Aug 4th
Oh dear, hopes were dashed trying to get parked in Glenfinnan and walk to a viewing point to watch the famous Harry Potter Hogwarts train (Jacobite train) steaming over the long sweeping curved viaduct. We had left in plenty of time too but trying to go into the car park the parking attendant crossed his arms in an obvious NO gesture. What peeved us off was he still allowed cars to go in! Some choice words were said to each other (not to him) and we were both very disappointed. The track could be seen as we drove away, and Ian mentioned trying to find somewhere to stop so at least we could say we had seen the loco.
Several miles later, we noticed Locheilside Station. This was the ScotRail line request stop, but the Jacobite train would pass through before the main line trains arrived. We stopped, a Dutch family turned up shortly after, we knew the train was due at the viaduct at roughly 10.45 am, we had arrived at 10 15!
10.42 a whistle was heard, and there it was, we blinked, and there it was gone! Was it worth the wait? Not really, it didn't make up for hoping to see the stunning view of it on the viaduct, but hey ho, at least we can say we saw it.
The weather again has been awful, not walking weather at all, we were still trying to dry coats from yesterday! So as we were so close to the island of Mull it was decided to take the ferry from Lochaline to Fishnish. OMG...what is it with the Sat Nav! Ian was convinced there was an easier route but no, it took us along this single track road with the occasional passing place, reminiscent of some of NZ roads (in fact much worse) for about 25 miles. It was nerve racking, especially when a small wall was the only thing to stop us from going over the edge and the width of the road was such that scrapping the wing mirrors on the jutting rocks an extreme possibility. God, I hoped we wouldn't meet anything! There was even grass growing along the centre of the road, and the surface was more ruts than smooth tarmac.
Some cars were met, a reverse necessary to a passing place and offside rear wheel spin as Ian tried to get MB off the mud.
Finally, we made it to Lochaline and we joined a long queue of cars. It was hoped we would get onto the awaiting ferry, even the chap selling tickets thought we would get on. It was not to be as just as we thought we would make it yet another crossed arms gesture depicting a NO. Never mind, only 45 minutes to wait and we would definitely be on that one.
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| Not sure what those jets were all about. |
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| Mull. |
With the rain and wind now intensifying, Ian phoned a site in Salen to see if they had availability. We got lucky, one hard standing pitch left. The cost was £24 and for another £8 could have electric. We declined the electric!
Tomorrow we go exploring, although according to the owner of the site, the bad weather is set to continue for the next few days. Oh, joy of joy!
2 comments:
You two are intrepid!
Was Ian trying to best the GPS by choosing the goat track? That was far worse than any NZ road that I have travelled - even the road up to Waiuta is better than that although definitely one way in places - also with steep drop offs...
Mxx
Ah, but Marilyn, Ian took the Toy down some narrow roads in NZ that no motorhomer would ever attempt. And the road we took was one of two ways to get to the ferry. It was all our Sat Nav fault anyway, as she took us down the wrong one!
Mind you, I do think Ian is a bit mad going along those impossible roads in a large motorhome. He did it again a day later but we wanted to see waterfalls, and it was the only way to get there.
Xxx
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