The Dispatch | Expert | Scudo Hub

vaz2121

Member

From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland

Registered: 2015-08-31

Posts: 1,311

hatching plans {Sort of}

My Partner had a CT scan to get and because the Doc wasn't happy with her overall condition they requested it ASAP.............
The Last time they did that we ended up having it done at Stranraer..............
This time it was the Golden jubilee National hospital, Clydebank ..........(Dumbarton side of Glasgow)
On 16/03/2020

So A little trip was hatched up ......
{Being already easily 80 + miles away from home let's stay out}
On route I took a long road for a short cut and went along The Great western Rd in Glasgow...........
Past the Place I was Born, Then past the Gartnavel Hospital .. Over Annisland cross (Famous to us Glasgow folk)
And on out toward Duntocher then we hung a left down onto Dumbarton Rd and then into the Jubilee........
After my little bit of  Memorey lane we now Spend an age Parking and walking into the Hospital..........
Every turn you make once in there your asked to wash hands.............

A couple hours later we're done N dusted .............. (Had a cuppa and a bite in canteen as well)
This is when our fun starts...........
We didn't get that far after leaving the Hospital I pulled off the A82 at Luss and headed for what they call a comfort break and as we were there had a cuppa .......

After that we pushed on to Crianlarich and Tyndrum then What was a very Scetchy crossing over Rannoch moor (Wind bounced us about and wipers barely managed, Even on the fast setting had difficulty).... once over to Glen Coe Village I kept it going....
Didn't stop at the Commando Memorial at Spean Bridge Either (Apart from having done all that) as the weather here was  extremely poor still.............

I turned off the A82 at Invergarry onto the A87 and stopped here for a bit of a snooze as I'd slept like sh** the night before and all this excitement had me knackered
After a good couple hours and my partner getting to watch Emmerdale on the ITV Hub we set off again only stopping at the Co-op in The Kyle of Lochalsh

The Next morning I read a council notice board that I'd never seen here before and this I'm sure was our Third time Parked in Kyleakin........... (Apart from the 4 Artics there and one Motorhome there was us and It looked like we alone broke about 4 of their rules......... So I don't think it's policed there very well)............

The next morning

Our plan was to end the day at the Talisker Distillery {Carbost} after a tour of the product of course

First off we kept on the A87 all the way too Uige bar a small detour into the town Centre at Portree for some treats and a couple sausage rolls from the Bakery......
The weather was still Atrocious but we were upbeat ......... (All 4 seasons hourly)
We headed on up to Uige as we thought it might at some point be a goodish jumping off point for the Isle of Lewis and Harris and return via Ullapool or a Hopscotch Ticket where we could instead  Ullapool return, Afterwards head For North & South Uist, Benbecula ETC and an Oban return and wanted to see access to here {Fairly easy}

There's not alot in Uige

We'd eaten the sausage rolls before leaving Portree, We now had along with Coffee my caramel Doughnut and partner her Strawberry tart

And then in probibly the only shop there is when asked "If we'd heard the Gov'ment advise on No unneccesary travel that day"  ..............
S*** It's a bit late now
So kept going with intention of heading homewards early

The road North from here loops around and back to Portree And is single track ...... I'd say for 60% of the way
After an Applecross, Pass of the cattle type hair pin a good few kamikaze Natives and quite a few miles along we came to the turning for The Skye museum of island life and Kilmuir Cemetery to Flora MacDonalds memorial and grave {I believe the designer Alexander McQeen's ashes are there some where also)
Prefering to trundle on {Still chucking it down}
I Don't remember how far we went but (Briefly stopped raining) I had to stop for a Wee and picked here

Our next and planned Stop was at An Corran Beach.............
To see the Dinosaur footprints......
But the Tide was in and I had No notion to go on to Staffin Harbour car park .............

However I did make a point  of goin to Kilt rock and mealt falls
The first thing I was greeted with was

But I wanted to see this

{I took No more photo's after here .....Because}
I would have stopped at Lealt falls but happened apon Parking  a bit late with a bus tight behind So Carried on as I had another stop in mind  ..........

But then on arrival at the old Man of Storr...........

