#staircase campground
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Another from the Staircase area - Olympic National Park
#forests#forest aesthetic#old growth forest#olympic national park#staircase campground#skokomish river valley#pnw#washington state#moss#ferns
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West Quebec: 4 national parks north of Montreal & Quebec City
When I had checked in at national park Hautes Gorges, they already told me that most of the park including the river activities and most hiking trails were closed due to the high rain fall a few days earlier, but when I woke up the forest fire smoke had moved in as well; double whammy of climate change impacting my travel! 🥺
On top of it I felt crap from a cold that I had developed the day before (am thinking I got the virus on one of the boat tours when everybody was on top of each other to take pictures) so I took it extra slow in the morning, already cooking the rice for the evening meal (staving off a brazen chipmunk who kept jumping on the table) and even doing an old-fashioned steam session with vix under a towel to loosen it all up. 😂
From the visitor centre, I did end up doing a 8.4k hike, first up to a boring lake (undoubtedly made more unattractive by the smog) which was higher than I thought so was struggling to breathe in between my coughs and sneezes, and then along the river which was indeed raging; it would have been impossible to SUP let alone swim in the water! I then took the shuttle bus to a little dam where the water flow continued to be impressive so had some snacks at a picknick table while doing a crossword. Not feeling great at all, I skipped dinner & went straight into the tent at 6pm... not the best of days! 🤧
It was good that I had gone to bed so early as it meant that I had a few hours of sleep before a thunderstorm rolled in. I always find it a bit scary to stay in the tent but not sure the car is much better... the tent and I survived 🙃 but it meant that once more everything was damp/wet/soaked when packing up, truly the main downside of camping!
On my way to the next campground, I spent the day at Grands-Jardins national park, which was also impacted by the floods but luckily the "jewel" hike up Mont du Lac des Cygnes was open. At 8.6k and 500m elevation gain, the hike was not the easiest but my sneezing had already been much reduced (although I'm still coughing a week later) so I felt reasonably well. After the first viewpoint at a pretty lake (confusingly not the Cygnes 😜) the last km was a scramble up rocks and staircases, but then an incredible view opened up of the surrounding hills and valleys, all part of another massive astrobleme (this time the 11th largest of the world) when a meteorite hit the earth a long time ago. Beautiful! 🤩
Driving at the end of the afternoon towards Québec City, the rolling hills which were very pretty to drive through all the way from Baie-Comeau, made way for the flat plains around the river while in the distance the city contours with its chateau became visible... before I reached the "capital nationale" 😄 however, I veered north to a private campground close to park Jacques-Cartier. Generally, I prefer to stay in park campgrounds rather than in private ones, as they're more natural, cheaper and have better showers 😅, but this one was actually really good; it had a lot of space, amenities such as a fastfood truck, mini golf and a (now not so lazy) river where people floated on inflatables, and most importantly, a truly quiet nighttime!
Again, most of the park was closed as a result of flooding, so I did a lovely 4k hike around a cascading river (am feeling much better now!), and then felt incredibly lazy so hung the rest of the day at the visitor centre talking to my parents, writing the blog and putting my feet up! 😊😊I did start another small hike on the way back but aborted after 10 minutes, simply not feeling it 😝. In the evening, I had two trip firsts; I used a standalone rack to cook over the fire (private campgrounds don't provide a grill where park ones do), and I finally made my first s'more, with a kitkat as the camp store didn't have any real chocolate 😅. Very satisfying!!
Rain had been forecast for the next day however it was still dry when I woke up, so I swiftly cleaned up camp and did a 6.6k hike up a mountain. The view was not as great as I had thought it would be, but not complaining though, always a 100x better than a computer screen! 😉 The rain did start when I got to the top and quickly turned into a downpour, so had to do a complete change of clothes on my return at the visitor centre 😂... once I'm fully soaked I don't mind the wetness anymore, as long as I know I can dry & warm up at the end of it!
Not being in a particular rush to get to my next campsite in the pouring rain, I spent a few hours in Quebec's largest mall, the Galeries de la Capitale, buying some things and having chinese at the foodcourt! 👌 I'm not a big fan of malls, but this one was quite impressive with an indoor skating rink, a ferris wheel, rollercoaster and carrousel - although you can imagine the noise was ear deafening and a bit of a shock to the system after camping.
When I got to La Mauricie national park, the sun had come out again so spent a leisurely evening at the campfire, more my cup of tea than the busy mall! The next day started humid and cloudy, so I forewent another steep uphill hike for a series of shorter ones along the 50km park way. Driving from one end of the park to the other side, there's little hikes at lakes, bogs, viewpoints that are all equally pretty and don't require much effort, so perfect to drink my cup of tea while taking in the scenery! At the west end, people were swimming in the rapids, but instead I took a refreshing dip in the lake & then chilled on the beach for a while.
I won't post too many pictures of my campfires, but this one I was particularly proud of as it had been a struggle in the last days to get it going due to the wood being wet... very frustrating when the fire keeps fizzling out but now I heaped so much kindling on it that the strong heat dried up the logs quickly.
After 6 days of camping, I'm ready to get back to town and check into a hotel in Montreal and then off to northwest Ontario!
Wildlife: 1 porcupine (Hautes Gorges), 1 heron, tens of tiny frogs, 1 turkey & 1 deer (La Mauricie)
SUPs: none
Hikes: one at Hautes Gorges, one at Grands-Jardins, two at Jacques-Cartier, 5 little ones at La Mauricie
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Day 6: Parco Nazionale Pollino
I woke up and was debating riding without gear to Morano Calabro and back to my campsite. I was sore, but there is so much to see here. I hadn't made up my mind when Antonio, the campground host extraordinaire, said he had made a plan for me and a couple German tourists who were traveling in a camper van.
We went to Civita and saw the Gole di Raganello, an epic slot canyon and a beautiful blue river. The canyon was so deep, and the bridge was so tall, that looking down from it made the bottoms of my feet tingle. I spotted a goat on the mountain side, then realized there were at least 6 up there.
We ate pizza in Castrovillari and then drove to the top of Morano Calabro. From the highway, the town looked like a hill made out of lights. Antonio told us to walk down through the town and he'd meet us at the bottom. I took a lot of pictures but like so much else, it was hard to capture. There were houses built over bridges, winding streets and narrow staircases.
It was a good day of exploring without having to bike up any hills.
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Java-101, An Excursion Through Central Java Coffee Growing Areas
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Greeter Falls
📍in Grundy county
If you’re a waterfall enthusiast this is the trail for you! Savage Gulf State Natural Area offers 15,000+ acres perfect camping,hiking, includes majestic waterfalls even has historical sites as well.
If you’re wanting a longer hike this might not be for you, although the trail is worth checking out for all it has to offer.
Hike starts flat as what seems like you’re walking through a shaded forest as you pass by all the hemlock, oak, poplar, and maple trees just to name a few . The hike doesn’t stay flat as there are exposed roots and rocks which makes it uneven in some areas. I’d advise to keep be safe as buffs have no safety barrier.
The trail becomes steeper as it crosses into a valley where it reaches a fork that leads into 15 foot Upper Falls, and 50 feet Lower Falls.
I think my absolute favorite part of the entire hike was the spiral staircase because with each step, the view is extraordinary leading you to an up close breathtaking view of Lower Falls.
I will advise you to wear non skid shoes or boots as the rocks are extremely slippery even with no water on them.
Sadly you can’t stay forever so once you’ve soaked up all its glory you can start heading back, remember to leave it better than you found it!!The tremendous steep climb up on the valley walls can be tiring, but by mile .75 it comes naturally.
