Monday 28 April 2008

Plenty of petrol

I was a little nervous about yesterday's planned outing. There was enough petrol in the tank to do about 150 miles. To be on the safe side I reckoned it would be OK to go for 60 miles and then head home via a different route if petrol wasn't available. The point of no return was Moffat. If I couldn't fill up there I would return to Edinburgh via Selkirk.

But what was this on the south side of town? An Esso garage with no queues and a full complement of the Sunday papers! I put in £34 pounds worth, my previous maximum being around £25. The lady told me that supplies were fine down there but that there'd been a bit of a panic back on Monday.

So, plan "A" continued. On to Dumfries, then Southerness, which I knew as a child, and next I went to the John Paul Jones Cottage. This is a very nice little museum and was the birthplace of the "Father of the American Navy". Jones also served as an admiral in Russia and eventually died in Paris. I wonder what he'd make of present-day Scottish politics...


John Paul Jones Cottage
Originally uploaded by David Farrer

Onwards to Rockcliffe where I once spent part of a holiday in a darkened hotel room suffering from chickenpox or measles. Then to Kippford, which was nice and misty.


Kippford
Originally uploaded by David Farrer

I returned via Dalbeattie, Castle Douglas, St John's Town of Dalry, Moniaive and Thornhill - where I had a break and saw some of the Celtic v Rangers game. I saw absolutely no sign of any petrol shortage during this quite extensive tour of southern Scotland.

Other photos from this trip are here.

1 comment:

David Farrer said...

Comments made on previous template:

David Farrer
As a kid did you stay in a rustic fishermans cottage near the lighthouse. Or did you share the Caravan site with Weegies down for the Glasgow fair who spent an inordinate time in the Nineteenth Hole. 
 
My uncle had a "hut" near the beach. Probably made of wood and with one room. Can't really remember.

6 May 2008, 21:00:25 GMT+01:00
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donaldbane
David Re Southerness 
 
As a kid did you stay in a rustic fishermans cottage near the lighthouse. Or did you share the Caravan site with Weegies down for the Glasgow fair who spent an inordinate time in the Nineteenth Hole. 
 
We always stayed in the pre-fabs. An enterprising local builder thought it was such a waste when all those pre-fabs were being knocked down after the second world war. He bought them up and transported them to the sea shore. Southerness as a holiday destination was born! 
 
Great place for kids.  
 
The Mote of Mark! Powillamont(?), Palnackie. Sandy Hills. The boats on Carlingwark Loch. Threave Castle. The astonishing Hydro Electric dams near Kircudbright (built by weegie labour as a make work scheme to help deal with the depression). Border TV - keeping you up to date with the goings on on The Isle of Mann and Carlisle.  
 
I am glad they now hold the annual Wickerman festival there every year. There was always a paganish air about that corner of the country. But then....the rich covenanter history........I could go on and on. 
 
Many thanks.

6 May 2008, 00:02:16 GMT+01:00
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donaldbane
Wendy now supports a referendum. Thats a majority in the Scottish parliament. 
 
Interesting times

5 May 2008, 06:41:57 GMT+01:00
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donaldbane
Ahh happy childhood memories. 
 
A lovely corner of the country.

5 May 2008, 06:39:07 GMT+01:00
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Guest
Not this time.

3 May 2008, 07:20:32 GMT+01:00
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dearieme
Did you do the wee walk from Kippford to Rockcliffe, past "Mote of Mark"? Delightful: a favourite spot for childhood outings.

2 May 2008, 23:29:31 GMT+01:00