I came across this story today in the Guardian. All too true, especially for my son and grandkids who are on a camping holiday there right now. They started in Scotland and got rained out, and are working their way south trying (and failing) to find some sun.

http://www.theguardian.com/travel/20...raining-rained

I have some similar shots of a canal trip in Wales with my four young kids. Sitting shivering at the helm on a wet cushion and listening to the rain drum on on the cabin top, while listening to the bored bickering of the kids in the salon arguing about whose turn it was to come out to help with the next lock, still haunts my memory.

The kids remember it as being wonderful.

haha, ain't it the truth

this is an apropos song for this thread...

lyrics from <i>"English Summer Rain"</i> by Placebo:

<i>Always stays the same, nothing ever changes,
English summer rain seems to last for ages.

Hold your breath and count to ten,
And fall apart and start again.</i>

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lVEaKCfYMcE

I guess we have been lucky. On our half dozen forays to the UK we never encountered much rain. A 1/2 day here, a 1/2 day there, that is all. We have enjoyed many mostly sunny days and bright blue skies.

Come to think of it, I have never experienced rain in Seattle, Washington.

Great. We are heading out to hike the Speyside Trail in a couple of weeks. What an inspiration!

We were in North Wales over Easter this year and we had wall to wall sunshine for ten days and temperatures in the 70s.....

This, ladies and gentlemen, is why I don't camp.

Lee Ann

Recent weekend break - Friday it rained, mud everywhere, Saturday sunny all day, mud dried, Sunday rain all day, mud everywhere.

I'm with Lee Ann. I once read what has been my travel philosophy: "My idea of roughing it is a Holiday Inn without sugar."

Possibly one of the reasons I haven't visited the UK yet. When I do I won't be camping anyway.

I live in the desert mountains of Utah so when we have a day long rain we start making jokes about whether or not we are in Seattle.

Don't like days of rain!

I'll admit these pictures look pretty grim; however, there have been times this summer and last summer when our temps were in the high 90'sF or upwards of 100F for weeks on end--mostly 10 to 15 degrees above normal. I would have loved a nice cold rain.

It's being so cheerful as keeps us going*

At the risk of starting a firestorm, does anyone else remember the planning thread here, where someone was advised their plans were a little overambitious, went off in a bitter huff about being hated and looked down upon, but whose blog later revealed that the itinerary did indeed end up with the entire family being dragged up a hill to look at some memorial stone - in the dark, with sleeting hail coming down..? My father would have saluted the person concerned. I can still remember him saying "I brought you here to enjoy yourself, and you bloody well will enjoy yourself. Or else."


*brownie points for anyone who can identify the origins of that catchphrase.

<i>so when we have a day long rain we start making jokes about whether or not we are in Seattle.</i>

We call a day long rain "Sunday".

Yes, Patrick, I remember that thread!

I should add that both times we've been in the UK (early May 2007 and mid-May to early June 2014) we've had good weather. Many days were overcast, but there wasn't much drizzle or rain. It was lovely.

Lee Ann

Patrick - my sister informs me that the phrase is from Mrs. Mop from ITMA - the Tommy Handley show. Before my time.

PatrickLondon on Aug 16, 15 at 5:27pm said:

It's being so cheerful as keeps us going*

<snip>

*brownie points for anyone who can identify the origins of that catchphrase.

==================================================

The cleaning lady in the Tommy Handley Show

How many points?

I think the people in the article are great, and are making the most of their holiday regardless of the weather. Just as my son and his family is. They could have headed home at any time, since they don't have a ferry booked, but they haven't. They all seem to be enjoying it despite the weather, and the tent nearly blowing away in Fort William.

Tommy Handley is way before my time. Almost before DHs time. DH was 10 months old when TH died.

I've been to the UK 3 times over the years totalling about 6 weeks there and we never encountered more than a few hours of rain. Just lucky I guess. On the other hand, it rained 13 out of 15 days on our Germany trip in 2013

My phrase to annoy other people with in such situations is "Well, it's an adventure!"

Ah Patrick, I'm old enough to remember ITMA and Mona Lott