Important things to know:
I’ve seen people rate this as a challenging hike, if you have a fear of heights or are not used to trails on hills then I would see why it’d be difficult.
I didn’t see any benches but I would recommend to stop and take a break when you need to.
Go early in the day as it can get busy. Hours:8a-5pm
There is four different parking lots which is nice but I know most parks will close due to overflow. I’d recommend checking on their fb page for updates.
It’s also important to remember that this is a State Natural Area not a State Park so don’t expect guardrails or a paved trail.
The spiral staircase is cool but can be slippery so approach with caution.
262 ft elevation gain.
Average time to finish is 36 minutes.
Stone Door is also worth checking out leading you to an amazing overlook.
I loved that the trails were well marked.
So. What’s stopping you from making a trip? I promise it’ll be worth it even if you make the trip alone.
Think it’s not worth it because it’s a short hike? I thought so at first but when I saw the waterfall it changed my perspective!
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SOUTH CAROLINA
2023 Dec 3 (Sun) – We packed up and left Mrytle Beach at 10 a.m. It was a pleasant drive to Lake Jasper RV Village in Hardeeville. The campground is a resort with a pool and games and such. It’s a shame we are only here for one night. We paid almost $72 for a pass-through.
After set up, we drove into town to get fuel, then went to dinner at Frankie Bones. It was a very interesting restaurant. Since Hardeeville is close to Hilton Head, this is an upscale neighborhood. The restaurant was very classy, given their richer clientele. I had a spaghetti squash primavera and Paul enjoyed a seafood dish with scallops, shrimp and crab. Everything was delicious.
2023 Dec 2 (Sat) – We went to the movies today to see “Napoleon.” It turned out to be very disappointing. It was more of a love story than a war movie. It was slow, plodding, and confusing. We did not enjoy it.
After the movie, we stopped at CVS to pick up the new prescription the doctor prescribed for high blood pressure for me. I went on line to look at reviews and was dismayed to see so many people criticize amlodipine. There wasn’t a single positive statement on the use of this medication. I think I will work harder on losing weight and try to avoid taking this stuff. We still couldn’t find a larger cuff for the BP machine so Paul ordered it online. We will pick it up at my cousin’s in a few days when we are in Merritt Island.
We also stopped at Hallmark so I could pick up a few Christmas cards.
2023 Dec 1 (Fri) – We packed up and left Florence at 11:25 am. Since it was a short drive today, we dragged our feet in leaving. Paul spent the morning washing the truck and rig. The drive was an easy hour and a half. We arrived at the Swamp Fox Campground in Myrtle Beach at a quarter after 1:00. The campground is OK. It’s an older place but kept up alright. We have a concrete pad, fire ring and picnic table with full hookups.
After lunch, we headed over to my brother, Dennis’, place. He and his lady live in a condo in a retirement community. It’s a nice place although it has a second floor with a long staircase. He is 81 and she is in her late 70s. He is very healthy for now (rides his bike to the gym and presses weight every day) but it become a problem if either one of them develops a hip problem. Regardless, their place was lovely. Denise was not there, having flown back to New York this morning.
Dennis took us in his 2006 Mustang to look around town. He took us to Broadway at the Beach, an area with rides like a Coney Island type place. We walked around a bit then got back in the car and drove to the boardwalk. It was lovely. The boardwalk was wide and right on the ocean. Reminded me of Atlantic City boardwalk and Jones Beach. We walked the mile up and down the boardwalk, looking in a couple of stores and buying a Myrtle Beach souvenir.
We left and decided to go to a favorite restaurant of Dennis’ – California Dreaming. He couldn’t find the place (it was now dark), so we went to his place, said good-bye, hopped in our truck, and took off. We tried to go to Bonefish Grill but the roadway was difficult to navigate and we couldn’t get to it. As we were driving around, we discovered California Dreaming so we stopped there. The place was huge! Lots of mirrors add to the effect. The meal was good and the waiter was attentive.
2023 Nov 30 (Thu) – We packed up and left Fountain Inn at 10 am. It was a beautiful drive with the sun shining and light traffic. We stopped after two hours at Love’s to have lunch, then continued on. We arrived at the Swamp Fox Campground in Florence at 1:30 pm. The campground is somewhat rundown and turning to seed. There are many RVs that look very old and unkempt with stuff overrunning the area around them.
After set up, we drove into town to get fuel. Florence is a pretty big town. After fuel, we drove to CVS to look for a blood pressure cuff. They did not have what we wanted so we went across the street to Walgreens but they didn’t have anything either. We will have to order it on line. I sent an email to the cardiologist, telling him to call my prescription into the CVS in Myrtle Beach. We will be there for two days, visiting my brother, Dennis.
2023 Nov 29 (Wed) – We went over to Travis’ house at 3 pm. Sam asked us to watch Lincoln while she went to pick up Noah and Hudson. Turned out that Travis didn’t go to work today. When everyone was home, we took them to Lil’ Rebel for dinner. It was a café-type place with a large menu and good prices. After dinner, we drove to the Kroc Center where Hudson and Sam played basketball, and Travis and we watched the other two boys swim. At 7:30 pm, we bid good-bye to everyone.
2023 Nov 28 (Tue) – Paul and I went shopping today. I bought new sneakers and a pair of earrings (I had lost my last pair on the airplane to NY). We had breakfast at the Clock Drive-In. It turned out not to be as nice as Paul imagined it would be. We had lunch at the mall at Sarku, a restaurant we liked very much in NY. It wasn’t quite the same here. We stopped at Ingles and picked up a few things on the way home.
The cardiologist called this morning to say my bloodwork was in. My cholesterol is high and he wants me to start taking a statin. In addition, I have been having mild headaches and running a little high in my blood pressure. He suggested that I also take a medication for that. I told him we would find a CVS and let him know where to call the prescription in to.
2023 Nov 27 (Mon) – We didn’t do much today. Drove over to Travis’ for dinner. Sam’s parents joined us. Sharon made ziti and we brought Italian bread. Travis & Sam were having a fight. The kids were running around and screaming and fighting. It was all overwhelming and we left almost immediately after dinner. The atmosphere was very uncomfortable.
2023 Nov 26 (Sun) – The boys woke happy and ready to greet the day. Paul made pancakes for everyone then we took a walk around the campground. It is a plain facility with only a small office and smaller laundry building with 4 washers and 4 dryers. Noah and I looked at all the RVs, commenting on what we liked and didn’t like about them. Paul and Hudson threw a frisbee back and forth during the walk.
We met Travis and Hudson at 2nd & Charles, a huge bookstore with lots of other stuff. Travis took Noah to a play and we watched Hudson and Lincoln. When we were done in the bookstore, we took the two boys to Runway Park. It was a playground right at the airport. There was also a small mini golf course there. We watched private jets take off and land as the boys played.
When finished (it was cold), we went to the house and hung out until everyone else got home. Travis made dinner then we left.
2023 Nov 25 (Sat) – It was another busy day. We ran out of propane overnight and Paul ran out to get the tanks refilled this morning. The temperatures have been hovering just above freezing. It warms up to the low 50s during the day but nights are really cold. I am looking forward to heading south.
Noah had his bowling league this morning. We joined them at the bowling alley. Travis & Sam went food shopping while we watched the kids. After playing pool, Hudson wanted to bowl. So Paul and Hudson bowled 3 games and I watched Lincoln in the small arcade room. Afterward, we went back to the house and helped Travis put up Christmas lights.
