Over the sea to Skye

[Rolfe]

Yes, yes, the "Speed, bonnie boat" route was from (I think) North Uist to Uig, and here I am in the queue for the Mallaig to Armadale ferry, but you get the basic idea. (For accurate details consult a map of Bonnie Prince Charlie's travels in 1746.)

Actually the queue in question is for the five o'clock ferry and my ticket is for the six o'clock sailing, hence my position alone in my glory in the standby queue. If I get on, fine, if not I'm assured of a place on the next crossing.

I set off just before 10.30 after having dropped the cat off at the cattery on a "please keep until called for" basis. Got to An Gearasdan just before two, which was quite good going considering that Glen Coe was having a normal one (that is, wall to wall tour buses and campervans). About 145 miles, arrived at the chargers on 24%.

Obligatory picture of Caliban on the Tesla superchargers, next to one of the new Tesla Model Ys. (You don't want a picture of six Chicken McNuggets, trust me.)

I had plenty to time so I had a walk round the old fort. I didn't realise they demolished it to build the railway terminal. Couldn't have happened to a nicer piece of colonialist military infrastructure.

There was an enormous white cruise ship anchored in Loch Linnhe, but I couldn't see a name on her.

Also a nice view of the loch.

Interesting sighting of a couple of big electric tour coaches charging just opposite the superchargers.

Look at the range on Caliban when I set off! Though mind you, it did come down to about 203 miles shortly after I drove off.

I'm on the five o'clock ferry and we're moving off so I'll post this now. I've reached my picture limit anyway.

 

[DaveIJ]

Look amazing, lucky you

 

[Rolfe]

It's great, if a bit grey and drizzly at the moment.

I'm on the Loch Fyne. I was originally booked on the Coruisk (or Coir Uisg as I see they're calling her now, having sailed on her, without Caliban, on a trip to Mull last month). Just passed the Coruisk on her way into Mallaig for the later sailing.

Here's Caliban on the car deck of the Loch Fyne.

Car alarms going off all over the place. It was the same on the Coruisk in July. There's a notice at the embarkation point, but some people don't pay a blind bit of attention. Why lock your car anyway? It's not going anywhere and nobody's going to nick anything.

I was going up on to the passenger deck to take a picture of the approach to Sleat, but it's dull and raining so forget it.

Once I get to the College I'm not sure it's even allowed to post on social media in English. Probably not even allowed to think in English. There were so many signs in Gaelic in An Gearasdan that I caught myself trying to figure out the Gaelic for "Excuse me, where is the Post Office?" (Gabhaibh mo leisgeul, càit a bheil an oifis a' phuist?)

Trying to type in Gaelic on a keyboard with an English spellchecker is surreal.

 

[5teep]

Ember are not tour buses, they run regular passenger routes, Glasgow/Ft william Inverness/Wick Inverness/Aberdeen etc. I stop in An Aird quite often to charge and spoke to one of their drivers once, offered me a tour of the bus lol and said the charger is 350kw but only for Ember use.

 

[Rolfe]

They look big and luxurious anyway!

Ist, tha na daoine ri taobh mise a' bruidhinn Beurla! Tha sin uabhasach! (Shhh, the people next to me are speaking English! That's terrible!)

I've found my room, much more comfortable than sleeping in Caliban for sure. Although I did get the end parking space I had been eyeing up and it would have been fine apart from the torrential rain. Abair fàilte!

 

[Alb]

The cruise ship is the MS Amera

 

[Rolfe]

Tapadh leat!

 

[Rolfe]

The BBC weather web page is showing sunny intervals and 0% chance of rain, for right now. It's actually bucketing so hard you can't see across the sound of Sleat.

Tha a h-uile duine a' bruidhinn Beurla. (Everybody is speaking English. Including the guy opposite whose first language it obviously isn't.)

 

[Archev]

The BBC weather web page is showing sunny intervals and 0% chance of rain, for right now. It's actually bucketing so hard you can't see across the sound of Sleat.

Tha a h-uile duine a' bruidhinn Beurla. (Everybody is speaking English. Including the guy opposite whose first language it obviously isn't.)

I’ll hang on for the hurricane and pestilence forecast then
AND I’ll take my new wellies !

 

[Archev]

Actually if you can push that rain over to Edinburgh please. Gorse on Arthur Seat is on fire.

 

[gus]

Actually could you send down over Edinburgh and then on to southern England please, never thought I would say that, but 33 degrees is the forecast for Tuesday.

 

[Archev]

Aye that’s a wee bit warm

 

[Anon70]

If you use the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh it is a pretty scary approach angle as you drive into the clouds

 

[EvTek23]

Interesting pictures of the coaches on charge. I did a quick search, they are made by Yutong.
They have a battery capacity of between 500 and 650 kWh, and can take 2 charging guns at 600V.
Range is increased by 80-100 km in 15 mins with full charge in less than 3 hours

 

[Rolfe]

That's amazing.

 

[Rolfe]

If you use the bridge from Kyle of Lochalsh it is s pretty scary approach angle as you drive into the clouds

View attachment 38859

I've never been over the bridge. The weather is even worse than that today, Knoydart is completely invisible. Skye is floating all alone in a sea of mist. The BBC weather forecast is lying in its teeth.

I am so glad I'm not sleeping in the car because it would be miserable getting wet all the time.

 

[Rolfe]

What a difference a day makes.

It is now possible to see the other side of the Sound of Sleat, over the sea from Skye. As of lunchtime Caliban is parked up and I'm whizzing around this rather spread-out campus on Hilda. The fine weather is set to continue for up to a week after my Gaelic course ends.

 

[Archev]

What a difference a day makes.

View attachment 38874

It is now possible to see the other side of the Sound of Sleat, over the sea from Skye. As of lunchtime Caliban is parked up and I'm whizzing around this rather spread-out campus on Hilda. The fine weather is set to continue for up to a week after my Gaelic course ends.

Q - Can you fit an e bike in a Berlingo ?
A - yes but only if you move the other one over a wee bit
A2 - aye the third one can fit too