Virgin Media and Iphones

'cannot access outgoing mail server'
Apparently, Virgin will only allow you to send emails from an IP address that is part of their network.So.....If your iPhone is connected to your wireless access point at home and your wireless access point at home is on a Virgin Media Internet connection then it should be able to both send and receive from your Virgin account. If you're using the 3G, Edge, or GSM connectivity when you're out and about you won't have a Virgin IP and therefore won't be able to send, but will be able to receive. If you're connected to a different wireless access point then you may be able to send and receive if that access point is connected to a Virgin Media connection, if it isn't then you will be able to receive only.

I didn't know this before the Scotland trip, so couldn't do daily updates..............you live & learn.
Problem simply sorted by configuring the outgoing mail server settings from smtp.ntlworld.com to smtp.o2.co.uk, using my o2 email address as the username, and putting in a password.

Anyhow, I took some notes as we went along on the Scotland trip so I'll post those up later.

Scotland 2009

Overall, clocked 1550 miles over the six days and didn't see one drop of rain whatsoever. Sun shone everyday and we had blue skies every day, no mishaps to speak of and we're all still speaking to one another.

Yet again, got lazy when using the sat nav and trusted it implicitly - big mistake. You really should have some idea of the route you're taking so you can ignore the voices in your head from Mrs Garmin now and then. Couple of times we went the 'scenic route' when we would have been better staying on the road we were on for a few more miles. Always used to have a map on the tankbag plus the sat nav but like I said, got lazy and tended to just punch in the next destination.

We visited Mull for the first time, and to be honest won't be in a hurry to go back. We'll also probably give Skye a miss next time, and spend more time farther North West. Accomodation was good in parts, mediocre in others but nothing really bad. Hostelling is like that. We'd go back to Inchnadamph, probably the Yurt in Mabie as it was so different, and would like to try the Glenuig Inn. Might even go all posh and use a B&B occasionally.

ps; For sale, one pair of rainoff overgloves - never used.

Scotland day 5 - We're off to stay in a Mongolian Yurt

We left Tobermory and are heading for Dumfries and our night in a Mongolian Yurt(gert, ger or whatever it's called). Got off the ferry at Oban and went into town for fish & chips. Whilst we're on the front eating them out of the wrapper, a guy walks up to Nigel and hugs him.............Made me choke on me chips, but it only happens to be his brother-in-law who's on holiday in the area and it's a chance meeting - whats the chances of that?

Steves heading home today and leaves us at Oban, so now we're a man down, but no matter we soldier on.
Al & Nige head for Dunoon via Lochgilphead and Inverary- Oban to L'head is a fantastic bit of tarmac.
Ferry from Hunters Quay, then down to Ayr and pick up the A713 and A712 to Dumfries and the Forest of Mabie..................................

Nige takes up the story;

So we arrived at the Gurt at about 8.00 PM after Al had took us on a triple hunt for the usual statues/rocks/strange objects of interest tour, one of which was a 5 mile bendy path of very narrow cow shit/gravel covered mix that had the rear wheel stepping out every 50 yards, great fun! Only after we had found the naked man and his dangly bits did we realise that the Sat Nav had been taking the piss and we were actually half a mile from a main road…………. Back at the Gurt we were greeted by the tree hugger complete with baggy woollen jumper and a water barrel on a stick…………….
He took us up a heavily tree lined path through the obstacle course ( Literally!!! ) and showed us our home for the night, the Gurt……….Oh joy……………

Outside the Gurt was a wood pile and a large shiny axe, I decided that this would be safer in the Gurt with us rather than outside for the wild man of the woods to use to chop bits off us as we slept……………….

Any way once we had lit the log burner and filled the Gurt with smoke at least it kept us warm and the midges at bay. Several bottles of Stella and one bottle of red wine later we were nicely settled in, my king prawn curry had split the polystyrene container and was dispensed from the now squidgy plastic bag, of course Al`s order had arrived perfectly intact even though all of them had been transported together in my pannier………… Some folk have all the luck! And the Hot Tub??? On our arrival we had passed the said tub and had noticed that it had been occupied by a middle aged chap with a pot belly wearing………………wait for it……………….white undies!!!! These were of course wet and by now see through!!! “ Do you fancy the tub?” asks Al “Err no not really” says I, I think I`ll settle for a quiet night in……………

Would I go back next year? Of course I would, it was bloody great fun!