At 4 pm, we climbed into the truck with Noah and Hudson, and Travis got into his truck with Lincoln and we drove to Easley for the Upstate Holiday Light Show. Turned out it didn’t start until 6 pm, so we drove to Freddy’s Steakhouse and got dinner for everyone. We got back on line at the show at 5:30 pm. They opened promptly at 6 pm. We drove the route through the light show. They had a fantastic display that included the lights timed to music. We drove around the route twice. At the end of the drive was a small carnival and a petting zoo. We bought tickets and the boys enjoyed some of the rides. Then we wandered through the petting zoo. The animals enjoyed the food we gave them.
When the show was over, we brought the two boys back to the camper with us and they spent the night sleeping on the floor.
2023 Nov 24 (Fri) – My trip to NY was nice but went by very fast. Kenny’s grandmother passed away the Monday before I arrived home so I was able to attend the wake and funeral services. I had to rearrange or cancel doctor’s appointments but I got it all done. I was only able to see the cardiologist and the oncologist while home. I will make up the next time I go home in February. All reports were fine.
Yesterday was Thanksgiving. We went over Travis’ house and shared a fabulous meal with his family as well as Sam’s parents, Sharon & Greg. We gave a few gifts to the kids. We will be bringing over the larger number of gifts for them to put under the tree. Hudson gave everyone gifts. They turned out to be books he got from school. The library had a bunch of books they were giving away and he took many of them. It was cute.
After doing the laundry this morning, we went over Trap’s and took the kids to the Greenville Zoo (Sam had to work today). It was small but nice. They have a very nice playground that the kids enjoyed as well. After the zoo, we drove to a park that had a mini golf course. You just have to bring your own golf club and ball to play. We went back to the house for a while then came home. It was a very busy day.
2023 Nov 14 (Tue) – We dropped the truck off at Ford and got a loaner to use while it is in the shop. We then went to Cracker Barrel for breakfast. It was not good. This place has gone downhill in the last few years. The biscuits were small and stale. My scrambled eggs were not cooked all the way. Our plates looked empty when they were brought out. And the waitress seemed to be uninterested in serving anybody. We had to call her over to refill our coffee cups and then again to bring the bill. When we got back, we did the laundry. I finished up SMART emails and work assignments.
Kenny’s grandmother passed away yesterday. Miranda sent me information about the wake and funeral. I had to rearrange doctor appointments but was able to clear most of my calendar. I cancelled an eye exam and pushed the cardiologist to a later time. I tried to cancel the dentist but there was no answer. I’ll try again tomorrow.
We drove to Travis’ house at 3. Sam left us to watch Hudson and Lincoln while she ran to the school to pick up Noah. Paul and Lincoln played together while Hudson and I played Scrutinize. He is obsessed with the game and wants to play it constantly. Sam cooked dinner and we played one more game of Scrutinize before leaving. I had to pack for tomorrow’s trip to New York.
2023 Nov 13 (Mon) – We drove to Arden, NC, to meet Travis at his job with The Cliffs. He drove us around the area, showing us the million dollar homes they are building in the development. He says they own 8,000 acres over 7 mountains. The homes were stunning and very large. I guess that’s the new move now – BIG. And there are lots of people with lots of money today. Where do all these millionaires come from?
After driving around to look at all the beautiful houses, we went to the Cliffs Bar & Restaurant for lunch. Travis was a little worried they might have a dress code but we didn’t get turned away. We sat out on the patio and enjoyed an excellent meal.
We said goodbye then drove the hour and a half back to the campground. Along the way, we stopped to get fuel and shop at Ingles.
2023 Nov 12 (Sun) – We met Travis and the boys at Texas Roadhouse for lunch (Sam was working). After lunch, we went to a playground then the Kroc Center where Hudson had basketball practice. Noah and Lincoln swam in the pool. I watched the swimmers and Paul watched the ball player.
When done, we drove to The Cliffs Chapel at Glassy Mountain. It was a long drive up the mountain but the view was spectacular. It was a lovely chapel with lots of glass to look out on the surrounding vista. There was also a veterans memorial nearby. It was a beautiful location.
We drove down the mountain and picked up pizza for dinner. We all enjoyed a meal together. Then we returned to the campground.
2023 Nov 11 (Sat) – The campground had coffee and donuts for the veterans in the campground this morning. That was very nice.
We drove to the Wade Hampton Lanes this morning to see Noah play in a bowling tournament. We also played a game. It took us an hour and we only completed 9 frames. Playing with little guys is so time consuming (Lincoln, age 4; and Hudson, age 8). We also ran back and forth between our lane and Noah’s so we could watch him play.
After bowling, we drove to the soccer field where Travis & Samantha were picking up a medal for Hudson. His soccer team came in third this season. We sat for a while so Hudson could kick the ball around with some friends, then went into the Kroc Community Center. The center was built and donated by Ray Kroc and his wife. Kroc owned McDonalds and was very philanthropic. After he died, his wife, Joan, gave millions to the Salvation Army to build 26 Kroc centers round the country. The center had a huge Olympic sized pool, a water slide, a children’s area, and a hot tub. There was a room with exercise equipment and a spin class area.
The next stop was at the American Legion War Museum. It was a small museum chocked full of memorabilia and artifacts from the various wars. The boys were very interested in the displays and asked lots of questions. A docent got hold of Sam and talked her ear off.
We returned to the house where Sam prepared a delicious dinner for us all. Then we played games until it was time to leave. It was a very full day.
2023 Nov 10 (Fri) – Noah’s school was having activities in honor of veterans today. We drove to his school, Sevier Middle School, to arrive at 8:30 a.m. I spoke to students in two classes; one was Noah’s 5th grade class and the other was a 7th grade class. The 7th graders were a lot more vocal with questions than Noah’s class. The all the veterans (of which there were many of us) walked down to the auditorium where we entered amidst thunderous applause. All the students and faculty were standing and clapping for a good ten minutes while we filed in and took our seats. The ceremony was phenomenal and very humbling. Then we all walked down to the library where they had a luncheon set up for us. It was quite a spread.
At 4:30 p.m. we picked up Chick-Fil-A (couldn’t find KFC) and went to Travis’ house for dinner. The boys were glad to see us and we them. After dinner, we played games and visited for a while.
2023 Nov 9 (Thu) – We packed up and left Greensboro, NC, at 9:00 a.m. It was a four and a half hour drive to Fountain Inn, SC. We are camped at Shibby RV Living. It is a very basic campground. Four rows of RVs line the campground with no trees. We think it might have been a farm at one time.
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Wild Camping in Fort William
New Post has been published on https://eazycamping.net/wild-camping-in-fort-william/
Wild Camping in Fort William
There’s likely no better way to experience the Scottish Munros than heading to the Outdoor Capital of the UK and pitching your dependable wild camping tents near the historic town of Fort William. Travellers worldwide flock there on weekends or holidays to escape from the pressures of day-to-day living and feel closer to nature.
Picking the best wild camping spot near Fort William can be a delightful yet challenging affair because of the vast array of choices. We’re here to help you through this process.
In this article, we will share our top recommendations for those who want to wild camp in Fort William. Check out each location to learn more about what to expect and some valuable tips to create a memorable itinerary for you and your companions.
The 7 best camping spots near Fort William
With hundreds of choices available, finding the ideal camping spot around Fort William can take a lot of time and effort to go through. We can help quicken your preparations with this rundown of the top seven camping spots based on our previous escapades in the area.
These recommendations have something different to offer, so read through our list to find out which will best match your idea of a perfect wild camping trip in Fort William.
1) Glen Nevis Caravan & Camping Park
This wild camping spot is only a short walk from Ben Nevis, the tallest mountain in the British Isles. As such, it is a popular choice among mountaineers, hikers, climbers, and outdoor sports enthusiasts.
