146 to the Hebrides Options

[dante giacosa]

and now, a quick thread on my recent adventure in the CF2, to Barra in the Outer Hebrides.

A few quick notes; this is not 'really' a dedicated car-thread, nor is it really a travel-thread; it’s an adventure in the car, largely enjoyed because of the car, in a landscape.

I am not a photographer, as I'm sure will be revealed. I have however tried to reduce the number of pictures necessary to get the feel of the whole thing; and I can't get it below 54!

so, er, 'it is what it is' as a friend of mine used to say.

hopefully the pictures will go up in order; but the broad synopsis is; Edinburgh to Oban on the M9 (past The Kelpies- horse sculpture), then the A85 (what a road- no apologies made for the number of images of this route), the ferry from Oban to Castlebay on Barra, various adventures on Barra & Vatersay, the boat back, and then the drive South on the A85 / M9 again, with a brief diversion to the Falls of Dochart at Killin.
Occasionally there are some gauge shots, deliberately to show running temperatures relative to conditions (it was a hot trip!).
In some pictures, the camera has pulled focus on the interior of the car, rather than the exterior, but i have chosen to include them anyway.

here we go

This post has been edited by dante giacosa: 9th July 2018 13:32

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[dante giacosa]

an evening drive round the island

daytime adventures...

heading home, and the A85 South...



better view of the Kelpies going South, and nominal running temperatures- given the heat!

This post has been edited by dante giacosa: 5th July 2018 08:40

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[dante giacosa]

alright-

that was 39 shots after all.

(The final attempt at uploading has jumbled up somewhat, so that it cuts from the rear of the St Mary Star-of-the-Sea statue, overlooking Castlebay, to the A85 going South again.

That is a mistake- it's supposed to have the 2nd-final shot at that point, which is rolling onto the ferry again behind the blue Honda...)


quite a lovely trip actually- the was the perfect size to fit into those passing-places, and although I was cursing myself for still not having allocated funds to fixing the A/C, the recent replacement of the inboard A/R bar bushes & aux-belt tensioner pulley meant the steering continued to entertain, and the engine run sweet, for the whole jaunt.
The car used no oil at all, and got out and back on one tank of fuel at 368 miles.

I saw only one other Alfa on the island; a red MITO down on Vatersay (which is essentially a distinct island to the South of Barra now linked by a causeway)

and, 'where is Barra, ANYWAY?' I hear you ask...





This post has been edited by dante giacosa: 5th July 2018 09:06

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[VROOM]

Brilliant photos. I'd love to go around there. ideally in a motorhome one day. Incidentally, my giulietta spent it's first 3 years living along the coast by Ullapool with its first owner and clocking up 88k around the highlands it seems.

[dante giacosa]

Thanks VROOM!

That's interesting about the Giulietta- if only-they-could-talk, eh?!

[aero_mati]

That looks like a really nice place!

I also like the photos . The one with the telephone booth is probably my favourite along with the closeups of the grass, sand and roots(? (the white things lol)

[dante giacosa]

thanks aero!

yeah- the phone booth shot is my favourite, although I had to ruthlessly crop all that stuff to get it within the 2MB upload limit.

It's got good light in it, and the shadow really brings out a dark tone in the car's paintwork.

Plus there's the metaphor of nobody 'needing' phonebooths any more, paralleled with the 'has-been' also. which is quite funny.


That white stuff is dried-out seaweed. there was tonnes of it on this black-rock beach to the North of the island...

[Ganz]

Great pics. I like the one with the photo booth too🤘

[dante giacosa]

thanks Ganz!

[Ganz]

I'm embarrassed to say I have not been to Scotland ever!! But I have Scottish heritage life-long friend who say I must. This will be my on my 2018 calendar

[dante giacosa]

That's exciting- we could do a meetup!