Hopefully so and if permitting the ok will post it up
I love Australia…so laid back!
To the MOT Testing Centre today - passed with flying colours!!!
Treated myself to a nice Ribeye to celebrate later… 
7 Likes
Thats a nice looking car. Hope you enjoyed the steak. 
1 Like
Day 5 and an early one as struggling for internet, so sat in the Cocoa Mountain in Durness, stealing WiFi 
We left our amazing pod home this morning at Ullapool and due to not carrying supplies headed for breakfast at The Bothy in Ullapool. Faced with a breakfast menu as this:
Yes, I had my first haggis for breakfast.
We headed out to Ardvreck Castle.
We then headed for Kylesku bridge
Found a decent sign to take a piccie
Short travel of 90 miles , very windy day and cold, but roof was stowed away.
9 Likes
Been there a couple of times (NC 500) all over really, that was back in 2017.
En route to the NC500…
10 Likes
Great to read of your travels, and to see your pics!
Loving these updates! I did the NC500 a few years ago on the motorbike and loved it but it was a lot quieter then. Not sure I’d want to do it now though. Enjoy!
If you are missing out visiting Thurso or Wick and you want a nice road to drive take the A897 from Melvich to Helmsdale - used to drive it often when I was living in Caithness long before the concept of a NC500! It’s a single track road with passing places (or was last time I drove it) and takes you away from the wagon trains of Camper vans determined to clog up the roads!!
Great photos
We had a wild start to the week with gales, thunderstorms and even a tornado in the next town up the line! By Wednesday the skies were clearing and Thursday was forecast to be fine so we made an early start and headed up country for a scenic drive. We had a two hour drive to get to our starting point, and as that involved motorway and main road driving so we opted to start with the hood up. Got to Mangaweka for morning coffee and then headed inland. Crossed the Rangitikei River and climbed into the hills to Peep-O-Day, so named as it is the first part of the district to see the sun - at least on sunny days. Then we descended on the eastern side of the hills and back to civilisation.
10 Likes
Open day/ car show and shine at a local powder coating business…expensive day, wheels booked in for a refurb.
Appreciate the fact the proprietor of the business took the time to explain every detail and more about their processes and the checks they do before and after.
Not your usual it’ll cost you £#### thank you.
2 Likes
Day 6 and we have travelled about 100 miles today from Durness to Dunnet Head.
We started the day at our fab pod home , which we had the best night’s sleep. The moon peering through the blind last night was amazing.
We headed back to the Cocoa Mountain, who weren’t open at 8:15 when we arrived, but still made us a brew while the croissants were cooking. It’s either that for breakfast of a rummage in a Spar shop.
We then headed to Balnakeil Cemetery. Nothing weird but very beautiful.
Then went to Smoo caves to see the infamous water fall. Due to drought, it was not falling.
We headed to Bettyhill. Sounds a funky place , which was full of heavy machinery building a new bridge, so not that exciting.
We then headed past DouneRay power station which blots the planet. Into Thurso for fuel except the Gulf one was shut and card access blocked off. We did fuel at some weird named station. Still doing 50mpg, so more than happy.
Then we went to Dunnet Head as early for our B&B . Was an amazing sight on a clear day.
So near to JOG now .
Oh and first car issue. The drivers window is squeaking and sometimes reluctant to drop when opening the door. Thinking about taking the fuse out but which one and where located please.
Oh and I do have some clips from the lady with the drone. Will sort out when home.
5 Likes
We have hardly seen anyone, but it’s been busier today with campers. But hasn’t hindered us one bit. With all the rubbish you read about the roads being jammed, we were apprehensive but neednt be as we could see for miles at times.
1 Like
The trouble with the campers/motorhomes are not so much the seasoned drivers but the hired ones. Also , tales of the contents of the toilets being emptied on the roadside have done nothing to help the cause of the vanning visitors…
The drive down from Wick to Dornoch is quite spectacular where it follows the coastline.
The drive on the old route south is great if you detour off the A9 at Clashmore onto the A949 to Bonar Bridge then take the A836 towards Tain but take the Struie Road (B9176 - keep an eye out for the turn on the right as you pass Ardchronie) - you then rejoin the A9 south at Alness. Much more enjoyable drive than the main road and couple of viewpoints on the way. Always took the Struie when driving home - pre-upgraded A9 times and used to stop at the little roadside cafe in Ardgay (the Lady Ross Cafe destroyed by fire in 2006) for a tea/pee break.
fill up from shell £1.38.9 for 1ltr 
shocking …cost me £40.00
1 Like
See you tomorrow, todays top up cost £58 
1 Like
£1.52 for ‘unknown’ super e5 in Thurso and we been drinking it in 1200 miles this week so far.
To B&Q 
nice excuse to take the 5 for a spin
1 Like