Conveniences - One for no.1's and one for no.2's.

Scotland day 4 - Island hopping, Skye to Mull

Catch the ferry from Armadale on Skye to Mallaig.
After getting off at Mallaig we followed the coast road south passing a place called Glenuig where we stopped for some snap.

As ever, we're on the lookout for future places to stay and the Glenuig Inn looks like it's worth going back to. We get going and head for Lochaline/Morvern for the ferry to Mull.

The crossing is only 20 minutes or so, and then a 12 mile ride to Tobermory, where we are staying in the pink house on the harbour front. We've arrived early and have to try and kill a couple of hours until reception opens and we can get into our room. Thats when we meet the p****d up locals and the tripeds.

Whats the story in Balamory?

Well we tried to ask but most of the locals were either out of their brains after drinking all day, or too busy with their 3 legged dogs - we did actually see two different dogs, at different times, each with 3 legs being taken for a walk. Some people doc the tails of their dogs, but the folk of Tobermory seem to like their dogs with other bits off......
My view of the Isle of Mull is that it's exactly like the rest of that area of Scotland except you have to pay to get there. We took the sting out of it by buying a Hopscotch ferry ticket a couple of weeks ago which incorporated the Skye/Mallaig crossing, Lochaline/Fishnish, and Craignure/Oban. Saved us about £8 and the tickets came within 24hours of ordering.
Across at the other side of the harbour front was this place, the second time our digs have been within staggering distance of a distillery but it's been too late to visit and sample the wares (the other was across the road from the Talisker distillery in Carbost, Skye)

Tobermory was used for the filming of that kids TV programme Balamory (Miss Hoolie, PC Plum, Edie McCredie etc etc). Those of you with kids young enough will no doubt hate and loathe it, but today the weather is sunny and according to this van, the story in Balamory today is.......beer. So we're off to McGochans, the McDonald Arms and finally the Mishnish.

We liked the McDonald Arms the best, but watch out for the very dodgy gents toilet unless you're a botanist specialising in exotic fungi.(mycologist?)

Still no rain - whats going on?

Scotland day 3- Sutherland to Skye

Today we looked around the area west of Inchnadamph towards Lochinver, down the single track coastal road to Loch Bad a Ghaill and Loch Lurgainn and back towards the A835 and then to Ullapool. Cracking view of what I think was the twin peaks of Beinn an Eoin from Loch Bad a Ghaill. (sounds like I know my way about doesn't it? - got all that crap off the internet when I got back)

That road really is narrow with the combination of low wall on one side and overhanging trees both sides making it seem more so. Didn't really enjoy the driving bit as you really had to concentrate with all the blind bends and single track - result being that you tended to miss some of the stunning views with having to keep your eyes on the road. Was the first bit of single track neither of us felt comfortable on. Breakfast and fuel in Ullapool then off to Skye via Altguish and the Glascarnoch dam, then along Strath Bran and Glen Carron towards the Skye Bridge. We didn't do Applecross this year but wanted to check out more of Skye and an obligatory trip to the Stein Inn for old times sake. Last went to the Stein in 2007 and previous to that in 1986!!Thats me second from right sat on my old Norton Commando which I still have.

Same view in 2007 - tree a bit bigger, my Pan, Nigel's GS and now no wall!

Sat on the smokers bench 2009.


Accomodation is in the Waterfront bunkhouse in Carbost tonight - stayed in the Pirates Cove room. Avast, yo ho ho, shiver me timbers and who's turn is it in the barrel. Yarr.

O.k you get the picture

Going back this year it seems to us that the pub and bunkhouse are not what they used to be, now looking a little tired and shabby around the edges, but a good time none the less and don't let that put you off going yourself. Methinks though that the new owners need to spend a few bob to get it back to what it was.

Waterfront bunkhouse and the Old Inn from the waterfront! This place across the road, but we're too late to visit and sample their wares


Sun and blue skies again, you can't beat this global warming.

Scotland day 2 - Trossachs to the far North West

Today the plan is to get up to Inchnadamph way up on Loch Assynt. From Balmaha, we have a bit of tour around the Trossachs going through Aberfoyle, Dukes Pass, and a detour for a cup of tea and a breakfast bun at the cafe at Loch Katrine. Could have stayed longer here and took in a boat ride on the steam ship 'Walter Scot', but that would have taken a half the day.

