2008 LEO (Lands End to Orkney) Run

Post by **mrbenn** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:21 pm

SMS text update from Alex's blog 2/8/08 9.11pm

Arrived at Land's End. Spent several minutes on M5 wondering why a bearded madman was waving frantically at me, before realising it was SMS!

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 02, 2008 9:35 pm

Bit late spotting this - but I knew you would be pleased with the Wolseley front drums Alex - they ARE great - I've been saying so for ages!

Post by **trenowin** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:15 am

Hopefully the gang have left Lands End by now, 10:00 am sunday.
Enclosed is a picture of some of the cars outside the White Hart, Ludgvan on Saturday evening. Hope all goes well and a fingers crossed for a safe trip for everyone.<br>

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Post by **dalebrignall** » Sun Aug 03, 2008 10:34 am

see you all at chrich on monday lunchtime have a sefe journey everyone atb dale

Post by **rayofleamington** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 2:41 am

Hope to see you too Dale. I'm in need of 3 important bits of paper, all of which I 'might' get in the morning

My handbrake is still not as good as it should be, but one grooved drum changed, 2 springs replaced, and 3 different shoes fitted and I can just lock the rear wheels if trying very hard.
The new rear end wiring loom is looking fine. I changed the rotten front wing for a better one, but that didn't fit well and spent most of Sunday on it. I could have repaired the old wing in much less time!
I took the car for a short test drive and the petrol pump is doing odd things and the car cut out on me a few times

I've no idea why I'm so optimistic!!

Alex was here late this evening - his brakes were getting progressively worse since Saturday . A new master cylinder went in fine (levering the torsion bar to make a very quick job of it) but bleeding took a bit longer than hoped for, so he left about midnight.

Post by **RogerRust** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 6:28 am

Ray, If all else fails you can have a lift in the Volvo to Gretna on Wednesday morning, but I'm going home after the wedding. I expect you can blag a lift on from there!

Post by **mrbenn** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 10:31 am

SMS text update from Alex's blog 4/8/08 8.12am:

Got back to Stow on the Wold YH at 1AM after replacing my master cylinder at Rayofleamington's. Nearly fell over bloke sleeping on landing.

Post by **dalebrignall** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 7:02 pm

ray i hope ypu got your paperwork sorted did not see you at chrich but have a good trip in any case i wish i could have done the whole thing,drive safeley everyone dale.

Post by **mrbenn** » Mon Aug 04, 2008 9:14 pm

SMS text update from Alex's blog 4/8/08 8.27pm:

Helmsley YH is very nice. Finally got brakes bled properly thanks to fellow Minor owner who spotted me working on them and offered to help.

Post by **paulhumphries** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 10:19 am

Anyone has space (front footwell ?) to take a spare gearbox (would be well wrapped up so no oil or dirt) and a folding bike up to Orkney for Kevin ?
I'm at Stoke-on-Trent but could meet on M6 services at Keele.
It'd save him a fortune in courier costs if you can help.

Paul Humphries.

Post by **mrbenn** » Tue Aug 05, 2008 8:04 pm

SMS text update from Alex's blog 5/8/08 7.10pm:

I am relaxing with a book (Saturn's Children by Charles Stross) in Edmundbyers YH after spending the day at Beamish. N&S are here too.

Post by **mrbenn** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 6:16 pm

SMS text update from Alex's blog 6/8/08 5.27pm:

Wedding at Gretna went well. Met people driving a Hillman Minx from Southampton to Mull. Carlisle YH is actually uni halls of residence.

Post by **rupert** » Wed Aug 06, 2008 10:35 pm

looks like we're all still set for meeting at Balloch castle tomorrow!

hope the rain stops!

Rupert

Post by **mrbenn** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:41 am

SMS text update from Alex's blog 7/8/08 0.11am:

Saw Batman at the cinema. Great fun. Trailer for Mummy 3 looks good too. Got lost on return and saw impressive mill chimney from the bottom.

Post by **MoggyTech** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 7:23 pm

OK Guys and Girls, here's an update with some pictures.

First things first, only one breakdown to date, Bills fuel pump points packed in, so considering the mileage covered so far, the failure rate is very low (bet that has put a jinx on things).

Alex got separated from the pack at some point near the border, but was still the first of the pack to arrive at Ballock Castle . Andrew got there slightly after me, it took me as long to find the place, than it did to get there!

Ballock Castle was er, disappointing, so we left for Inveruglas to meet up with the main convoy, which was running late.

Here's a pic of Alex, Andrew, Ray of Lemmington, and Rupert in his Coma Camper, the eagle eyed will notice Alex is doing the whole trip in Lintila, brave man.

Next stop was at Inveruglas

Still waiting for the main convoy, so took some scenery shots

Then the fleet arrived

Weather was dire on the way there, but it stopped raining just after Glasgow, and it wasn't windy, so two out of three isn't bad.

It was great to meet the team, and put faces and voices to the user names we see on here. I enjoyed the drive, despite the M8 motorway being an even worse nightmare than I remembered from years back.

Post by **dalebrignall** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 8:12 pm

nice photo moggytec i met up with everyone on the monday just wish i could do the whole tripthe scenery looks fantastic.nice to here that there is good reliability with the cars well done

Post by **mrbenn** » Thu Aug 07, 2008 9:17 pm

SMS text update from Alex's blog 7/8/08 8.17pm:

Have climbed 300ft up Ben Nevis for phone signal (and view). YH is rather big and crowded. Took some great videos of drive up. JOG tomorrow!

Post by **mrbenn** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 12:10 am

SMS text update from Alex's blog 8/8/08 10.32pm:

Have arrived at the most northerly point of GB. Dunnet Head nicer than JOG. Suzanne got us into a small armed police incident on way to YH.

Post by **bmcecosse** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 5:29 am

" small armed police incident " - I thought it was the 'long' arm of the Law ?

Post by **ndevans** » Sat Aug 09, 2008 8:12 am

First update from us, we are at the ferry terminal at Scrabster waiting to board the boat, 8 minors lined up. They had our ferry booking but no tickets for us so had to go to the main office to pick them up.
No problems yet for us, car is running very smoothly and returning 42-45mpg. And thats with a full car with two wings for Kevin in the back!
Fabulous scenery the last couple of days through the glens, over Rannoch Moor, through Glencoe and along Loch Ness, but the only beasts were on 4 wheels! Had a quick photostop on the A82 with the horseshoe curve in the background. Saw kettle 62005 at Fort William on Friday morning bringing the stock in for the 1020 service to Mallaig. Will post another update later today. Photo below was taken Friday at Dunnet Head. Cheers Neil.<br>

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