Go west.... Well I went as far west as is possible to go on the UK Mainland today.
Thankfully, the weather cleared a bit today.
This is taken from Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. This is the furthest west you can go on the UK Mainland.
The Mountains with their own weather system are the Cullins that are on the Isle of Skye, some 30+ miles away.
The views to the Island of Coll to the south were just as stunning. Common and Arctic Terns and the odd Gannet and a few hindred Puffins were around.
Earlier, this was spotted sailing up the channel between the Ardnamurchan Peninsular and the Isle of Mull. It was heading for Oban. I'd seen it on Sunday moored near the Talisker Disillery on Skye.
100 miles of riding on 'Single Track Roads with Passing Places' is really tiring. You can't relax for a second.
I went to the lovely town of Tobrmorey on Mull. Sadly a Cruise Ship was in town. I didn't stay long. I took the ferry back to the Mainland
Samantha
Comments
Wow! Beautiful. It would be
Wow! Beautiful. It would be fun to hitch a ride on that schooner, weather cooperating, of course.
Kris
{I leave a trail of Kudos as I browse the site. Be careful where you step!}
Loved it
Went there in '72 and it was just as good.
Only thing was, 30 miles to the nearest petrol pump... In an Austin A40, we had to be very careful about fuel consumption!
Penny
Austin A40
Wow, that brings back memories. In 1954 my father bought a used 1952 Austin A40 Sports (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_A40_Sports) which we kept until 1960. It is one of the two cars of my childhood, and the only example of the type I have ever actually seen.
first
family car I can remember was our black A40 Somerset - never went to haggisland with it but it did brave the North Sea to Denmark a couple of times and it (and us of course) starred on the DFDS brochures for several years - me stood looking out of the sun roof as we drove off the MV Winston Churchill in Esbjerg!
What a car, never broke down and built like a tank!
Madeline Anafrid Bell
Actually, Horace Greely had a
Actually, Horace Greely had a lisp. What he really said was:
"You look weally tired. Go west, young man, go west."
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
Lots for the eye
in that part of the world. Friends and I motorcycled up to Skye in 83, camped wild and walked up the Old Man of Storr. At least the altitude cleared the midges. I know what you mean about the little roads, you didn't mention the sheep though. I had a ride out on Dave's Ducati, glanced down at the speedo and was in shock for a few seconds until I realised it was marked in km/h..
Teri Ann
"Reach for the sun."
Thank you for the geographical insight
For years I have believed that Land's end was the westernmost point on the British mainland. As it turns out it's the westernmost point in England. Well, it's all a matter of degrees (less than one in this case).
The problem with going west is that eventually you come back to where you started. Also, Phileas Fogg was lucky he didn't go west. He'd have been really disappointed.
for those trying
to find it on a map, the hills are the Cuillins - Sam missed an I out!
Now about that weather.....
Madeline Anafrid Bell
The Point
I remember riding out there on a Suzuki GS550 several decades ago, and those little roads go on and on and on. The trip back via Lochailort was enlivened by the presence of a steam-hauled train returning from Mallaig to Fort Bill, and the lunatics trying to get ahead of it to snap the best shots, or at least more pictures. Picture a blind bend with a car hurtling around it, that car being overtaken by another, and both being overtaken (god knows how given the road's width) by a two-up motorcycle.
I was really, really glad I was going the same way as the train. In the end I found a parking spot and just let everyone go past.
Still being done today
But... even though the road surface is effing fantastic (now spend some money on our roads please) there are just far too many Campers and Caravans going no faster than 40mph but often 35 max. So you have a few miles of nice clear road and then wham you hit a queue of 20+ slow moving vehicles.
Glenfinnan is a nighmare. At 09:20 yesterday, the visitor centre car park was full and there were 6 coaches already parked up by the side of the road.
I shall be glad to get back onto Ardnamirchan and the 10:15 ferry to Tobemory. Weather still very iffy.
Samantha
Go West
1.) Most historians agree it's doubtful Horace Greeley ever said, "Go West, Young Man, Go West."
2.) Those two words together, Go West, stir images of "Manifest Destiny" which wasn't one of our country's finest hours. Many, such as Lincoln opposed a system of conquest. But. . .as they say, "Follow the Money." Horace Greeley probably did say that.
3.) I'm unclear due to recent geography lessons taught by our leader, is this UK you speak of part of England?
4.) The ship is enchanting, sparkling with stories of Olde, but the seascape is gorgeous.
Jill
Angela Rasch (Jill M I)
Not part of England
UK means United Kingdon ot Great Britain (England, Scotland and Wales) and Northern Ireland.
Where I was is part of Scotland. mind you, most of the locals hate the Scottish Political system as much if not more than the Westminster one.
Scotland is basically two parts politically. 1) the Glasgow-Edinburgh area (Central Belt) and 2) the rest (Lowlands, Highlands and Islands, Orkney and Shetland and finally, the North East.
Policies designed for the East End of Glasgow or Edinburgh really don't work on say, the island of Mull.
I was out on the very west of Mull yesterday.
30+ miles of single track roads in each direction!
The big city seems so far away.
Now back in England, to the east of the town of Penrith.
Samantha
Almost the definition of
Almost the definition of politics is 'one size fits all' solutions that fit nobody.
I'll get a life when it's proven and substantiated to be better than what I'm currently experiencing.
East of Penrith
Hartside?
No , Edenhall
And Penrith was a no-go area due to the traffic.
Anyway, I'm back home now. 2365 miles at 66.3mpg and a big pile of washing Uck!
Samantha