Argyll Run - 21 Nov Pics and Videos
Discussion
Our day didn't exactly proceed according to plan. I'll try to briefly sum up how things went down:
The plan was that Colin (Deuchars) would be taking the RX7, Ali would be taking his M3 and Nick and myself would swap between the two cars as passengers. In theory we would be up in time to meet Malcster and the rest of the Edinburgh guys at Hermiston Gait.
So on saturday night (sun morning) at 4am Colin and I get home and crawl into bed. We had made the sensible decision to stop drinking early in the night as we'd be driving, but we didn't take things a stage further and actually go home early. Fail 1
Malcster was meeting the guys at 7:45am, Col came through and said, "nick and Ali are at the door, we've got to get up" at 8am. Fail 2
We jump into the cars and drive 4 miles to Col's brothers house where the RX is kept. The battery was dead. Fail 3
We jumped the RX to discover it was running on fumes. Fail 4
We drove to a garage and Col realises he has forgotten his wallet. Fail 5
Nick says he'll pay, we put petrol in the cars and loaded up on junk for breakfast. Col specifically ordered a mineral water...turns out that was for the RX because the water levels were low
Fail 6
We finally amble onto the M8 with absolutely not hope of even making the meeting time through west. I'm in the M3 with Ali and, unknown to us at the time, Col/Nick are on the phone to Malcster who is relaying the plans and the journey route. The idea, it turns out, was to catch up at the first stop (Rest & Be Thankful). Ali and I are confused, but diligently follow the RX.
As we would later discover Maclster reported over the phone that he was passing a golf course. We passed the same golf course 2 minutes later, meaning that we had closed the gap to just a mile or so. Win 1
Half a mile later Col turns of to the right and drives for 45 minutes around Loch Lomond in the wrong direction. Fail 7
Col stops and asks for directions, at which point Ali and I get a chance to talk to him and discover just how badly things were going. We realised that the convoy would have left R&BT by the time we get there, but we make an attempt anyway. I swap to go in the RX and after 45 minutes of driving we arrive at the junction where we turned off. We hack a right and minutes later are at R&BT. Everyone has gone. Fail 8
We grab a poke of chips and discuss our options. Col suggests we hot foot it to the lunch venue and we can do the afternoon leg with the group. A quick google maps search suggests that venue is some 80 miles away. We'll probably get there and have to immediately leave (rather than have lunch) but whatever. Then this conversation breaks out:
Col, "only thing is I need fuel"
Me, "how can you need fuel, you filled up this morning?"
Col, "nah, I only put £20 in"
Me, "we are driving 250+ miles today, why the f*$k would you only put £20 in?"
Col, "I felt tight for Nick as he was paying. Besides, the route said there is a fuel stop"
Me, "...but he'd need to pay then as well you muppet"
Col, "yeah, but....I, well, sort of...."
Ali, "It's cool there is a garage a few miles back"
Col, "It was a Gulf, I need 99 ron or it'll det"
Me, "you clown"
Nick, "die"
Ali, "do you know where we can get SUL"
Col, "no"
Fail 9
I suggest that by the time we find a garage and get fuel we will miss the chance to catch the main group and would spend the rest of the day chasing them in vain. I'm hungry and cold and suggest we get fuel and some lunch. Col suggests that we go to Cameron House, as that is where the group finish up. I'm doubting we are going to get no nonsense pub grub at Cameron House, but whatever....it's a plan.
We drive to Cameron House, park and walk 3 minutes to the main reception. Col then says we've parked in the wrong car park and should move the cars to the one the guys will be using. Fail 10
We walk back, move the cars, and return to the main entrance and find a bar. The going rate is £2.50 for a small bottle of diet coke. Fail 11
However, we are warm and comfortable and our surroundings are pleasant. Col is horsing about on his iphone and the time is approximately 1:30pm. I ask when the guys get here and Col replies, "3:30". We immediately realise that waiting around at £2.50 a pop for cokes for 2 hours isn't happening. Fail 12
We leave to get fuel and Col says I can drive the RX back. Win 2
After a roundabout or two I give it the beans in 2nd and cream myself at the acceleration. Win 3
I tell Col I am unsure where to go and he informs me to go straight until he says otherwise. I'm in the outside lane of a dual carriageway a few minutes later and Ali is behind me. I see a sign for the Erskine Bridge and, having driven this road before, I'm fairly sure we should take it. I ask Col if we should be turning off, he hesitates before saying "yes!" I'm literally on the junction, but I check my mirrors and dive for it while trying to indicate to Ali. In my haste I forget I'm in a jap car and whack the wipers on full. Fail 13
I cut up a Fiesta. Fail 14
Bing can't make it and drives onwards. Nick is glaring out the passenger seat, clearly furious. Fail 15
Col says there is no way they are catching up and to just motor on home.
We finally get home and have a KFC. Win 4
As I see it, that is 15:4 against, all in all pretty terrible....but a massively entertaining day somehow
Also got two pics of the RX7 that I'm really pleased with
The plan was that Colin (Deuchars) would be taking the RX7, Ali would be taking his M3 and Nick and myself would swap between the two cars as passengers. In theory we would be up in time to meet Malcster and the rest of the Edinburgh guys at Hermiston Gait.
