Highlands

[snowandrocks]

GetCarter said:

This. Or get of first.

I once got off the ferry on Mull in second position behind an artic and wondered how long I'd be stuck behind it. He then took off at such a rate that I had to really concentrate to keep up. He was obviously helped by sitting so high up but was absolutely flying - definitely well above the limiter too on some of the downhill stretches!

[Fishlegs]

Ha, so true. I've joked before that if you want to learn the correct pace for the NC500, just wait for a DPD van to come along, then try to keep up!

[Blown2CV]

GetCarter said:

snowandrocks said:

If you're not in any great hurry it's worth stopping for a bit once you get off a ferry and allowing the ferry traffic to clear. Can make the difference between following a convoy of tourists that have come off the boat and having a completely empty road.

This. Or get of first.

it's impossible to do though isn't it? They put you into rows on purpose to try and mix up the order so you can't game the system in order to be at the front or the back.

[GetCarter]

Blown2CV said:

GetCarter said:

snowandrocks said:

If you're not in any great hurry it's worth stopping for a bit once you get off a ferry and allowing the ferry traffic to clear. Can make the difference between following a convoy of tourists that have come off the boat and having a completely empty road.

This. Or get of first.

it's impossible to do though isn't it? They put you into rows on purpose to try and mix up the order so you can't game the system in order to be at the front or the back.

I usually manage it. Two reasons. Turn up first and be at the front of row one. Secondly, spend a few minutes talking to the chap who sends you onto the ferry. He'll be your best friend (as it's a bit of a soulless job) and send you on first.

First on, first off.

Number plates also help .. a lot.

ETA I have to add here that one of my number plates prompted the ferry master to comment that he had an American turn up on the Mull > Iona Ferry asking when the 'Ten NA' ferry would be leaving.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 14th June 17:50

[Driveline Shunt]

If ever a picture spoke a thousand words.

Thankfully no motor home photo bombing in the background too..

[Red Devil]

Fishlegs said:

Ha, so true. I've joked before that if you want to learn the correct pace for the NC500, just wait for a DPD van to come along, then try to keep up!

Or the local builder/plumber/electrician/postie.

One year I was 'Tail End Charlie' of a well spaced group of 8 cars running at the NSL. I noticed a small van in my rear view mirror gaining rapidly.
Next moment he blew past me like I was standing still. Just had time to clock the writing on the rear doors. An electrician from Skye.
Took all of us in one go and just got past the lead car before the bend! - https://goo.gl/maps/EVkSe5kDZApd1SGP8

[Blown2CV]

GetCarter said:

Blown2CV said:

GetCarter said:

snowandrocks said:

If you're not in any great hurry it's worth stopping for a bit once you get off a ferry and allowing the ferry traffic to clear. Can make the difference between following a convoy of tourists that have come off the boat and having a completely empty road.

This. Or get of first.

it's impossible to do though isn't it? They put you into rows on purpose to try and mix up the order so you can't game the system in order to be at the front or the back.

I usually manage it. Two reasons. Turn up first and be at the front of row one. Secondly, spend a few minutes talking to the chap who sends you onto the ferry. He'll be your best friend (as it's a bit of a soulless job) and send you on first.

First on, first off.

Number plates also help .. a lot.

ETA I have to add here that one of my number plates prompted the ferry master to comment that he had an American turn up on the Mull > Iona Ferry asking when the 'Ten NA' ferry would be leaving.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 14th June 17:50

Sure. I mean how many hours in advance do you have to turn up to be first I've been there at least 30 mins before final checkin and been like the 10th vehicle. It's hard to beat the oldies as they always seem to arrive way ahead of reasonable expectations!! That said, getting to the front of the ship means you don't have a million people squeezing past your car, which is very valuable to me!! I always seem to end up parked in the middle pinch point mind.

[stogbandard]

Blown2CV said:

GetCarter said:

Blown2CV said:

GetCarter said:

snowandrocks said:

If you're not in any great hurry it's worth stopping for a bit once you get off a ferry and allowing the ferry traffic to clear. Can make the difference between following a convoy of tourists that have come off the boat and having a completely empty road.

This. Or get of first.

it's impossible to do though isn't it? They put you into rows on purpose to try and mix up the order so you can't game the system in order to be at the front or the back.

I usually manage it. Two reasons. Turn up first and be at the front of row one. Secondly, spend a few minutes talking to the chap who sends you onto the ferry. He'll be your best friend (as it's a bit of a soulless job) and send you on first.

First on, first off.

Number plates also help .. a lot.

ETA I have to add here that one of my number plates prompted the ferry master to comment that he had an American turn up on the Mull > Iona Ferry asking when the 'Ten NA' ferry would be leaving.

Edited by GetCarter on Monday 14th June 17:50

Sure. I mean how many hours in advance do you have to turn up to be first I've been there at least 30 mins before final checkin and been like the 10th vehicle. It's hard to beat the oldies as they always seem to arrive way ahead of reasonable expectations!! That said, getting to the front of the ship means you don't have a million people squeezing past your car, which is very valuable to me!! I always seem to end up parked in the middle pinch point mind.

