17 – 18 July 2025 Old Hartley (CAMPSITE 53 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (187)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

17  July 2025 Old Hartley

Had a walk into Berwick before leaving for Whitley Bay spotted some lovely flowers.

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I have not done the following for a while so here goes count the number of Swans in the picture ANSWER TOMORROW.

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Click image for BIG

18 July 2025 Old Hartley

Bus into town I need some A4 sheets for printing out some documents. In the afternoon cycle up to Tynemouth no did not go to The moon and back this large vehicle was in the way.

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Afternoon looks like rain so did some work in the van.

 

15-16 July 2025 Berwick (CAMPSITE 52 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (186)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

15-16 July 2025 Berwick

Coffee on the 15th then RAIN RAIN RAIN Ugh!

Click on Image for BIG.

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Walk into town weather looking good so had a cycle up to The Chain Bridge and Honey Farm its a while since I have been lovely to see the bees again.

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Lovely collection of old vehicles and on one visit a few years ago had coffee on the bus.

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There was a photo exhibition on that was very good.

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A lovely day out glad I decided to cycle there.

13-14 July 2025 Berwick (CAMPSITE 52 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (185)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

13 July 2025 Berwick

Cycle up to the below hotel for a Starbuck a place I have never been 5 Star coffee shop incredible.

Village Hotels | The Hotel With Everything Under One Roof

Drove down to Berwick a good drive with no problems an afternoon short cycle for some shopping. Noticed a bench sunbathing (cool glasses ) better make the most of it rain coming.

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Spotted a baby jack up rig in the harbor.

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14 July 2025 Berwick

Managed an early morning walk into town for coffee and then RAIN RAIN RAIN the rest of the day cancelled so spent the day drawing a gift for a friends birthday.

12 July 2025 Edinburgh (CAMPSITE 51 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (183)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

12 July 2025 Edinburgh

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A good walkabout in Forfar this morning and had a coffee in Tiffins coffee shop the owner asked if I could resend the picture I drew for him in 2019 just 4 days after the town flooded.

tiffin

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Back to Edinburgh this morning 1Hr 40 mins drive good road came across the new Forth road Bridge I came across it the day it opened a while back now I think.

The weather changed a bit this afternoon picture last time

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And this afternoon.

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11 July 2025 Forfar (CAMPSITE 51 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (182)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

11 July 2025 Forfar

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Cycle into Perth again first thing and came across this unhappy looking women. I then took the next picture to show you the colour of the sky.

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I love the name of this vennel.

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About 1 1/2 hour drive to Forfar with some shopping then some washing. Out with the bike for a cycle round the small Loch 21/2 miles then into town.

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THIS SITE LOVES DOGGIES.

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10 July 2025 Scone (CAMPSITE 50 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (180)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

10 July 2025 Scone

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Cycle into town for a look around looking for one of my favorite graffiti.

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Also some information about the statues in the rings that I put up yesterday.

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A sculpture inspired by the poem ‘Nae Day Sae Dark’ (No Day So Dark) by Perth poet William Soutar. It consists of two bronze figures of men, representing happiness and misery, leaning on a five metre horizontal steel ring. Soutar’s poem is engraved inside the ring of the sculpture. As with Soutar’s poem of the same name, the sculpture reminds us that however overpowering the dark, a glint of light will appear and even in the deepest despair, hope will always prevail.

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In the afternoon another cycle into town and down to the Scone Palace. Two things I have learnt from this area is don’t have a Scone at Scone Palace and Don’t have a Bridie at Forfar

You cannot put washing lines up on the site so the van next to me used his VANDRYER.

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9 July 2025 Scone (CAMPSITE 50 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (178)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

9 July 2025 Scone

Wow what a drive down lovely scenery Ouch some roadworks not good on these roads in The Cairngorm’s then pulled into a car park by police all of us after a lap of the car park she had gone it was just like a bad dream. 3 Hours drive with a stop at The House of Bruar  coffee n cake a stunning £8.90.

Arrived about 1300 lunch then a cycle into town 2 1/4 miles.

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River Tay

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8 July 2025 Fort William (CAMPSITE 49 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (177)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

8 July 2025 Fort William

Pictures from last nights walk.

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Coffee this morning Costa just outside town the one in town has closed. I do Spain alot and not seen one of these before.

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Cycled out to the locks again on a different route to see if this wreak was still here its a tourist thingy now.

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And another this year.

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Picture of me on my Penny Farthing.

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I have seen The Harry Potter train twice in the 2 days I have been here.

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Another cycle into Fort William

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Did not expect to see one of these in this HOT weather?

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Every time I came into town I knocked on this door no answer kept getting Stone Walled. (see below for meaning)

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Stonewalling” means to obstruct, delay, or resist something, especially by refusing to cooperate or answer questions directly. It’s a tactic of avoidance, often used to halt or prevent progress in a discussion or negotiation. The term implies a lack of engagement and a resistance to communication, similar to the unyielding nature of a stone wall.

7 July 2025 Fort William (CAMPSITE 49 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (175)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

7 July 2025 Fort William

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When I arrived i was thinking these facilities on the campsite have not changed in the 17 years I have been coming here and then a new block appearing?

Love these sign reminds me how I feel after all this cycling.

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Cycle up through the forest trails to Nevis Range Gondoliers and tea room. Had some fab fun over the years here and have climbed the hill in the clouds in winter.

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Types of ski

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Have to watch your food here the birds are BIG.

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An evening walk down to the visitor center and pub.

6 July 2025 Fort William (CAMPSITE 49 SINCE DECEMBER 2024-5) CYCLES (173)17 COUNTRIES IN 17 YEARS

6 July 2025 Fort William

A long drive up today 31/2 hours including stopping of to see an old friend and a coffee stop at the Green Welly in Tyndrum not a good coffee will give it a miss in future. Arrived at about 1230 so a cycle into town I have run out of choc bites. Fond memories of my 5 mile swim up Loch Linnhe.

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A look in town and a picture of the car that was pulled up Ben Nevis years ago not the real one.

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Back for lunch then a cycle out to the locks at Corpach to get a good shot of Ben Nevis.

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Met up with some friends again its a while since we met great to see some my friends today. A wonderful drive up I had forgotten how lovely and interesting it is in Scotland lovely to be back.

My friends say there is a wasp infection going on at the moment it makes a change from the below.

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17 years 150000 miles of European Travel through 16 Counties