I turned left on to the A98 to start my short journey to the fishing town of Macduff, where I decided I would have tea and get some shots around the harbor. What a choice, there were several boats up the yard slips and a few in the harbor.

Macduff

With the sun being high in the sky, I managed to capture loads of good shots of the harbor and its brightly colored boats. I considered the prospect of staying there for the night but it made sense to move on closer to Elgin, meaning that it would be less of a hop in the morning. I opted to move on to the very pretty wee village of Cullin another ten or so mile’s West. and a good choice too. Its one of thee prettiest fishing villages on the Scottish Northeast coast. With a long sandy beach stretching away to the West and pretty sandy coves set in to the harbor , what more could you ask for.

Queen St Macduff

I found a space down by the waters edge just to the East of the harbor. I settled down for the night and then made my way down to the harbor to start shooting, photographs that is I was entertained to a great sunset and managed to get a couple of shots that I felt captured the essence of what the North east of Scotland is all about.

At Cullin

Cullin sunset

More hot sunshine on the Tuesday morning met me when I drew back the curtains. The view appealed to me so much that I just had to grab the camera and get more shots of this fantastic place.

Cullin

By Mid morning I was tipped and out of Elgin. This part of the trip I knew would be good. I love running down the Spey valley. The run down the valley thats known as Scotland’s Whisky trail is a true delight. The valley is a lush mixture of green hills and the famous River Spey.

Spey fishing

The deep brown waters of the Spey are what gives the single malts that unique taste. The valley snakes its way South west to meet the high Cairngorm Mountains just North of Avimore at Nethy Bridge As you travel South down the valley, you are constantly met by those famous name’s in the whisky industry. Grants, Glenfiddoch, Glenlivet, but to name a few. Its not only the whisky that makes the valley famous and unique, the salmon and trout fishing in the waters of the Spey also make this a very special place. And to cap it all there is the Spey Valley Railway, running between Avimore and Nethy Bridge. It’s a valley that is filled with a sense beauty and romance. around every corner.

Bridge over the River Spey at Craigellachie

Your senses are constantly delighted by what they feel.. As ever I stopped and took several photos of various sights. With my rechargeable battries having ran out the previous night I had to make do with a set of ordinary batteries, which were not standing up well the constant work. After I passed Nethy Bridge I spotted some smoke over the valley and quickly realized that had to be the steamy. I made a quick left turn down a small back road into the village of Boat Of Garton, where the train would stop. I managed to run onto the platform just in time to get a shot of it coming into the station. Incidently there used to be a small chain ferry that crossed the River Spey at Boat Of Garton, hence the name Boat Of Garton.

The train now arriving at Boat Of Garton Station is....

I reluctantly left the Boat, as its known locally, and carried on with my journey South to meet Rob with my second charge of the week in the form of two drops. I met up with Rob in Cumbernauld and we swapped trailers. After a bit of a natter, I left and started North once again. With a drop in Dundee and the next in Elgin I was fairly confidant that I would get another opportunity to sample the delights of the Spey valley.

Next morning, after a quick tip at Dundee, I made my way North to Elgin. I was tempted to call into the docks at Aberdeen and then carry on out to Elgin on the A96, but common sense prevailed and I made my way out to Elgin to try and beat the storeman, before he went to lunch, but just piped at the post, by five minuets.

On the way north Rob called me and told me that Caledonia Stone in Lonmay wanted me to collect a load to go to Whitley Bay in North Shields, so out the window goes my second excursion down the Spey valley. But with a bit of careful planning I could get a stop at Aberdeen Docks on my way south to have my tea. The stop at Aberdeen proved fruitful, with me getting loads of great nautical shots in the bright evening light.

Aberdeen Harbour

With tea consumed and all the photographic opportunities explored I started my journey south again. I reckoned that I could quite reasonably get as far as the Fourth Bridges tonight, And with the sun setting far in the North Western sky, perhaps there could be a photo opportunity for shots of the bridge’s. The Forth bridges are one of the most photographed structures in the UK and there is a superb vantage point from the riverside village of South Queensferry.

The Bridge

To stand underneath the rail bridge is a very humbling experience. To think that Victorian engineers and laborers in 1890, when the bridge was begun, with nothing more than picks shovels, and steam powered cranes built this vast structure, certainly brings it home to you just how unique this structure is to the world of engineering. Having shot off some thirty or so shots,meant I would be burning the midnight oil to edit and get one or two onto Flicker.

Forth Road bridge

Despite the late night I was up and having breakfast by seven. I was greeted by bright sunlight but mist lying low over the river produced a soft atmosphere for the two bridges to view from the vantage point to the east of the road bridge where I had spent my night. I often look at the bridges and think of them as two sleeping giants lying next to each other, but with very different characters and looks.

Off down to Whitley Bay I went. South down the famous A1, the first road in Britain to be converted to Motorway. On down the Northumberland coast with its impressive cliffs dropping sheer in place straight down to the North Sea below.

Northumberland Coast

By late morning I was coming into the Northeastern seaside town of whitely bay, where I could drop off my charges of dressed Granite, which would be made into seats outside the new Whitley Bay Playhouse theatre. After I finished I carried on South along the seafront and had a break in the village of Cullorcoats, which has the most impressive beaches and small harbor area.

Cullorcoats

The beaches run south into that other Northeastern holiday town of Tynemouth and with the sun shining brightly under clear blue skies, the beaches had an ample share of holiday makers and local’s sunning themselves.

Newcastle Skyline

My next destination was to Fabritec to collect a consignment of concrete panels to go to the Wiltshire town of Swindon. So with out further ado I made my down the M1 and on to Derby for a quite night in the Derbyshire countryside, ready for loading in the morning.

The plan was to load in the morning, go down to Swindon, tip and then home.I ended up doing two drops near the Wiltshire village of Broad Hinton, which is high on Marlborough Common, with a fantastic view over the surrounding countryside, offering view away to the West, looking over Swindon and on up to Gloucestershire.