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GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 6.

25/11/2022

4 Comments

 
By Anthony Osborne.
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Wednesday 21st To Sea View Hotel at John O’Groats.
Having been disappointed with the evening meal at the Arch Inn I was pleased to find that breakfast was up to the standards that we had been enjoying. I didn’t spot any croissants!
We set off for the loch Broom Filling Station where copious litres of E5 petrol were taken on board the convoy, replenishing the tanks after the previous day’s run.
We had a brief stop at Loch Kirkaig to admire the view and stretch the legs. An Aston Martin coming the other way stopped and I had a chat with the occupants comparing notes as they were driving the NC500 in the anti-clockwise direction. ​
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A nice way to travel on the NC500, if you can afford it!
On leaving Loch Kirkaig we joined a flock of Scottish sheep who thought Ian’s Granada was one of their flock.
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Our first planned destination was Achmelvich Beach, another visit organised by Gar. This very sandy but small beach must have been wonderful on a hot sunny day but the two young ladies in their bathing suits were turning blue after they had braved the sea water. They suggested that it was a little cool but their changing colour suggested that it was very cold indeed!
We gathered on the beach and Gus brought his drone out to film the message carved into the sand ‘EBMVBB1985 21-9-22 was here’.
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​After some bracing fresh air, we were off again through some more fantastic scenery, both at sea level and in the hills and mountains, on substantial roads and on single track lanes between stone walls. The driving was certainly fun again although it did require a lot of concentration at times.
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The Kylesku Bridge over the connection between Loch a’ Chàirn Bhàin and Loch Gleann Dubh.
Our next stop was alongside the Kylesk Bridge where a break was taken for cake! Gus opened up his trailer and produced the goodies which went down very well!
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Brian enjoys cake from Gus’s trailer.
​Whilst we were enjoying cake Henry managed to get a new driver, although he struggled to reach the pedals with any of his four feet so gave the car back to Gus.
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Anyway, after refreshment alongside the magnificent bridge we hit the road again with just a further 125 miles to go!
As we headed up to Durness, which was about as far North as we could go on the West Coast, before turning East the roads varied from single carriageway with street lighting to narrow single track with passing places. The scenery remained fantastic.  ​
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(Picture 66) The roads in North West Scotland were very good as was the scenery. Sadly, the rain not so good.
​At Durness we took a left turn down a lane to the Balnakeil Craft Village where we had a look around in damp, dull and windy conditions. The Meet and Eat Café served excellent coffee and cakes which many of us enjoyed, taking over much of the café in the process. We also visited a craft shop and the Coco Mountain outlet there as well. Refreshed we returned to the road on our journey across the North of Scotland in an Easterly direction. For most of us the next stop was the Sea View Hotel at John O’Groats.
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At Hope we were, apparently, only 77 miles from John O’Groats
​However, for the last four days Betty had been towing Henry’s trailer because Gus was concerned about a knocking noise which was believed to be coming from the front UJ on the prop shaft. Gus had put an appeal out on the Group Facebook area for assistance and Vincent from Turso responded offering garage accommodation and he even obtained an UJ for the job. The plan was for Henry and his trailer to be left with Vincent overnight with Gar bringing Gus on to the hotel. The following morning Gar would take Gus back to sort Henry out. Thus Gus and Gar ventured into Thurso whilst the rest of us headed on to the Seaview Hotel in the rain.
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If we were at sea level or up in the mountains the scenery was so different to that seen in England.
​On our left, to the North, suddenly looming out of the gloom was a large spherical building with many other buildings around it. Of course, this was the former Dounreay Nuclear Power Station. The plant was opened in 1955 and three reactors – the Dounreay fast reactor, prototype fast reactor and the Dounreay materials test reactor – were built over the next 20 years. It was fully shut down in 1994, but a massive and complex clean-up operation remains ongoing.
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​We all safely arrived at the Seaview Hotel in torrential rain, most of us being soaked as we took our cases into the hotel to check in, Gar and Gus catching up with us a little later. Some of the team took a walk down to the Visitor Centre, in the dark, to see the John O’Groats sign post there. On their return we all congregated at a large table that had been reserved for us in the restaurant, a similar sized group of cyclists occupying another large table. The beer and food were good as well as the excellent company.
After somewhere in the region of 185 miles during the day it is probably fair to say that a good night’s sleep was had by all!
To be continued ...
4 Comments

GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 5

25/11/2022

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By Anthony Osborne.
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Tuesday 20th To The Arch Inn on the banks of Lock Broom at Ullapool.
Again, we had a heartly Scottish breakfast, or at least those who wanted one did and others were more sensible and had a rest having something lighter. Many of us were overeating and suffering from all of the food proffered to us. The pounds were starting to increase our waist lines. Had we gone for two weeks many of us would have joined the ranks of the group’s fat blokes by the end of the holiday!
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Over the bridge from Skye
Having left Skye over the bridge to the mainland our first call, to satisfy the wishes of Fat Controller, Gar, was to Eilean Donan Castle on its own island in Loch Duich.  ​
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Eilean Donan Castle.
There has been a castle on this small island since the 13th Century and since then it has been rebuilt 4 times. Whilst its full involvement with the Jacobean rebellion in 1715 is not known. In 1719 the castle, occupied by 46 Spanish soldiers, who supported the Jacobites, was bombarded by three heavily armed Royal Navy Frigates for three days. English soldiers were sent ashore and captured the castle. In the magazine they discovered 343 barrels of gunpowder which they used to destroy the remains of the castle rendering it uninhabitable for almost 200 years. In 1911 the ruins were bought by John and Isabella MacRae who spent 20 years restoring the ruins to their current condition. It has been used in films including Highlander (1986), Loch Ness (1996), Entrapment (1999) and James Bond - The World is Not Enough (1999). Ian and Gar endeavoured to recreate a scene from the film Highlander on the bridge to the castle. One has to admit that they would not get an Oscar for their performance, you will have to see the YouTube video of Day 5 to see the performance! There is a link to the video at the end of this blog.
As we departed from the Castle we started to see more and more rugged countryside passing by lochs and mountains. Some stretches of road had covers built over them, a bit like tunnels, to stop rockfalls and avalanches, particularly in winter, blocking the road. We passed through small communities, some even having petrol pumps with E5 fuel, which we obviously had to visit on occasion!
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Henry follows his trailer behind Betty past the rockfall defences and towards the artificial tunnels
We soon arrived at the start of the Applecross Pass where the roads became narrower and narrower with regular passing places. Traffic was light and most of the drivers we came across were polite and courteous. It was good to see quite a few motorcyclists out and about. When they came up behind it was easy pull into a passing place to let them by.
After filling Bill, the black MGB GT, with fresh E5 we caught up with the rest of the convoy parked by a cattle grid only to find that Betty the trans Mondeo was without driver. Gar soon appeared from some bushes muttering about too many tins of Tango, and we were off again.
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Climbing towards the summit.
As we climbed towards the 2,053 ft view point up gradients sometimes achieving 1:5 the temperatures of the car cooling systems were also climbing. We were going up the side of a valley with near vertical drops on one side of the road.  

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Not quite at the top but Ardarroch, the other side of Loch Kishorn, is a very long way down!
Passing places were visited often to allow traffic coming in the other direction to pass. Near the top of the pass we encountered a series of hairpin bends and then the road levelled out with a car parking area at the highest point of the road, the Bealach Na Ba (Pass of the Cattle) view point.  ​
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Magnificent views and people in ‘T’ Shirts in the cold wind at the viewpoint.
It was a little cool outside the cars but some brave souls braved it in their ‘T’ Shirts! It was a magnificent view point but lacked any amenities, just a level area with a Triangulation Point at one edge.  ​
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We moved on and enjoyed the sweeping road down to sea level at the small village of Applecross. Our leader set off southwards out of the village but then decided that we should be going north! We all did an about turn, avoiding traffic which was surprisingly heavy all of a sudden for a village in the middle of nowhere. On the way back a car park was spotted with a brick building in it. I think most of us explored the interior of the building and were much relieved for finding it!
Having lightened the load, we proceeded northwards out of Applecross and on across country to Ullapool. We still had almost 120 miles to drive before arriving at our next hotel, the Arch Inn. The total day’s route was 172 miles.
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The Arch Inn on the Ullapool sea front.
We arrived at the Arch Inn, eventually, and checked in, each being allocated a room. Guess what? Yes Brian was on the upper floor again although he did decline a change to the ground floor. We had booked tables in the restaurant and met there occupying two tables. Sadly, as I don’t eat fish, the mainly fish-based menu was not too exciting for me. The only meat I could find, without having to suffer fish with it, was a steak burger. I have to admit that this was the least enjoyable meal I had during the tour.
To be continued ...
You Tube video day 5.
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GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 4

