2008 Highland Fling

 Home

This year’s Highland Fling was based at Knipoch Hotel, south of Oban in Argyll.  Twenty-six participants arrived (not all in the first car of choice) during the afternoon and quickly settled in to the very comfortable hotel.  Eighteen of these had come from “south of the Border”.  The arrival of David Marsh and David Wilkins caused greatest excitement.  They had left Worcester at 4 am and trailered Rudolph – David M’s red Isetta bubble car.  “It’s so cute” cooed the receptionist.  Friendships were renewed and new introductions made over afternoon tea.

Pre-dinner drinks were enlivened when the 2 Davids made their entrance wearing “See You Jimmy” hats.  A tartan “Viking Hat” complete with pigtails was produced and much hilarity ensued.  Between dinner courses teams struggled to answer Mike’s Italian Job Challenge.  The eventual winners were Bob and Ann Selby and Mike and Helen Webber.  Bob has the video and is known to watch it when he has been sent to his room.

Saturday morning was a little damp as the participants headed off to Kilmartin Archaeological Museum.  Archie Russell’s MGB Roadster had a minor problem and when the bonnet was raised in popped a cheeky robin who then explored the inside of the car as well!  A good straight single track road across the raised bog took us to the picturesque harbour at Crinan and by mid-day we stopped at Cairnbaan and were treated to a couple of yachts entering the canal lock. This gave the opportunity for some Bears to help the lock-keeper close the gates.

No-one had seen the Isetta which had left the hotel 20 minutes ahead of the main group so a phone call ascertained that they were not in a ditch but well on their way to Ben Cruachan, our afternoon stop.  A tour of the power station one mile inside the mountain had been arranged but an alternative activity was a salt-encrusted Sea-fari which 7 hardy folk enjoyed.

The challenge for Saturday was to purchase the tackiest/wackiest souvenir for less that £3 – receipt required.  An amazing array of tourist tat was produced which Mike then judged on a scientific basis of entertainment value, how well made it was, its usefulness, how cute it was and how Scottish it was.  Each was scored out of 5.  He then turned the result on its head by declaring the lowest score the winner – a black plastic rat from Inveraray Jail.

Our black tie gala dinner was as glittering as ever and this year’s Best Dressed Gentleman Award went to Brian Kirkness who was resplendent in his Highland regalia. A wonderful selection of gifts had been donated for the evening’s fund-raising raffle.

On Sunday we enjoyed hood down motoring and empty roads as we headed over the hills on the single-track road through Glen Lonan and very close encounters with the Highland cattle.  It was then a good flee down to Tighnabruaich for a sea-food-and-eat-it lunch.  The countryside was at its best with all colours in the autumn spectrum for us to enjoy.  The view down the Kyles of Bute was particularly spectacular.  A visit to Inveraray Castle or the Jail was an afternoon option while Mike and I took the opportunity to climb Dunadd Fort and I declared myself Queen of Scotland as my foot fitted exactly into the foot-shaped depression in the rock at the top.

After dinner the results of the Tour Quiz were announced – well done Ian and Cindy Snelling, first time Flingers.  We were amazed that several folk showed such determination to get the correct answers to some questions that they had gone to the Auction Mart in Oban on Saturday afternoon and spoken with the auctioneer!  Wee “reminders” of the tour were given to participants and I declared that David Marsh should become an “honorary Polar Bear” in recognition of his sterling fund-raising efforts.  He was presented with a snoring polar bear sleeping in a car tin!

On Monday the Tour headed eastwards.  The tidal race under the Connel Bridge, known as the Falls of Lora, was clearly visible.  Those participants not having to go back to work ended their Fling at the Famous Grouse centre, outside Crieff where they gathered for a group photo under “the big bird” before enjoying a tour of the distillery and participating in the award-winning audio-visual “experience”.  The shop did good business with people finding enough room in the boot to squeeze in the odd bottle or two.

A very big thank you to everyone who entered into the “spirit” of the Highland Fling and for their generous donations which means that CHAS (the Children’s Hospice Association Scotland) will receive £1,370.

Fiona Davies

Mummy Polar Bear