In addition to Ben Nevis, they use it as a base to explore the Highlands and other attractions, including but not limited to the Nevis Range Ski Resort, Fort William, and River Nevis.
Note that this camping park is only open to guests from March to November. During that time, you will have access to various facilities and amenities, such as toilets with showers, a laundry area, electric hook-ups, a children’s playground, and an on-site restaurant. We also appreciate how well-maintained and comfortable Glen Nevis is, all made possible by the family operating this park.
2) Bunree Caravan and Motorhome Club Campsite
As a member of the Caravan and Motorhome Club (CMC), Bunree guarantees a high-quality camping experience. From its beautiful setting on the shores of Loch Linnhe to its proximity to Fort William, this wild camping spot is perfect for first-time campers and seasoned travellers alike. In addition to the typical facilities expected from a caravan park, Bunree also provides guests with a motorhome service point and Wi-Fi connection.
Using this campsite as your base will make it easier for you to plan your outdoor activities. The area has several hiking trails where you can take casual strolls or challenge yourself to a climb. Anglers will also enjoy a day on the loch teeming with salmon, trout, and pike. We also suggest boating on Loch Linnhe or boarding a cruise to the Isle of Skye.
3) Ben Nevis Holiday Park, Highland Holidays
Wild camping near this holiday park in Fort William feels like a treat to the senses and spirit. The park offers accommodations, including caravans, lodges, and hot tub pods. It also provides entertainment options so you won’t have to leave the campgrounds or travel far away to let loose and have fun. For example, many guests enjoy playing in its laser tag room or mini golf area and unwinding at the on-site sauna.
Outside the holiday park, you will have quick access to Ben Nevis and its selection of nature trails. Experienced hikers should consider doing the Ben Nevis summit hike or the Devil’s Staircase hike. Don’t forget to pay attention to your surroundings because different local wildlife, such as golden eagles, red deer, and mountain goats, resides in Fort William,
4) Bunroy Park
What we love the most about camping in this family-owned holiday park near Fort William is the scenery. Bunroy Park is situated on the banks of River Spean, close to the Roy Bridge. And with the Nevis Range as its backdrop, the views offered by this park can be tough to beat.
Guests may choose from different types of accommodations. If you pack for wild camping, there are camping pitches available all over the place. The park also has lodges and caravans for those who prefer something more comfortable.
Regarding activities, consider visiting the West Highland Museum to learn about the geology and history of the area or the Nevis Range Ski Resort if you’re a fan of exhilarating outdoor sports.
5) Great Glen Yurts
If you want to try Mongolian yurts as an alternative to traditional camping tents, check out this campsite on a flowery meadow in Torlundy, just outside Fort William. Each yurt is spacious and has the essentials, including beds with comfortable bedding, cooking utensils, and a wood-burning stove. Shared facilities like a communal fire pit, toilet block, and shower stalls are also available for all guests.
Wild camping in the Great Glen Yurts is perfect for those who want to experience star gazing in the Scottish Highlands. When the sun sets, the skies over these lands become so dark that you can clearly map out the different constellations. The remote location also lends a sense of peace, thus making it the ideal resting place after a full day in the mountains.
6) Linnhe Lochside Holidays
For a touch of luxury up in the Highlands, we suggest camping at Linnhe Lochside Holidays Park. Your choice of accommodation includes caravans, chalets, and caravans. Each room is furnished with cosy beds, TV, and Wi-Fi. Expect the view from the comfort of your room to be breathtaking as green landscapes, mountains, hills, and Loch Linnhe surround the park.
As for activities, we recommend booking a boat trip or fishing trip on the nearby loch. Fort William is only a short drive from the park, so you’d have easy access to the town whenever you want to explore it. To round up your trip, visit the whisky distilleries in Fort William for a tour and sample the local brands.
7) Gairlochy Holiday Park
Last but not least, the Gairlochy Holiday Park is one of the best camping spots to help you realize your dream nature getaway in Fort William. A family of avid campers run this place, so you can rest assured that you will be in good hands. Accommodations offered range from camping pitches to spacious lodges and caravans. Regardless of your preference, expect spectacular views wherever you are in the park because it overlooks the River Spean.
To soak in more of the admirable scenery, consider boarding the Jacobite Steam Train or the Glenfinnan Viaduct. Fans of the Harry Potter series will surely recognize the latter for its appearances in its films. However, if you prefer something more low-key, Gairlochy has a swimming pool, sauna, and steam room within the campgrounds and various hiking trails to the surrounding mountains and hills just outside its perimeters.
Plan your next wild camping trip in Fort William!
Fort William in Scotland draws in thousands of campers every year because of its convenient location to the most popular destinations in the Highlands. That said, the town offers visitors stunning landscapes, a rich culture, and reinvigorating ambience. You also won’t feel bored or disappointed because there is so much to do while exploring and learning about this tourist hotspot.
If you wish to discover Fort William and its natural beauty, please familiarize yourself with the rules for wild camping in Scotland. Doing so will give you peace of mind during your trip and allow others to partake in outdoor activities in the country with the same liberties and immerse themselves in its magnificent scenery for the years to come.
FAQs about Wild Camping in Fort William
Can I wild camp near Fort William?
Yes, you can pitch your tent on the wild camping spots around Fort William. However, remember to comply with the Scottish Outdoor Access Code guidelines to guarantee a peaceful and enjoyable outdoor adventure. Doing so entails travelling in small numbers, camping away from roads and buildings for two to nights only, and leaving no trace of your campsite afterwards.
Where is the best place to wild camp in Fort William?
The answer varies depending on the individual’s needs and expectations for the wild camping trip. Fort William and its surrounding areas have plenty to offer, ranging from off-the-grid hiking destinations to relaxing campgrounds near rivers or beaches. Regardless of your preference, be sure to research the weather conditions and reminders from fellow campers to ensure that it is the best wild camping spot for you.
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Bigfoot Outfitters Offers Whitewater Rafting and Camping on the Ocoee River in East Tennessee
Bigfoot Outfitters Offers Whitewater Rafting and Camping on the Ocoee River in East Tennessee
Site of the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom races, the Upper Ocoee features large Class II-IV rapids. It’s a thrilling river for everyone from individuals to Scout troops and camps.
Experience the rafting thrills of both the Upper and Middle Ocoee sections on our Full River trip. This adventure includes ten miles of action-packed white water and a grilled riverside lunch.
Lower Campground
The Lower Campground features level sunny or shady sites for tents and trailers. Modern restrooms and water spigots are nearby. Camping is available from early April to the end of deer season mid-December.
The Middle Ocoee River has twenty-six Adventure Class rapids with names like Grumpy’s, Double Trouble and Tablesaw. Most rafting companies offer trips on this section of the river. A full-river trip includes a great riverside lunch between the upper and middle sections of the Ocoee.
Bigfoot Outfitters’ Ocoee River rafting outpost is located in the beautiful Southeast TN mountains. They offer professionally guided white water rafting adventures as well as rental cabins, campgrounds and Frisbee golf at their 26-acre property. Their outpost is only a short drive from Cherokee National Forest. Guests can also add high ropes, rappelling and alpine tours to their rafting expeditions. With more than 1216 checkins and 4772 likes, Bigfoot Outfitters is a must-visit if you’re in the area!
Upper Campground
Located in southeast Tennessee near the border of Georgia, Bigfoot Outfitters offers Ocoee whitewater rafting and camping on the Ocoee River. The Ocoee River is a dam-controlled river that has become one of the premier whitewater rafting destinations in America, thanks to its spectacular Class III-V rapids.
