Sleeping in MG4 [merged thread]

[Rolfe]

I'd avoid car parks that say that, right enough, but as you say, when are they going to check? You could always offer to move back into your tent...

 

[Archev]

Right I’m good to go now ?

 

[Rolfe]

Nice. I'm back on the Tesla chargers at An Gearasdan. Couldn't find the "Nevis Café" so just having a McDonald's.

It's a lot breezier than last week which is encouraging.

 

[siteguru]

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Right I’m good to go now ?

Is that the Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum? The Cullen Skink there is braw! ?

 

[Archev]

Ye

Is that the Green Welly Stop at Tyndrum? The Cullen Skink there is braw! ?

aye but I was on the Cullen Skink last week so I had the roast beef platter today with boiled potatoes and mashed turnip and carrots- sublime and I won’t need to cook tonight ?

 

[Rolfe]

Did you tell them to install some bloody chargers? Ones that work?

Talking of chargers, this one is very nicely situated. And it works.

 

[Archev]

Did you tell them to install some bloody chargers? Ones that work?

Talking of chargers, this one is very nicely situated. And it works.

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I’ve wimped out.
I’m at Ardelve campsite.
///unites.slowness.crescendo
En route to Applecross. Got a tank of Tesla electrons in Fort William so should be plenty. Beautiful calm dry night. Tent’s all set. Buffalo Jerky snack and yogurt for dinner after my big lunch.
Haven’t encountered a single midge - just mosquitoes with 2 metre wingspans ?
When Euan McTurk passed by here he topped up his leaf at a new charger at Shiel Bridge. It’s now a pile of scrap with a sign saying it doesn’t work?

 

[Rolfe]

I'm in a less than ideal spot by the side of a very minor road about five miles east of Plockton. It's a field entrance with enough space for a single car just off the track to the gate. It's OK. Very little passing traffic.

Some midges but not an awful lot. My secret weapon - insecticide spray inside the car - seems to be effective. After that McDonald's meal at An Gearasdan I wasn't really hungry, so I had a corned beef sandwich and a cup of tea.

Going to bed with a good book now. I have felt a bit inhibited about laying stuff out outside the car, but partly that was midge awareness. In the morning, once I'm dressed, it will be different.

I plan a visit to Plockton in the morning, maybe a boat trip, then back to Dornie to charge and visit Eilean Donan castle, then the Bealach na Bà, here I come.

 

[L33th4ll]

.

Some midges but not an awful lot. My secret weapon - insecticide spray inside the car - seems to be effective. After that McDonald's meal at An Gearasdan I wasn't really hungry, so I had a corned beef sandwich and a cup of tea.

pickle or brown sauce in the sandwich ?

 

[Archev]

I’m lying in my tent on top of my MG5 at 01:00 with no rain, virtually no wind and it’s currently 13°C.
I was just blathering via what’s app with my son who is in the Sierra Nevada mountains near Fresno California. He’s setting out aerial survey targets on a road and trying to complete them before Thursday. He was working at 07;00 (8 hours behind us) and said it was fine and fresh at 4°C ? jings that’s nearly frosty.

 

[Rolfe]

Here's where I camped last night, just a field entrance on a very minor road a couple of miles east of Plockton. It did the job.

Went for a boat trip round the bay in the morning. Here's Caliban looking at the scenery which is exceptionally gorgeous even for Scotland.

Then drove to Eilean Donan castle and did the whole tourist thing. Back to the Eilean Donan charger which this time had to be remotely started by the CPS helpline, but I got to 95% eventually.

Did the Bealach na Bà and got to the Applecross camp site where I met up with @Archev and we went for a fish supper together. Caliban and The Magnette are currently almost kissing, because the couple in the next car were getting picky about distances.

The roof tent is amazing.

 

[Caramaddy]

Fantastic weather!

 

[Rolfe]

Amazing!

What is less amazing is this. Caliban has an ouchie.

Coming back over the Bealach, an aggressive yellow sports car forced me to reverse a little into a passing place. I was so intent on what was behind, and the SE doesn't have front parking sensors, so I didn't realise that there was a retaining wall on the other side, too close and very sharp stones. Cross with myself. It's just a paint job though.

There are compensations. Mushroom soup at the Torridon Hotel, while Caliban gets some charge. Also, CPS tell me the Glairloch chargers, showing as unknown status on ABRP, are fine.

And it gets better. Lunch becomes afternoon coffee.

I moved inside for a comfier chair.

 

[Rolfe]

Oh, I missed a post. Caliban (pre scraped wheel arch) and The Magnette in the camp site at Applecross.

And one of many amazing views driving back over the Bealach at midday.

 

[Rolfe]

It's only half past four, but when you find the perfect place, stop. I'm some way short of Gairloch, on the shore of Loch Maree. No signs forbidding overnight parking and a campervan is already in another bay, but out of sight.

There is room for two cars in this bay, but hopefully I'll be able to keep it for myself. A van just reversed out, having seen me. Fingers crossed.

I got to 99% at Torridon and I'm still at 90%. No need to go on to Gairloch to charge now, so the stop at Torridon was fortuitous. Currently basking in the evening sun, reading and listening to the stereo.

 

[Archev]

It's only half past four, but when you find the perfect place, stop. I'm some way short of Gairloch, on the shore of Loch Maree. No signs forbidding overnight parking and a campervan is already in another bay, but out of sight.

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There is room for two cars in this bay, but hopefully I'll be able to keep it for myself. A van just reversed out, having seen me. Fingers crossed.

I got to 99% at Torridon and I'm still at 90%. No need to go on to Gairloch to charge now, so the stop at Torridon was fortuitous. Currently basking in the evening sun, reading and listening to the stereo.

Big shame about the wing scrape.
I walked along to the walled garden at Applecross house and had an absolutely beautiful light lunch of deep fried goats cheese with salad all smothered in honey ?

Just discovered there’s an archeological dig and a broch and stuff going on above this campsite with a stunning view of Skye. It’s all apparently up a wee path behind the toilet / shower block. I’m going for an investigation in the morning before I set off home.

 

[Archev]

I fancied the venison

But you can’t really after such encounters can you?

 

[Caramaddy]

Sorry to hear about the scrape. Caliban can be repaired - just annoying!

 

[Rolfe]

Annoyed with myself. And embarrassed. But there's a good body shop locally.

That looks like a great day, @Archev.

I'm still in the car park by Loch Maree. After several vans saw me and then reversed out, one small one eventually stayed. Nice couple, apologised for invading my privacy, I said not at all, busy night. It must have been about seven by then and we all retreated into our vehicles as the midges were out again. I waited till it was well dark to get undressed and into bed and by the time I woke - about 8.30 - they had vanished.

Sun splitting the sky and I'm just sitting reading. Some cars have turned in but again retreated when they saw me. I suppose they were looking for privacy too. I suppose I should get moving soon for Gairloch.

 

[tsedge]

What is less amazing is this. Caliban has an ouchie.
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Coming back over the Bealach, an aggressive yellow sports car forced me to reverse a little into a passing place. I was so intent on what was behind, and the SE doesn't have front parking sensors, so I didn't realise that there was a retaining wall on the other side, too close and very sharp stones. Cross with myself. It's just a paint job though.

Oh no! It isn't just the SE, the Trophy lacks front parking sensors too and with this car it isn't easy to judge the front position. It is a bad cost-cutting omission.

Don't beat yourself up too much, I've nearly done the same on occasion and when I had the SE (without 360 camera) on holiday, there was more than one occasion where I had to stop and get out and check the distance when manoeuvring.

I'm enjoying this thread and thanks for posting about your exploits.