Sunday
The planned run is north, past the Faslane submarine base, Glencoe and on towards Skye.
Day 2 - AM - Towards the Green Welly
Cars: Joined by Callum in the Sylva and the Porsche
Easing us into the highland roads, the path north along the A82 winds and bucks like a roller coaster, mostly two way roads and perfect to blow away cobwebs/wake us up and shift like only a 7 can...
The planned run is north, past the Faslane submarine base, Glencoe and on towards Skye.
Day 2 - AM - Towards the Green Welly
Cars: Joined by Callum in the Sylva and the Porsche
Easing us into the highland roads, the path north along the A82 winds and bucks like a roller coaster, mostly two way roads and perfect to blow away cobwebs/wake us up and shift like only a 7 can...
The hotel carpark becomes our makeshift pits & assembly point; long shadows betray the 8am hour.
Most of us checking oil/coolant etc.
Before all the wraps are off Dan is already at work, Camshaft in hand!
Timing issues and oil leak issues meant it needed removing and re-installing; problem was lack of tools to re-set the timing. Ultimately through team effort and help from Andy/Keith amongst others the appropriate torx bit was secured (Sunday morning) and Dan was running again...
All ready to run at about 11:00; Dan encounters more teething problems with the 'fixed' engine but eventually all heading north:
Blue skies here to stay & mirror like water you only see in Scotland (ok, I've only seen in Scotland), this is from Inveraray
We meet up again at the Green Welly for lunch: sandwiches & ice cream.
Day 2 - PM - Glencoe and on to Skye
Cars: Joined by the Ferrari who promptly vanishes with the Porsche (somewhere)
Cars: Joined by the Ferrari who promptly vanishes with the Porsche (somewhere)
A82 - sweeping fast road through the spectacular Glencoe, this year the mountain tops all have snow but the air is clear and fresh;
I think this is Glencoe... could be wrong...
Its possible the parascender, look carefully for the red smudge centre frame, a couple of hundred metres up is the only person with a better view than us about 6" off the ground..
Its possible the parascender, look carefully for the red smudge centre frame, a couple of hundred metres up is the only person with a better view than us about 6" off the ground..
Kinlochleven village at the end of the loch is another chance to pause;
hmm, Terry's bonnet open a sign of problems to come...
The stops are a chance to wander away from the cars for a few minutes relax and take in the scenery:
The road on the North side of Loch Leven, I started with the fast group, then change my mind, hang back - decide to take it easy and grab some photos. Cooler on this side in the lee of the mountains:
Fort William is the next meeting point to re-group and wind down with some selfie silliness, then fuel stop and provisions stop:
Tyre stop
Then to the Glenelg Ferry; fast run past Ben Nevis up the A82 and A87 then a winding road to Glenelg. Split into two groups again by this point - but arrived on Andy and some others part way to the Ferry. He had ripped a 2" gash in his offside rear tyre!
Tyre weld wasn't going to fix it - but my car, the only one with a spare, was not far behind and since both our running gear was Ford Sierra based a quick swap and he was up and running.
The Glenelg Ferry
The ferry takes 7-8 cars at a time and usually stops around 18:00; luckily the first group being already part way across sent it back for us. To our shame we didn't do the same for Simon & Andrew behind us, we assumed they already took the Skye bridge route after waiting 10-20 minutes. Sorry Simon & Andrew.
The ferry was new to me - a turntable on deck means its us, with the cars, that spins around rather than the barge - care taken when loading to balance everything while the turntable is at right angles.
The ferry was new to me - a turntable on deck means its us, with the cars, that spins around rather than the barge - care taken when loading to balance everything while the turntable is at right angles.
Dunollie Hotel in Broadford Skye:
Fantastic location & good bar, the rooms are pot luck and range from loch views to little more than the size of a bed - but hot showers and simple, good, food here!
This evenings puzzle: how to fit the cars in the corner of the small carpark..
Evening meal -
Left front to back : Simon, Dan, David, John & Stuart
Right back to front : Mark, Andy, Terry, Me(Hidden), Keith, Andrew & Callum
(Paul taking the picture)
There was even talk of northern lights, I think we managed about 5 minutes looking for them before retiring to some well earned sleep:
A long day; some great roads, all looking pink now from the sun, tomorrow will be the most demanding leg - Sky & Applecross passes!
(Maps are not entirely acurate due to blogger/google maps embedding, some pictures courtesy other members of the trip)
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