The Middle Ocoee is an action-packed five-mile section of the river that was made famous by the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom events. This section of the river features twenty-six Adventure Class rapids including Tablesaw, Grumpy’s and Double Trouble. Many companies offer a full river trip that includes both the Middle and Upper Ocoee sections.
The Upper Pleasant Creek campground offers tent and RV sites, fire grates, picnic tables, toilets, paved river walks and shade shelters. The namesake Pleasant Creek flows beside the campsites, and trout fishing is a popular activity. The campground’s proximity to Capitol Reef National Park and Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument means recreational opportunities abound in the area.
Campsite Rentals
Bigfoot Ocoee Outfitters offers a variety of whitewater rafting adventures on the Ocoee River in East Tennessee. The newly remodeled outpost is located on a 26-acre property, just a few miles from Cherokee National Forest. Besides river rafting, the site features rental cabins, camping, Frisbee Golf, and a covered pavilion with grills for cookouts.
They also offer a low ropes course and alpine tour for those who want to take their adventures to the next level. It's a fun addition to an already exciting weekend getaway.
It's easy to see why the Ocoee River is so famous. This dam-controlled river in Southeast Tennessee is renowned for its Class III-V rapids, and hosted the 1996 Olympic Whitewater Slalom competition. This five-mile stretch of river is packed with rapids such as Blue Hole, Mikey's (he eats everything), and Humongous. This is definitely one of the best whitewater rafting trips in North America. Guests can choose to take a Middle or an Upper Ocoee rafting trip.
Camping Equipment
With a large selection of outdoor gear from tents and hammocks to stoves and sleeping bags, Outdoor Gear Exchange has everything you need for your next camping trip. You can also find rafting equipment like life vests, ponchos, and river booties. Other rafting accessories that are great to bring include sun lotion, waterproof phone case, and extra water jugs.
Located in Southeast Tennessee, the Ocoee River is world-renowned for its exhilarating Class III-V rapids. Famous for hosting the 1996 Olympic whitewater slalom competition, this dam-controlled river provides a spectacular venue for white water rafting and kayaking.
Bigfoot Ocoee Outfitters offers professionally guided rafting trips on the Ocoee River in East Tennessee. Their 26-acre outpost features rental cabins, camping, Frisbee golf, a covered pavilion with grills for cookouts and ping pong.
Bigfoot Outfitters
Address : 702 Welcome Valley Road Benton, TN
Phone : (423) 225-5000
Email : [email protected]
Website : https://bigfootoutfitters.com/
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Crossing at Elk Creek - Olympic National Park
#olympic national park#elk creek#staircase campground#old growth forest#pnw#washington state#forests
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2020 September 12 - boulder
#calf creek campground#travel#utah#boulder#scenic byway 12#mighty 5 road trip#roadtrip#driving#grand staircase escalante national monument#grand staircase escalante#SalUtahZians#pinoys in the park#road trip
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Elk Creek maples in a different light.
#forests#olympic national park#old growth forest#pnw#staircase campground#skokomish river valley#washington state#bigleaf maple
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Facing my #fearofheights at #Fort McAllister Historic State Park in #Georgia. Climbing the narrow #staircase was a challenge, but my anxiety decreased at the top. YOUTUBE VIDEO 🔗 ALSO IN BIO https://youtu.be/M33cYf9W5LM Stay 😷 healthy and 🤪 TRIPPY! #trippintraci #staytrippy #forts #camping #campgrounds #civilwar #history #outdoors #historicplaces #vanlife #rvlife #travelwithme #roadsideattractions #nomads #vancamping #roadtrips #travelusa #travelvloggers #travelvlogs #youtubers #youtubevideos #solofemaletraveler #solofemaletravel #youtube #youtubevideo (at Fort McAllister State Historic Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFs_kalBXtH/?igshid=xb0a172btmqc
#fearofheights#fort#georgia#staircase#trippintraci#staytrippy#forts#camping#campgrounds#civilwar#history#outdoors#historicplaces#vanlife#rvlife#travelwithme#roadsideattractions#nomads#vancamping#roadtrips#travelusa#travelvloggers#travelvlogs#youtubers#youtubevideos#solofemaletraveler#solofemaletravel#youtube#youtubevideo
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Up above Staircase campground in WA Olympic National Park [OC] [1280×1600] via /r/EarthPorn https://ift.tt/39lDeLC
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Fight or Flight - Chapter 24: Steps
Pairing: Drake Walker x MC (Riley Liu)
Book: The Royal Heir (canon divergent from the end of book 2)
Word Count: ~4000
Rating: R (language only)
Summary: Almost two months since The Walker Absconding
Author’s Note: Well, it’s weeks later than I’d planned, but I’m back! Gonna be trying Tuesdays for posting, at least through the end of the year, due to holidays and whatnot. Thanks to anyone who is choosing to stick with this series. Fingers crossed for no more extended hiatuses!
This series follows the Walkers, their friends, and Cordonia as a whole after they flee the country with their daughter during Barthelemy Beaumont’s attempted coup. To catch up on this series, check out it’s masterlist. (link can be found via my bio - sorry, Tumblr is once again not putting my posts with links in tag searches)
Drake unlocked the door, tucking the sack of groceries under one arm as he nudged it open with his free hand. “It’s me, Walker,” he called out, not wanting to cause her any more alarm than hearing the door open undoubtedly cause. Even though they’d been in the house for almost two weeks now, there was still this underlying current of fear - that their location wasn’t actually a secret, that they would be found, that their family wasn’t safe.
Still, the house was a blessing. Hell, that was probably the biggest understatement of their lives at this point. Having a roof over their heads, to not be shuffling between hotels and campgrounds, provided this sliver of stability that they hadn’t felt in weeks. Each day that passed without a knock on their door from Greek or Cordonian authorities made things feel just a bit steadier. If this worked out, Drake knew they would never be able to pay Maxwell back, because this went so much further than money.
“We’re right here.” Riley’s words drew Drake out of his introspection. He glanced over into the living room as he shut and locked the door behind him. There was Riley, seated on the floor in front of the couch, with Bridget clutching her hands as she stood in front of her. Bridget turned to look at Drake and lost her balance, tumbling to the floor.
“I didn’t miss it, did I?” He carried the food into the kitchen, unloading the milk, chicken, eggs, and produce into the fridge.
“Not yet,” said Riley, raising her voice to carry to the back of the house. “She’s still a bit top heavy.”
Drake couldn’t help but chuckle. When they’d last gone to the pediatrician, a few weeks before their lives fell apart, she’d commented that Bridget’s large head circumference might make standing and walking slower tasks for her to master. And while Bridget now had pulling to stand and cruising down, she kept stumbling every time she tried to take a step forward, even with a little support from either of them.
Still, her first steps seemed like they were just around the corner as she got steadier on her feet day by day. Drake had been reluctant to leave, even for needed errands, fearful not just to separate from Riley and Bridget from a safety standpoint, but also worried that he might miss such a major milestone. But they needed food and supplies, and he was the one who spoke Greek. So, it just had to be done.
Leaving the non-perishables to be dealt with later, Drake joined the two of them in the living room, sinking onto the couch behind Riley.
“You find baby gates?” Riley asked, holding her hands out for Bridget to pull herself up to try again.
“No, the owner of the market suggested heading up to Lamia for more stores.”
“How far away is that?”
Drake tugged his phone out of his pocket and quickly searched for the city in question. “Almost two hours away.”
Riley let out a sigh. “Well, that’s not ideal.”
It really wasn’t. In addition to food, formula, and diapers, he’d wanted to pick up baby gates for the top and bottom of the staircase today. Given that Bridget’s first steps seemed like they would come any moment now, it was a pressing need. Already, they had to keep her from crawling over to the stairs on a regular basis. As she got more mobile, it was only going to become more dangerous. And without credit cards, it’s not like they could order them online or anything like that.
