Featured Touring Scotland Here We Come

I've always been involved and interested in engineering from a young age, so had a wander around the boats to admire the designs, welding and construction.
Again the wife thinks I'm mad when shes with me, as she sees the cogs ticking and says, " when you making one of these then?"

Now this is an interesting ship. Very nicely made and must cost tens of millions of pounds I would expect. The hiabs ( crane jibs) alone looked very serious.



Its function is even more fascinating as I got into a conversation with a deckhand.
It travels around the fish farms and basically vacuums up the Salmon. Onboard are pressure vessel kettle devices that create gallons of 27⁰C water. This temperature is adequate to kill the lice but not in any way harm the fish. The lice are then filtered out to be later incinerated, whilst the fish are released back into the fish farm.

Clever stuff, eh?

 

Indeed you would. The surplus kit was sold off after the war and so became more affordable to people such as yourself @Pegscraper to enhance their enjoyment of the hobby.
Here's another pic for you with more details.

 

The old wartime radio is now rare and quite collectable. Some of the newer ex military stuff like Clansman PRC range is still relatively plentiful but varies widely in price according to condition.
The South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum in Doncaster has some old radio gear from WW2 as fitted into Lancasters etc.

 

I rode up to John O' Groats a couple of years ago - up the A9, across to Tongue and then took the A836 south through Altnaharra, which was a lot quieter than the main NC500. I'm enjoying your trip!!

 

When I bought my Armstrong mt 500 the deceased previous owner had an attic full of ex army radio gear.
I'll see if I have any pictures.

 

Sounds like @ajc400 you did a similar but opposite run to me then.
I did;
Altnaharra
Tongue
Scrabster
John o Groats
Duncansby Head
Scrabster.

 

@ajc400
Pic stop, toilet and move on, too many people for me.

 

Did you call at The Green Welly in Tyndrum on the way up?

 

No I came up the eastern side then stopped first night near Hawick.

 

One rare pair of Orcadian Buffalo ( don't see many of those about as they co-habit with Haggis ) panniers, hand remade here in Orkney.
Orders taken now, and should have first pair available as of 23rd September.

 

Pleasantly woke up early so that was a nice bonus. Packed up and off for 08.00.
Current total mileage 594 m.

Signal may be sporadic where I'm going next

 

Just look at that grass again in the above pic?
Unavoidable mudbath and thats just from loading the bike.
Nice enough campsite, handy lounge for sewing in , warm showers but the grass just doesn't drain. Inevitably everything just gets muckier and muckier.

Anyway, now I have some supplies and had a day off I'm back on the road for somewhere I've not been for 33 years.

This is enroute, lovely sky don't you think, and the early morning light was just right?

 

Arrived at Burwick which is basically across the water from John O Groats and where the summer foot passenger ONLY ferry runs.
This pic is looking South as in back to the mainland.



Causeway blocks storage.

 

Brilliant trip, I'm enjoying this thread. Lots of familiar places. We had the same view of The Old Man when we were on course for Stromness.

 

Anyone know what the blocks are for.

 

I'll post you a self explanatory picture when I next cross some

 

So camped up yesterday (sun) afternoon, does it get any better than this?




And a spot of late lunch, Prosciutto ham, smoked cheese and tomatoes. All very civilised what, what!

 

This is the view from my camp and only a minute or so walk to the sea.


X
Camp in bottom left corner

 

30 + years ago this was a nice working mans sort of pub with it's own dive boat for scapa flow runs out, a sort of rough diamond if you know what I mean?
The bar wall and ceiling was covered, as I recall, in dive clubs badges and stickers..... not now



Now it's trying to be some sort of hip restaurant rather than the previous simple bar meals.