As usual, the change of the clocks in October brought R2's “Gain-an-Hour weekend”. This year we were also celebrating the 30th anniversary of the forming of our region in 1985.
We were based at The Moorings Hotel, in Fort William, overlooking the Caledonian Canal at the string of locks known as “Neptune's Staircase”. We had suggested routes to drive on the Friday and Saturday of the weekend, and an optional steam-hauled rail excursion on the “Jacobite” to Mallaig and back via the famous Glenfinnan Viaduct on the Friday. I've done the train trip before, so opted to go on the drive, while former RO John Chesworth took charge of the train trip. Thanks for bringing them all home, John – despite the attempted escape by one couple...
Our Friday drive took in Oban, with a stop for lunch at the beautifully located Loch Melfort Hotel – then onwards to Inveraray and back to the hotel via Tyndrum, for coffee at the “Green Welly Stop”, and through a wet & misty Glen Coe.
Saturday's drive took us onto the Ardnamurchan Peninsula with a choice of land or ferry access. Most took the 20 minute crossing from Corran to Ardgour to join the A861 road which circles the peninsula, while some took the long single track route on the other side of Loch Linnhe. All enjoyed sunshine with showers and spectacular autumn colours topped off with plenty of rainbows. Quite a few took the very narrow and twisty road out to Ardnamurchan Point, the most westerly point on the British mainland, where the café and shop at the lighthouse provided a welcome cuppa.
Dinner at the Moorings had a yellow colour theme this year, and members were, as usual, most inventive in interpreting it. We had bees, bananas, a Pikachu, Ali G, a Lego man, two “Masks” and a yellow cab driver to name but several. We rounded off the weekend with presentations: Founder member Johnstone Aitken was honoured on our 30th anniversary and presented with an engraved tankard from the Region, and a glass trophy in recognition of his service to the Club by the board, represented by Motorsport Director Brendan Daly.
Paul Barlow was recognised as Member of the Year for his voluntary work on guides to using the new Digital Media Platform for the Club's Region and Register officials, and his promotion of the Region which assisted in our gaining the Region of the Year award for 2014.
Further prizes went to Jane Hyde (bumble bee) and Ray McIntyre (Ali G) for their interpretation of the evening's theme, chosen and presented by The Moorings' General Manager, Philip Fleming. Spot prizes, the reasons for which we will not dwell upon to spare their blushes went to John & Ruth Atkinson and Mike Raeburn. Thank you all for helping to make the weekend a success, and for the very fine bottle of single malt and bottle of wine that Pauline & I were presented with at the close of proceedings.
The above pictures are by Paul & Loraine Barlow. More of theirs can be found HERE. Rob Kehoe also has some great shots, featured HERE.