Two things ..........
1. You couldn't have really seen them [The Storrs] with all the rain, sleet ETC But the biggest Problem was they were obscured completely with such low cloud
2.Carpark was closed off and full of construction/reconstruction vehicles and fitting Pay and Display machines

I really enjoyed my skirmish with Skye although visited before {Only as far as Portree} and found it excessively busy and touristy.... I do have every intention to return...........
I was a little dissapointed in the lack of amenities ....... (The lack of at a least litter bin in these touristy places but their not shy to put a Pay and Display machine there first).......

I was Also Dissapointed to discover when looking for Talisker Distillery tour times that it's Closed/Stopped till April like just about  everything..........
So we headed out/off of Skye ..........

I was surprised however to find Diesel In the Co-op in Broadford 5p a ltr cheaper than Tesco here at home {Usually other way about ..... or more}.......
I did stop and fill up as I had space for half a tank ...........

I Then Trundled off The Isle of  Skye and made tracks homeward sort of and stopped for the night at Ballachulish........
(We did stop for a break and for the [heated] Toilet block  right before crossing Bridge as your Passing Eilean donan castle [south bound] towards Fort William)

Ballachulish {It's very Quiet and no more than a carpark opposite the old slate Quarry} is a favourite stopover only because of the toilets, the shop and a breakfast cafe in morning {stopped here countless times}

Late on the next morning over B/fast in Cafe we decided to take the "Senic" route home Via Ayr for Fish and Chips......
{Not befor using all the facilities here and popping into the Co-op} So more like Lunchtime we left.......

Then about 4 miles outside  of Tyndrum {Lucky most of the way back over Rannoch Moor} the ignition light came on ...........
True to form plans change suddenly it was Snowing heavily and the wind was blowing somewhat when fan belt went AWOL...........
I carried on into Tyndrum and Pulled into The Green Welly Stop  and checked "as I'd thought we'd lost the {Fan belt} Auxiliary Drive belt"...........

I'd parked it up near the back Next to the laundromat machine and Phoned in....then awaited recovery........
At least we had Toilets and heat if needed inside The Green Welly............

For Recovery they really wern't long (About hour and half)
They carried van over to the Lix Toll Garage........ (About 20 miles away towards Stirling though "Still")
With luck I'd stuck a "Fan belt" under the bed last April/May when we were preparing for our ill fated trip to Spain.........
{No tools it's Snowing and I'm not for lying in a puddle}
It turned out to be the right size and it fitted the old "Fan belt" was found wrapped around the Drive shaft........
They at least had a pt to stick it over
Luckly nothing else had become a victim so headed home via Stirling, The Kelpies and Edinburgh ..............

I'm ready for more....... I also think I'm ready for a larger van after that trip...... but apparently it's time to self isolate ......... ready or not ..........

OAT

Member

From: Borders/Dales

Registered: 2017-01-03

Posts: 1,013

Re: hatching plans {Sort of}

Quite a trip vaz.  Pity about the weather.
Holed up in the Borders myself, Loch o' the Lowes.  Not intending to travel much but staying out of the way till things are calmer. 
Met a few vans taking to the hills.
Not to bad re shops etc up here but getting silly further south.

vaz2121

Member

From: Glasgow Living:~ SW. Scotland

Registered: 2015-08-31

Posts: 1,311

Re: hatching plans {Sort of}

Quite a trip vaz.  Pity about the weather.
Holed up in the Borders myself, Loch o' the Lowes.  Not intending to travel much but staying out of the way till things are calmer. 
Met a few vans taking to the hills.
Not to bad re shops etc up here but getting silly further south.

The weather to a greater extent is not really a problem Per-Say as it's to be expected through winter I was a little surprised to see such little Snow overall....
But what weather we did get surprised me in it's ferocity for what is meant to be close to Spring.......

As per the shops further North : It's obvious that something is afoot but as you saying .......Still avalable provisions
Not as silly as Rows and Rows of empty not even trying to restock shelves............
But how long before even the wholesalers can't get the goods if that's not already the case............

Last edited by vaz2121 (2020-03-20 16:58:46)