Tommy's A-series Misery - NC500 in 3 wheelers

[Matty]

You need to get Sharley to pull over. There's something hanging down under his car. Ah, actually... 😁

[Tommyboy12]

Made it to Fort William. Quick stop for lunch then onto Applecross.

 

Found a fellow lunatic 

[Tommyboy12]

What a beautiful place to change a fan belt. Squealing like a banshee despite me adjusting it up before we left yesterday. Easier to just change it now

[Tommyboy12]

A pause at the bottom of Applecross while Simon takes a work call for an hour.

Its nice not to be listening to the engine for a while.

Of course I'll definitely be hearing it going up the pass

[M'coli]

Don't be tempted to follow each other nose-to-tail up & down the bealach, you really want to be only one of you in a passing place, that way you can let the locals past easily and you won't get blamed for hogging the road.  >It's very tempting to rush up behind someone approaching a passing place, but all too often there's suddenly a queue of cars each way, with the stragglers blocking the exits of the PPs.

[Tommyboy12]

Scotland's Stelvio? Completed it mate

[Tommyboy12]

2 hours ago, M'coli said:

Don't be tempted to follow each other nose-to-tail up & down the bealach, you really want to be only one of you in a passing place, that way you can let the locals past easily and you won't get blamed for hogging the road.  >It's very tempting to rush up behind someone approaching a passing place, but all too often there's suddenly a queue of cars each way, with the stragglers blocking the exits of the PPs.

We were ok. Its late in the day. Passed 3 cars going up the pass. Only passed probably 5-6 more doing the loop round back to the main road. Most people were courteous and let us past

[Tommyboy12]

One more stop and another money shot. We're about 30 minutes from the hotel and a cold beer!

Both cars have been very well behaved all told. Both have needed minor top ups of oil and water but other than that they're performing great. Simon cooked his brakes on the pass so they squeal now but they still work (as well as three drum brakes can)

[Matty]

What's tommorows itinerary? 

[Tommyboy12]

9 hours ago, Matty said:

What's tommorows itinerary? 

Today's itinerary is as follows.

Depart Gairloch at 8am (after the all important cooked breakfast)

Durness in 3 hours.

On to John O Groats in another 2.5 hours.

Then down to Wick which is about 45 minutes.

We will be breaking the day up a lot today as Simon has multiple business calls to make. The fun of being self employed and not easily able to take proper holidays.

Were up to 758 miles so far! Only another 723 to go!

[M'coli]

Try to take in Dunnet Head, too - it's the most northerly point on th mainland and not too much of a detour.  (I'd swing past Dounreay, too, for nuclear reasons...)

[Tommyboy12]

Made it to the Montego's breakdown spot in Clashnessie. This Reliant is officially more reliable than a Montego

[Tommyboy12]

Just made it Durness. Were planning to stop here a couple of hours.

Got a great shot at Kylesku

A kind guy took a Polaroid of us and gave it to me

Spotted some Reliant's on the way too!

And abandoned in Durness

Were making good progress! Time for lunch and a break

[kirton]

Can second Dunnet Head,  v close to JoG which is not really worth stopping for more than the obligatory photos, the tide race at Dunnet  is terrifying

 

 

 

 

[EyesWeldedShut]

[Matty]

Just now, EyesWeldedShut said:

I wouldn't worry. Its the met office. It'll end up snowing in Bournemouth instead or something 😁

[Tommyboy12]

Ive got working wipers and not trailer tyres. @sharley17194 should be more worried 😂

[Matty]

Made of plastic and vaguely kayak shaped. Bit of flooding will be no problem.

[Tommyboy12]

Breaking news!

 

[dave j]

Great picture! Now get a similar shot at Lands End

[Tommyboy12]

13 minutes ago, dave j said:

Great picture! Now get a similar shot at Lands End

Not this time 😂

[Tommyboy12]

We finished up the day in Wick which is only a short drive from JOG. Now its time for a two day slog home. Really glad it made it to the top. Half hoping it breaks down now so I don't have to drive it home 😅

Enjoy an assortment of today's photos

 

[sharley17194]

You lie..you don’t drink…I had to drink your share! 
 

