GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 2

GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 2.

25/11/2022

By Anthony Angus Osborne.

Saturday 17th to The Cairndow Stagecoach Inn, on the banks of Loch Fyne.

After filling ourselves with breakfast at the Gables Hotel we set off in a convoy of six cars for the first time. The first requirement was petrol, E5 preferably as the cars were not designed to run on ethanol, and this was found not far from the hotel.

Gar leads Ian and Brian up the A74(M) whilst watched by Rascal, one of the group teddy bears

We then ventured further into Scotland with our next destination being the River Clyde at Glasgow. Here we were to visit the Riverside Museum.

John and Kevin are separated by plastic pixies in roadworks. Will they be able to re-join the convoy again?

We all arrived at the museum together, in spite of John and Kevin being separated from the convoy during some roadworks en-route. Fortunately, they did manage to re-join us.
At the museum, which houses a substantial collection of historic transport items as well as some other artifacts, entrance was free, once we had paid for the car parking.
The first artefact that we landed on was a Ford Granada police car. Ian was very excited.

Brian examines the Granada, no doubt relieved that it has not just pulled his Jag over!

The displays were remarkable with cars on shelves just like some of my Dinky Toys were in my youth!

Two favourites, from Longbridge and Solihull. Sadly Big Rov was not with us.

Gar and Brian were walking along admiring the cars when one asked the other if Eric Dalton, an active member living near Edinburgh, had ever been to this museum. They looked up and much to their amazement he was walking towards them! It was great to catch up with Eric and Fiona, his wife, even if they had come over in their modern Ford.
Having had some time to look at the various trains, ships and cars it was time for a tea or coffee and then back to the cars. In the car park we said our goodbyes to Eric and Fiona and headed out of the Glasgow conurbation, northwards into the hills.
Driving up the side of a rather large valley we were suddenly brought to a halt by a set of traffic lights, miles from anywhere. They were controlling traffic round some road works but it almost felt as if we were back in Birmingham as we had to wait that long! The lights went to green and we continued up the valley finding a lay-by where we parked for a comfort break, several of the local trees being well watered! There were many cars coming and going in the lay-by but one seemed to attract more attention than most. They were completing a sponsored charity run of the NC500 in a car costing less than £500. I hope that they succeeded without losing any of their Little Tyke cars!

A Big ‘Little Tykes’ car, with smaller one on the roof and an even smaller one on the bonnet!

Gar certainly felt on top of the World, there anyway.

Our destination for the night was the Cairndow Stagecoach Inn on the banks of Loch Fyne.
Off the main road and down a narrow lane we arrived to be welcomed at the hotel where we checked in and the more energetic members of the group went for a walk to examine the local church. The preacher looked very familiar!