GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 7.

By Anthony Osborne

​Thursday 22nd To the Spayside Hotel, Grantown on Spay.

After another hearty breakfast, for those whose waist lines had not stretched their trousers past the limit, we headed down to the John O’Groats visitor centre where 5 cars gathered for photoshoots to prove we had been there. 

The sixth car, Henry, was, of course, at Thurso waiting for Gus to rub his hands on the prop shaft. Photographs taken, Betty took off for Turso carrying Gar and Gus. Gus put his overalls on and in no time he had the cover off the gearbox (the J C Midge being based upon a Triumph Harold the access to the front end of the prop shaft is very similar on Gus’s car). With the prop shaft out, much to his annoyance, Gus noticed that the front UJ was, in fact, in good order and that the issue was a few bolts at the back of the prop shaft that were loose. He could have tightened those up whilst the car was on the ramps four days ago! Annoyed, but relieved that he did not have so much work to do Henry was put back together and proven to be in good order. Vincent was thanked for his help and provision of a dry workshop and Gus headed off to catch up with us.
Whilst there Gar had noticed that his front tyres were not looking as healthy as he would have liked them with the mountain roads taking their toll. He visited a tyre supplier in Turso but they didn’t have the right size. He visited a second supplier and they had the tyres but could not fit them as their machine had failed. He bought the tyres and headed back to the first tyre fitters he had visited. Presenting them with the tyres Betty was up in the air without any front wheels in no time. The fitter asked what Gar was doing so far up North and it was explained that we were doing the NC500 and that he had come up from Birmingham with others from different parts of the country. We were also raising money for the ‘Children with Cancer’ charity. Gar was delighted when the tyre fitter checked Betty’s tracking for free as we were helping with a good cause. Afterwards Betty was very well behaved, driving almost like a new car!
Meanwhile the rest of us had set off South, down the A99, and arrived at Wick Harbour where the RNLI Severn Class lifeboat was stationed. 14-20, RNLB Roy Barker II looked very splendid at its moorings.

​Not far from the lifeboat was an oil industry service catamaran and Ian and I had an interesting conversation with an enthusiastic young crew member, a maintenance engineer, who appeared to be making himself rich serving on it.

A catamaran used to service oil and gas equipment in the North Sea.

Gar found us just as someone pointed to the harbourside café and off we went for a coffee and cake. During discussion it was decided that we would go and find the Sutor’s Gin distillery near Tain. Once we had enjoyed refreshments and visited the little rooms we set off as a convoy of 5 cars (Betty was no longer towing Henry’s trailer) towards Sutors Gin, almost 75 miles to the south.
On arrival at the location of the Gin Distillery we were confused as there was no sign of it. The building was there but it was all locked up and didn’t look very active. So to Plan B, a Whiskey
distillery in Dornoch, which meant retracing our steps by 14 miles. Driving North again on the A9 we spotted a funny looking car heading towards us with huge headlamps. As it drew closer we realised that it was Henry with trailer. Gus spotted us and turned round as soon as he could so that by the time that we arrived at the distillery the convoy was back up to its full complement. Some disappointment when we arrived though as we were hoping to see a distillery but it was only the Dornoch Distillery Bottle Shop that was open to customers. Some made purchases and once back in our cars we were retracing our steps to the south on the A9.
Next stop was Inverness where we all managed to park in the same car park, by the bus station. It was time a for a walk and we found our way down to the river and enjoyed a little very fresh air on the foot suspension bridge there but not before we have found a house named perfectly for Ian.

Windy Woodward at Windy Corner!

​Gus then advised that when he checked in he was told of a Whiskey Tasting that was taking place at 6:00pm. The Osbornes signed up for that as well which meant that we had less than 15 minutes to get our cases up to our room and present ourselves in the Conservatory. The tasting was most interesting with four different local whiskeys presented to us. We were amazed how the flavours changed with just a drop of water from a pipette added. Sometimes this improved the flavour whilst in others the taste was not so good. Remarkably, an improvement tasted by some was not appreciated by others. By the time we had emptied our samples of whiskey it was time for dinner and the rest of the party were ordering from the menu in the dining room. Another well-presented meal was enjoyed expanding waistlines further. The beer was good again as well.

You Tube video of Day 6 & 7