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Monday
6/6/2011
Left Cobham, 130 Miles of motoring today in a sweep around
London to Newmarket.
On the way we stopped at the Shuutleworth Collection,
a very impressiver asir museum with some of the oldest
planes in existance.
There is also a pleasing mix of cars, carriages and motorcycles.
After visiting the Shuttleworth collection, we completed
the outer arc around London to spend the night at the
Bedford Lodge Hotel, Newmarket.
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A bit damp today, Maritta sports the latest in rain
protection
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Checking out
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Back onto the country lanes
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Parked outside Shuttleworth Museum
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Early rotary engine
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Unusual aero engine starter built on Model T Ford
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Some old carriages
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Original hangers house the collection, don't think
we visited them all
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Some of the oldest planes still flying are housed here
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Very nice TA21 Special
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Off again, Firefly leading this time
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Sculpture on the outskirts of Newmarket
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Bedford Lodge Newmarket.
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Carpark huddle
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TE21 and Firefly
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Tuesday
7/6/011
Visited Fen drainage Museum in Prickewillow. Although
not used in anger now, the pumps and engines are still
operational and can be used in an emergency. The enormous
45inch Allen Conquerer pump, connected by a shaft to the
Mirrlees diesel engine, runs at about 226RPM and can lift
150 tons of water 18 feet in a minuteconnected to a 45inch
Allen pump. It was installed inh 1924 and retired in 1986
when loss of vacuum in the flumes leading to the pump
caused a loss of pumping action.
Then on to the Cathedral at Eli where we could climb
up into the tower and on the roof for an amzing view.
before going to a BBQ at David and Sue Littles Old Railway
Station in Mildenhall |
Welcome the Alvis Owners Club to Prickwillow Drainage
Museum
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Outside Museum
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Chester relaxing
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Some of the crowd
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Huge Mirrlees diesel engine
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Other side of the Mirrlees engine
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Off to Ely Cathedral
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Ely Cathedral
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Amazing work on the ceiling
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Inside the tower
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View from high in the tower
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On the roof
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Staircase not for the feint hearted
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Amazing timber in the tower
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Its a bit squeezy as well
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Amazing intricacy in the stained glass
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Beautiful evening for a garden party
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Wednesday 8/6/2011
Visited Sandringham castle, then back to Newmarket
(Horses everywhere not surprisingly), very nice gardens
then toured to our overnight stay at Petwood Hotel or
Woodhall Spa.
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Some of the tourists at Sandringham Castle gates |
Ready for the day
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Just about to leave
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It's very photogenic
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 Newmarket,
horses everywhere |
 Iinteresting
railway cottage
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Protecting the UK.
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Tower alonbg the way somewhere
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Scenic drive through Sandringham Gardens
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Royal companion memorial wall
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Prince Andrew's replica Aston Martin, complete with
water cannons and bullet proof sheild.
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Prince Phillip's TD21 with raised roof for his top
hat
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Interesting chimney
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Geese and ducks are very happy
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Relaxed lunch on the lawn
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Stutton Bridge, near Kings Lynn
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More horses
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And more horses
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And even more horses
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Thursday
9/6/2011,
Drive to Derwent Hotel in north west,
delightful drive across the Yorkshire moors, visited
derelict abbey and the terrace above which looked down
on the Ruievaulx Abbey ruins. Property has been in same
family since 1700’s and they once owned 37,000
aces of English countryside.
Overnight lodging was at Derwent Manor
Hotel where we had what was apparently the Bridal suite
in the tower. It was literally big enough to hold a
party so we will host Pre-dinner drinks tomorrow night.
We paid for it a few nights later when
our booking was missed and we spent the first night
in the gardeners cottage.
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Humber Bridge carpark
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What hope have we got when the locals get lost
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Unusal street art
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There is a surprising amount of open space in the UK.
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Approaching Humber Bridge
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Getting closer
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Crossing the bridge, a 2,220M single span suspension
bridge
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Humber Estuary
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Ye4, still in there
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Missed the exit, again
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Roundabout derby
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Thnk we have everyone this time
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Some interesting gateways
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A tower along the way.
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Lunch
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Quiet village until a tractor came through
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 Rievaulx
Abbey Ruins |
Promenade above the Abbey
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Pavillion used for dinner after your evening promenade.
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Fine dining after your promenade
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Sign is a bit ominous
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Bottom at last
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Rare Duncan bodied TA14 Alvis
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Our room at the top of the tower
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Noeline inspects the facilities
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Big enough for pre-dinner drinks.
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Friday 10/6/2011
Visit to the Beamish Museum today so only a short drive.
The town has been built with buildings from the surrounding
area, pulled down and painstakingly rebuilt in the Museum
You could easily spend a number of days exploring the
300 acre site, which includes an underground coal mine,
but historic buses and a tramway help you to get around.
At dinner that night the Aussies, with some local help
and choreography by Noeline and Alan, put on a pantomine
which was hilarious and well received by both the actors
and the audience.