So on saturday night (sun morning) at 4am Colin and I get home and crawl into bed. We had made the sensible decision to stop drinking early in the night as we'd be driving, but we didn't take things a stage further and actually go home early. Fail 1
Malcster was meeting the guys at 7:45am, Col came through and said, "nick and Ali are at the door, we've got to get up" at 8am. Fail 2
We jump into the cars and drive 4 miles to Col's brothers house where the RX is kept. The battery was dead. Fail 3
We jumped the RX to discover it was running on fumes. Fail 4
We drove to a garage and Col realises he has forgotten his wallet. Fail 5
Nick says he'll pay, we put petrol in the cars and loaded up on junk for breakfast. Col specifically ordered a mineral water...turns out that was for the RX because the water levels were low
Fail 6We finally amble onto the M8 with absolutely not hope of even making the meeting time through west. I'm in the M3 with Ali and, unknown to us at the time, Col/Nick are on the phone to Malcster who is relaying the plans and the journey route. The idea, it turns out, was to catch up at the first stop (Rest & Be Thankful). Ali and I are confused, but diligently follow the RX.
As we would later discover Maclster reported over the phone that he was passing a golf course. We passed the same golf course 2 minutes later, meaning that we had closed the gap to just a mile or so. Win 1
Half a mile later Col turns of to the right and drives for 45 minutes around Loch Lomond in the wrong direction. Fail 7
Col stops and asks for directions, at which point Ali and I get a chance to talk to him and discover just how badly things were going. We realised that the convoy would have left R&BT by the time we get there, but we make an attempt anyway. I swap to go in the RX and after 45 minutes of driving we arrive at the junction where we turned off. We hack a right and minutes later are at R&BT. Everyone has gone. Fail 8
We grab a poke of chips and discuss our options. Col suggests we hot foot it to the lunch venue and we can do the afternoon leg with the group. A quick google maps search suggests that venue is some 80 miles away. We'll probably get there and have to immediately leave (rather than have lunch) but whatever. Then this conversation breaks out:
Col, "only thing is I need fuel"
Me, "how can you need fuel, you filled up this morning?"
Col, "nah, I only put £20 in"
Me, "we are driving 250+ miles today, why the f*$k would you only put £20 in?"
Col, "I felt tight for Nick as he was paying. Besides, the route said there is a fuel stop"
Me, "...but he'd need to pay then as well you muppet"
Col, "yeah, but....I, well, sort of...."
Ali, "It's cool there is a garage a few miles back"
Col, "It was a Gulf, I need 99 ron or it'll det"
Me, "you clown"
Nick, "die"
Ali, "do you know where we can get SUL"
Col, "no"
Fail 9
I suggest that by the time we find a garage and get fuel we will miss the chance to catch the main group and would spend the rest of the day chasing them in vain. I'm hungry and cold and suggest we get fuel and some lunch. Col suggests that we go to Cameron House, as that is where the group finish up. I'm doubting we are going to get no nonsense pub grub at Cameron House, but whatever....it's a plan.
We drive to Cameron House, park and walk 3 minutes to the main reception. Col then says we've parked in the wrong car park and should move the cars to the one the guys will be using. Fail 10
We walk back, move the cars, and return to the main entrance and find a bar. The going rate is £2.50 for a small bottle of diet coke. Fail 11
However, we are warm and comfortable and our surroundings are pleasant. Col is horsing about on his iphone and the time is approximately 1:30pm. I ask when the guys get here and Col replies, "3:30". We immediately realise that waiting around at £2.50 a pop for cokes for 2 hours isn't happening. Fail 12
We leave to get fuel and Col says I can drive the RX back. Win 2
After a roundabout or two I give it the beans in 2nd and cream myself at the acceleration. Win 3
I tell Col I am unsure where to go and he informs me to go straight until he says otherwise. I'm in the outside lane of a dual carriageway a few minutes later and Ali is behind me. I see a sign for the Erskine Bridge and, having driven this road before, I'm fairly sure we should take it. I ask Col if we should be turning off, he hesitates before saying "yes!" I'm literally on the junction, but I check my mirrors and dive for it while trying to indicate to Ali. In my haste I forget I'm in a jap car and whack the wipers on full. Fail 13
I cut up a Fiesta. Fail 14
Bing can't make it and drives onwards. Nick is glaring out the passenger seat, clearly furious. Fail 15
Col says there is no way they are catching up and to just motor on home.
We finally get home and have a KFC. Win 4
As I see it, that is 15:4 against, all in all pretty terrible....but a massively entertaining day somehow
Also got two pics of the RX7 that I'm really pleased with
Edited by Splats on Tuesday 23 November 15:47
Edited by Splats on Tuesday 23 November 18:27
LOl
Well that was a badly planned day! Makes KMM and my navigating skills seem less concerning!
Was a nice day and i had a few wrong turns but nothing by comparison!
Main thing I did right was drop my mate off in Kames but after seeing some more lovely views. Left an hour after the rest so had an empty road all the way from kames to Arrocher. Still got a bit of a cold though as had roof off all day and not used to driving like that nowadays.
Paul
xx
Well that was a badly planned day! Makes KMM and my navigating skills seem less concerning!
Was a nice day and i had a few wrong turns but nothing by comparison!
Main thing I did right was drop my mate off in Kames but after seeing some more lovely views. Left an hour after the rest so had an empty road all the way from kames to Arrocher. Still got a bit of a cold though as had roof off all day and not used to driving like that nowadays.
Paul
xx
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