Month: June 2012

Friday. It’s over 🙁

Inverness to John o’Groats to Inverness – 270 miles – 11 hours

From John o’Groats we drove on to Dunnet Head (actually the most northerly point on the British mainland).

Then we went along a fantastic road – single track with passing places. Over 30 miles of fun, possibly the best chunk of the journey. We then rejoined the road back down to Inverness, eventually crossing back over the Cromatory Forth and Moray Forth bridges into the city.

Very pleasant dinner at an all-you-can-eat chinese buffet and then back to the campsite for a final night under ‘canvas’.

Tomorrow we head to Edinburgh for the first stage of the return journey. We’ll probably do Morrisons for breakfast by force of habit!

944 miles from Lands End

We’ve made it to John o’Groats. Stunning scenery, and the sun is still out. Time for the obligatory photo opportunity, and the final stamp on the official form.

The weather improved last night – and the sun is now out. Mind you, we’re far enough north it didn’t fully set in the first place.

So – a later start (tho not as late as the route plan promised – a PEBCAK when producing it). Morrisons for breakfast and then on to John o’Groats – should be there for noon.

Thursday

Moffat to Inverness – 272 miles – approx 10 hours.

Since breakfast we’ve been heading steadily into the Highlands, through West Dumbartonshire, Stirling, Argyle and Bute. We passed along Loch Lomond, then across the Glencoe region and into Fort William.

From there it was a pretty straight run thru the Great Glen, along Loch Ness to Inverness and the final campsite (we’ll return here after Jo’G tomorrow).

Much of the drive was accompanied by CB chatter of bad jokes and alternate film titles on the theme of llamas, all because Yudit asked if anyone else had seen the llamas at a farm between Blackpool and Lancaster yesterday morning. We’ve now had ‘short neck llamas’ (sheep), ‘black and white’ or ‘brown’ llamas (cows), ‘with coats’ (horses with blankets) etc. Its all getting a bit Monty Python.

Got the still wet tent back up, this time before the rain struck again.

Now whiling away the time before dinner.

A great night yesterday at the Star Hotel in Moffat – good food, good company, good conversation, dubious musical taste and varying skills at pool.

This morning it was raining again, until just after the tent was struck (typical).

Headed out on the road at 7am again, heading for Dumbarton and Morrisons for breakfast. Two more counties – South Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire.

Wednesday

Charnock Richard to Moffat – 168 miles – approx 8.5 hours.

Managed to get two new airbeds in Kendal to replace our double which has sprung a weird internal leak. Instead if laying flat, its trying to impersonate the north face of the Eiger.

From Kendal we headed north, thru Penrith and Carlisle, then crossed into Scotland and stopped at Gretna Green. No surprise weddings in the group, but some emergency brake repairs for car no. 6.

So now that’s country 3 and county 11 (Dumfries & Galloway).

From Gretna onto Moffat and the last halt of the day (nice short one today after the mammoth one yesterday). No sign of the killer midges yet, but those who’ve done lejog before promise the midges will come. And apparrently it isn’t raining – its either ‘moist’ or dry depending who you ask 🙂

Famous Moffat toffee tried and purchased. Now heading to the Star hotel for a swift pint before dinner.

Tomorrow is another 7am start (last one on this trip).

Breakfast in … Morrisons 🙂 Anyone see a pattern?

We’re in Kendal, Cumbria now, having passed thru Blackpool, Lancaster, and Carnforth (and therefore Lancashire).

To quote the song by Madness, “its raining again. I can hear it pitter-patter down”. I’m sure the sun will join us again later (probably in time for the killer Scottish midges).

Two minor starting problems (tho not for us). All in all the Minis are all behaving pretty well.

Tuesday

Bideford to Charnock Richard – at least 300 miles – 12 hours.

Since breakfast things had been going pretty well. Some fun on the M5/M4/M48 – a chance for the Minis to stretch their legs.

After that, the next county (and country) – Monmouthshire in Wales. From there into Gloucestershire, Herefordshire (including lots of convoy break-ups thru Hereford). Then Shropshire and the next rest stop at the Shropshire Discovery Centre.

Into Cheshire … and then it all went wrong. An accident on the M6, causing gridlock back onto the M56. Time for rapid route replanning (great job Carol and Michelle in car 1).

Finally arrived at Charnock Richard services, end for the day,.about 3 hours late. Fortunately they were warned and kept the kitchen open.

Still no major vehicular problems for the group.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a much shorter day 🙂

Signing off until breakfast tomorrow (in Kendal).

Now at Morrisons in Bridgewater.

Some fantastic scenery around Porlock, and those twisty roads that we Mini drivers love (though the brakes were a bit warm after descending).

Now in our third county – Somerset.

Start of day two

We had a dry night, so I thought ‘great, we can pack the tent dry’. And then the rain starts (at 5:30am). Fortunately the support van has lots of space (and now much dripping tentage).

About to head out on the road – two or so hours until Morrisons and therefore breakfast.