Motors and Me

Today started so well. Nice breakfast, nice early start, and nice weather — amazing considering the rain and gales last night. A brief trip back to the Kylerhea ferry and I was ready to start the route from Glenelg to Gruinard Bay. At last, the time had come. :) Coming over the pass to Loch Duich, the view was even more stunning than yesterday. I knew I had little time to stop and stare (had to be back home by Friday and I was still heading North), so I pressed on to Eilean Donan Castle and beyond, to Plockton. Realising that photo opportunities inside the village were few and far between (it’s more picturesque when seen from a distance), I made a hasty exit. Rather too hasty, as it turned out... *CRUNCH* With a sickening deceleration and the sound of shattering plastic, my reversing — and my holiday — came to an abrupt halt. I simply can’t put into words the anguish I felt upon confirmation of my fender bender. In fact, I don’t even want to t...

Following a decent breakfast, the drive north was more frustrating than flowing. Slow traffic, wet roads and a consistent drizzle all conspired to hinder progress. Rannoch Moor was fairly impressive, although once again, the view was spoiled somewhat by the weather. In fact, it wasn’t till past Invergarry that the traffic evaporated and the roads dried up. From there on to Loch Duich, the drive was an absolute delight. The open roads, good surface, and gentle curves allowed a steady pace of 70mph+ to be maintained absolutely safely, if not exactly legally. I even hooked up with a similarly driven Audi (complete with Nordschleife sticker on the rear bumper) for the stretch through Glen Shiel. The company was much appreciated and it almost felt rude not to say goodbye when I turned off toward Glenelg. Nevertheless, a snack stop atop the Mam Ratagan pass soon provided the day’s next smile. An elderly gent parked alongside the MINI asked to look at the car’s interior,...

Today’s been a bit of a mixed bag, but it’s definitely ending on a high. First, there was the morning, where the warmth of my bed did its best to convince me I didn’t need a holiday, just a good lie-in instead. Next, once the devilish duvet had been defeated, there was the dreary, headache-inducing drive up to and beyond Glasgow. Upon reaching Loch Lomond, I was beginning to wonder whether the bed had been the better option. Finally, with the weather closing in — this is Scotland after all — came the scenery. Sadly, most of the stunning views were obscured by cloud, but this just made the approach to Inveraray , my first night’s stop, that much more special. Coming down to sea level, the town’s whitewashed facade stood out like a beacon through the gloom of rain and dead flies. Not quite your traditional picture postcard, but a welcoming sight nonetheless. Nosh: King scallops, salad, chocolate torte & a cappucino at Loch Fyne Oyster Bar...