Yes, it is interesting.
The Turbo would probably be better for a beginner. ;)
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Yes, it is interesting.
The Turbo would probably be better for a beginner. ;)
Tomorrow is going to be a challenge. Up here in the frozen wastelands we have to do a round trip to Pitlochry tomorrow. In the summer it should be no problem, but we're not there yet - nowhere near.
It's a bit more than 200 miles there and back down the A9, and so much for all the hoooh hah about widening the A9 and providing EV charging points at convenient locations it's not looking great.
We are going to the Festival Theatre at Pitlochry - and given that it's an attraction [of a sort] one might imagine it would have EV charging points. I phoned to check - NO!
Really places like this which function as attractions should have EV charging points.
We might just do the whole thing if I use the pre-conditioning before we leave in the morning - with a very full charge overnight.
Otherwise we'll probably have to stop for 20 mins or so at Aviemore on the way back. We could stop there on the way down, but that shouldn't really be necessary - unless I need a pee!
We finally got rid of our last ICE car a few weeks ago - and I'm glad to say that it's still being used. We made a bit of a loss on that, as it was costing money to keep it without using it, and we needed the space in our garage.
I had some work done on it last year, but then unfortunately one of the windows got stuck down, so I had to move it inside. The new owner has apparently managed to fix that issue on one side, though created a similar problem on the driver's side - though at least the window is closed - it just doesn't go down. Peugeot 207cc - was quite nice while we had it - though it's now around 18 years old.
Gone really dark here now.
'What's the weather like Centurion?'
'Hail, Caesar.'
Do they still have 40mph limit for HGVs on the A9? Just tuck yourself behind one for a bit of slipstreaming and you should be ok :)Quote:
Originally Posted by dave2010
Just got back from York, where it has been sunny but a bit chilly. Stayed like that till we reached the Saddleworth junction on the M62, then it was like driving into a wall of water. With an advisory 40mph limit due to strong winds.
Back to blue sky and sunshine here now.
Well the forecast threat of rain here never materialised, not that I'm complaining. And like Martin says: "back to blue sky and sunshine".
Tomorrow, there is a 10% chance of rain for most of the afternoon.
Tomorrow supposed to be sunny all day, no rain, wind at normal levels i.e windy but not stupid.
Temperature goes down to zero here before dawn.
There is a limit - but it's now 50mph. Somewhat bonkers really - as it messes up some cruise controls which detect the limits from the signs, so as cars are allowed to do 60mph in some cars we just have to ignore that and go at around 60mph anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by Pigmy Pony
The other thing - which has really caught me out - and surprised me in the past is this - following a really big truck doing 50mph, but often when those reach the double carriageway they streak off - often well above 70mph even going up hill.
Maybe they are empty, and have more than enough spare power to do that. Seems they are only restricted to 50mph on the sections where cars can do 60mph.
The trip today was OK. I bumped the battery up to 100% last night - not recommended for everyday use - and did the preconditioning before setting off.
Actually did the complete roundtrip - with 4 inside after a pickup in Inverness - and had over 10% left on our return - but a warning that as the weather is cold it should be plugged in ASAP.
So now it's on charge with the cheap rate tariff.
This was a first in over 5 years - a round trip of 216 miles according to the trip report - with no stops to charge on the way, and no need for rest stops in either direction.
There are also long stretches of average speed checks now on the A9 - as well as the many sections of road works.
There is at least some slight evidence of progess being made in one part, where there are many sections of prefabricated concrete beams on trailers waiting to be deployed in that section.
It's a few years now since I last drove up the A9, going to Ullapool, but back then it was 40mph limit for HGVs, and I remember thinking at the time it was a recipe for disaster, with car drivers taking sometimes mad risks to get past the trucks. There are plans to make the Perth-Inverness section dual carriageway, but the completion date keeps getting put back and is now expected to be 2035.
https://www.digbybrown.co.uk/news/wh...to-be-aware-of
Of course reckless overtakes are only part of the reason why the A9 is so dangerous (reportedly 35% of fatals are due to overtaking), driver fatigue and confusion over speed limits play a part too. Time was if you wanted a brew or just a break from driving you could just stop at one of the many small towns and villages that formed part of the route. These days you'd have to leave the A9 to access these places (assuming they even exist any more due to falling custom), and so many drivers will just plough on tired. Needs some services.
But it won't be putting me off, we plan to go up there this summer. I'm more bothered about the midges :)