Wednesday 29 May 2013

Run to the Crinan Canal


As part of my semi-interest in waterways I took a run today to the Crinan Canal. This is located in the West Highlands between Ardrishaig on Loch Fyne and Crinan on the Sound of Jura. The canal was opened in 1801 and connects Glasgow with the Western Isles without having to round the Mull of Kintyre. The canal was busy today with pleasure craft. The canal is only nine miles long but very picturesque.



A yacht enters the canal at Ardrishaig
"VIC32" is a Clyde Puffer anchored at Ardrishaig. Boats like this used the canal to take goods to and from the Western Isles.
An interesting bridge at Bellanoch. It is a hand cranked sliding bridge.
Lock house at Crinan

A yacht leaved the canal at Crinan
The FJ at Crinan harbour
Period advert at Crinan. Recent medical research suggests that Tunnoch's Tea Cakes are not, in fact, good for you

Sunday 26 May 2013

Italian Car Show





Italian Car show at Hill of Tarvit Mansionhouse, Fife.


Ferrari Dino
Fiat 124 Spider
Ferrari 575
A nice pair of Alfa Romeo GTAs
Immaculate 1965 Fiat 500
Clean engine!


Lancia Flavia


And bikes,


Nice old Guzzi T3
Ducati Darmah
This Le Mans was for sale


The mansion house

Thursday 23 May 2013

Pedalling in Portugal


Our annual visit to Portugal wasn't all lying about in the sun and drinking vinho verde. We hired bicycles for a few days and explored the area around Tavira in the eastern Algarve. There is a cycle route along the coast (Ecovia Litoral do Algarve) much of which is off road on gravel paths (we had city bikes - no punctures - but mountain bikes would have been better) There are lots of little villages along the way where one can get a nice lunch with a good bottle of wine.

It occurred to me that there is a railway line along the coast close to the cycle route. The train is cheap and there is space for cycles which travel free so an interesting holiday could be had with a mixture of train & bike.

By the sea
Looking a bit red in the face after the climb up the bridge - Tavira
Seems that Portuguese horses don't eat oranges
Traffic jam Portugal style
Crossing a ford - unusual in this dry land
Time for lunch!
The train line gives me an idea
 


Sunday 12 May 2013

Car show at Kilmarnock

A local show. I went in the car because I'd been soaked once already this weekend. 

(I didn't have a programme so I'm guessing the models - you may know better)

Jaguar XK150

Triumph TR4

Packard Clipper

Alvis TF21
Bentley with mighty straight eight engine
 

Many Morris Minors at the show....
....including this fire engine

A classy pair - Bentley R Type & Rolls Royce Silver Wraith

Cars that were common when I was young often look odd now as is the case with this Ford Corsair

Saturday 11 May 2013

Cute - Part#2

Seems like five of the little critters have taken up residence in my shrubbery


 

Friday 10 May 2013

Classic Bike Show at Stafford - Customs



A collection of the custom built bikes at the show.

A classic Triton café racer
Another Triton this time using a Trident Engine. Note MV silencers.

Trail bike built using a 1962 Triumph T100 engine in a Honda XL250 frame - so well done it looks like a factory model

A Harley Davidson Sportster engine is a tight fit in a Norton Featherbed frame

Honda CB350 Bobber

Yamaha XS650 flat tracker