Summer Hols 2008 – Oban

Group photo between Connel Bridge and Oban

I seriously don’t know where to start, this was just so good I’ll never be able to describe it. I spent so much time thinking to myself “this is amazing, I’m having so much fun”. Romain said at one point, “Today has been my ‘one day’”, in the way that people say “one day I’ll do this, or that”, and he was right enough, every day was that one day. Immense. So many hilarious things happened, so much amazing banter, I’ll never do it justice.

What a location!

We’d hired a caravan, about 3 miles south of Oban, 8 of us in it, slightly worried it might be too small, but no, it was massive. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, quality wee shower, nice kitchen bit, loads of room to sit around in, could’ve fitted more in. And what a view. First night beautiful weather, so CT and I went into town and bought a BBQ and some food, including a massive lump of tesco finest beef, down to 10p from £10. Ha. So we chopped it up into steaks and had a massive steak sandwich each for 0.125p. Bargain. Then some trout on the barbie, and sausages, and plenty beer, off to the perfect start.

10p for a £10 bit of beef, crazy!

First day, straight for the distillery tour. Pretty cool it was too, interesting, with a rather fine young filly called Barbara taking us round. Funny. Few wee drams and the purchase of a fine bottle for the caravan. First try of Oban whisky and a big thumbs up.

Take a distillery tour then head up a hill.

Headed out to do some cycling next, climbed up the hill above Oban into the fog, a well deserved nip each at the top. Some pretty crazy biking to be had in the fog and wet too, we got absolutely soaked, the gas heater was pressed into service, and the caravan became a pretty potent mix of burning rubber, leather, and heated wet socks. Nice.  Into town at night for a few pints and some food. An introduction for the frenchies to the concept of a pie, and to Laphroig and Tennents. The cycle home was interesting, to say the least. To be honest, it was really something pretty special, cycling in the pitch black with the mountains looming above you. Check out the vid, this is exactly what it was like!

Next day took the ferry to Kerrera, had to leave poor CT and Clement behind cos the ferry was “full”. They caught up later tho. Again, Kerrera was absolutely amazing. Just gorgeous. And so cool to be seeing it all by bike. Castle Gylan was the highlight, what a location. As was the masseeeeef descent back to the ferry. Great views all around.

CT and Clem arrive, finally. Gylen Castle.

Gylen Castle, Kerrera

Wednesday was the biggest cycle (for me anyway). Did somewhere round 35km we think – and a good chunk of this offroad, pretty heavy going. By this time my arse was seriously, seriously hurting, and this was even with going out with 3 pairs of boxers and 2 pairs of shorts on. Ha. Headed up to the coast to Dunstaffnage Castle (pretty pish castle really) then round to Connel Bridge for a pub lunch and a pint. Headed back over the hills to Oban where we eventually hit about 2 miles of descent into the town. Amazing. This afternoon had been really, really sunny and warm as well, which was really nice. Cycling in a massive group is great fun, real cameraderie. Same kind of feeling you get when skiing in a big group, and the same amazing tired but really, really satisfied feeling in the evenings.

Connel Bridge in the rain. Up a hill in the SUN!!!

Thursday was our split up day. My legs had had enough, honestly couldn’t have done any more cycling if I tried, they were jelly. Plus my arse was unbelievably painful. Clem, Ben, Romain and Stef headed off for a massive cycle (like 50-60k I think) while Thomas, Bobby J, CT and myself headed into Oban for a relax. Went up to McCaig’s Tower for a gander at the view, then back down to Oban for some food. Spent the afternoon in a sunny beer garden with Magners and the newspapers. What more could you ask for? Headed back to the caravan where we spent some time fishing down at the pier, and it was even hot enough for a bit of sunbathing and a swim in the sea. Immense.

Up McCaig's Tower. McCaig's Tower. CT and Bobby J prepare to jump! Spot of fishing in the sun!

Other lads eventually got back about 7 or 8, then we headed into Oban for one of the best nights out of my life. Seriously. So, so, so, so funny. A lot of it shall remain in Oban but it involved a slight lack of sustenance of the non-liquid kind, 2 seriously funny bike rides (only one in the dark this time!), the girl from the distillery inviting us to a kitchen party at her parents house (thankyou to her parents for the lovely bottles of wine and champagne!), some brilliant dancing, a broken oven, carpet burns, and home times ranging from about 3am to 2pm. Brilliant. I’ll sneak a wee kitchen dancing photo in.

Dance in the Waterfront. Dance in the Kitchen.

Friday was ever so slightly a write off. But an enjoyable one. Thomas, myself, CT and Bobby J headed into Oban for some food. And a pint. A wee chill out. Back to revive the other lads, then into town again for some food and more banter. Taxi driver the night before said he’d seen us all on our bikes the night before, and had remarked to his fare that we’d be stopped by the police, only for her to reply “oh no, i wouldn’t worry, they’re french, they’ll be ok!”. Ha, were we becoming well-kent somehow?! First pub we went into the bar maid promptly came up to us with the telephone to say “her mate Jenny was on the phone and wanted to talk to us”. Jenny was one of the distillery girl’s mates. So we ended up meeting them again, but no kitchen party this time because we had to be up early and out the next morning. Still a great dance, along with the swedish gay people from the Big Pink Bus from the campsite (yup, this was the degree of absurdity we came across during this holiday!).

CT dancing with the gay Swedes' funky hat.

Jeezo, getting there. Saturday was again a bit of a quiet one. Spent it drinking coffee in the rather nice surrounding of the caledonian hotel while we waited for our train time. Clement and Thomas were dispatched to tesco to get supplies for the journey, and were accosted by a random couple in a car (with kids in the back) asking them if they were “the two french gays”. Weirder and weirder. Train journey was efficiently split into 2. First half sleep, second half Tennents, peanuts and pringles. Mucho fun-ness.

Boo-hoo, last photos.

Recovering in the Caledonian Hotel

Back to mine for some pizza, beer and pastis, then out to Thomas’ favourite haunt, Nice n’ Sleazy’s to meet some locals. Some more amazing dancing was to be had in the ABC, where, and this was starting to freak us out now, we met another of Barbara’s mates. Who came back to my place with us all afterwards, alone. Silly girl. Of course we’re nice people, but we did have a rather hilarious conversation in french around her about how we were going to kill her. (Ok bit sick in hindsight but darn was it hilarious at the time). We decided on a bike chain, most appropriate. Bed as the light was coming up.

Dancing in The ABC. Still dancing when the sun comes up.

Frenchies didn’t want to go home. And we didn’t want them to leave. My word, what a week. And well done if you made it this far down, bet there aren’t many of you.

I know there are probably 7 who might make it this far, and to you I say, sex you very much. And lets finish with a word of advice for a happy life.

Advice for a fulfilled life.

Bobby J has now got his version up!