Originally Posted by +8Rich
George, as per Graham but never as a round trip in a oner that really is a fabulous run out.


Thanks for taking the time to respond to my trip out in the Mog, that you have driven over the same routes may have made the various locations mentioned slightly more interesting for you both as opposed to anyone (if any) just looking at a map.... For whatever reason I still could not post a pic from yesterdays run on the TM site... Suspect the problem is at my end...As I tried to post a random older pic from the same source and the site loaded that....My selective Luddite tendencies ever re-energised, by such issues... (-:

Given my usual runs are generally timed to provide a reasonable degree of traffic free Tarmac and that the rough plan as ever was to drive a circular route, all be it the Oban run involving more miles than my usual average length routes, then the "time" factor would involved some degree of rush hour later in the trip, as I would be arriving back at base circa 17:30 at the conclusion of an 8 hour drive, with a couple of stops to water the plants in out of the way places..(-:

At the outset the sky was looking kinda cloudy and grey, by the time I was underway the morning rush hour had passed and the first main stretch of Tarmac I would hit was the A 82 up the side of Loch Lomond being a main transport artery and also a tourist route, hopes were not high, but I was pleasantly surprised to find myself not staring at the rear end of some view blocking bus or artic, and traffic was in general maintaining reasonable pace, circa 50-60mph... Climbing The Rest & Be Thankful I was beginning to feel a tad chilled, so decided to stop in at the car park at the top of the road and put on my jacket, as you might expect at this time of year the car park is ever loaded with tourists grabbing their pic of that iconic view, of course the Morgan encouraged a couple of folks to grab pics and chat, which was nice...One mentioned the old road at the R&BT being used in the past as a training ground when hill climbs were held there, for the likes of Jim Clark and others, though it is occasionally still made use of by clubs and events such as those organised by the Hero organisation as part of their routing during their events. I have grabbed a pic or two at those events in past time, but other than that the old road is closed as it is privately owned... Though you can walk up it, as we Scots have a right to roam in our country, when doing so responsibly, which I have done in times past on the old road..

All the way up to Oban was pretty well traffic free to the extent I required to make few overtakes to free up an open view along the bonnet, and if the road is well known, you can plan ahead as to pick the spot to make the old thing roar a bit... (-: On the trip from Oban over to Callander the traffic was beginning to build as it was just the time of day when trades folk would be ending their day`s work and hitting the road, that section of my routing is the one more favoured by heavies and tourists too, and as such somewhat more monitored, thus overtakes require to be well considered and for most of the time perhaps best to settle down and go with the flow which is usually circa 50 mph or so, thus no big deal unless you come up against the rear end of a bus or truck, then again knowing the road you can pic your spot to pass well clear...

Got to say it does seem that cyclists put themselves at considerable risk on such arterial routes, but then I guess all sports carry some degree of personal risk to benefit analysis..?

Over the whole run I did see not much more than a couple of minutes of precipitation, fortunately only light drizzle, I ever run without side-screens.

All in all a great run out in the old Mog and arrived home with a half tank of fuel, much the same level as it was before I filled it to the brim at the start of the run...Was it worth £54.... It was worth a lot more to me, and feeling very fortunate to be able to enjoy such privileges... (-:

For sure, it does seem best to enjoy that which we can and while we can if like me you seem to be getting older at an accelerating rate...when one of your main passtimes and enjoyment in life has been covering a few miles in some sort of ICE propelled vehicle, as it seems there are forces building against restrictions of such ability re emissions and the age of the drivers.... Rightly or wrongly...it will be that which it will, thus perhaps worth repeating....enjoy while you can..? (-: