First long road trip and other adventures.

[Archev]

I was using old money, sorry

Funny thing was, I started secondary school in 77, and we did imperial stuff!

All my schooling was metric. Feet were always used simply to get there

 

[decrep]

I didn't have them like that, so that's good advice.

if the peg is in line with the rope, it can just pull straight out.
It needs to be fairly deep so it doesn't pull the earth with it.
The rope needs to be as close to the ground as possible to minimise the rope's leverage over the peg.
You need to think, how can I arrange this so the rope has the least chance of pulling the peg out.

 

[mystreet]

Funny thing was, I started secondary school in 77, and we did imperial stuff!

I'm now old, I left secondary school in 79

 

[Archev]

I'm now old, I left secondary school in 79

I was thirty then and left school at 18

 

[Rolfe]

if the peg is in line with the rope, it can just pull straight out.
It needs to be fairly deep so it doesn't pull the earth with it.
The rope needs to be as close to the ground as possible to minimise the rope's leverage over the peg.
You need to think, how can I arrange this so the rope has the least chance of pulling the peg out.

Thanks to Cairndon I am now the proud possessor of a packet of ten much more business-like tent pegs, so I can peg the corners of the tent, then if need be add the guy ropes without having to scavenge the pegs from the tent itself. Also of a couple of 4-metre lengths of cord to use as guy ropes, long enough to double right round and tie tightly - the existing lengths will probably do the other two sides if I tie them together in pairs.

It depends a bit on where I find myself. Ground soft enough to take tent pegs isn't available in every car parking place. But I'll take it anyway, and see if the occasion arises.

Every time I look at the weather forecast it's different. No sooner have I though of a plan that would work than it changes and the plan looks poor. But this is all a week away. I'll just pack everything then see how things are when we get to it.

 

[Archev]

Thanks to Cairndon I am now the proud possessor of a packet of ten much more business-like tent pegs, so I can peg the corners of the tent, then if need be add the guy ropes without having to scavenge the pegs from the tent itself. Also of a couple of 4-metre lengths of cord to use as guy ropes, long enough to double right round and tie tightly - the existing lengths will probably do the other two sides if I tie them together in pairs.

It depends a bit on where I find myself. Ground soft enough to take tent pegs isn't available in every car parking place. But I'll take it anyway, and see if the occasion arises.

Every time I look at the weather forecast it's different. No sooner have I though of a plan that would work than it changes and the plan looks poor. But this is all a week away. I'll just pack everything then see how things are when we get to it.

I’ve been to Craigdon a couple of times. Quite a nice cafe upstairs there. Aye the forecast is all over the place just now. I’m keeping an eye on all regions looking for a bit of decent weather. Even if it shows a bit of sun for a day there’s usually a percentage of rain thrown in the mix too. Hey ho I’ll just get ready and bite the bullet some day.

 

[Rolfe]

Well, I've got both a ferry ticket back from Skye next Friday afternoon and a hostel room for Friday night. One of these will have to be cancelled, one way or the other. Here's what the days that were showing wall to wall sunshine (up to Wednesday) are showing now.

If it really does turn out to be like this then I might as well cancel the hostel room and come home on the 15th. But hey, anything can happen in a week.

 

[Archev]

The wind speeds predicted seem to be predominantly light and the temperatures aren’t bad at 18 / 19 day and 12 /13 night. So I’ll head off to find the best weather available.
I do enjoy travelling on the ferries but I enjoy driving those roads over that way a bit more. So if the weather doesn’t look like improving I’d cancel the ferry and drive round. The Armadale to Fort William road is fine too so you’ve an enjoyable dilemma either way.

 

[Rolfe]

I was thinking of driving up into Skye first, if the weather was poor. I was hoping to move on from Skye to Mòrar and Arisaig, and then maybe down into Ardnamurchan before heading home. There's all sorts of nice bike rides, but I could get fed up in the car. There are only so many castles and local museums you want to see.

 

[Archev]

It’s a glorious island.

 

[Rolfe]

I'ts a while since I've been there. Of course there's a fair chance I'll be there subsequent summers if I follow the Sabhail Mòr Ostaig course.

 

[securespark]

I'm now old, I left secondary school in 79

Well, I was only 4 years behind you and one of those was me retaking some O levels as I dislocated my shoulder. These days, they would stick someone in a private room with you to do the writing for you, but back then, I had to miss the exams.

The worst was at assembly when the head said, "Don't do what Abbott in 5M did and break his collarbone (wrong injury!) just before his life-changing O levels...."

And the WHOLE school (429 kids, less me) turned round to look in my direction....

 

[Archev]

Well, I was only 4 years behind you and one of those was me retaking some O levels as I dislocated my shoulder. These days, they would stick someone in a private room with you to do the writing for you, but back then, I had to miss the exams.

The worst was at assembly when the head said, "Don't do what Abbott in 5M did and break his collarbone (wrong injury!) just before his life-changing O levels...."

And the WHOLE school (429 kids, less me) turned round to look in my direction....

Well I managed my “O” grade English at the first attempt easy peasy. So the following year I went for the higher grade - failed but was awarded a complimentary “O” grade. I then chased some other technical stuff. And a couple of years later found I had spare time in my work sponsored college day. So I tackled the higher again.
So that explains why I have three “O” grade English certificates
Perhaps I should have stuck with my Embra keeley studies.

 

[Rolfe]

I did my O Grades in 1969, a couple more in 1970 (our school was weird that way) and my Highers in 1971. It was necessary to romp the lot to get into vet school, so I did it.

 

[Rolfe]

The Corran ferry, which was off for a week, is reportedly back in action.

 

[Archev]

The Corran ferry, which was off for a week, is reportedly back in action.

I hadn’t heard about it being off. It is a beautiful diversion round the loch but it is quite long.

 

[Rolfe]

I saw on Twitter that it was off, and shuddered a bit.

 

[Archev]

Ah right I don’t twitter nor any of the other social media stuff.

 

[decrep]

Ah right I don’t twitter nor any of the other social media stuff.

Yep, same here, this forum seems to fulfill most of my electronic social needs.
My windsurfing forum, is getting filled with conspiracy theorists, anti science memes, climate change deniers and just augmentative idiots.

 

[Gomev]

45 degree angle towards your tent. With the hook away from the tent.

Except in Scotland where you use 2 foot lengths of rebar driven in with a sledge!

And to add driven as far in as you can, all the way if possible.