“I did find a hardware store. I could pick up some wood, hinges, and latches to build a couple that would probably do the trick,” Drake said, watching Bridget fall on her bottom before reaching up for Riley’s hand again. “But if you would rather we drive up there and get some that were put together with actual safety specifications, I-”
“I trust you.” Riley tipped her head back as she cut him off, giving him a smile. “I know you wouldn’t say that you could make them if you didn’t trust yourself. That’s good enough for me.”
Drake couldn’t help but smile back as he felt his cheeks flush slightly. “Okay, then. Well, I’ll pick up some supplies on my next grocery run.”
“Sounds good, Drake.” Riley looked back at Bridget before continuing. “So, you explored the town, huh?”
“Yeah - a bit, at least.” Drake had driven through the few streets of Lidoriki, checking out the area. He figured that since they would be living in the area for the foreseeable future, he should at least have a bit of a sense of the closest village.
“Find anything interesting?”
Drake shrugged, in spite of knowing Riley couldn’t see him. “I mean, it’s small. There’s not a whole lot to see.”
Riley just hummed in acknowledgement. It gave Drake this slight tinge of guilt. For so much of their time on the run, she’d been relegated to watching Bridget. Hotel rooms, the car, and now the house had been where she’d spent most of her time. It was such a reversal of their usual dynamic. She was the social one, the adventurous one, the energetic one. He was the homebody who would rather just be alone with his family. And while his Greek and his lower level of recognizability, particularly with his beard, made him the more practical choice, she had to be going a little stir crazy.
“Maybe you guys should come with for my next trip.”
“Is that… wise considering…” Riley trailed off. Bridget interrupted the silence, yelling “Fuck” as she lost her footing yet again.
“I don’t know,” Drake replied honestly. Riley glanced back at him for just a moment, so he gave a little shrug before she looked back at Bridget. “But I think that we’re going to have to let her explore the world a little bit. Particularly since…”
“Since we could be here indefinitely?”
Drake let out a sigh before he answered. “Yeah, Walker. It’s not realistic for you two to stay hidden away forever. Plus, it’s a small village. I get the feeling that the new guy who has his wife and kid locked up is going to attract more gossip and speculation than the three of us showing our faces together.”
Riley tilted her head as she let out a chuckle. “Fair point. Have people asked you a lot of questions at the market?”
“Just some basics. I think Marina warned some people about us, because an older woman today asked how my family was ‘holding up’ when she heard where I was living.”
Riley let out a little gasp, but Drake slid a hand to her shoulder, massaging gently. “She definitely didn’t recognize me; it was only when I described the house that she seemed to have any idea who I could be. And she was very sympathetic, just seemed worried about us.” Drake definitely understood Riley’s anxiety over anyone possibly recognizing them. But depending how long Marina had lived here before them, it would make sense for her to have some friends who she told about selling the house. Hopefully, Maxwell’s story about hiding from a stalker ex was the right blend of earning them sympathy without people wanting to pry and ask too many details.
Riley nodded. “Okay, okay. I just…” She trailed off, letting the anxieties linger unsaid. It was hard to trust anything or anyone at this point.
“I get it, Riley. But unless she was as skilled an actress as Cassandra Leigh, I really don’t think she had any idea who I was. Other than the new guy, you know?”
She nodded again, her hair brushing against his knees as she did so. “Anything else noteworthy you found today?”
He paused for a second, running his hand through his hair. “I did see a bakery.”
Riley twisted around, an eyebrow raised. “Are you missing Maxwell so much that you needed to channel his spirit?”
He rolled his eyes. “I was more thinking that it might be an option for her birthday, but if you want to believe that Walker, feel free.”
She frowned slightly, leaning forward for a moment as Bridget tugged on her hair, helping her find her balance again before she spoke. “I… I hadn’t even thought about what we could do for her birthday.”
“Well, I think we’ve had a few other things to worry about.”
It was strange. Back in Cordonia, there had been plans in the works for a massive state affair for Bridget’s first birthday. There had been hours of planning with palace staff, a guest list that included hundreds of people Drake couldn’t pick out of a line up, and undoubtedly carried a price tag of at least several thousand Euros. The only honest preference that he’d expressed, which Riley had readily backed him on, was that the party fall on any date other than the fourth of October. They’d wanted to celebrate her actual birthday with the few people that genuinely cared about her as a person, not a princess. Now, they were getting a smaller guest list than even he’d wanted.
“Still, I should have thought of something for her.”
“We have a couple of weeks to figure something out, Walker. It’ll be fine.”
She nodded, keeping her eyes on Bridget. “You’re right. We could get her a cake, light some candles, blow up some balloons. I don’t know what we can do for presents. I don’t suppose there was a toy store in town?”
“No, I think that would probably be a drive to find. But she’s too little to care about presents anyway. It’ll still be good, Riley.” Drake dropped a hand down to her shoulder, giving it a little squeeze. He didn’t want her beating herself up over not having all the traditional elements of a birthday party. He knew that given her childhood birthdays, she probably wanted to make sure that Bridget always felt loved and celebrated. Hell, she insisted on making him feel loved and celebrated on his birthday, and he was well past the age of caring about getting another year older. She was likely feeling guilty that she wasn’t able to go all out for their kid’s birthday, but under the circumstances, he figured any celebration should be considered a win.
Riley nodded in response. “You’re right, it can still be fun for her.” They both were silent for a few moments, watching Bridget bounce while clutching Riley’s hands, but then Riley spoke again. “It’s… it’s not wrong for us to celebrate, is it?”
She looked up at him, her hands still holding Bridget upright. Drake watched her try to find her balance as she lifted her left foot, but she tumbled into Riley’s arms. “Fuck! Fuck!” she cried out, continuing to use her only word quite appropriately. She was so damn close to figuring it out. She was growing and learning, would be a whole year old soon. That had to be worth celebrating. But their lives were such a shit show, that his wife felt guilty over even choosing to be happy about that fact.
Drake swallowed, trying to put all his thoughts into words. It felt weird, probably because there was so little in their lives worth celebrating at this point. But, Bridget was only going to have one first birthday. And it seemed more wrong to not do anything for the day, even if it was just the three of them and a small cake.
“Drake?” Riley prompted, pulling Bridget up her chest, wrapping her in a soothing hug.
“I think that our daughter deserves a chance to smash her hands into a slice of cake, just like any other kid.”
Riley smiled, handing Bridget up to him before pushing herself off the floor and curling up on the couch next to him. “Me too,” she said, leaning her head against her shoulder.
Drake tucked Bridget against his chest with one arm as he wrapped his other around Riley’s shoulders. “Had enough of the trying to walk for today, Peanut?”
“Dada,” she said, grabbing his ear with a surprising amount of force.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she wants to try again later. She’s a stubborn one, and it’s like she knows that she almost has it.”
“Stubborn, huh? Where could that possibly come from?”
Drake’s teasing comment earned him a playful elbow in his side from Riley. “From both of us, and you know it.”
“Maybe,” he acquiesced, “but not this sort of stubbornness. That comes entirely from you.”
Riley twisted slightly, pulling back to look him in the eyes. She raised an eyebrow and tilted her head, so Drake kept going. “Your stubbornness is on a whole other level. It’s more determination than I could ever muster. It has a purpose. My stubbornness is more… assholey.”
“Drake… that’s not-”
“Nah, it’s the truth, Riley. You’re a force of nature.”
She shook her head. “Don’t sell yourself short, Drake. From where I’m seated, you’re pretty damn determined yourself.”
