Dec 292011
 

Yesterday I had a great day with a friend called Gavin. Not got to see him since October, when I was last up in Scotland. It was great to catch up with him again.

When we met up last time, it turned out he said he not never been to Loch Lomond. So of course I had to change that one. It was not the best weather in the world to go for a driving trip around the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park. But the good thing about it, is we just about had the place to ourselves.

Looking at the map below you can see all the places we went to. We covered a good number of miles. Need to try and out just how many at some point. Think it will be at least 100 to 150 miles.

I will now tell you a bit more about the route we went. I picked Gavin up from Milngavie train station at 11:25am.  Then we had a quick stop at some supermarket that I will not name. Since I am not a fan of it. But I needed something to eat and drink.

We then left Milngavie on the A81, which we stayed on till Blanefield, then we turned left onto then B821. Which I have cycled over many miles, but think it may be the first time I have driven over it. Then once we got to the A809, we turned right. Then followed that road, till we get to the junction with the A811, where we turned left. Then stayed on that road till Balloch.

Once at Balloch, we stopped at had a quick look around Loch Lomond Shores (number 1 on the map). Which is a small shopping centre on the banks of the loch. Did not stay for 2 long, since it was so windy and wet.

We jumped back into the car, then took the A82 up the west side of the loch. We had a quick stop at Duck Bay Marina. Did not even get out the car this time. Was way, way to wet :( .

After the wee stop we joined the A82 and stayed on the road, till Tarbet (number 3 on the map). Where we joined the A83 Rest and be Thankful road. Which is one of my favourite roads in the Scotland. You can some really great views from it. Well when the weather is good, which it was anything but today!

Below is a view from near the top of the Rest and be Thankful. Thanks to Google Street View.

We stopped at a car park at the start of the B828 (number 2 on the map). We stayed there for a good while, just chatting about stuff. But again never got out the car, it was still just to wet :( .

Then we set off on the A83 back the way we came till we got back to A82 (number 3 on the map), then we turned left and even higher up the west side of Loch Lomond. We kept on that road till we got to Inveruglas (number 4 on the map) and stopped in a car park for a while. Before getting back on the A82 and the long ish drive back to Killearn (number 5 on the map).

Once in Killearn, Gavin got to meet up Mum and Dad for the very first time. My Mum even cooked dinner for him. I love my Mum.

Then we just chilled out for a while. Before he had to get the train back home.

So that was our day, hope are all had fun reading about it! Oh and sorry we got no photos at all, it was just to wet and windy. But next time I am up, going to make sure we do much the same trip again. But in better weather and get lots of photos :) .

Posted from London, England, United Kingdom.

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Oct 042011
 

I got up around 10:00am, which is very early for me. I had a shower and my Mum sorted out breakfast for me. I love my Mum to bits. Then I sorted out some stuff on my laptop, while I waited for my friend Neil from my Balfron High School days to turn up. It made a nice change unlike most of my friends he turned up on time. I like someone that is good with time keeping.

We both chatted at my place for a while. Before we set off into Glasgow using my car, to go to the Glasgow transport museum. We parked at the old museum. Since the website since it was the best place to park. Since the museum’s car park gets very busy. But when we got to museum, the car park was not very busy at all. But it was a very nice walk, so we did not mind at all. Lucky the rain stayed off, but the same could not be said about the wind.

I now what to say about the new Glasgow transport museum. It’s good good and bad point. I like it’s location more, something very good about it being on the banks of the River Clyde. Just wish you could walk ago more of the quayside.  So now on with the inside of the museum. It’s a lot lighter inside than the old one.  But it’s also lost the feeling the old one had. I will need to go to it again, next time I am up. To fully made my mind up about it.

Oh could really say, while we were looking around the Glasgow transport museum. Our friend Jamie, also meet up with us. When then all went a nice walk into Glasgow to get something to eat. We went to The Edward Wylie, which is like my local pub up here. Since it’s the one I go to the most. The food was great has always and also had a very good catch up with Jamie and Neil at the same time.

After work we walked back to the car, which took us about 30 minutes. Also got a bit wet at the same time. Once back at the car, we drove to Ikea. Since I had not been to one in a while. Also found out that Neil had never been to one. So had to stop him being a Ikea virgin. I was a good boy and only got two things. One being a new photo frame and the other being a digital food thermometer for my Mum.

Once done at Ikea, we dropped Jamie off on route back to Killearn. Then I said my good byes to Neil. So at this point would like to say big thanks to them both for making it a great day.

Then I just spend the rest of the evening chatting to my parents about my day. Also my Mum really likes her digital food thermometer.

It was then time to playing around on the net. Mainly on facebook and twitter. I was also a bad boy and did some on-line shopping. I have sent off for the Toy Story blu-ray box set from amazon.co.uk.

So that was my fun filled day. Can’t see me doing much tomorrow at all. Since the weather is not looking to great :( .

Posted from Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom.

