Storytelling, why 5 cm matter and why a promise is a promise. Scotland, Ullapool. Summer 2019.
On my last year’s solo trekking trip to Scotland I fell in love with Ullapool, the small an peaceful village and my safe harbour in the Northwest Highlands of Scotland. This year my family was with me, and we wanted to visit Ullapool again.
After several days of trekking and camping wild it is always a good idea to spend a night back in civilization – to clean up your gear, recharge all the batteries and relax a little. So we decided to stay a night at the campsite in Ullapool.
Before setting up our tent my wife Arlette, our two daughters Cécile and Olivia and myself use to examine the terrain meticulously and after a few moments everybody makes his or her suggestion(s) for the best camping spot and the preferred orientation of the tent. Sometimes we differ only by a few centimeters, sometimes we need a second round for the final decision. At the end everybody has to agree or at least accept the decision in a democratic way. Finally setting up the tent is perfectly organized, all are working concentrated hand in hand and highly efficient – and after only ten minutes or so usually we’re done, including footprint, inner and outer tent (rainfly), all guylines being staked – everything is rock solid! – and the sleeping pads and sleeping bags are already laid out in the tent; and we are ready for cooking or ready for the night or whatever.
So we entered the campsite of Ullapool and 20 minutes later we were ready for a tour through Ullapool and it’s harbour.
Double exposures at Ullapool harbour
We stayed at the harbour for quite a while.
Plastic lasts forever – unfortunately. Plastic sinks from all over the world, since 2011. And one was stolen from … 😉
Magic Ullapool
The rest of the afternoon we spent sightseeing, shopping and photographing – and after only a few hours Ullapool casted a spell over my three ladies exactly as it did over myself last year.
Back at the campsite
What to do for the rest of the evening? My three ladies spent the evening reading until it was dark, then continued using their headtorches, and I took the chance to photograph the dramatic monochromatic seascape of Ullapool and enjoyed the late evening mood.
Now, please tell me two things …
1st: Why is a promise a promise?
Before our departure to Scotland I promised my girls to photograph the big dare constellation – if there was ‘a clear sky’ – and have a guess what I did this night – not much after midnight, while everybody was sleeping and all the campsite was calm and peaceful? Yes you’re right – I was fighting against millions of midges during my long time exposure of the big dare. 😉
… and 2nd: Why do 5 cm matter?
In the morning there was one of the strongest Scottish heavy rain showers I have ever seen, or better a downfall of thousands of tons of water over Ullapool. Within seconds all the campsite was merciless flooded except one tent – ours! Our tent was pitched 5 cm above the others!
Welcome to the safe and gentle art of pitching your tent!
Photographs: RICOH GR II, GR Lens f=18.3 mm 1:2.8. .DNG RAW format.
Edited in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
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Photographs: RICOH GR II, GR Lens f=18.3 mm 1:2.8. .DNG RAW format.
Edited in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom.
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