Four in a week !!

[onthecut]

Been out pottering around the northern reaches and seen no less than FOUR in a week !!!! Sunday last --- Green estate heading towards Windermere, from Kendal direction, early afternoon. Barely an hour later at Windermere or a bit further along, a blue estate parked nose in at some lakeside establishment.
Monday last near Inverary (I think), late afternoon, heading toward Glasgow, a black hatch of the N ---YBL set, then yesterday, a green hatch -- another N---YBL near jnc. A82 / A83, bottom end of Loch Lomond. (If you're on here, I was in the campervan that flashed, and gave you a wave, in case you wondered).

Also two C6 -- one European, one native.

Mike.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Mike

I don't see that many down here in a year! and I didn't think there were that many YBLs still in captivity, the estates are certainly very rare. Unfortunatly my black hatch isn't one of the set, its an HRT, car for the wife?

Peter

[onthecut]

Hi Peter.

Knowing your liking for the place, I did wonder if any of them might have been you ---- but obviously not ! Went right up to the top and round --- stunning scenery and no traffic as we would recognise it. Have to say though -- couldn't live there; just too much travelling to get even the basics, far less anything specialist. Anyway, back to reality now -- got to fix the duff pump on the estate.

Mike.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Mike

We go a bit further north than that, like about 400 miles.

Peter

[onthecut]

Hi Mike

We go a bit further north than that, like about 400 miles.

Peter

I think if you went much further north than we did (Durness) you might have needed the amphibious version of the XM !

MIke.

[Peter.N.]

Sorry, didn't read your post properly

You can get a little bit further north - Dunett Head. I didn't realise you had been on the 'Grand Tour' I love it up there, only place in this country you can drive for an hour without seeing another car. Presumably you did Tounge and Bettyhill - we will be up that way again in October. In 07 twas 20C Oct 08 snow!

Peter

[onthecut]

Hi Peter.

Previous time we were up there was an early Easter and we had snow then, too. We went right up the west coast and round the top, turning down at Thurso. Oban was absolutely alive and the only town I've been to lately with almost no empty shops and desparate sales. If you like fish and chips and you're on Skye, try the harbourside chippy at Portree -- stunning.
One spot I particularly wanted to re-visit was the run round through Applecross. For my money the most superb scenic road in Britain.

Mike.

[Peter.N.]

Hi Mike

We stayed in a cottage in Bilbster, between Wick and Thurso, once or twice a year for 17 years, used to cut the grass and everything, we have now moved a little further south to Rogart, near Lairg. We havn't been to the west coast for several years as we have had the family with us and we have our favorite places and its very nice at the cottage we stay in now.

Not been to Sky yet, after they made the bridge free, we said we would , if we do go I try the chippie.

Applecross is a lovely area, did you notice the telephone poles in the region? bleached white and still with most of the wires on, something must have preserved them, possibly low humidity. Our favorite ride is the Lairg to Tongue road, 40 miles of forests, lochs and mountains, and I think we past four cars the last trip. There is one villiage on it, 'Althahara' which has a petrol and diesel pump by the road, with a notice 'For fuel, ring bell at Hotel'

Sorry, I'm getting carried away......

Peter

[bitonthesidexm]

And we shall be up there in 2 weeks time eventually ending up in Sanday in the Orkney Isles - Julie's sister lives there. I hope it stops raining though - we are going on the sidecar!

[Peter.N.]

Very nice, hope you have a good time. Sidecar - now that takes me back.

Have you seen the new Tesco's just outside Wick, near where the Caithness glass used to be.

Peter