It is some time since we last went camping, and because of where we live we're used to having pretty quiet nights.  So being surrounded by other campers takes some getting used to.  But on Saturday night we were both woken up by strange growling outside the tent.  We both pondered over what it might be, and we came to the conclusion it must be a badger prowling around outside the tent.  I'd even managed to convince myself that I could smell the typical musky smell that badgers emit.  But then we realised that neither of the dogs were bothered by the noise, and at home Peggy growls immediately on hearing a badger outside.  Furthermore the growl always came from the same location, and if it was a badger prowling around then the noise would move too.  So, completely puzzled, Stevan decided to go and investigate.  He came back in with a huge grin on his face - the noise was a fellow camper about 15 metres from our tent snoring!  We've decided we really need to try our hand at wild camping the next time we decide to dig out the tent.

After the beautiful, sunny weather of the weekend it was a shock to wake up to heavy rain (and a slightly dripping tent) on Sunday morning.  We packed up and set off back home.  We decided to take the tourist route and do some traditional sightseeing of places we haven't visited for a couple of years.  The first stop was at Lix Toll Garage to fill up with fuel and admire some beautiful Land Rovers looking for new homes.  From there it was on through Crianlarich, Tyndrum (sadly not stopping at the Real Food Cafe), and on across Rannoch Moor.  Many consider Rannoch Moor to be desolate and remote, but I love it, if for no other reason than it leads to one of the most spectacular, scenic bits of road in the whole of Scotland - the drive through Glencoe!




[caption id="attachment_2993" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The A82 heading to Glencoe"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2994" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="The Butresses of Bidean nam Bian"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2995" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="Heading north through the Glen"][/caption]

[caption id="attachment_2996" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="Looking north down the Glen"][/caption]

All too quickly the journey was over, and we found ourselves back home.  The hens had been well cared for while we were away and we were welcomed home with an overflowing egg basket.  So how did Lexie and Peggy take to camping?  Well, some of us found the whole experience extremely relaxing:

[caption id="attachment_2997" align="aligncenter" width="360" caption="A very relaxed Westie"][/caption]

whereas some of us were furious at being removed from our home comforts and toys and made to wear a lead the whole weekend!:

[caption id="attachment_2998" align="aligncenter" width="640" caption="A furious Yorkie"][/caption]