Saturday, 8am, alight from the hoose and saunter through the park- behold a dry sunrise!
An auspicious start given the day ahead..
A chance conversation with a colleague had morphed into the opporchancity for a mildly surreal roadtrip.
This was GOOOOOD.
I had to collect a suite.
That was BAD.
I had to hire a van.
That was GOOOOOD.
So like the rotund man who liked spam in a cake tin says, 2 out of 3 is none too shabby.
The meander through the park lead to the local purveyor of short term furniture relocation devices (http://www.amkselfdrive.co.uk/ )
Unlike the majority of hirers, this lot seem to understand that a clean and well maintained van means a happy customer- consequently we always use them.
They also rather helpfully supply the van full of fuel, and top it up off your deposit- a smart system.
Behold the steed-
An 11 plate Transit in red. AKA the SportsVan (SV for short). And it was short. SWB, Lowtop for the best COG available.
YAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSSS!
A quick sojourn to the hoose to collect the Da for additional muscles and we were affski
Ahead lay 170miles worth of round trippery on some fine roads. The Suite was billeted in Minard- a wee village half way between Inveraray and Lochgilphead.
This meant we got to play on the a82 and a83, north and north-west of Glasgow. Outside of tourist season these are flowing ribbons of tarmac scything through superb scenery-picture postcard stuff.
SportsVan was riding well, shifting to forth and a touch of Fu’Gutty dispensing with the occasional dawdler. The handling was great, tempered only by the commercial rubber limiting grip- although that provided its own entertainment..
Great delight was had keeping up with cars through the twisties- momentum and a well aimed front end rewarding with surprising agility. It may drive the wrong wheels, but it is no a bad steer!
Lunch was had at 11am, sitting in the van waiting on the convoy vehicle. A landslip earlier in the week had closed the a83 with a hefty 2000 tonnes needing cleared and pinned. Fortunately, the old military road was open, so we got to schlep the old way up the “Rest and Be Thankful”. Note to self, Idle and 3rd does not a happy van make.
11.50am saw us buying a couple of bottles of wine in Inveraray- despite being Scottish, this is not the normal modus operandi for I- being a gentleman, I favour a later start..1pm is more than adequate.
We also got to marvel at a TV Star..The Vital Spark was in a show years ago (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9yW-dyUwV28 )
Seriously, the vino was payment for the suite- The bottles, plus some witty banter, and removal of said furishings considered to be sufficient. The vendors were guid peoples, something which was to prove fortuitous in short order.
Suite loaded, and we thundered towards the promise of coffee and Empire biscuits in Inveraray. Comfort food that is good for the soul..comfort, like cushions. Ah f%^k we’ve left the bluddy cushions!
Layby located, a hasty phonecall established that yer sofa man was flattening the hills and straightening the curves (thanks Mr Jennings) to ensure our future comfort. The smell of brakepad when he drew up suggested his Accord had been in receipt o’ a skelpin-good man.
Finally fully cargo’d, we procured sustenance at a crackin wee café in Inveraray. Its one of our regular haunts and worthy of a stop- Brambles is its name (http://bramblesguesthouse.com/restaurant-bistro/ )
Refreshed, we fired up the clatter and struck out for home.
Uneventful bar the convoy, we made it to within 10 miles of home, only to be confronted with a diversion that stuck another 15 miles onto the trip. Luckily it was down some local fun roads, so the SportsVan got an extended workout.
There really is something satisfying about hustling a van along- its real work, unlike this office sitting game I skiddle at.
Home by 2.30pm, the van was emptied and re loaded (old suite) by 3pm, just in time for my Da to miss his team’s game. No great loss, as it was a 3-3 thriller, by all accounts- nae Christmas card for me then..
Took the SportsVan back the next day, and it’d used only £28 of fuel- Nearly 37mpg over the 170 miles. Superb.
The suite is in place, and the burd hints at getting it re-covered. I hint at buying a van..We’ll see who wins that one,,,
fu'guttycars 