All Drake could do was roll his eyes. “I should have known you would be stubborn enough to fight me on this one,” he said, earning him another teasing nudge from Riley.
“Since this has all the markings of going on for a while, I will let you have it this time,” she said, leaning back against his shoulder as he shifted Bridget onto his knees, letting her push herself up and bounce. “But in exchange, I am gonna ask for a favor.”
“What is it, Walker?”
“Do you think you could work on teaching me Greek again?”
Drake turned his head and pulled back slightly, taking in Riley staring at him, her eyes surprisingly serious. After their wedding, Riley had asked him for some basic Greek lessons, but it had really been a half-hearted effort from both of them. Riley had never seemed that motivated to actually learn another language. Besides, she was prone to distracting him with wandering hands whenever she got bored. He knew that Hana had been a little more successful, but again, Riley had not been a very dedicated student. It had just seemed like it was never high on her priority list.
But priorities had shifted a lot over the past few weeks. Or maybe they were just clearer than they had been before. Regardless, it made sense that getting Riley at least conversational in Greek was now much more important. If they were going to be living here for the indefinite future, Riley being able to communicate without him acting as translator would be pretty damn useful. Besides, the goal was to blend in in this village. Both of them speaking Greek would absolutely be a key part of that.
“Sure thing, Riley,” he said.
Riley smiled gently. “Thanks. You should probably start using Greek with her, too,” she said, pointing at Bridget.
Drake frowned. “No way, Walker.”
“Drake, we need to-” she started, sitting upright and spinning on the couch, tucking her legs underneath herself as she faced him fully.
“Maybe when you have some more down, but I’m not gonna leave you out.” he interjected, explaining himself.
She shook her head. “We’re not the only ones who are going to be living here for the foreseeable future. She needs to be learning words in the language that people will actually be speaking around her. It’s not fair to deprive her of that just because I was lazy.”
Before Drake could even think up a response, Bridget started trying to slide off his knees, back down onto the floor. He placed her down, watching as she pulled herself up to standing using his legs almost instantly. She shifted and started slowly shuffling, cruising along the couch.
“Besides, it’ll be extra motivation for me to pay attention to what you teach me.” Riley’s quip caused Drake to glance back to her. She smiled and gave him a little shrug, so Drake just nodded.
“Okay, Walker. Okay.” He looked back in time to see Bridget tumble down as she let go of the couch cushion, but less than a second later, she was pulling herself back up again.
Everyone always said how much Bridget looked like Riley, but their resemblance went so much deeper than the physical. The resiliency, the strength, and yes - that stubborn determination. His wife and his daughter both had those traits in spades. Because much like Bridget was going to master walking on her own, no matter how many times she fell down, he knew Riley would face learning Greek with the same intensity. And no matter what they were facing, no matter what hell they’d been through already or would go through going forward, Drake couldn’t help but feel grateful that both the women in his life were never going to let anything keep them down.
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Olivia drummed her fingers against the bench in the courtroom, eyes roving over the other people seated there. High Court proceedings were closed to the press and the general population, but given that today’s case involved the power structure of a Great House, all the other Great Houses were allowed to sit in on the hearings. Rashad would also have been allowed to attend as the acting King Regent, but he wasn’t there. Olivia couldn’t begin to understand that decision.
Everyone else was there, though. Barthelemy sat with his lawyers on the far side of the courtroom, Adelaide and Madeleine in the first row behind them. Madeleine had tried to make eye contact with her at several points, but there was no way she was going to engage with her. Well, other than the middle finger she’d slid against her cheek when she was sure that she was trying to get her attention.
Hakim and Kiara were also on Barthelemy’s side of the courtroom, as was Landon, who sat near the back and kept checking his watch. Olivia supposed these proceedings were at a very inconvenient time for him, with Penelope’s wedding just a few days away. Either that, or he was nervous about something related to Barthelemy or House Beaumont. She watched him for a few moments, but he just looked vaguely anxious. She wasn’t going to get further insight into what he was thinking today.
On Bertrand’s side, it was just her, other than Savannah, Maxwell, and Bartie. Since House Rys was not a Great House, Liam’s presence in the courtroom was not permitted. Instead, he’d volunteered to take note of the media coverage surrounding the case. Olivia also wondered if it wasn’t a convenient excuse to avoid a several hour car ride from Lythikos to the capital together. Ever since he’d kissed her, she’d noticed he’d been quick to find reasons for them to not be stuck in the same place together. She wasn’t sure how to feel about that.
She knew deep in her gut that the mess that was that kiss was very low on the priority list. But as the weeks marched on, she had to wonder if just pretending it never happened was a mistake. She knew, based on the way they’d both been raised, that Liam’s instinct would always be to avoid uncomfortable emotions. Still, they were in a position where they needed to rely on each other completely. The fact that he now treated her more like a foreign diplomat than one of his oldest allies was sure to cause more issues down the road.
Olivia knew that sooner or later, she was just going to have to address it, tell him that given the circumstances, she shouldn’t have kissed him back. Hopefully, he would apologize and that would be that. The issue was going to be finding the right time to do so. At any rate it wasn’t going to happen today. Depending on the outcome here, there might be a lot of scrambling happening tonight.
The decision about who would be granted the title of Duke of Ramsford was expected from the High Justices today, but it was growing dangerously close to close of business hours. Olivia hoped that it all would wrap up today. She didn’t have time to come back to the capital again tomorrow. But after almost twenty more painful minutes of waiting, the side door opened and the usher stepped through. “All rise for the High Justices of Her Regency’s Court.”
Everyone stood as the five High Justices reentered the room, all filing in to their seats along the top bench. High Justice Questa was positioned in the middle, meaning she was the author of the official court decision. It honestly didn’t give much of a hint to the outcome, as Questa was considered the deciding vote on the panel. Everyone knew this was going to be a 3-2 decision, it was always a question of which way Questa would side. For all her reputation as no-nonsense, her choosing to author the court’s majority decision in this case made things shockingly suspenseful and dramatic.
Everyone in the courtroom, other than Questa, sat back down. The room was silent, the shuffle of papers in Questa’s hands almost jarring. She glanced up and nodded at both desks as the usher adjusted the microphone to her height.
“Alright, after review of the submitted briefs and testimony over the past week, the High Court has ruled in favor of Duke Barthelemy Beaumont. The full decision has been submitted for official filing, as has an opposition document authored by my colleague, High Justice Polmar. I will now read the summary for the High Court record.”
Olivia barely took a moment to take in Bertrand's slumped shoulders, Maxwell gripping them tightly as he leaned over and whispered something to Savannah before she stood, striding out of the courtroom without a glance back. She didn’t need to stick around to hear Questa deliver some cowardly decision, hiding behind the fact that Bertrand was only granted the title due to his father’s illness. Fuck that lack of moral fortitude to actually take a stand. She certainly wasn’t going to waste her time or energy watching Barthelemy gleefully revel that he was one step closer to wresting power for himself. She had better things to do.
She made her way quickly out the front doors of the High Court building, down the steps and past the throngs of reporters waiting for the official word. They would have it soon enough when the official court record became public. She wasn’t going to give them a sound bite. Instead, she zeroed in on Ray, who swung open the passenger door for her without a word.
As soon as he closed the door behind her, she let out a sigh and pulled out her phone, tapping the top of her contact’s list. She was nervous that the news might send him spiraling, but she knew he would be waiting for her call. Besides, the entire nation would know the truth soon enough.
“Good afternoon, Olivia.” Liam’s voice sounded stiff. She wasn’t sure if it was due to his anxiety over the legal proceedings or just his newfound discomfort interacting with her.
