Day 36 20/6/16 Off to Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula (Western Isles).

Day 36: Travelling to Tarbert on the Kintyre Peninsula (Western Isles)

The day actually started with a bit of sunshine but that changed gradually over the day.  It was cool but no rain....yet! 

Our new tour group now consisted of Mike and Ruth in their 1928; 12/50; Peter and Janet in their 1927: 12/50;  Alan and Noeline in the 1931:12/60 and us in the 1935: Speed 20.  To complete the group we are looking forward to meeting up in Tarbert with Norman and Claire in their 1949 TA14.  
 

Peter and Janet 12/50; Mike and Ruth 12/50; Alan and Noeline 12/60 in front of the Speed 20

Passing gloomy Loch Tay

A little sunshine over Loch Fyne

Distant "Scottish mist" moving in - fortunately we missed it.

Roadside verge mowing Scottish style.....

All lined up at a T intersection - heading for Tarbert via the B8000 to Portavadie (Argyll Penninsula)

Weather moving in.  Just a little rain but nothing so bad that the roof had to come up on any of the cars.

The countryside changes ever so subtly.

We stopped for lunch at the "Creggins Inn" in Strachur.  What a lovely find enroute overlooking Loch Fyne.

Cars lined up at Strachur (Loch Fyne)

Leaving our lunch stop.

The road narrows as we head towards the ferry at Portavadie.

There must be a post box somewhere here ...they always come in pairs

Great samll roads with no traffic.

We where doing good time to the ferry at Portavadie to across to Tarbert when Mike decided to do some "off-roading".  It was a fright for all (particularly Mike and Rith) - fortunately no one was hurt (bruises and pride aside) and a local farmer using his huge tractor lifted the front of the Alvis to get it back onto the road.

OOPS.....Mike explores off roading in the 12/50....

As the verge was wet and slippery the Alvis travelled a considerable distance before stopping.  Car and passenagers were very lucky.

Help is coming, in the form of a local farmer and his tractor.

Not glamorous but it worked

Almost rescued

Hmmm, Alan and helpers examine the car for damage.

Found the wheels wouldn’t turn to the right and Alan eventually traced this to a sheered key in the drop arm. Thanks once again to the farmer, Alan was able to make a new key.  

Dale appears to be snoozing at the wheel and Peter is supervising......

View from our unscheduled pit stop is quite lovely.

Almost done.

On the road again.

Hmmm....which way?

The landscape changes again...

We reach the ferry crossing at Portavadie - lining up for the ferry.

Even with the unscheduled stop we made it to the ferry with plenty of time to spare. The ferry crossing took just 30 mins and the view into Tarbert was great.  It was windy and a cold but a nice crossing never the less.

Lined up at Portavadie

The ferry approaches

Alvi - boarding the ferry

Across the watre to Tarbert

Disembarking the ferry at Tarbert.

The hotel accommodation was at West Tarbet looking over the Loch.  Claire and Norman had arrived earlier in the afternoon and had time for a refreshing nap before we arrived.