It's two hundred and sixty two miles to Portree...

It's two hundred and sixty two miles to Portree, I've got a full tank of gas, a pack and a half of Tunnocks, its snowing and I'm not wearing sunglasses*

Ohh - the A86 and the A87 - what joy, and all the little white tourist minibuses seemed to be going other way

The Fuzz arrive at Holiday Inn Express, Strathclyde Park - time to make a hasty exit

The hotel is yards from the parkrun course - but things are getting too hot to return for a shower

262 miles - not the shortest but taking in orienteering at Kincardine Bridge and the wonderful A86-A87

Wonderful is not entirely safe according to EuroRAP - A86, A87

Essential supplies - all eaten before I crossed the Caledonian Canal - but when in Scotland do as the Scots

Predication was for 5 to 10cm of snow - settling above 200m.  This was taken at 14:20

And this 10 minutes later - 5km along the road and only 50m higher - too late to turn back as I would never make it up the steep incline

This is Loch Laggan- we studied this and the Loch Tummel hydro schemes in geography

But they didn't mention Cpl. Hendry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Hendry_%28GC%29

Something tells me that we are no longer in Kansas

The straight bits are wonderful, the twisty ones are better - my big diesel tank, usually stuck at 55mph on midlands motorways and highways has more than enough torque for the Highlands

The new (and still controversial) bridge to Skye

While taking the above photos I suddenly felt something cold, clammy and very wet around my ankles...



The tide comes in fast in Loch Alsh

"Speed, bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward! the sailors cry;
Carry the lad that's born to be King
Over the sea to Skye."

only now there is a bridge and it takes about 25 seconds by car

The Red Cuillan - looking menacing - no way will I be attempting these

Sunset

Getting too cold for photography - even the Polish-girl-tourists have given up (they said they already should have left the island but the sunset was so beautiful they had to stay another hour) - so off to the hotel...

A toasty warm room at Marmalade, in Portree - the restaurant was heaving, the bar was full - so I had my onion soup and haddock and local Skye Beer (very good, very viscous, rather strange) in my room

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*Originally:

Elwood: It's a hundred and six miles to Chicago, we've got a full tank of gas, half a pack of cigarettes, it's dark, and we're wearing sunglasses.

Jake: Hit it.