Caithness is it? No idea where that is
Except, I'm being a dick, of course I do. At's all e' way up e' A9 through Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, till ye heve till hing a left an keep gaan till Halkirk, then it's anybuddy's guess
P38 Low Range
- Thread starter P38Stewart
- Start date
This site contains affiliate links for which LandyZone may be compensated if you make a purchase.
Caithness is it? No idea where that is
Except, I'm being a dick, of course I do. At's all e' way up e' A9 through Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, till ye heve till hing a left an keep gaan till Halkirk, then it's anybuddy's guess
P38Stewart
Member
- Posts
- 33
- Location
- North Scotland
Caithness is it? No idea where that is
Except, I'm being a dick, of course I do. At's all e' way up e' A9 through Golspie, Brora, Helmsdale, till ye heve till hing a left an keep gaan till Halkirk, then it's anybuddy's guess
Im liking your directions yeah Halkirk is part of Caithness. Take it you've driven up the A9 at some point by the sounds of it
Before a bloody 2 tonne gate fell on me and robbed me of my ability to work last year, my job, among many jobs, was to drive to the various sites where they are planting ruddy great pylons to replace the ancient ones carrying power to the north. I also visited the new sub stations, all part of the Beauly/Denny line, delivering leccy up north as well as the wind farms.
My favourite ride was the companies 2012 Defender, which is a helluva drag (excellent motor) that pulls the 3.5tonne (laden) water bowser.
I also drove the Mercedes Sprinter pick up, delivering/collecting welfare cabins (12 footers & 16 footers) anywhere around the highlands, inc Dounreay.
I have been Achavanich, Ackergill, Auckengill, Badbea, Ballacladich, Berridale, Bibster, Bower, Broubster, Camster, Canisbay, Castlehill, Castletown, Dounreay, Dovecotes, Dunbeath, Duncansby Head, Dunnet, Forse, Freswick, Georgemass, Gills Bay, Halkirk Haster, Hastigrow, Hilliclay, Janetstown (ind est), John o Groats, Latheron, Latheronwheel, Lybster, Lyth, Milton, Mybster, Olrig (house, transmitter towers), Ousdale, Papigoe, Pultneytown (I know of a similar named whisky), Scrabster, Shebster, Spittal, Staxigoe......
I could go on forever, but you get the gist.
So, in answer to your question. Yes, I may have been round your way a bit
P38Stewart
Member
- Posts
- 33
- Location
- North Scotland
Before a bloody 2 tonne gate fell on me and robbed me of my ability to work last year, my job, among many jobs, was to drive to the various sites where they are planting ruddy great pylons to replace the ancient ones carrying power to the north. I also visited the new sub stations, all part of the Beauly/Denny line, delivering leccy up north as well as the wind farms.
My favourite ride was the companies 2012 Defender, which is a helluva drag (excellent motor) that pulls the 3.5tonne (laden) water bowser.
I also drove the Mercedes Sprinter pick up, delivering/collecting welfare cabins (12 footers & 16 footers) anywhere around the highlands, inc Dounreay.
I have been Achavanich, Ackergill, Auckengill, Badbea, Ballacladich, Berridale, Bibster, Bower, Broubster, Camster, Canisbay, Castlehill, Castletown, Dounreay, Dovecotes, Dunbeath, Duncansby Head, Dunnet, Forse, Freswick, Georgemass, Gills Bay, Halkirk Haster, Hastigrow, Hilliclay, Janetstown (ind est), John o Groats, Latheron, Latheronwheel, Lybster, Lyth, Milton, Mybster, Olrig (house, transmitter towers), Ousdale, Papigoe, Pultneytown (I know of a similar named whisky), Scrabster, Shebster, Spittal, Staxigoe......
I could go on forever, but you get the gist.
So, in answer to your question. Yes, I may have been round your way a bit
Wow by the sounds of things you've been all around Caithness, that must be very annoying not being able to work for so long. There's still plenty of work going on up here to do with the turbines and the new lines. Very busy with all the different projects going on right now. You pretty much named everywhere all around me in that very long list of places.