On 12/08/2025 at 19:20, Tommyboy12 said:

One more stop and another money shot. We're about 30 minutes from the hotel and a cold beer!

Both cars have been very well behaved all told. Both have needed minor top ups of oil and water but other than that they're performing great. Simon cooked his brakes on the pass so they squeal now but they still work (as well as three drum brakes can)

 

[Matty]

Brilliant as always lads. Ill keep fingers crossed that the trip home is both uneventful and good craic 👍

[High Jetter]

4 hours ago, dave j said:

Great picture! Now get a similar shot at Lands End

Friday? 🤣

[Zelandeth]

Well done!

How have the cars been doing generally?  Aside from being bloody noisy and a bit wobbly how have they been handling the long distance work?  Much to my shame I've only spent a few minutes in a Reliant 3 wheeler, and it was a looooooong time ago.  The only thing I really remember was that it struck me as being an absolutely wonderful little engine in it which seemed to like to rev like an utter lunatic.

This is the sort of thread I need to show the nay sayers who think I'm mad for wanting to take the P4 up to visit a friend in Aberdeenshire once I've got it properly sorted out.  There's no bloody reason to be scared of a long trip just because a car is old.

[Tommyboy12]

7 hours ago, Zelandeth said:

Well done!

How have the cars been doing generally?  Aside from being bloody noisy and a bit wobbly how have they been handling the long distance work?  Much to my shame I've only spent a few minutes in a Reliant 3 wheeler, and it was a looooooong time ago.  The only thing I really remember was that it struck me as being an absolutely wonderful little engine in it which seemed to like to rev like an utter lunatic.

This is the sort of thread I need to show the nay sayers who think I'm mad for wanting to take the P4 up to visit a friend in Aberdeenshire once I've got it properly sorted out.  There's no bloody reason to be scared of a long trip just because a car is old.

Theyve honestly been fine. Way more reliable than they deserve to be. We brought everything with us. Ignition components, spare radiator, water pump, clutch plate even! We were prepared! But all they've needed is water and oil top ups. Not really surprising. I have gained a small weep from a rear brake cylinder so I'm keeping an eye on brake fluid now. I was expecting a bad back, leg pain, deafness, fatigue but honestly have none of that. I have been wearing noise cancelling headphones on the motorways but more for music as I have no radio!

Driving wise theyve also been great. Not quick by any stretch but we've been merrily bombing along at 50-60mph the whole time. There's a fair few average speed cameras up here now but when you can barely do 70mph we haven't really had to think about them. Even the hills aren't too much of a challenge. Weve done some really twisty roads and apart from the odd wheel cock the 3 wheels have been no issue. The biggest challenge has been camper vans not giving way!

Ive actually been surprised how quiet it is though. There are a lot of campers but not as many as I expected and they do seem to mostly avoid the truly twisty bits. I've only seen a handful of 'enthusiasts' cars. I've seen more German and Dutch cars than anything else!

[Tommyboy12]

This mornings prep is set to the sound of seagulls and boats chugging along

[New POD]

On 12/08/2025 at 07:11, Tommyboy12 said:

Were ready for the off this morning.

Its going to be a looong day. Being very organised we only booked a hotel in the pub last night. Options were limited so were staying in Gairloch.

First stop is Fort William. That's 3.5 hours from where we are.

Followed by a loop round Applecross pass which is another 3.5 hours.

Then it's another hour to the hotel.

All of these times are in a normal car...

I went to Gairloch YHA (from Redditch) in order to run an RD350LC engine in.

[Tommyboy12]

Were making our way back to Edinburgh today. Get some obligatory pictures by the Forth Bridge and perhaps go into central Edinburgh.

Just stopped past Inverness so making good progress already.