Apology

Friday
I apologise to all my readers for the lack of a posting for a week now. This has been due to the fact that I have not been able to access internet and my own machine has lost a necessary lead. I will be returning home this weekend and will file a full catch up on Monday – all being well!
In the meantime I am pleased to let you know that we finished Ok and better than that, that we also received a trophy – more details in the next blog!!

Through the Black North into Eire

Thursday 3rd May
Beautiful weather has now become the norm and we set off into lovely countryside which took us to the rugged coastline of Co. Antrim and on to the Giant’s Causeway – a magnificent sight. The navigation was fairly demanding and at the end of the day we lost ourselves in the countrtyside for an hour and a half whilst we quarrelled and tried to unravel the mysteries of the road book! All credit to Jim, we eventually emerged on the correct road and arrived at our hotel tired but happy – well tired anyway. I missed out on dinner and went straight to bed grabbing over twelve hours much needed and, I would like to think, well deserved kip. Jim received the good news at dinner that we had incurred no penalty points – excellent! He was so pleased that he remained in the bar till the wee sma hours amusing the other competitors, or so he thought, with his company. The good news – one of our lady competitors raised e50 by dipslaying her bosoms and donated the money to our Macmillan can (cans for cans I guess!) the bad news is that Jim was a little slow to get started on the new day.

Friday 4th May
Another splendid sunny day to get us going through Donegal and down to Co Mayo traversing both the Dartry and Ox Mountains and running alongside variouis loughs including Lough Corrib. The afternoon involved a rally techniwque called “regularity” for which we were not ideally equipped and at which we did not appear to excel – all very interesting however and a grand way to keep our speed down,so we could see the scenery. At one point, we had an epic short thrash with an entrant in a Porsche 2.7 Carrera and I could have played that game all day. We stopped for an afternoon halt at a very attractive old castle “Ashford Castle” which is now a luxury hotel and for the last section of the day I swopped navigators. Jim moving across to a Citroen 2CV and me taking on board Annabelle who fancied a change of pace from her driver Sarah, which, judging by her rather quiet demeanour was perhaps a little faster than she is used to! They are having a great rally but a bit slower than everybody else- though they do attract lots of attention particluarly from little kids who love their “noddy car”. Their bravery in campaigning this car is not to be underestimated. We pitched up at the Park Hotel Kiltimagh Co Mayo for tonight and crowned the evening with a charity auction. Both Jim and myself were led astray by the occasion and have made purchases. Both secrets, which will sadly not be revealed here.
Thanks to the fantastic staff here for letting me have machine access – which has been great. Tomorrow we are off to Galway and Killarney. The word is that the weather will not be as good – this will be a pity for the many open top cars which have not raised thier hoods since we left Wick nearly a week ago. I hope to upload more photos tomorrow subject to good web access.

Down Scotland and over to Ulster

End of Tuesday
The day just got better after my last blog. Firstly a group of cyclists doing the John o Groats Lands End thing gave us a donation before we left Dalwhinnie. Our stop took us about an hour and a half by which time we were in danger of going over time so it was a great opportunity to give it some stick on some really good Perthshire roads as we hammered South.
As we got close to Arrochar we were lucky not to be nabbed by a speed cop with a radar gun (One of our group in an Aston Martin was sadly not so lucky)
Then on to the famous “Rest and be Thankful” hillclimb course for a single run.
I was delighted to manage 4th place overall being beaten by a Porsche 2.7 Carrera, an MGC and a 3.5 Rover engined MGB GT – all in the hands of serious competitors who don’t have terminal cancer! A wonderful experience to be treasured.
On to Gourock for the night’s stop.
Wednesday
Off in the fog to attack some great roads in Ayrshire with lots of testing navigation which Jim handled very professionally. As the morning went on the sun came out and gave us some fantastic views over the hills.
We finished this section in good time and meandered down to Portpatrick for a lunch beside the harbour – very pretty!
We then assembled at the ferry terminal with all the other cars for the crossing and had an official photograph taken before we left. I took the opportunity to don my green Macmillan wig and to hassle all the cars on the quay for donations – they were mainly Irish and very generous.
We then had a brief drive to our hotel in Antrim, The Comfort Hotel, where the staff were extremely helpful, friendly and welcoming – best yet by a mile which is how I am able to to this blog – Thanks to the girls behind reception – you are stars!
Some missed points I should catch up on
Thanks to my nephew Bruce and girlfriend Ailsa for their donations as we passed through Invergordon.
Thanks to Chris at GCR – this car is going really well and is keeping up with the best of the pack – it is a joy to drive.
Sory about lack of photos i will try to get some more internet access to load them asap.
Enjoying this event so much – the atmosphere is wonderful and the organisation is excellent!

The Start at Cape WrathThe lighthouse at Stoer pointHungry Cars at Gourock waiting to be fed!

Away at Last!

Sunday
After collecting another tranche of sponsorship (thanks to Ken Ironside and family and my brother Jim’s family) we set out early doors for Wick. It was a beautiful day and we took the scenic route over the Cairngorms with Jim driving and me biting my nails! Seriously it was fine and a good rest for me.
Arrived late afternoon and signed on. Some wonderful machines taking part and everybody was really friendly and cheery and welcoming.
Phoned wife Jeanne to learn that Lindsay Sands had donated £200 and Graham Henson had also made a contribution – thanks to both brilliant! We submitted a total of £2700 and it is still climbing.
Monday
Set out early from Wick to Cape Wrath to the start where everybody was crammed into a tiny car park. Glorious weather and wonderful roads all day. Stopped in Inverness after meeting my other brother Bob and his wife Angela who with their freinds Tom and Evelyn stuffed money into our can. At Dinner in the evening we received a fine of £2 for failing to respond to an instruction correctly – I hadn’t anticipated navigator error so soon!
Tuesday
Set out from Inverness on another brilliant day (Scotland was never like this when I lived here – long live gobal warming!). First section of the day was just fantastic with tight twisty almost off road sections which tested both driver and car and elicited broad grins all round. Posting this blog at Dalwhinnie half way through the day thanks to the Inn Dalwhinnie and Mike a very helpful antipodean who is about to cycle round Europe – I might go with him!
More as soon as i can get connected again.