“Barthelemy won. Reporters are gonna know in probably less than five minutes.” Ray slid into the driver’s seat and rolled up the privacy divider without saying a word.
Olivia heard Liam sigh, but then the line was silent for a few painful moments. She braced herself, wondering just how he would handle this set back. He’d been less of a wallowing mess recently, and Olivia hoped this wouldn’t undo all of that progress. “Liam?”
There was another brief sigh before he spoke again. “Well, we were preparing for this and Maxwell had warned us this was a likely outcome. I suppose this makes our time with Landon of higher importance. I’ll make note of what the pundits say and prepare a briefing for us.”
In spite of everything, Olivia felt her lips tug into something almost resembling a smile. He wasn’t floundering or overwhelmed or plain disengaged. He had his eyes on the prize. It was a step in the right direction - one that she could work with for now.
Perma: @mom2000aggie @octobereighth @kingliam2019 @lovingchoices14
TRR/TRH: @iplaydrake @princessleac1 @twinkleallnight @gkittylove99 @ladyangel70 @marshmallowsandfire @axwalker @sirbeepsalot @iaminlovewithtrr @forallthatitsworth @marshmallowsaremyfavorite @hedgehogs-dilemmas
Drake/MC: @petiteboheme @mskaneko
FoF: @burnsoslow
#drake walker#drake x mc#trr au#trh AU#trh au fanfic#trr fanfic#trh#trr#olivia nevrakis#choices fanfiction
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Staircase Campground, Olympic National Park
#ONP#Washington#Olympic National Park#forest#trees#tree#hike#trail#nature#my favorite escape#rainforest#colors#fall#important#me
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UTAH
2023 Jun 2 (Fri) – Again, we drove through the mountains today. We took a different route and drove through places called Eden, Huntsville, and Brigham City. The Wasatch Range was breathtaking. Such a beautiful place.
Since we are moving tomorrow, we did laundry and food shopping. There was some kind of fun carnival going on in the field adjacent to the campground. It was the Summer Kick Off. There were lots of kids activities, drawings, and food trucks. It looked like fun. We walked around looking at everything then returned to the camper.
We wandered over to the fitness center to take a look. It is a world class gym. They have a 45 ft climbing wall, 2 racquetball courts, 2 basketball courts, aerobic and weight resistance machines, a weight room, and classrooms. We were very impressed. There is also an outdoor track right next to the campground. Paul walks around it every morning.
2023 Jun 1 (Thu) – We drove to the Family Research Library. The Mormons have a worldwide database on the population. I was hoping they could help me trace my grandmother back into Ireland. Aside from confirming her maiden name, I didn’t really find out anything new. It was a little disappointing.
After the library, we toured the state capitol. There were four floors we explored. The staircases were sweeping and there was lots of stone and granite. The senate, house, and congress were all open to look in on. There was nothing going on.
Next stop was at the Gourmandise Café. It was an interesting French pastry café. We got a table outside on the patio. We both got a grill cheese panini. It was good.
When we got back on base, we stopped at the BX to restock our libations.
2023 May 31 (Wed) – We are now in full on mode to complete our Alaska plans. I have been making calls to campgrounds and vendors; Paul has been finalizing our map instructions and route planning. I took time to pay the bills. Gotta love that online banking!
We went out for lunch at Phoenix House. Back home, Phoenix House is a drug rehab house. Funny this should have the same name. We stopped at both Office Depot and Staples to get binders and tabs for the Travel Guide we are putting together for the Alaska Caravan. We didn’t find all of what we wanted. When we got back, I placed an order online for items to be picked up at Staples when we get to Great Falls.
We drove into the mountains this afternoon. What beautiful country this is! We were going to drive through a pass but it was closed. Probably some kind of land slide. We drove through another pass but it wasn’t as nice as the one that was closed (Paul drove it while I was gone). We stopped at a little café on the side of the road and got coffee and a muffin. It was very nice.
2023 May 30 (Tue) – I got back from New York yesterday. What a whirlwind trip it was. I stayed with my sister, Susan, this time. I saw the oncologist, ophthalmologist, gastroenterologist, general physician, and audiologist. Everything is fine. A colonoscopy found 3 polyps that were removed. I got to visit with Miranda and her family and even took them out to dinner one night. I played rummy cube with Susan and Bill almost every night and took them out to dinner the last night I was there. There was a delay in my flight out of Denver because of thunder storms. I finally got back home at midnight. It was a very long day. LaGuardia Airport is fantastic! The construction and renovations have left the airport looking very futuristic and sleek. It is also very large. I had over 5,000 steps before I ever got on my plane in New York.
Paul worked on the RV and truck while I was gone. He bought new tires for the RV, had the tires on the truck rotated, and had a tune-up completed on the truck. He also worked on getting the slides shored up.
Our forwarded mail arrived. Unfortunately, a package we ordered did not arrive. UPS transferred it to USPS and the base does not accept postal deliveries. This mail thing can be so annoying. We did get the package forwarded from the Iowa fairground.
We did the laundry today, then went into town for lunch. We ate at Famous Dave’s. I had ribs and Paul got fried chicken. It is good to be back together again.
20 May 2023 (Sun) – We waited to hear from the post office this morning. We are having another “fun” experience with having our mail forwarded to us. I sent a message to Escapees asking to our mail sent on Monday, May 15. Then I sent a second message asking that they send it on May 16 by 2-day UPS or FedEx. I got an email acknowledging the change and saying it would be done. On Tuesday, May 16, I got a note saying the mail had been send out by postal service. That usually means at least a week for it to arrive. I sent an email saying that it was supposed to be sent UPS or FedEx and asking them to intercept the package. They said they couldn’t but would pay for the return postage. I got an update from USPS saying the package would arrive on Saturday, May 20. That was the day we were leaving. Arrrrggh!
So I went to the Fair office to ask them to forward the package when it comes and they said they are closed on the weekends. So we drove into town to the local post office. I explained the situation and asked if they could stop the delivery and have us pick up the package on Saturday morning. The clerk got on the computer to check the status of the package. She found it was held for two days in North Houston, then sidetracked to Kansas. It would not arrive on Saturday; maybe Monday. I gave them our forwarding address at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
We packed up and left Twin Falls, ID, at 10:15 a.m. The drive was long. We didn’t arrive until 2:30 p.m. The scenery passing by was so beautiful – tall mountains, verdant valleys, open grassland as far as the eye could see. It made the drive very enjoyable.
When we arrived at Hill AFB, we were met by the camp host. She gave us the campground map with rules and regulations and said the office would be open tomorrow. We have a pull-through site with concrete pad and FHU. Paul thinks the row we are in was added to the original FamCamp. There are three rows of campsites. The first two rows are back-to-back sites. The third row is pull-through. A row of trees separates the first two rows from the third row. A very big mountain range with snow caps towers over the town. It is stunning.
Around 5:30 p.m. the power went out. Someone said they thought a transformer blew. We went into town for dinner. Paul picked up some gas for the generator. We got back, he pulled out the generators, got they primed and fueled, turned them on, and the camp host came by to say the power was back on. At least we know the generators work.
Upon reviewing the rules and regulations for the campground, we found that the base does not accept postal mail (like some other military facilities we have been at). I called the Filer, ID post office and left a message explaining the situation and asking them to have the local post office hold the package for us. Send it as a general delivery. We will see what happens.
And to boot, we thought Paul’s replacement credit card was coming in the package. I got a note from Escapees showing the credit card came in yesterday. So we have to get yet another delivery.
I leave for New York tomorrow. I will be gone for a week, returning on Monday, May 29.
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