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Single-Track Mind.
Jun. 18th, 2015 06:01 pmI am spending a few days in the north west of Scotland, where there are lots of mountains. And unfortunately for those with any plans to climb any mountains, lots of rain. Just as my visit to a few - well, maybe twenty five - miles from here in May was dominated by the weather (then, seasonal blizzards and fog), so's this trip.
As well as mountains and rain, one of the great things the north of Scotland has in abundance are single track roads. Roads that have enough space for one car, in either direction.
I love driving on single track roads. They are not fast, but they are fun.
Traffic is facilitated by regular passing places, where the single track is widened to allow two cars to pass. This is an artform, though one little appreciated. Back in May, on a little jaunt to Glenelg, I and another driver, visible from a long way off, adjusted our speeds so we could pass at about forty miles an hour. It was like sex. Really. A magical dance, and all accomplished by sharing a goal. Remote collaboration. It was wonderful.
My favorite single track road is the A866 which goes from Lochcarron past the Applecross Peninsula, up to Loch Torridon and then - my favorite bit of road - north, beside the massive torridian mountains of Liatach and Beinn Eighe, as far as Kinlochewe.
At the bottom of the glen, the road is relatively flat, and for most of it you can see what is coming from a long way off. Which means you can speed along the single track road without having to worry about hitting other cars. (Sheep and deer are a different matter.) Doing seventy in the shadow of Liatach is a wonderful experience.
But the real joy of single track roads is not speeding; not being worried about taking one's time, and enjoying the subtle dance of the passing places.
As well as mountains and rain, one of the great things the north of Scotland has in abundance are single track roads. Roads that have enough space for one car, in either direction.
I love driving on single track roads. They are not fast, but they are fun.
Traffic is facilitated by regular passing places, where the single track is widened to allow two cars to pass. This is an artform, though one little appreciated. Back in May, on a little jaunt to Glenelg, I and another driver, visible from a long way off, adjusted our speeds so we could pass at about forty miles an hour. It was like sex. Really. A magical dance, and all accomplished by sharing a goal. Remote collaboration. It was wonderful.
My favorite single track road is the A866 which goes from Lochcarron past the Applecross Peninsula, up to Loch Torridon and then - my favorite bit of road - north, beside the massive torridian mountains of Liatach and Beinn Eighe, as far as Kinlochewe.
At the bottom of the glen, the road is relatively flat, and for most of it you can see what is coming from a long way off. Which means you can speed along the single track road without having to worry about hitting other cars. (Sheep and deer are a different matter.) Doing seventy in the shadow of Liatach is a wonderful experience.
But the real joy of single track roads is not speeding; not being worried about taking one's time, and enjoying the subtle dance of the passing places.