I dread ferries as you’re squeezed in watching people getting in and out of cars next to you and squeezing past with bags with metal claps etc. I’ve had to polish off, luckily, fine marring in the past on the paint after a ferry trip.

[CABC]

Blown2CV said:

That said, getting to the front of the ship means you don't have a million people squeezing past your car, which is very valuable to me!!

difficult to guarantee. I've recently been on Stena to Ireland and Condor to Jersey and both had you circle round on the car deck so that the "front" was actually pointing opposite to the ramp. on exit, those front cars were still first but then circulated again to exit. end result was that first cars had all the foot traffic wobble past their cars.

[Red Devil]

stogbandard said:

I dread ferries as you’re squeezed in watching people getting in and out of cars next to you and squeezing past with bags with metal claps etc. I’ve had to polish off, luckily, fine marring in the past on the paint after a ferry trip.

Not on this one. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfG-X_kCI8M

https://www.whfp.com/2021/04/11/glenelg-ferry-back...

[monkfish1]

Red Devil said:

stogbandard said:

I dread ferries as you’re squeezed in watching people getting in and out of cars next to you and squeezing past with bags with metal claps etc. I’ve had to polish off, luckily, fine marring in the past on the paint after a ferry trip.

Not on this one. - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfG-X_kCI8M

https://www.whfp.com/2021/04/11/glenelg-ferry-back...

Done that twice. The road on the mainland side is simply fantastic. And, invariably, deserted.

The road on the island, not so much. Road surface bears a passing resemblance to trhe moon.

[Red Devil]

You just need the appropriate vehicle for the task.

[monkfish1]

monkfish1 said:

Done that twice. The road on the mainland side is simply fantastic. And, invariably, deserted.

The road on the island, not so much. Road surface bears a passing resemblance to trhe moon.

On thw way back from the glenelg ferry.

[jock mcsporran]

I'll finally be back up this weekend for a wee run to see some family. Staying in Inverness for a few nights and just doing a couple of day trip loops out.

How's the roads? Probably head out for lunch at Applecross one day and promised a friend we'd go do the zip line at Durness the other day.
Looking forward to it after being stuck abroad under restrictions for much of the last year or so.

[GetCarter]

jock mcsporran said:

I'll finally be back up this weekend for a wee run to see some family. Staying in Inverness for a few nights and just doing a couple of day trip loops out.

How's the roads? Probably head out for lunch at Applecross one day and promised a friend we'd go do the zip line at Durness the other day.
Looking forward to it after being stuck abroad under restrictions for much of the last year or so.

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

[s70rmp]

GetCarter said:

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

Why aren't cyclists forced to have insurance when on the road ?

[jock mcsporran]

GetCarter said:

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

Cheers, expected the Inn to be heaving but the fish and chips is fine. I’ll just have to get my scallops fix elsewhere

I expect the cyclists don’t like stopping to let people past then. There was an article in the Sunday Times and most of the comments seemed to be about cyclists and campers not letting people past on the singletrack.

[GetCarter]

jock mcsporran said:

GetCarter said:

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

Cheers, expected the Inn to be heaving but the fish and chips is fine. I’ll just have to get my scallops fix elsewhere

I expect the cyclists don’t like stopping to let people past then. There was an article in the Sunday Times and most of the comments seemed to be about cyclists and campers not letting people past on the singletrack.

Exactly that. three abreast on a single track with half a dozen cars behind and they don't pull in at a passing place. I just don't get it. They've all turned up in cars so it can't be a car hate thing.

[mikey k]

GetCarter said:

jock mcsporran said:

I'll finally be back up this weekend for a wee run to see some family. Staying in Inverness for a few nights and just doing a couple of day trip loops out.

How's the roads? Probably head out for lunch at Applecross one day and promised a friend we'd go do the zip line at Durness the other day.
Looking forward to it after being stuck abroad under restrictions for much of the last year or so.

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

I prefer the Cafe at Tornapress to eat.
I find the Inn over priced and too busy.
Never forget watching a mouse run behind the wifes feet as she sat at an inside table eating fish and chips
Kept quiet as I didn't want to be wearing her lunch!

[GetCarter]

mikey k said:

GetCarter said:

jock mcsporran said:

I'll finally be back up this weekend for a wee run to see some family. Staying in Inverness for a few nights and just doing a couple of day trip loops out.

How's the roads? Probably head out for lunch at Applecross one day and promised a friend we'd go do the zip line at Durness the other day.
Looking forward to it after being stuck abroad under restrictions for much of the last year or so.

The Inn at Applecross is heaving... though they do have the outdoor fish and chip van.

Roads are reasonably busy. Talking to our postie yesterday he said, 'I don't mind the motorhomes it's the cyclists that piss me off'.

I prefer the Cafe at Tornapress to eat.

Sharon's closing at the weekends this year (at Tornapress), as is the cafe in Shieldaig. Torridon open on Saturdays.

Edited by GetCarter on Thursday 17th June 14:01