8 Sept 2012

Gales .... again & future in chaos.


' ...... and there will be severe gales in Northeast Scotland .....' Issued forth from the radio. 

"Well you needn't tell me cos I bloody well know!" Says a tired and fed up me from the sunshine of a quiet glen just south of Bettyhill on the north coast of Scotland. 

Last night, however; was very Different and frightening. It had been windy during my two nights at a clifftop campsite at Durness but the wind was tolerable and spirits were positive and high as we set off toward John O Groats via the strangely named 'Smoo cave'. Then it was onward through the stunning scenery of this wild, russet and purple coastal road. I proposed a stop at Strathy lighthouse and  when a convenient spot presented itself we decided to spend the night there. Sadies rear end was strategically placed facing the stiff breeze with the forward view being a wide vista taking in both Douneray across the bay and the Orkney Isles to our left. Beautiful. A walk to the lighthouse once again gave no Whale or Dolphin sightings at this, renowned for such sightings, peninsular. On returning to Sadie I noticed the breeze had stiffened somewhat although nowhere near the intensity of the previous two nights.

Well dear reader let us now move on to two am in the morning. I've had a little fitful sleep but the now screaming gale hitting Sadie square on her rear and, incidently, four inches from my pillowed head, had me wide awake and concerned for survival. There are two rear facing opening roof vents and these were giving noisy rattling notice of wishing to immediately and dramatically separate from the roof.  Thank goodness for the garden wire and bamboo canes I had purchased to repair my kite. Vents were duly secured from inside. I then gingerly ventured outside through a door that needed both strength and care if it were to retain the title of door rather than gaping hole and 'gone with the wind' piece of shredded plastic. Thankfully what was alarming and frightening from the inside of Sadie was actually holding together well upon outside inspection.

Morning finally came accompanied by bright blue sky, scudding clouds and an amazing whitecapped, enraged seascape. The wind however showed no sign of abating. I was at right angles to the road and it was getting busy. Five sheep, yes five with two more not ten minutes later, came trotting by totally unaffected by what must be to them normal weather. Now I am not a sheep and Sadie, side on would be presenting fifteen square metres of wind resistance rather than a sheep's woolly wind adapted profile.

"If I back out and turn ninety degrees we are gale fodder!", I muttered as I visualised a wheels up Sadie slithering down the coastal slope toward ultimate destruction on the wave lashed rocks way below us.

"Whoa! Whoa! C'mon Tanya, time to stop this destructive thinking, get out of Sadie and see what it is really like and how we get out of this mess." 

I tell you that was fun. Ever seen a three and a half legged small dog walking diagonally and leaning into the wind with her Schnauzer beard blowing into her eyes and her ears flapping like demented butterfly wings. I would have been doubled up with laughter had I not been struggling to stay on two feet myself. We managed to reach a deserted building about five hundred metres distance where I calculated I could tuck Sadie into the lee. Dare I attempt to drive her there though?

Sadie was started up and I waited for a quieter spell between the savage roof ripping gusts. 

"Here we go Tanya, here we go!" 

A clumsy and bumpy reverse out and then a quick dash to the lee of the building. Phew! We made it and the difference was noticed immediately with Sadie still rocking but not alarmingly so. I was exhausted and immediately stretched out on the bed where I remained fast asleep for the next hour.

I was awakened as another motorhome blithely, in the still screaming but bright and sunny winds, drove by. I felt a right wimp!  Until, that is, they returned, very much slower, stopped right by us, wound down the window and shouted across. 

"I see why you're there. Swear I went on two wheels just back there over the crest." 

I wished them safe journey and watched them gingerly move on and crab their way on down the exposed road.

They did however; give me the encouragement I needed to move on myself a little later. I backtracked to Bettyhill where I have come inland and South to this secluded little pull in at the side of the road on the Altnaharra estate.

Last night's whole experience was particularly difficult as my continuing this lifestyle had been thrown into disarray earlier in the evening. I received a phone call from my letting agent informing of my tenants giving one months notice to quit. This was Indeed unexpected and added a 'doom and gloom' mental attitude to the already storm induced worry and anxiety

This evenings mental state?  Ah well! Everything is for a reason. Guess it will sort itself out one way or the other.



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