I haven't had the chance to drive a defender yet just the p38 around all the farm tracks, plan to drive alot more landys at some point in my life.
- Posts
- 16,478
Defenders are awesome......our 110 is a hoot to drive, and our 90 truck cab before then was even more fun!
I have pics & vids of me up some rare tracks, hills & mountains. One in Achiltibuie so steep, they were using tracked vehicles to get up & down. I got there with the Defender pick up with a tank on the back (it does vacuum and pressurized water so we can service cabin chemical toilets) and report to the site office.
The guy pointed to the hill and said, quote: "If your truck gets up there, we're buying one!"
Nae pressure then!
Selected 1st, low ratio, diffs locked and gave it the beans. Well, I could have made it in 2nd, but feck it was STEEEEEEEP
Came back down and he shook my hand
Haven't been back since my accident, but hell yes, they are awesome work horses.
Another time, was away in the hills to service the water at a wind farm. Bowser on the back of the crew cab Defender & it was filled to the neck. 3.5 tonne anchor...
Middle of winter last year and up a steep graded track. But the snow had been compressed during the week, then it rained, then it was minus millions of degree's so I was 2/3 of the way up the hill in 3rd, low ratio when I felt her slacking off as it got steeper. Dropped a cog and caught her no problem....except, the wheels were turning, yet somehow I was going backwards
You know that feeling you get when something changes imperceptible initially and then reality hits, well that was then.
I had no grip, so locked brakes, connected reverse and let brakes off as I let up the clutch. She slid for a bit, I steered as my four wheeled 3.5 tonne anchor hauled us backwards. I managed to lock up the brakes and stop. Connected 1st and gave her the beans. Off she crawled, up the hill, slipping on the ice now and then, but she did it.
The guy watching in the 360 at the top (who was coming down breaking up the ice) commented that I done good There was a ditch on my left and a cliff edge on my right so I had no bloody choice
He told me the previous driver (one of ours) made a RIGHT c&#t of it last week in only a few inches of snow Panic is the WORST thing you can do in that situation. I would have ended up in a worse mess than I am now if I'd gone over the edge
Aye, lots of hills, plenty great craic in those machines, that's why I love my job
The guy pointed to the hill and said, quote: "If your truck gets up there, we're buying one!"
Nae pressure then!
Selected 1st, low ratio, diffs locked and gave it the beans. Well, I could have made it in 2nd, but feck it was STEEEEEEEP
Came back down and he shook my hand
Haven't been back since my accident, but hell yes, they are awesome work horses.
Another time, was away in the hills to service the water at a wind farm. Bowser on the back of the crew cab Defender & it was filled to the neck. 3.5 tonne anchor...
Middle of winter last year and up a steep graded track. But the snow had been compressed during the week, then it rained, then it was minus millions of degree's so I was 2/3 of the way up the hill in 3rd, low ratio when I felt her slacking off as it got steeper. Dropped a cog and caught her no problem....except, the wheels were turning, yet somehow I was going backwards
You know that feeling you get when something changes imperceptible initially and then reality hits, well that was then.
I had no grip, so locked brakes, connected reverse and let brakes off as I let up the clutch. She slid for a bit, I steered as my four wheeled 3.5 tonne anchor hauled us backwards. I managed to lock up the brakes and stop. Connected 1st and gave her the beans. Off she crawled, up the hill, slipping on the ice now and then, but she did it.
The guy watching in the 360 at the top (who was coming down breaking up the ice) commented that I done good
There was a ditch on my left and a cliff edge on my right so I had no bloody choice He told me the previous driver (one of ours) made a RIGHT c&#t of it last week in only a few inches of snow
Panic is the WORST thing you can do in that situation. I would have ended up in a worse mess than I am now if I'd gone over the edge Aye, lots of hills, plenty great craic in those machines, that's why I love my job
