The Angel and The Wall, Jedburgh, Scotland
Zagan the motorhome is perturbed. It isn’t supposed to be this easy to park up for free over night, in the centre of a UK town, with free WiFi and access to award winning public loos, is it? Seems it is here in Jedburgh; we’re liking the Scottish Borders! I’m sat in the van writing this with the blown air heating on, the lappy charging on our inverter and a cuppa, after being treated to a slap-up meal in the town last night by friends of Ju’s parents, Helen and Doug. They followed this with a fun night in the pub with their friends and a young German couple (much talk of VW’s naughtiness went on). Thanks Helen and Doug!
Zagan in the main car park at Jedburgh. Three other motorhomes overnighted here with us. The neds have been here before us carving donuts, but none showed up last night.
So, we’re two days into this tour, or is it three? Anyway, the main thing that’s struck me so far has been the total lack of guilt feeling for not being at work. Last time we did this madcapness, 4 years back, I felt bad for not being in the office. I mentally kept track of which days were weekends, and would relax on those days, feeling the guilt come back of a Monday morning as we drove through some sensational bit of France. Not this time. This time I’m straight ‘out’ and I’m rather enjoying it all!
Ju’s making some toast as I write this, using half the double skillet. She effectively ‘dry fries’ the bread, as we’re off grid, and don’t have a toaster anyway. The trees in the car park are shedding orange leaves and yesterday’s blazing sunshine and blue skies are wiped out by low cloud this morning. There’s a periodic clatter of bottles being dropped into the recycling bins the other side of the car park.
As we’re off to see Helen and Doug again, I’ll just pop in some photos from yesterday’s fun, and be off with me.
I’d seen the Angel of the North while nailing it past on my way to some consulting job in Newcastle a few years back. Ju had never see it though, so we popped in for a look.
Folks had left tributes to lost ones in the trees under the Angel’s gaze.
Team Zagan under the Angel’s wing.
Another touching tribute. Roses left in the shadow of the Angel.
The Angel’s HUGE. There are concrete piles driven far into the earth below it, so it can withstand 100mph winds. I love it – the industrial crafted into something beautiful.
Zagan makes it to Sainsbury’s and fit (almost) into a standard car park. He’s 6m long. The new ‘van shower’ attachment is also working out nicely.
After the Angel we headed for Hadrian’s Wall, this nice straight road runs alongside it. We found ourselves driving down a narrow, twisty bit of road and came to a blind left hand bend. We were almost at a standstill as we rounded it, to find some young fella-me-lad was attempting to apex the corner on our side of he road in his Ford Focus. Imagine his surprise to find himself faced with the White Wall of Hymer. Much shrieking and yelling of expletives and somehow he missed us. I had to check for paint scrape later on. Another of our 9 lives gone.
Charlie’s trying out a few driving positions. This is his ‘rest head on thing which prevents me accessing cab area and look forlorn’ look.
Winter is Coming! We made it to the wall at Housestead – must be one of the best sections with rolling grassland either side. Incredible weather for it too – bob on.
The Great Gap in the Wall, looking north towards Scotland.
We managed to get ourselves past without nipping in for a fry up.
Scotland! Ju’s Dad Malcolm is Scottish, and many a childhood photo was taken at a sign like this.
Right, best get my toast finished, it’s time to head off out. We’ve no idea where we’re stopping tonight, further north it’ll be though as we’re off the other side of Aberdeen tomorrow.
Cheers! Jay
Love the posts, find the photo captions a bit hard to read on a phone, but otherwise a great site.
We have tried making toast in a pan, but not quite right, do not want a toaster. We found the Highlander Folding Grill, (other makes available). Best toast maker so far, sadly only one piece at a time.
Hi J&J
All of the towns & cities that I have stopped at in Scotland have had free parking overnight. If you’re Edinburgh bound it’s quiter at the park & ride and get train in.
Followed and enjoyed your last trip so much that I set off on my own tour on 14th.
You guys are killing me….on my home stomping ground, I was born in Morpeth just a few clicks from where you are now , if you get the chance go to the Jim Clark memorial rooms in Dunns, dedicated to one of britian`s best racing drivers …if you are into that stuff…keep on trucking see you soon hopefully
Bill Weir
Haha! Cheers Bill – sadly we’re burning along at a great pace so not giving ourselves time to look around. Yup – a bit crazy when we have all the time in the world. I didn’t expect Scotland to be so easy to free camp in to be honest – I think we’ve got another great spot tonight in Stonehaven – so I was pressing to get to France and the ferry is booked! Cheers, J
Hi guys. A bit scary road hog bearing down on you. I miss some of the text on my iPhone. Not as bad on my iPad but some things still cut off. Just had an update to my software on both so maybe the problem is on my end. Enjoy Scotland. I loved it.
Thanks John – I think the text problem is probably us and the theme we are using – will try and correct it when we get a mo – thanks for letting me know – cheers, Jay
Hi,Have liked your info of tours ,my wife and I are off to Sicily from 20thNov till about 1st week Mar 2016.
we had a Hymer 534 about 1994 loved it .now I was able to but Carthago Opus 5.2 its 2006 and we prefer to wild camp most of the time ,which Iam getting is your preference Colin & Paula (‘Ellie” tibetan )