Instead of heading North of Edinburgh, we are hoping to start off South-East. These places are not too far from us but we haven't even explored that area.
So today, a good chunk of time has been given to reading Lonely Planet's suggestions, marking the map and the plotting a very rough route.
We've got the privilege of having Historic Scotland membership cards, and it's very satisfying to see a good number of really good properties. In the past we may have driven past these but never had the time to stop and explore.
To tell the truth, we are hoping to have as much reading of 1 Kings and Keller's book on suffering as possible. Talking about these things and if we remember, as we should, praying them and seeing how we can build our lives on these truths and be shaped by them - these are great joys to us. How wonderful that we feel the same.
A few days of good weather ahead. The Isle of Arran looks interesting! Glasgow should be looing differently with the Common Wealth Games having its Opening Ceremony on Wednesday.
We are still reliving our Highland Fling and first road trip car-camping around the Isle of Skye and North West and the very Northen parts of mainland Scotland. But we are pausing the memories and the sharing of them for this new time away.
This time we are not taking gas cookers or pots, but are both in total agreement that we can get good and healthy food in the supermarkets. Last time our little car-kettle that was probably on its last legs just gave up the ghost. Despite trying at every camp shop we had to wait till we got back to Edinburgh before we replaced it. So we should be better armed to make our own coffee and mabe couse-couse or the like as a base for other food - let's see.
Gordon had another plank sawed for our luggage above our feet so that should be an improvement and we also thought a double bed duvet instead of a king sized duvet would be a less cumbersome fit.
I think this time I'm also taking a pair of shoes to wear at times of non-walking. What else? Oh yes, far less travel and reading books. As for our rubbish bag, I'm still trying to think of making it stand in something more solid and out of the way. We found that the space behind our heads when we were in bed weren't really used. But we have to think what would fit in there. Oh yes we also thought that we would have a small bag to hang on our washing line for car-keys and glasses and pens. This time I have an extra big memory card for photos, so hopefully that will relieve the stress of downloading.
It's all just as exciting - all over again. This time we haven't got 17 days in hand and we are less apprehensive.
We've also been really very busy with different things, under some pressure but hopefully what should be done before taking to the road has been finalised. A few phone calls tomorrow, Gordon's routing blood test for his heart, packing the Hammy and hopefully we can be on the road by about 2 pm - let's see!