25/11/2022

0 Comments

 
By Anthony Osborne.
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Monday 19th To the Hotel Eileen Iarmain on the Isle of Skye
A full Scottish breakfast, as we were beginning to learn, was bigger than a full English and was delicious, although sometimes difficult to devour it all! However, after our morning venture into the dinning room and checking out we were off again, heading northwards in our rain soaked cars up the West side of Loch Linnhe, the opposite side to Fort William. There were very low, thin clouds with the mountains peeking through the top of them. The air was still very damp from the overnight rain. Our first destination was to be the Glenfinnan Viaduct, scene of filming some shots for one of the Harry Potter films. We could waste no time to get there in order to see The Jacobite steam train crossing the viaduct.
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Parts of Fort William the other side of Lock Linnhe
We were now driving on single track roads with passing places. Being as courteous as possible we were pulling into the passing places whenever traffic came in the opposite direction and found other drivers were responding accordingly. In fact during the whole of the trip I can only remember one comment about an aggressive motor caravan driver who, in reality, was probably driving a vehicle totally unsuitable for the road conditions.
Up past Fort William and then Westward towards Glenfinnan which is at the head of Lock Shiel. As we approached Glenfinnan it became apparent that there was more traffic around because of others wishing to see the steam train and we were fortunate in that we all found spaces in the car park together, even Betty with Henry’s trailer in tow. Having parked and paid the machine for the privilege we had a short walk (hobble in the case of Brian and me) to get a good view of the structure built by Concrete Bob McAlpine and completed in 1898, although the line did not open through to Mallaig until 1901. The viaduct consists of a total of 21 arches each 50ft (15m) wide with a total length of 416yds (380m). Carrying a single track, it is 18ft (5.5m) wide between parapets and carries the railway 100ft (30m) above the River Finnan. It is curved inland with a radius of 729ft (241m). Quite an engineering feat for its time.
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Black Five 45407 pulls the Jacobite across the Glenfinnan Viaduct.
​Black Five number 45407, built for the LMS by Armstrong Whitworth in 1937 pulled the Jacobean, consisting of a rake of seven maroon BR Mk1 Coaches, across the viaduct creating an impressive scene with the driver opening the throttle creating a cloud of exhaust (steam) as the train accelerated away from Glenfinnan to continue its onward journey to Mallaig.
Our little convoy left the Glenfinnan car park and, like the Jacobean, also headed up towards Mallaig where, as we approached, we could see the Jacobean simmering at the station. We drove round the harbour of this small fishing village to the other side of the bay, dodging tourists who seemed to be hell bent on being run over irrespective of how slowly we drove, where we found parking space for us all and an excellent view of vessels entering or leaving their moorings. Someone found that there were public loos adjacent to a car park opposite the railway station and those in need investigated the service provided. It was a bit disconcerting to discover that you could only enter by swiping your contactless card from which 40p was extracted! I dread to think what happened to anyone without a credit or bank card in their wallet! With our check-in time approaching we retraced our steps to the harbour and joined the queue for embarkation on the ferry, ‘Loch Fyne’ to Armadale on the Isle of Skye.
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Loch Fyne arrives at Mallaig to load and carry us to Armadale
We boarded the ferry which was as tightly packed as the smaller Corran Ferry. The passage was smooth and, whilst a little longer than the Corran Ferry, it was still quite quick. We disembarked at Armadale and headed off northwards across the Isle of Skye along the narrow roads to the Hotel Eilean Iarmain on the Isle Ornsay, Sleat on the Isle of Skye.
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Again, tightly packed as sardines on the ferry!
We were not allowed to check in until 4:30 pm so we enjoyed a natter on the small jetty whilst we waited for Reception to open.  ​
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​This was a lovely hotel with excellent food and beer. It was also our most expensive hotel of the tour. One aging waitress was most entertaining with her negative attitude to the diners, she was lovely!
However, wherever we were young Brian always seemed to have a problem. At the Hotel Eileen Iarmain he was unable to stand by the four poster bed without walking sideways there was that little room between the bed and the wall. At least it was on the ground floor this time!
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To be continued ...
You Tube video of day 4.
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GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 3

