BX Club Forum

mds141 wrote:Sorry Hilary. You're now on the list.

Was that 'Sorry, for not putting you on the list Hilary?' or 'Now you're on the list Hilary, you'll be sorry'?

Why don't we just do the route that Vanny posted? If we can't decide whether there should be more or less democracy, why don't we put it to the vote?

I'm just sorry. That is all.

The route that Vanny posted is more-or-less mine but skips Oban (which I have in there) because G-maps is stupid.

We've been talking about this for 18 pages since June last year. We're never going to be able to suit everyone so let's just flamin' do it.

I'm honestly not "married" to my route, but appear to be the only person who has posted something that detailed. So can we please just decide that we're going with it, more or less, with adaptations for hairy scary roads/alternatives/side trips to be worked in as we go along perhaps and on the start and end dates (Sat 22 Jun to Sat 29 Jun?)

Sorry to sound irritated - I need this nailed down now if I'm going to be able to come along. Thank you.

I'm in York for the 22nd / 23rd, but don't let that stop the rest of you if y'all want to start then - just gimme a meeting point to aim for and I'll get there!

I'm very keen to do it, regardless of the fine details of the route. Scotland, driving, camping, good company and plenty of wine are the attractions to me. The only thing that's stopping me committing 100% is the fact I'm also going away at the start of June, and I can't guarantee to be able to get the time off from work until we see what the workload is like. If it's quiet, there should be no problem; if it's busy I may have to just come for part of it (preferably the latter part!)

Caffiend wrote:
Sorry to sound irritated - I need this nailed down now if I'm going to be able to come along. Thank you.

That's settled then. We stay here and make sure you don't leave the room?

We'll use Vanny's map - have a detour to Oban (if it's nice) and Mark can go to the Applepie farmshop (or the Stars Wars toy shop or wherever) either on his own or with a responsible adult (there must be one in Scotland that's sober?).

There we are. How hard can it be? All those in favour say 'aye'.

Paul296 wrote:All those in favour say 'aye'.

What's wrong with: you've had 10 months to suggest stuff/complain and hardly anyone has, so this is what we're doing and when. Tell us if you're coming or not and for which bits.

Did I say that I've got a brand new job as an assertiveness trainer for Kim Jong Un?

Well work have said i can take the time unpaid if i want, so that's one hurdle overcome.

Sandre wrote:you've had 10 months to suggest stuff/complain and hardly anyone has

I didn't think anyone had complained? In fact there's only one person getting stressed, and i'm not sure why?
I didn't mean to offend by putting the map up, I was attempting to post the suggested route as a picture, not change the route. It's nice to have a list of places, but having barely been to Scotland, they mean nothing to me.

I'm looking to be led around Scotland by people who know the good places to go, and this seems to be the case!

Just need to get the bloody exhaust fixed before it kills me. Got the parts, but my jack is oop Narf

No offence taken Vanny, I actually tried a google maps on about p7 which also failed because the 'vias' are clunky to say the least! It's just seeming to me that everyone (apart from me, obviously) is being ever so nice and trying to get a consensus which will never happen. I feel slightly quoted out of context, the point I was trying to make is that it needs someone (who isn't me) to say that and make a decision on start and end points each day so those who can't come for the whole thing can find us, what happens in between is academic.

Personally i'm not trying to reach a consensus, because what will be will be! And its nothing to do with 'being ever so nice' i'm just going to go with the flow.

A few hard points would be helpful. Given how modern technology has advanced over the years, i imagine people can keep in touch if they need to.

As for quoting you out of context, i apologise, that is not the point i thought you where trying to make (or even close), i sit corrected.

My way through the channel is now booked so that I'm now obliged to go North : from now the only thing I'm afraid of are the mosquito bites
For the rest no doubts …!!!!!

Xemes - it's midges rather than mosquitos thankfully, and hopefully we'll be up there before they really get their teeth into action (they get worse from July onwards). I have no idea what's going on route-wise and with technology being what it is these days, I'm sure we can let folk know where we're heading once we actually decide. I'm not really one for convoy driving so as long as we fix the overnight stops on the morning, we might well zoom off and meet up with folk later in the day. That can be fun as you can all have different experiences to natter about of an evening.

Here's the route pretty much as Sandre planned it - looks like she did an excellent job. This route is reckoned by Google directions to be about 40 hours worth of driving total listing main roads only:

Sat 22nd Jun - late afternoon. Starting point is Gretna Green. Depart via A7, overnight somewhere around Hawick - 40 miles.

Sun 23rd Jun: From Hawick: A707/A72 to Selkirk and Peebles. Head up A703/701/702 to A720/A90 to skirt round Edinburgh, then up the M90 to Perth.
A93, Head north on the A939 from Crathie; overnight at Speybridge (Grantown on Spey). Total for the day: 200 miles, about 5 hours driving.

Mon 24th Jun: Free day – sight-seeing etc.

Tue 25th Jun: A9 to Inverness: switch to A99 for John O' Groats then A36 to Tongue; overnight here. Approx 215 miles, 5 hours driving.

Weds 26th Jun: A838/A894/A835 (Ullapool)/A832/A896/unclassified. Overnight at Applecross. Approx 210 miles, 5.5 hours

Thurs 27th Jun: Rejoin the A896 from Applecross, head south on the A890 to Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye.
Take the A87 to Portree, then A855 to Uig, and rejoin the A87 until junction with the A850. Take the A850 and loop round back to the A87. Overnight at Dornie. Total for today - about 190 miles, 5.5-6 hours.

Fri 28th Jun: A87, A887, Loch Ness, A82 (Glencoe ), A85 to Oban. A816 to Lochgilphead. Up the A83 (Inveraray) and rejoin the A82 at Loch Lomond, overnight here. 200-and odd miles, 5-6 hours depending on where on Loch Lomond people want to overnight.

Sat 29th Jun: Head home.

There's a map showing the route - which I'll post at some point along with a general itinerary with rendezvous points etc. Obviously the route isn't set in stone but it gives those that want to follow it something to stick to and something palpable to deviate from if the fancy takes you.

_________________

Cheers Paul.

Phil Chidlow has kindly amended the start/finish dates on the Ecosse Challenge artwork, so I will be contacting the sign writers/printers on Monday for some prices to have the plaques printed up. Is everybody ok with paying me upfront via PayPal/cheque?

Also Paul suggested a rear window sticker. Hands up if you'd like one of these doing as well.

Cheers.
Mark.