Garve - Bomb Spotting Run

Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Well, its that time of year again when Joint Warrior 2 kicks off.

Having waded through this document:-

http://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/-/media...ng-vessels-and-ferries-u-sosm-v2.pdf?la=en-gb

I believe that the island (Garvie) itself will only be a target next week, 11-14th Oct. Weather looks good all week, so I'm thinking I'll plan a run up on Thursday 13th.

Not called ahead on this one, so it may all turn to worms, but it's still a dam fine run up & back, so whats too lose?

Steve T

:cool:
 
austin

austin

Well-Known Member
Steve T said:
but it's still a dam fine run up & back, so whats too lose?
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Its a bit further from down in Englandshire and I am in Scotland (again) in November giving a couple of friends a guided tour (again). I will have a think but feeling very very tempted, although this month seems to be very expensive - car & bike insurance renews, son's birthday and I just bought a sergeant seat off Rederic. If I do come I will probably do one one long day to the campsite at durness on Wednesday, stay until Friday and back in one-two days. I might see if a pal from down here fancies the trip too.
 
Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Well it would appear that the military are running short of things to drop - no bombing at all up at Garvie during Joint Warrior 16-2 :(

Only ship to shore gunnery practice . . . . . . . and even that is sporadic, according the the man on the spot, to whom I conversed this afternoon.

So I'd save your fuel Austin and maybe plan for a trip north next April :rolleyes:. Not even sure if I'll bother taking a run up there now :confused:

TTFN,

Steve T

:cool:
 
austin

austin

Well-Known Member
Thanks Steve. I was just coming round to deciding to come up so good timely info. I might go to the ABR rally in N Yorks instead. Beating starts on the 22nd so that's most weekend tied up until end jan so need to get a rally in when I can.
 
Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Glad to be of service Austin;)

Would that be the Ecky Thump rally? Meant to attend that one several years ago, but whimped out cos of the cold :confused:

Start beating here on the 5th Nov - looking forward to getting out with the dog :clapping:


Till April then :)

Steve T

:cool:
 
Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Well, even though there was nowt on, military wise, I still fancied a run up north . . . . . . so I did exactly that ;)
Cool but not a bad start to the day. 1st picture taken just before I got to Laxford Bridge.

Looking over Loch Stack to Arkle



Got to the beach up at Balnakeil and was unable to contact the range control building due to no phone signal. Took a few minutes to walk the track as it led onto the beach, and spy on the control tower with my bino’s, to see if there was any activity. Track was well packed down, but little to no movement up at the tower.

“Feck it, I’ll give it a go” say’s I :clapping:. A very kind Aussie lady closed the gate behind me, whilst 2 Americans gawped as I slithered onto the beach.

At last, a picture or two of my bike in the dunes that lead up to the range control tower








Got to the fence that surrounds the tower, only to find the gate closed




Bummocks.

Still, not a bother, as I could see nothing out to sea that was capable of lobbing shells in-land. So instead of parking up, walking out to the cliffs and watching the waves coming in and going out o_O, I turned around and enjoyed a sandy ride back through the dunes and across the beach. The two Americans had, by the time I got back down to the beach, walked right across the beach to the dune side. Chap got his camera up as I was slithering past them on the wet sand, so I obligingly gave him the V for Victory sign as I rode past.

Wandered down towards the ferry slip way and enjoyed a nice cuppa and a snack, before taking a different route home.

Steve T

:cool:
 
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austin

austin

Well-Known Member
Well done Steve, glad I didnae bother and the weather forecast in Scotland isn't that good either, although a trip to Scotland is always good in lots of other ways. I still wouldna taken my GSA across the beach.
 
Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Weather! The only rain I saw all day was the last 3 miles to home from Elgin :rolleyes:

The wind, on the other hand, was a bit fierce up north. At the tower end of the track I was in th lee of the hill, but you could see the flag on the tower being blown straight out with the gale :confused:.

The beach was a piece of wee. The track through the dunes was, in places, interesting - you could just make out where the 4x4's had "wandered off of the compacted sand o_O.

Maybe next year Austin, maybe next year :thumbsup:

Steve T

:cool:
 
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Steve T

Steve T

Well-Known Member
Lowflyer said:
You planning it ? Take it that's the 26th March to 6th April ?
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Dates are for the whole exercise. I was thinking of delaying my visit till April has arrived and then I could "thrungggg" north on the Strom o_O :thumbsup:.
What date suits yourself John, should you be interested in a run north?

Steve T

:cool:
 
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