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Line up of Alvis at Beamish Museum
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SA Speed 20
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Pair of 4.3L's
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4.3L mascot
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Beamish Iron works
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Cute Alvis sized picnic shelter
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Rail yards
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View from the rear
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Tramway
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And a Bus to get around on
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Even shops
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Inside the tram
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One of the many building
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Historic engines
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Minbers lanterns
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Mine entrance
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Its a bit cosy inside |
Mine winding engine |
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Inside one of the buidlings
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Afternoon tea in the Pub
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After the Museum officially closed we lined up for
photo's in the "main" street
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Alan though he'd get a quick service
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Pre-Dinner drinks
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Evening view from our room
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Pantomine for entertainment tonight
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Fairy Godmother gives them what-for
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Saturday
11/6/2011
Travelled from Consett to North Queensferry, Edinburgh,
just over the Firth of Forth bridge, excellent views of
the bridge although the weather turned nasty.
On the way we stopped at Chesters Roman Fort, known to
the Roman's as Ciluman, it was built to guard the Roman
bridge which carried Hadrian's Wall and the military road
across the River North Tyne.
We then went via Carter's Bar into Scotland and on to
North Queensferry. |
"Juliet" sadly about to vacate her tower
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Coffee stop
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Near Chester's Fort
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Chesters Fort, part of Hadrian's Wall
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Cammandant's quarters
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Remains of Chesters Bridge
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Weather looking bleak
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Noeline trying the latest weather protection
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Some minor repairs
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Sign says it all
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Time for the hood to go up.
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No Piper today.
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Bridewell Jail, Jedburgh
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Jedburgh Abbey, founded 1147, left in ruins after the
border wars of the 16th century
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Weather definitely deteriorated
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Crossing the Forth of Firth bridge
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Impromptu rain sealing
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Rail bridge is impressive
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Forth of Firth Bridge
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Locals seem nervous
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Sunday
12/6/2011
Travelled from Queensferry (Edinburgh) to Loch Melfort
(The Inn on the Lake) where we stay for three days, excellent
days driving on the Scottish roads although they managed
to lose our room booking, stayed the night in the Gardener's
Cottage, small but quaint, will move into main house tomorrow.
David Stagg driving Richards Graber had a moment when
we dialed passed a fuel stop and Alan decided to get fuel,
David laid some rubber on the road stopping. The roads
around the lochs where delightful, had trouble staying
ahead of Alan in the 12/50. View is spectacular from the
hotel.
Visited Grouse Whiskey distillery in still don’t
like whiskey but the snow grouse one was OK, felt the
black grouse all the way down for about 10 minutes, needed
Tristan to finish the tasting.
In the afternoon we went to an unbelievable train setup,
71/4 inch gauge, several loco's including steam etc, great
fun. I think you had to be into miniture trains to live
in the neighborhood, we discovered several neighboors
where helping on the day when the last train dropped them
off at their houses around the track.
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TOWSER, 21/4/1963-20/3/1987. Lived in the stillhouse
at Glenlivet distilliary. She caught 28,899 mice in
her lifetime and is in the Guinness Book of Records.
Statue at Famouse Grouse Distilliary.
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Ready for a tasting
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The Famouse Grouse
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Miniature railway at Comrie (closed 2014?)
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Llocomotives are models based on those at Welsh Slate
Quarries
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and the Durango and Silverton railroads in Colorado,
USA
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There3 is an extensive track layout
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Track curls through the gardens and nearby forest
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Beside a small lake
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Including an imperssive trestle bridge
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OOPS Someone forgot their library
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Loch Awe
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Monday 13/6/2011
Spent the morning visiting Oban and then went to Port
Appin for lunch.
Returned to look at Atlantic bridge, missed it the first
time and went down a very narrow road which became gravel,
turned around at that point.
Found the right road eventually, bridge is a hump back
type built around 1790, very sharp, could have easily
driven over a modern in the TE without seeing it.
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Clachan Bridge (over the Atlantic), built 1791.
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Less than salubrious accomodation last night
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Much better for the next two nights |
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McCaigs Tower (Folly) overlooking Oban
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Another view of the cliffs arounf Oban
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Impressive bridge, not the one we are looking for
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Port Appin
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There are some unusual shaped houses
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Is that enough chimney pots |
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Bridge over the Atlantic
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The Atlantic Ocean is out there somewhere
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Anyone coming won't be seen
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Quite a sign, The Old Inn (background) was used by
Scots to change into their banned Kilts
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Back at Loch Melfort Hotel
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Sun is shining
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Not for long though.
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Tuesday
14/6/2011
Loch Melfort, Had quiet morning, washed Ian’s car
(surprise) and Maritta wandered around the gardens with
Noeline and Liz.
In the afternoon visited Crinin canal for a light lunch,
walked along the canal for a while and watched the boats
going through the Locks.
