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PERTHSHIRE
CRUISE :: 08:06:2003
When we saw the old dear standing
at the window of her front room,
excitedly chattering into her
telephone and pointing at the
rather colourful array of MINIs
parked on the road outside her
house, you could guess what
she was saying, "You'll
not believe what's just pulled
up outside! ". It was probably
one of the more interesting
things to have happened in Braco
in recent years if you exclude
Mrs. MacTavish's success in
the jam making contest at the
Perth Show.....or something
like that.
Of course, if
she'd been keeping an eye on
this site she would have known
that it was the maiden Perthshire
MINI Run passing through.
The build up to the inaugural
Perthshire MINI cruise started
the evening before with 12 of
us meeting up for dinner and
some moderate drinking at the
Beancross Hotel in Falkirk.
Highlights of the meal were
Richard's rude ice cream and
the look on the waitresses'
face when Andy asked for custard
with his chocolate cheese cake.
A good night was had by all.
The day itself started in rather
soggy fashion at Stirling Services
where 25 MINIs and occupants
assembled to receive their instructions
for the day from organisers
Linda and Willie M. Those attending
had travelled from far and wide
by land and one case, sea. Special
mention must go to Fontal (Richard),
our first overseas visitor...well
he's from Shetland so that counts.
We also had Bad Manners (Andy),
Martin and Tim from south of
the border. Along with the usual
suspects we also had a healthy
number of new faces which bodes
well for the future.
Soon we were on our way heading
up into the Perthshire hills
at a healthy rate of knots.
Using a nautical term seems
appropriate, given the road
conditions at the time. We had
a couple a stops at Braco, to
wait on Mini Martyn; then on
through Comrie to Crieff.
From Crieff it was across to
Luncarty, Stanley, Caputh and
then following the course of
the Tay up to Dunkeld for lunch.
After a quick game of "How
many Minis can you fit in a
car park" we settled down
to lunch at the Royal Hotel.
After allowing a little time
for digesting the Haddock &
Chips it was time for Willie
M's quiz. After much head scratching,
debate and complete embarrassment
for some, the winning team,
with 14 points out of 20 was
Bad Manners and Perpetual Mini
who were presented with a MINI
keyring each by Willie's glamorous
assistant Linda.
The next leg was up to Pitlochry
along the back roads and lanes.
We crossed the Telford Bridge
at Logierait then over to Ballanluig
and up the hill where we had
the pleasure of watching Zoooom
handbreaking a hairpin bend
along the way.
Arrival at the Pitlochry Festival
Theatre was marked by a chorus
of horns and excitable tourists
which was exactly the reaction
we were after. This was followed
by a stampede for the Ice Cream
counter on the riverside. It's
amazing the lengths some folk
go to for ice cream. I've even
heard a story about a bunch
of idiots who travel form Perth
to Cullen every year, just to
get a 99, imagine that! It soon
became apparent that Martin
Plaskit was upsetting the salmon
in the river, they seemed especially
eager to be on their way while
he was about so it was time
to move again.
It was now time for the most
beautiful stretch of the run
along the south side of Loch
Tummel, not that I got much
of a chance to look at it as
I was concentrating on trying
to keep up with Linda as she
hurtled along the single track
road.
At the end of the loch I made
a break for it to get ahead
for a photo opportunity at the
top of the hill looking back
towards the summit of Schehallion.
Sadly Schehallion had decided
to stay hidden and as is now
becoming the norm on mini runs,
I got soaked. This time courtesy
of the good old Scottish summer
weather.
I finally caught up with the
main group about the outskirts
of Aberfeldy where we had one
last stop before the final leg
to Glen Turret. Apparently Zooooom
showed Linda what a MINI is
meant to be driven like which
would explain why they got to
Glen Turret about 20 minutes
before I did!.
It was finally time to say our
good byes and convey our thanks
to Linda and Willie for all
their hard work organising such
a fantastic day out. One final
group photo and everyone set
off on their homeward journeys.
MINI tackles Perthshire....and
WINS...the end.
Monsta Mo Mini
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