Menootnaboot; Northerer and Northerer

Leaving Aberdeen, The Grey and I went first to Ellon for grocery shopping, a charge-up, and, we thought, a park-up. The weather was grim. The Aldi and the Tesco were brim. The charge-up was a flim... and the park-up a flam... I had planned to go to one particular charge point, but it proved inaccessible, despite being operational 24/7... so back to Tesco for the VERY expensive charger as it was already bedtime. Getting to the parking spot, I found it to be a bit 'naked', and for the first time this trip, I decided to drive on, not feeling comfortable. It was well after eleven pee emm before we landed beside the Railway Museum of Maud. This proved a good choice as no one bothered us; we had that Friday to ourselves in the thundering rain and a halfway decent signal, so that was one of the places I did some catch-up posting/reading/ watching/listening. 

Saturday, March 16th, dawned as all true spring days ought—bright, clear, fresh, and full of promise. It was time to hit the road again.

It was less than an hour's drive to our next stopping place of Fraserburgh. A working fishing port, this is not a polished diamond of a town. Rather, it is quartz. A rough-hewn sort of beauty, down to earth and approachable, with a hint of sharp edges. 

I had a wonderful stay. Let me share a little about why. One of the attractions was the Scottish Lighthouse Museum. Finding our way to the very sloping carpark beside the building, I decided to take Grey over to the little bit of land by the cliff, where two other vans had clearly spent the night. (It was, in fact, marked up in Park4Night.) The museum door had a slightly arch notice, "Closed from November to Spring 2024, but the lighthouse tours are still on." Okay. Brunch, (show off the latest sock project), dress up against the chill wind, and out came the Rolls-later. 

Off I went for a wander. I am putting some views here because I need to catch up on the Tuesday views posts; it's getting detached from the flow. Though some will just have to wait! (You can see a bit more in motion if you watch the video!)

At the lighthouse (Scotland's first!) I realised I would not be able to face or manage the stairs up to the lamp. However, I enjoyed visiting the info and gift shop. I chatted away with Michael about the building, the light, the locale. He was a real 'have-a-chat' and said he hoped I would make a return visit when the museum was open. "Spring 2024", it turned out, means March 29th - just in time for Easter hols! Before I left, I enquired as to whether he felt the parking on the ground where I left Grey was actually okay. I asked because there were stones marking the kerb, which looked as if they had been moved (see them beside Grey?) Michael said that the land actually belonged to 'the taxi man', but that folk did stay there. He didn't really know much more but also mentioned a couple of other places I might like to try. We parted cheerily, and I went into town for a wee look around. It is small and quite easy to navigate. I spotted a wee bit of oral history -

...as well as grabbing some glances at the lovely fishing vessels... (you know me, I'm a sucker for a big boat. Well, any sized boat, really!)

Then, in the town centre, I browsed a few shops, including a shoe shop. I have difficult feet—small, wide, arthritic. I got a new pair of Crocs (in grey, of course, 😁), but I also invested in a new pair of good leather walking/dress shoes with adjustable insoles. I discovered the style is called the good Scottish name Rory! 

I got back to Grey mid-arvo and was sitting with my back in the sun, unloading my haul, when a voice called out behind me. I didn't hear what he said, but the elderly gent at the wheel of a large car seemed keen to get my attention, so I went over and requested he repeat. The sentence began with "you people..." and continued along the lines of potentially being inflammatory about the parking situation "this being my land".

I looked him in the eye and said, "You must be the taxi man!"

That stopped him in his tracks. "How'd you ken that?"

"Oh, I was chatting with Michael at the lighthouse and asked him about this land. He told me of other places to go, which I intended to do once I'd had my afternoon cuppa. Would you like to join me?" 

"Why not, eh? Tell me about your van..."

He had the tour and was very admiring and complimentary of The Grey ("real smart looker this one"). At 82, he was still limber and climbed the steps quite well to sit with me. A cuppa, a biccie, and a good natter about his taxi and bus business (now permanently closed), his sister-in-law who, at 73, had bought herself a van and was doing what I am doing, his family background (very deep Fraserburgh family), that Michael at the lighthouse is actually a cousin thrice removed... I asked why he didn't put up a fence or sign that this was private land. He had done it, but they all got trashed, mainly by truck drivers contracted to the fish processing plant on the other side of the museum building. He was less than complimentary about them. He had thought about seeking council permission to make the land into an 'aire' for vans, but there were all sorts of regs and hoops to jump for that. The same had happened when he applied to build a boutique hotel. 

No Longer In Business

An hour and twenty minutes later, I asked my new pal if he would mind if I spent the night on his plot, given that I was a self-contained vehicle and had no intention of spinning wheelies or churning the gravel.

"Not at all, dear; you're most welcome, and I hope, Miss MacLean, that you will come and visit here again!"

With that, Mr Kenneth Noble and I shook hands in a fond farewell. 

This is another part of van life that I truly enjoy. Connecting with the places I stay not just through commercial activity but sharing time and a yarn or several with the residents of those places. Building rapport, breaking down fences - not in the fish truckers' way, but with a smile and a cuppa! And I will indeed return to Fraserburgh.

After a very fine night's rest on Mr Noble's land, I departed the town and headed west...