Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
Might be a novel idea to let the locals choose their destiny rather than have someone else’s ideas thrust upon us and for that I make no apology! Unless you live here ......
As for doing the NC500 on a bike in 3 days, good luck!
21st Jul 2019 8:28 pm
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23832
The pros and cons of living with tourism. I know them well.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
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2015 D4 HSE (A heated what?)-GONE
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21st Jul 2019 9:23 pm
galwaygreen
Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: plymouth
Posts: 6525
Jimmy mac cycled the NC 500 in 33 hours several years ago..non stop ..a relation of ours
21st Jul 2019 9:58 pm
Moo D3 Decade
Member Since: 13 Aug 2010
Location: UK
Posts: 14429
The NC500 is on our list of things to do on our bikes and doing it as a challenge appeals to us, however, the traffic is something that is making us re think
Slightly but Mrs Moo and I did the Majorca 312 in April. The 312 is a course around Majorca, that as its name suggests, is 312km long, roughly 194 miles and 5050m of climbing to be completed in 14 hours. The course is stunning though.
We made it over the line with 37 seconds to spare! Not too shabby for two 50+ lycra fetishists Please note our disposition at the middle and the end! D4 HSE EU6 (Known as Jeeves)
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Last edited by Moo on 22nd Jul 2019 7:13 am. Edited 1 time in total
21st Jul 2019 10:50 pm
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
Well, I’d say it’s a bit more than 5,000m of climbing of the top of my head, but full marks for completing the Majorca event. :
That said I do like the happy photo of the two of you presumably before you started and then the one when you’ve finished! My SWMBO wouldn’t do anything like that.
22nd Jul 2019 6:21 am
Davethegeo
Member Since: 01 Oct 2015
Location: Edinburgh
Posts: 914
How about a practical test for hirers of said Motorhomes before they can leave the car park? Judging by the standard of vehicle control exhibited by the hirers they might previously not have driven anything even a quarter of the size.
Reverse into a parking space.
Show awareness and correct use of mirrors and indicators.
Show they can differentiate between tarmac and grass/mud.
Reverse.
and... Reverse into a passing place.
Just an idea.D1 300Tdi - gone
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22nd Jul 2019 7:33 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23832
Isn’t Tourism a significant factor in the SNP’s independence plan? I can’t see them supporting anything that might deter it.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
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22nd Jul 2019 7:42 am
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
I agree with both of you, yes Davetheego has a very valid point, someone can just jump into a hire Campervan and drive off on what are single track roads, with little or no spacial awareness of the vehicle.
This year I’ve noted very few caravans, they seem to be out of fashion in favour of the Campervans, of which there are loads about one following the other. I am used to the roads and even I wouldn’t be driving along some of the roads that the visitors do.
I hate to think what people’s excess would be like if they were involved in an accident with these things. Have to have a look.
LT, yes, the Scottish Government do support tourism, but then they support wind farms and other such stuff. Personally, I find wind farms so intrusive, shouldn’t be allowed.
Just had a look at the site. They Campervans are £100-£130 per night to hire with £1,000 excess. You can purchase secondary insurance to cover part of this at £63 per week, which reduces the excess to £350, but a maximum claim of £2.5k, so yesterday’s accident would have cost more than that I’d say, in which case it would revert to £1,000 excess again. Ouch!
Click image to enlarge
22nd Jul 2019 8:09 am
RRSTDV8
Member Since: 07 Apr 2014
Location: Here
Posts: 13556
Moo wrote:
We made it over the line with 37 seconds to spare! Not too shabby for two 50+ lycra fetishists Please note our disposition at the middle and the end!
You'd have been quicker if you hadn't kept stopping to take photographs...
On a serious note: well done to you both! Visiting from rrsport.co.uk
2012 RRS SDV6
2008 RRS TDV8
"When you fire that first shot, no matter how right you feel, you have no idea who's going to die! You don't know who's children are going to scream and burn. How many hearts will be broken. How many lives shattered. How much blood will spill, until everybody does what they were always going to have to do from the very beginning: SIT DOWN AND TALK!"
22nd Jul 2019 8:40 am
J77
Member Since: 03 Mar 2008
Location: Fife
Posts: 6270
I do agree that the motorhomes are a problem, but I blame the hire companies as they advertise this route when clearly a lot of the roads ain't suitable for some of these mansions on wheels.
Over this side, though the roads are wider, though not much in some places, it doesn't stop the foreign drivers causing issues in the small villages with these big motor homes. They spend more time looking at the sea views than the road and Anstruther on a sunny day is just a no go, the fish & chips ain't that great.23.5MY Defender 90 X-Dynamic SE D250 MHEV Pangea Green
22nd Jul 2019 8:55 am
LT
Member Since: 31 Dec 2005
Location: South West
Posts: 23832
The weak £ is causing a double whammy. More Brits holidaying at home and more tourists from overseas.
I was in the Highlands a fortnight ago and of the camper vans that I saw, I’d estimate a third were owned by Brits, a third were hired and a third were Dutch and German.2006 D3 HSE (Original & still the best)-GONE
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2017 FFRR SDV8 Autobiography (now semi-retired)
22nd Jul 2019 9:02 am
Someone-Gone
Member Since: 21 Dec 2015
Location: Gone
Posts: 5117
I think you’re right.
I had several interesting encounters yesterday, including two occasions involving foreign motors I met on the single track road into Plockton. On both occasions they suddenly dived in front of me to the offside passing place where I’d have gone to pass them. Sad, but hardly worth a mention these days. Thankfully I have my Blackvue.
A little while back, on the main road through Glencoe, I rounded a sharp corner to be confronted by a German motorist on the wrong side of the road. How we missed I’ll never know, but he could have so easily taken us both out.
22nd Jul 2019 9:12 am
sycove
Member Since: 25 Mar 2015
Location: Burntisland
Posts: 396
J77 wrote:
They spend more time looking at the sea views than the road and Anstruther on a sunny day is just a no go, the fish & chips ain't that great.
All the tourists go to the wrong Chippy, The wee chippy is far better.
22nd Jul 2019 9:15 am
Pelyma
Member Since: 06 Jan 2005
Location: Patching, Sussex
Posts: 15496
Speak to the Cornish they will give you tips, it won't be long before you're smiling at them taking their dosh whilst calling them behind their backs, its a summer pastime for the Cornish.DS3 TDV6 HSE - Silver with Alpaca (old one) Gone
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22nd Jul 2019 9:17 am
Sea Raider
Member Since: 01 Nov 2016
Location: None
Posts: 4450
This is a famous view and made even more famous after Downton Abbey filmed a few scenes here
However this year has been very bad for tourists stopping their vehicles at the very top of the single lane bridge which is controlled by traffic lights trying to take photos, its not unheard of for occupants to get out their motors to take better pics. Tour coaches have now adopted the practice.
This summer its not been uncommon for traffic delays of up to 30mins due to the sequence of the lights going haywire.
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but Mrs Moo and I did the Majorca 312 in April. The 312 is a course around Majorca, that as its name suggests, is 312km long, roughly 194 miles and 5050m of climbing to be completed in 14 hours. 
The course is stunning though. 
Please note our disposition at the middle and the end! 
behind their backs, its a summer pastime for the Cornish.