We follow the A84/A85 and turn off for Killin and the Falls of Dochart. We miss out going over Ben Lawers and Glen Lyon as Al & Nige did that two years ago (Steves none the wiser so what he doesn't know he can't miss). Along the side of Loch Tay and then turn off at Fearnan for Kinloch Rannoch via the Braes of Foss forest road along the side of Schiehallion. We get on the A9 at Struan and crack on past Inverness, turning off the A9 onto the B9176 at Alness. The end of this road has the Struie Hill view point overlooking the Dornoch Firth. At the viewpoint, met Neil from Stafford on his 1100 Pan, and as it happens he was a fellow Round Britain Rallyist!!! Really keen tourer as he was also doing the Scottish National Rally that week and must have had a full collection of 1:50000 OS maps in his pannier. First other RBR'r I've met on my travels.

Whist chatting, Neil mentions that the traffic lights at some roadworks at the bottom of the hill have both ends on red so take it careful and go past any queues and straight through, which I did., and note the queue of cars at the other end. Unfortunately, I thought Steve and Nige had also heard this nugget but they obviously hadn't. We came upon the queue, I went sailing through, they looked on aghast and horrified at me ignoring the red light and stopped. And waited, and waited and..................waited. Penny drops, and they too ignore the red light swiftly followed by the rest of the dozen or so queuing cars behind them. I waited and they catch me up and we find out that only i knew of the light problem!! Not long to go now as we head for Ledmore Junction via Glen Oykel and then up to Inchnadamph. We're staying at the Inchnadamph Lodge - been before and it's one of our favourite hostels along with a drink and bar meal at the Inchnadamph Hotel nearby.

Dodgy looking Yorkshireman wandering about outside Inchnadamp Lodge

Another dodgy looking Yorkshireman outside Inchnadamph Lodge.

The pair of them in close up so you can see how dodgy they really look!!!! To think I've got to spend three more nights with this pair.
260 miles in glorious sunshine for the second day on the trot - surely it can't go on and I can then try out my new overgloves??

Scotland Day 1 - where's the rain??

First day of this years trip to Scotland, pick up Steve on the way at 09:30 and we're due to meet Nige from IoM at Southwaite services on the M6 around 14:00.

Al & Steve take the scenic route to the M6 - A1 to Leeming Bar and then along Wharfedale and into Hawes for lunch at the Penny Garth cafe.


After a big fry up, we go to the M6 via Kirkby Steven - Steve nearly binned it as he hit some freshly dropped diesel on a mini roundabout. I saw and smelt the 18" slick, and so managed to miss it and hoped Steve in front had as well. He didn't and had a big step out and slide of the rear wheel. I reckon if we hadn't been following a van that was doddering along we would have been through this roundabout a bit quicker and who knows??

We meet Nige as planned at 14:00, first time we've seen him since last years jaunt. Off we go to our digs for tonight at the Balmaha Bunkhouse on Loch Lomond, which we reach at around 18:30. Cracking location, but the bunkhouse, although new isn't the best we've been in. Anyhow, a bit of wheeling and dealing by Nige results in us getting the cottage which sleeps four at a pinch, but has it's own en-suite and kitchen. Bob, the owner, brings us our breakfast - cereal, fruit juice, toast. Ended up paying £54 for the 3 of us so all in all not too bad.



Balmaha bunkhouse and the view of Loch Lomond across the road from it.
100yards down the road is the Oak Tree Inn, a great pub where we retired to for something to eat and a bit to drink. Got talking to Agnes, who runs the place, and it turns out they also have a bunkhouse, so that gives us another option for the future. Strangely, we got a look of shock and pity from her when we mentioned that we were staying at Bobs across the way!!!

So, 370 miles today and the overgloves staying firmly put in the top box.

It's going to be wet I fear........

Preparing for a wet ride around Scotland next week I've dug out my old Rukka overgloves and got hold of a pair of Rainoff overgloves. Might have a sort of old v's new roadtest!

These Rukka overgloves must be at least 18 years old and I haven't used them for at least ten, hence the recent acquisition of the Rainoffs!!! Then again, if I haven't bothered with overgloves for ten years then why have I spent £28 on the Rainoffs???? Too much disposable income probably, memories of last years sodden experience, and you all know that feeling when you just got to have something.