NC500 3-DAY RUN, FRIDAY 17th,SATURDAY 18TH& SUNDAY 19TH MAY,2019

[Filtermike]

Big thanks to Craig for organising the trip.

Great to catch up with everyone and to meet her new Zeders.

[tadekk]

As said above, thanks to everyone for making the weekend very memorable and especially Craig for putting up with us The whole affair seemed effortless, but I know a lot of planning went into it.

It was great to put some faces to the avatars and shred some tyres. I have averaged 35mph and 25mpg over the NC500, so there is definitely room for improvement

I have a few photos from my DSLR so will try to upload them this week.

[craig3.2]

Craig3.2, now that the trip is over can you let us see the route and the stops? How were the roads with regards to your timings. Did you have much time to chill and take in the sights or were you driving to meet deadlines?

The route is Just the NC500 route,Anti Clockwise.
As for listing all the exact place we went and where we stopped the photos should say it all.
Just did some of the many things you could see or do on the route.
As for timings,that took A LOT of planning,and worked out pretty well.

My advice would be look at what there is to do on the route,and pick out some things to do that appeal to you,aiming for around 180-200miles driving per day,and around 140-160 miles on the last day,if doing from Inverness have that as your start on say Thursday,then the Route itself over 3 following days.

Not going to list all exact timings/stops,etc,for various reasons,but hopefully that gives you an outline
Fyi,we did about 2 toilet stops and 3/4 Sightseeing stops /Lunch stops oneach day,of Days 1 and 2,with only a Toilet and Lunch stop on Day 3.

As for rushing,I don't think it was too rushed,just had an outline of how long we should stop for,say 20minuyes for Toilet stops,etc and as long as necessary for scenic stops,Lunch etc.
It didn't feel too rushed time,and we saw plenty,imo,but f you wanted less miles,each day you could do it over 4 days??

[craig3.2]

As said above, thanks to everyone for making the weekend very memorable and especially Craig for putting up with us The whole affair seemed effortless, but I know a lot of planning went into it.

It was great to put some faces to the avatars and shred some tyres. I have averaged 35mph and 25mpg over the NC500, so there is definitely room for improvement

I have a few photos from my DSLR so will try to upload them this week.

Was good to meet you,and glad you enjoyed it.
As for it going well,it all went to my plans until the mix up at the end,when we were meant to say our goodbyes....that aside,all went to plan okay all weekend,other than some rain now and then.
See you at the National

[craig3.2]

Thanks for everyone who came,was good to meet newcomers and old hats alike.

Glad everyone seems to have enjoyed the weekend...... certainly didn't feel that way during it at times.
I think the whole weekend/4 days ran as well as I could have wanted,other than various people's cars breaking down or having some issues,lol.
Timings and stops ran well and I hope everyone felt I got the Balance of Stops and Driving about right.

Have some great memories now,of some good,high spirited ,fast driving on some of those cracking roads....some were just awesome.
Good food and decent weather ,topped off by good company and some iconic sights,etc. thumbsup:
The scenery is something most of us in Scotland are used to,but it's the grand scale and Non stop nature of it that makes it stand out for me.

Thanks again to all who came,and made it what it was

[Pbondar]

Craig3.2, now that the trip is over can you let us see the route and the stops? How were the roads with regards to your timings. Did you have much time to chill and take in the sights or were you driving to meet deadlines?

The route is Just the NC500 route,Anti Clockwise.
As for listing all the exact place we went and where we stopped the photos should say it all.
Just did some of the many things you could see or do on the route.
As for timings,that took A LOT of planning,and worked out pretty well.

My advice would be look at what there is to do on the route,and pick out some things to do that appeal to you,aiming for around 180-200miles driving per day,and around 140-160 miles on the last day,if doing from Inverness have that as your start on say Thursday,then the Route itself over 3 following days.

Not going to list all exact timings/stops,etc,for various reasons,but hopefully that gives you an outline
Fyi,we did about 2 toilet stops and 3/4 Sightseeing stops /Lunch stops oneach day,of Days 1 and 2,with only a Toilet and Lunch stop on Day 3.

As for rushing,I don't think it was too rushed,just had an outline of how long we should stop for,say 20minuyes for Toilet stops,etc and as long as necessary for scenic stops,Lunch etc.
It didn't feel too rushed time,and we saw plenty,imo,but f you wanted less miles,each day you could do it over 4 days??

You may find this map useful to get some ideas/spatial awareness :

https://www.northcoast500.com/wp-conten ... al-Map.pdf

[Attilio]

Hello Craig,

we got home safe and sound and the crossing was a breeze. It was lovely to meet you in person.

What a beautiful country you live in! Helen and I absolutely loved the place... and what a fantastic event you organised! Thank you for the huge effort and time you put into preparing it. Tough act to follow!

All,

I took some photos and videos - not as many as flying fifer! - and uploaded most already. Will share the link to a Google Drive folder as soon as possible (and when "beep"-ed out some of the most colourful language from the videos )

looking forward to more of these events! In the meantime, here some of the photos...

A

[MefiEcosse]

Great photos guys, I'm very jealous!

[patriot66]

Great photos guys, I'm very jealous!

Me too ! Looks like you all had a superb time. Great photos indeed. Top job Craig

[buzyg]

Enjoyed looking through the thread. Many cracking photos guys.

Sunshine in Scotland though. Come on, you must have spent days in Photoshop.

[Any1else]

You may find this map useful to get some ideas/spatial awareness :

https://www.northcoast500.com/wp-conten ... al-Map.pdf

I have the paper version of the map but your link is excellent - I will have a browse. Thanks

[craig3.2]

Great photos guys, I'm very jealous!

Me too ! Looks like you all had a superb time. Great photos indeed. Top job Craig

I see from your posts,you were up in Greenock Simon
We're you up for anything in particular,mate?
That's not far from me,pity I was up in the Highlands,lol.

[patriot66]

Great photos guys, I'm very jealous!

Me too ! Looks like you all had a superb time. Great photos indeed. Top job Craig

I see from your posts,you were up in Greenock Simon
We're you up for anything in particular,mate?
That's not far from me,pity I was up in the Highlands,lol.

Hi Craig. Stayed in Greenock on Saturday night as my son Tyler plays American Football for Manchester Titans and they had a match with Highland Wildcats from Inverness. The match had to be on neutral ground so was at Greenock Wanderers RFC. Ali and I took the dogs down on the beach at Battery Park on the Sunday morning before the match. Very nice part of the world, a lot more picturesque than I had imagined. A nice weekend

[craig3.2]

Me too ! Looks like you all had a superb time. Great photos indeed. Top job Craig

I see from your posts,you were up in Greenock Simon
We're you up for anything in particular,mate?
That's not far from me,pity I was up in the Highlands,lol.

Hi Craig. Stayed in Greenock on Saturday night as my son Tyler plays American Football for Manchester Titans and they had a match with Highland Wildcats from Inverness. The match had to be on neutral ground so was at Greenock Wanderers RFC. Ali and I took the dogs down on the beach at Battery Park on the Sunday morning before the match. Very nice part of the world, a lot more picturesque than I had imagined. A nice weekend

Yeah,my mate stays up there,nice coastal area

[craig3.2]

Some of mine.