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Oct 032011
 

Well OK, maybe not the best blog title in the world. Since it may make you think it’s my first every full day in Scotland. Which of course it’s not, since I grow up here. It’s just my first full day here, since driving up on Sunday.

So what have I done today then? Well not really that much, since it’s been wet and windy just about all day. Then it’s Scotland so of course it’s going to be wet. Half washing I had taken a wetsuit up with me!

Over all it’s been a good day. Went into town my Dad and Mum. First time I had been out a good run in there new car. Really like it, still find it weird, when having a 4×4, since they have never had one before. We went to a shop called GO Outdoors. Which I am sure you can tell by the the name sells outdoors stuff. So I get myself some walking boots, which my Mum and Dad, paid for as part of my birthday :) .

Once back home to Killearn. I spend most of the evening, just playing around on the net. Yes nothing new there at all. And watching the first series of Torchwood, seen it before. But only when it was on TV. Back then I did not have Freeview HD or Freesat HD. So watching it on blu-ray is so much better. I watched the first 5 episodes. I will no doubt end up watching the rest tomorrow evening.

So that was my first day in Scotland. Tomorrow should be better, since I am meeting up with a friend from my Balfron High School days and going to look around the Glasgow transport museum.



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Oct 032011
 

That’s me up in Scotland for 2 weeks :) . I am up looking after the family dog Ghille, while my Mum and Dad go on holiday. They go on Wednesday, but I drove up today, so I get to spend some time with them before they go. Since I have not seen them since April. They do normally come down in June to see me. But Ghille is getting old, so they did not want to leave him.

The weather up is here cold. Funny when I left my village in England around 11:30am, it was 20C and blue sky. Get up here and it’s 14C and very, very wet. Just hope the weather gets a bit better, while here. Since I want to get some cycling in while here. Also want to get to see some friends while here. Don’t really feel like walking around Glasgow in the pissing down rain.

I will try to post a new blog most times. Well that’s if the weather is OK. If it’s crap,you will not want to hear, about what, I have been watching on TV all day!



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Apr 102011
 

If you have watched my three vlogs below then you will already know most of this… It was a really, really nice day… like 19C which for Scotland in April is very good indeed. So my plan was to go out a nice cycle maybe to Loch Lomond and back. I got all geared up in my sexy cycling gear. Then went outside, to get my bike. Only to find it had a flat tyre. If I had been in England, it would have been OK. Since I have the tools to fix it. But I did not have anything at all to fix it. So all I could do, was put the bike back away. Then think of something else, to do in the great weather.

So I went back inside, half changed out of my cycling gear. In other words I kept my cycling shorts on, just put “normal” shorts on over the top of them and changed out of my cycling top. Then I set off out towards the Campsie Fells, which was just a very short walk from my Mum and Dads house in Killearn.

The plain was only to go a short walk, but ended up doing 8.14 miles. I know this since I took my cycle GPS with me :) . Now I will bore you with some of my walking stats. I spent 2:16.39 (h:m:s) walking. Avg speed was 3.6 mph, not 2 bad for hill walking if you ask me. Max speed was 12.7 mph, yes I did a bit of running also. Min elevation was 87 meters and max elevation was 535 meters. So well pleased with myself. In the whole time I lived in Killearn, it’s the highest, up point I have ever got to up the Campsie Fells.

While doing the walk, I also got some great photos. Please check them out at www.gordon-valentine.com/zenphoto/me/2011/page/5/.

Oh in that photo above did not go 2 far into the water, since it was a bit on the cold side. Also had no idea how deep it was. I have a feeling it’s a lot deeper than it looks. But next time, I go up will make sure I have my wetsuit with me, to find out :) .

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Jan 032011
 

I did the long boring drive back Killearn to back to my village of Little Bytham a journey of around 320 miles. Think I did it in record time! Will not say how I did that! :) I also went a new way, for a section of the journey. I used what years ago was the A74, which is now called the B7076, mainly used it, since I am so bored on the A74(M), also did it, since I used that road while doing the End to End cycle back in August 2009. So it was nice to get to see it again!

Once back in I had all the fun of unpacking everything. Then I had fun setting up my Sony BDP S370 Blu-ray Player which I got from my Mum and Dad has a Christmas present. The video quality is so good, reminds me of when I first went from VHS to DVD. Also great to get to watch HD stuff on my HD ready TV in my bed room at long last. So looking forward to watching one of my Blu-ray films in the next day or so. I already have a good list to pick from The Dark Knight, Sherlock, Top Gear: Polar Special, Newcastle – Australia and Torchwood – Children of Earth.

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Jul 202010
 

Today Mike (not my ex Mike another one) and Tyler and myself went to Hunstanton. It’s the most fun, I have had in a long time, not just because I got them both in wetsuits, but of course that did help. They are just two very nice lads, they are so easy to get on with.

Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike, Tyler and myself at Old Hunstanton beach
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike and Tyler at Old Hunstanton
Mike at Old Hunstanton
Mike at Old Hunstanton

Check out www.gordon-valentine.com/photos2/days-out/20-07-2010/ for the full gallery :)

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