25/11/2022

1 Comment

 
By Anthony Osborne
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Sunday 18th to The Inn at Ardgour on the banks of Loch Linne
We set off from the Inn after a hearty breakfast (no croissants Tosh) with the cars covered in the overnight rain water. However, before we could depart Gar had a problem with Betty’s front indicators and needed to replace a bulb, but he did have a spare. Super Enthusiast Man (aka Gus) was called into service and after removing the lens on both indicators there was a flashing indicator on the front on both sides of Betty. Unfortunately, it was not possible to superglue the lenses back on at the hotel so Betty proceeded with both the lenses missing!
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Super Enthusiast Man gains access to Betty’s indicator bulbs!
We headed up the side of Loch Fyne, around the end and back down the other side through Inverary where we had a stop to let everyone catch up. It had been proposed to refill with E5 petrol there but being a Sunday the Renault Garage was closed. A convoy of six cars, we set off again along the loch side before heading away from the coast and up towards Oban.
We made it to Asknish Bay when we spotted a sign to a viewpoint. As a bonus the Loch Melford Hotel served tea and coffee overlooking the bay and Sarah was exceedingly excited as there were Hielan Coos in the grounds. It is rumoured that Sarah only came along so that she could meet up with some Hielan Coos such is her love for them!
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Sarah photographs her first Hielan Coo of the holiday.
After refreshments and a visit to the loo (you only rent the coffee!) we headed off again towards Oban.
Once there we sought Tesco who promised to stock E5 Petrol in their advertising. However, this was not the case. Whilst there additional provisions were taken on board and we proceeded northwards finding E5 at a filling station at Dunbeg. The cars thirsts being quenched it was onwards and upwards for a few more miles until we spotted a parking area within view of the magnificent Connel Bridge. The bridge is near the entrance to Loch Etive, a sea loch almost 20 miles long, in places a mile wide and up to 500ft deep.
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Connel Bridge
A picnic lunch was enjoyed with Coles Kitchen producing hot dogs, which were delicious. At the same time a second cooker in the back of Ian’s Granada was used to make most welcome tea and coffee.
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​Whilst we enjoyed our lunch break some kayakers came ashore and soon disappeared with their boats on car roofs. They appeared to have enjoyed a brisque paddle on the loch.
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Adjacent to all this activity, however, Gus was expressing concern about a clonk coming from his car, Henry, so out of his trailer came a pair of ramps and in no time Henry’s back end was up in the air and Gus was underneath in his overalls getting his hands dirty. When he emerged, not looking happy, he had decided that the universal joint at the front of the prop-shaft was worn and in need of replacement. After some discussion it was decided that Betty would tow Henry’s trailer leaving Henry on a light load and Gus would monitor the situation.
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We set off northwards again and passed over the Connel Bridge, getting a better view of its engineering as we approached it. There must have been hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of rivets used in its construction.
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The intricate structure of the Connel Bridge.
Having crossed Lock Etive we again proceeded up the coast with the next superstructure being the Ballachulish Bridge which was of a similar construction to the Connel Bridge, this time over the entrance to Loch Leven from Loch Linnhe.  ​
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Ballachulish Bridge
As we were ahead of time it was decided to go on up the side of Loch Linnhe to Fort William instead of straight to the ferry taking us to our hotel for the night. The first car park visited was abandoned as there was nothing interesting to see, so we returned to a loch side car park with a good view of the other side of the loch, which we would be driving along tomorrow.
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The cars lined up at the side of Loch Linnhe in Fort William
We then drove back to the Corran Ferry that took us across a narrow point on the Loch to our hotel which was, literally, opposite the ferry terminal.
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Our cars packed like sardines in a tin!
Arriving at the other side of the Loch, we drove up the ramp, across the road and straight into the Inn at Ardgour car park. Gar had selected another nice hotel for us to stay in overnight. The food and beer were again good with the only downside being the noise that the ferry made every half hour or so as it arrived then departed from the slip way, fortunately it did not run all night!
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To be continued ...
You tube video of day 3
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GRAND TOUR OF THE SCOTTISH COAST NC500. PART 2.

25/11/2022

0 Comments

 
By Anthony Angus Osborne.
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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.  ​
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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!
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A Big ‘Little Tykes’ car, with smaller one on the roof and an even smaller one on the bonnet!
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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!
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The Reverend Gar Cole preaching to the converted (where have we seen that pose before?).
After a lovely meal and the odd drop of a suitable alcohol we retired to our beds, the second of our holiday.
To be continued ...
You Tube video of day 2.
NC500 Part 1
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Grand Tour of the Scottish Coast NC500. Part 1

25/11/2022

2 Comments

 
By Anthony Osborne
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15th to 25th September 2022
The Fat Controller, Gar Cole, was the leader of the pack whose dream was to drive the NC500 round the North Coast of Scotland. What better way to do it, he thought, than to take classic cars and drive round with good mates. Over 12 months ago he started to float the idea and was amazed when 18 cars were signed up for the tour. He booked hotels and generally got on with the arrangements.
Sadly 12 of the cars had to pull out for one reason or another and just 6 cars set out to travel North of the border.
Gar had rearranged all the hotels for each of the 9 nights and I, using the information passed to me by Gar and John Ticehurst who had booked the ferry to Skye, had prepared a route book which included all the required information for out time away.
Gar thought it appropriate to sponsor Children with Cancer UK and we were delighted to raise the sum of £357 for them on our tour.
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Also, because we are all concerned about the environment, I arranged for all our carbon emissions between Gretna Green and the Falkirk Wheel to be offset by Tree-V who were introduced to me at the 2021 NEC Classic Car Show by the Federation of British Historic Vehicle Clubs. We estimated that we would emit 2,039kg CO2 and paid £66.26 between us to Tree-V who are arranging the planting of trees, to absorb the carbon emitted, with Forest Carbon. One such location is Tom’s Wood in North Yorkshire

