I thought it would be worth trying another visit to the Outer
Hebrides with my bike. This is the only time I have available for a
while but the weather hasn't co-operated with my plans. After my
visit last month I decided I'd like to investigate North Uist and
Harris a bit more and to do that the best ferry port to leave from
would be Uig on Skye. It's a long drive but with a Wednesday ferry
leaving at 19:00 in the evening it should be possible to do the
drive in a day. I set off just before 8am in gloomy weather. It was
very windy and the rain soon started which is just was the weather
forecast had said. I followed the M74 to the outskirts of Glasgow
and found the new link motorway to the M8 which avoids the M8
through Glasgow centre. The rain became even worse as I approached
Tarbet on the west side of Loch Lomond. I'd only continued a few
miles when car brake lights started to go on in front.
I stopped and
ahead could see what looked like people stepping off a bus. I
thought it an odd place to stop a bus. After about 5mins still
nothing had moved and I assumed someone had broken down. It turned
out to be a mini bus that had hit the verge and turned over
completely blocking the road. I had no choice but to turn round and
find another way round. I set off back to Tarbet along the narrow
road and very long queue of traffic. I'd just got free of the
traffic when the Ambulance and Fire Engine came by. I'd just got out
in time as meeting them head on in a narrow road would have been
very difficult. My only option was to drive via Inveraray and take an
extra hour to rejoin by route over Rannock, Glen Coe and Fort
William.
the ferry arrives in Uig
heading for North Uist
I stopped in Fort William to get fuel the continued on via
Spean Bridge to Skye and the Ferry terminal at Uig. I just managed
to get the last space available in the long stay car park. I bought
a £51 Rover ticket and waited for the 19:00 ferry. It arrived but
took a while to be ready as it had to re-fuel. We were on our way by
19:20 in rain and gloomy weather. When we arrived at Lochmaddy on
North Uist the rain had stopped but the wind still continued. Near
the jetty was a nice area of grass just above the shore so I camped
there.
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Whittle Wanderer