Returned to Hotel and sorted out route for next day
over a couple of pints
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Crinan and Crinan Canal
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Highland cow looks content
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Some interesting plants in the gardens
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Yachts enjoy the sun
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Yachts exiting the canal lock
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Nice walk along the canal
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Paddington also enjoys the sun
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Wednesday
15/6/2011
Off to the “Inn on the Lake, Ullswater, today,
long drive of about 275 miles.
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Good day to be driving a saloon
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Inverary Bell Tower
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Interesting sailing ship
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Inverary castle
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Gets worse before it gets better
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At least can see something now |
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Day had cleared so we could enjoy the
gardens at The Inn on the Lake |
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Thursday 16/6/2011
Esciting drive today via Kirkstone Pass, 1489ft above
sea level. The pass is the highest pass in the Lake
District traversed by road and has a gradient of 1 in4
at times. The Inn (Free House) was established in 1496
AD.
Visited the Lakeland museum, nice display of more modern
and less exotic cars (MGA Police car was interesting,
also display of the Campbell cars and boats (K4, K7.),
took Noeline and Alan in the TE with us.
Then walked down to view the pretend steamers, to
late to go for a sail., they were diesel anyway, not
steam.
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Don't think Noeline was happy about the descent from
Kirkstone Pass
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Some impressive rock walls min even more impressive
locations
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Lots of rocks
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Bet thats cold
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Kirkstone Inn
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Lakeland Museum
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Sir Donald Campbell's K7
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Back at the Inn
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Very nice TA14
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Paddington catches some rays
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"Steamer" on the Lake.
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Friday
17/6/2011
Inn on the Lake (Ullswater to Wrexham in North Wales),
managed to lose Alan and Noeline and Richard somewhere,
and wherever we were we then went around ourselves twice
before we found a way out, didn’t find the right
road but found Lancaster (which we managed to navigate
relatively easily) in fairly quick time.
Went to the Barton grange (I think) Garden centre for
lunch (recommended) and AA&N and RT appeared soon
after, and what an amazing place the garden centre was
even had flower shaped urinals. Visited Norman and Claire
for afternoon tea and looked at his Bentley restoration,
supposedly 45minutes from Holt Lodge but the longest 45
minutes I’ve encountered.
Ian and Jane Galloway re-joined us as did a couple of
others. Ian “sent a wench” for some gravy
during dinner which amused all.
Nick Simpson gave a pre dinner technical talk, mainly
on 3l suspension and cooling systems.
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Ready to leave "Inn on the Lake"
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Garden centre is almost a destination to spend the
day
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Canal boats nearby
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Calire and Norman's for afternoon tea.
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Next destination
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Saturday
18/6/2011
Long day, instructions a bit ordinary, visited Chris
Prince (3L parts, huge collection of derelict 3l's and
moving into Pre War parts).
We got hopelessly lost on the way to Red Triangle, had
to ask a friendly Police man, got there eventually, very
impressive workshop, they do paint and trim in house,
engine and chassis dyno.
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Outside Red Triangle (now Alvis Car Company Limited
once again)
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Leaving Holt Lodge
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Chris Prince, Alvis spares.
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A myriad of 3L components
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Not an Alvis
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Plate for steam tractor (on left)
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Chris has a large number of old barns and outhouses
to store parts
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Lost somewhere near Crudgington
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Warwick
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Red Triangle
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The continuation 4.3L
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Very impressive recreation
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Maritta and Richard discuss the 4.3L
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Not sure about the fuel injection?
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Parts for Speed models
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Engine test
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Sunday
19/6/2011
Midland Alvis Day (MAD) at Charlotte park, Wellesbourne.
It might have only been 5 miles away but we still took
the inevitable wrong turn, helped by Ian Galloway this
time.
We got there eventually and convinced Alan to enter the
12/50 in the concourse and I opted not to do the driving
tests.
We all heled Alan polish the car, Noeline on her hands
and knees cleaning the wheels, Maritta and I polishing,
anyway, it all payed off when Alan won his class and also
the overall cup for 4 cylinder cars (Not bad for a car
that travelled half way around the world).
Got lost again on the way back to the Hotel.
Had drinks in Richards room and then dinner and farewell
to the remaining Alvis people (about 20) as we had to
leave at 7 the next morning (a lot had gone home after
the MAD celebrations).
Sent our spare clothes etc with Norman and Claire, we
will fly back to Manchester on the way home from Ireland
and pick them up. |
Polishing Team
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Alan and Noeline arrive in the 12/50
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More polishing
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Even more polishing
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 Everyone
lends a hand |
You can certainly see yourself in it now
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 Very
neat |
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Very nice Firefly
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And its Mascot
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Approach to the House
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Anyone for croquet
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Cottage needs a little TLC
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Box lunch provided
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Garden swing
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Where to next?
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They do hedges so well
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Doesn't look very comfortable
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This doesn't look comfortable either
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Alan rest his award
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And shows it off
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Last day with the TE21.
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