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Thursday 15th Final Preparation and Excitement.
​Gar is very relieved when Betty, his trans Ford Mondeo, actually passed its MOT with only two advisories after some extensive surgery and with less than 24 hours to go to departure!.
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Gar’s trans Mondeo formerly known as Barry
John Ticehurst and Kevin Terry set off in John’s red MGB GT, ‘Daphne’, from Chelmsford to head north breaking their journey on the way overnight. Brian Allison also set off in his light blue XJ6 from County Carlow in Eire on his journey northwards.
The only reported issue on the way to Gretna Green was Daphne having a puncture. This can be a bit of a problem as all the luggage in the boot has to come out to get to the jack and spare wheel! At least with knock on wire wheels it is simple enough to get the wheel off.
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It was only going flat at the bottom so they should have just turned it over!
Friday 16th to The Gables Hotel, Gretna Green.
​Garry Brooks (Gus) left home in South Yorkshire in his J C Midge, ‘Henry’ but as there isn’t room for a toothbrush in Henry he was towing a trailer with all sorts in it, including his toothbrush! Pat and Anthony Osborne set off from Worcestershire in Pat’s black MGB GT, ‘Bill’, Ian and Sarah Woodward departed from Leicestershire in Ian’s white Granada Estate and Gar Cole set off from the outskirts of Birmingham in his very early trans Ford Mondeo, formerly known as ‘Barry’ but now answering to the name ‘Betty’, all heading northwards. Donnington Services was the rendezvous location for the ‘Leader of the pack‘ Cole, the Woodwards and the Osbornes who then headed across country to the M6. It would appear that everyone, other than John and Kevin, had an uneventful journey meeting up at the Gables Hotel in Gretna Green.

​​
In the car park the two MGB GTs had parked either side of a Triumph TR6, the owner of that feeling a little disappointed that he was so outnumbered!
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The TR6 owner was upset that the MGs had his car surrounded.
​Outside the Hotel there were other interesting cars including a Porsche and a Bristol 412.
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The hotel was comfortable and food was good. We were all settled into a private dining room for dinner after a drink in the bar. I think everyone slept well that night after the long drives to Gretna Green.
We were advised, should we have a problem, that Gus had all sorts of emergency equipment in Henry’s trailer including a pair of ramps, E5 petrol, and tools. Gar was also prepared with a pop-up tent and portaloo! I don’t think that Gar’s emergency equipment was used as there were generally plenty of trees around when they were needed!
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Gar had catered for all eventualities!
​Our holiday had begun at last.
You Tube video of day 1.
To be continued ...
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NEC Classic Motor Show Highlights

19/11/2022

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The Lancaster Classic Motor Show at the NEC Birmingham is the highlight of the UK classic car scene and we were there, proudly displaying three members' classics. Mike Peake brought his Triumph Herald Convertible 'Poppy', Lincoln Hunt a superb classic Range Rover and Daniel Rooney proudly displayed 'Vinnie', the Mini he has restored to a fantastic standard.

​So whether you were at the show and want to enjoy it again or if you couldn't attend in person, join us as Gar Cole shows off our club stand then treats us all to a walk around the halls of the NEC to share his own personal highlights from the show.
​

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The final Scottish Tour Video is here!

7/11/2022

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It's taken hours of work gathering together video clips, photos and sound recordings to create the very last video from our epic North Coast 500 Scottish Tour but it's finally here!
Starting from Grantown-on-Spey, the intrepid tourists cruise in convoy into the beautiful Cairngorm Mountains of Scotland. Along the way they stop to admire lovely views, visit the Balmoral Estate including the Lochnagar Distillery (it would have been rude not to!) and onward to stop for a photo shoot beside the Forth Bridge and finally to the famous Kelpies, the Falkirk Wheel and at last the Scotland/England border.
Featuring video footage and images provided by Gar, Gus and Anthony along with some great voiceovers by Gar and editing by Paul, this is a real team venture and represents the culmination of a mammoth undertaking to document the 10-day driving tour. The complete video series totals almost 3 hours of footage, with much more left on the cutting room floor.

We hope you enjoy it - please let us know if you do by liking, commenting and subscribing to our official YouTube channel. It's for you and it's all free.
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