June 20, 20232 yr Author Wednesday 14th marked the beginning of my last week. Seven days available if needed, but a preference for at least two complete rest days before work, so ideally home in four or five. No rush, but 40 to 50 miles a day needed. I was leaning towards a really short day, just back to Ullapool via the southern part of the mad little road and a night in the main campsite. The next known good campsite is a long, long way beyond, and I didn't really want such a long day. Ullapool also allows for comprehensive restocking of supplies, and the best chance of resolving any bike issues. As it turned out, events defined the day, and short fitted well! From quite early on, bunches of old, noisy, Dutch registered cars started coming on the opposite direction, most with three or four youthful occupants and advanced air horns and sound systems. And then there was a lengthy quiet gap, until in the twistiest, narrowest section of the mad little road there was a logjam in both directions! A classic VW camper in green from 1998 had tripped over a boulder just off the edge of the tarmac trying to conjure a passing place out of nothing and become stuck. Some of the Dutch crews had recovery gear and managed to drag the poor thing to a passing place, by which time there were several broken suspension joints, a mangled wheel and tyre and metalwork damage inside and outside the wheel arch. It then became possible to shuffle cars past each other until a friendly helpful couple in a hired VW, the broken one and I were left to drink tea, offer moral support and check we all had no phone signal on all our networks. I carried on to the Stac Pollaidh carpark for lunch, where the mishapped and the helpful pairs also turned up, with the all too common news these days of a standoff between recovery company saying it wasn't a breakdown and insurers saying it wasn't an accident, so neither stepping up to help their customer in their time of need. I do hope the VW gets fixed, apart from the missing corner it was in lovely order, far too good to write off. One of the Dutch cars handed out stickers which identified their event as the Rust and Dust rally, a tour for cars and similar vehicles at least 20 years old. They are promised challenges along the way, which explains the equipment most had strapped to their roofs. More often needed for Africa than Scotland, but some of it got used! View from my campsite in Achmelvich. Another red tin roof. Calm views before the mayhem to come. Mayhem! Looking back towards Suilven, Stac Pollaidh and all between. More rust and dust participants. Stac Pollaidh, Cul Mor and Cul Beag from the main road. More threatening clouds that left me alone. Looking down into Ullapool. Sunset at Ullapool campsite. I was just early enough to get a beach site plot.
June 21, 20232 yr Should think not! Though having retired a very long time ago, I can beat it: 11,099 continuous days off so far. . I've heard it said that the trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off
June 21, 20232 yr I've heard it said that the trouble with retirement is that you never get a day off I made sure that wouldn't happen to me. Well over thirty years of doing only the very varied things I wanted to do, when I wanted to do them, steadfastly rejecting every attempt by others to get committments from me. My excuse for not committing to anything? I'm retired ! .
June 21, 20232 yr Author Time to add a spare folding tyre and tubes to the kit carried . At least two rather than one new tubes, and new unpatched tubes fitted at the start. The Scorpion already has marathon plus, and it's trailer will get the same.
June 22, 20232 yr Trouble is these days, when you retire you are then looking after frail elderly parents and also child minding the grand children so your kids can make ends meet.
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