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Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 9:42 pm
by summittoppler
I thought JC might have posted this up but I'll do it.

A female cyclist in the US posted (in a Facebook group) a picture of her late mum bike touring 'somewhere' in Scotland from 1938.
We had 2 images to go off...
the map of the route, remember this is 1938
Image93574204_890721061366817_5182904926354800640_n by Jeff Price, on Flickr

And her mum with her bike somewhere on the monster route
Image94075777_890721034700153_5375492672951681024_n by Jeff Price, on Flickr

So as I'm like most of you who love looking at maps and Google streetview I thought I'd take up the challenge.

I observed the shadow, which meant the image was facing east. I noticed the loch to the left of the pic behind the house. The shape of the hill in the background. The road, the bend near the bottom of the hill.
Surely it couldn't be found....
and then...
Boom! on Skye!
ImageScotland pic by Jeff Price, on Flickr

To say I was made up was an understatement, let alone how the daughter of the lady in the picture feels.

Also messaged a mate who is a copper on Skye later on and he told me its just been demolished to make way for a new build!
However just 2 miles north is an original road sign from that era!
Imagesign by Jeff Price, on Flickr


So being a bit of a geek with maps/locations/imagery works well :-bd
Cheers!

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Fri Apr 17, 2020 9:46 pm
by slarge
Top map geekery there Jeff. It's amazing how places change!!

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:39 am
by Bearbonesnorm
Superb work there Jeff. Lovely to see everyone channelling their boredom :-bd

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:43 am
by voodoo_simon
Fantastic effort, I’m impressed :-bd

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:47 am
by 99percentchimp
Nice one Jeff... That may yet spam a new game with some of the old RSF photos that don't have a title/provenance :-bd :grin:

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 10:41 am
by summittoppler
99percentchimp wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:47 am Nice one Jeff... That may yet spam a new game with some of the old RSF photos that don't have a title/provenance :-bd :grin:
tbh its getting quite addictive! It does pass the time too.
Bagged a couple more this morning too :-bd
Findhorn bridge just south of Inverness, you can just make out the railway bridge in the distance
Imagebridge pic by Jeff Price, on Flickr

and this was easy on Iona
ImageIona by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:10 am
by Shewie
Good skills :-bd

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:11 am
by Richpips
Well done Jeff.

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:14 am
by Captain Fizz
Well done that man!

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:17 am
by summittoppler
I'm thinking JC should get some of the other pics on here for others to have a play (and obviously help out the lady from the USA see what her mum saw on her 1938 bike ride).......

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 11:37 am
by Keith74
Good skills.

I seen it on Facebook and first thought was Skye but had no idea where on the isle.

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:06 pm
by JohnClimber
Cheers for posting Jeff.

Here are the other photos, I'll leave out what we know or the boat trip to Iona and Staffa.

Most are going to be almost impossible to find (there's your challenge :wink: )

I'll number the photos so you can say "I know were Number? is and here's the Google pin drop overview of the place

Image
Photo 1

Image
Photo 2 - She has the BB200 far away stare going on here

Image
Photo 3

Image
Photo 4

Image
Photo 5 - Might be Iona, so don't stress about this one too much

Image
Photo 6 - See photo 7 - same place

Image
Photo 7 - see photo 6 above - same place

Image
Photo 8

Image
Photo 9 - See photo 10

Image
Photo 10 - See photo 9

Image
Photo 11

Image
Photo 12 - This would nice to find

Image
Photo 13 - Find the shop

Image
Photo 14 - Somewhere around Mull or Skye maybe?

Image
Photo 15 - Be good to find this too please

Image
Photo 16 - An easy one for those in the know (I don't know)

Image
Photo 17 - She's got that Bear Bones look again

Sorry that some photos are on there sides, they are upright on my Flickr page, I've no idea why they have automatically twisted
You can download them from on here if you'd like to help
https://www.flickr.com/photos/25655510@ ... 786400987/

Here's a closer look at the Mull section of the route
Image

And the Skye part
Image

If you have the time to help, happy hunting

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:31 pm
by ScotRoutes
Photo 14 is approaching Kyle of Lochalsh from the west. That's the Stevenson lighthouse

https://www.alamy.com/stevenson-lightho ... 05537.html

https://goo.gl/maps/eXsXLKPj5xEJpSco9

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:34 pm
by summittoppler
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:31 pm Photo 14 is approaching Kyle of Lochalsh from the west. That's the Stevenson lighthouse

https://www.alamy.com/stevenson-lightho ... 05537.html

https://goo.gl/maps/eXsXLKPj5xEJpSco9

Nice and quick! Might be able to identify the name of the boat too now :-bd

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 4:02 pm
by The Cumbrian
Impressive research, and the lady in the States must be overjoyed with the results.

Her late mother knew how to plan a route too, she certainly saw some of Scotand's finest there.

Cheers, Michael.

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 4:10 pm
by JohnClimber
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:31 pm Photo 14 is approaching Kyle of Lochalsh from the west. That's the Stevenson lighthouse

https://www.alamy.com/stevenson-lightho ... 05537.html

https://goo.gl/maps/eXsXLKPj5xEJpSco9
The lady in questions says thanks very much for your help on this lighthouse photo.

So what about the others, where are they?

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:40 pm
by ScotRoutes
summittoppler wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:34 pm
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:31 pm Photo 14 is approaching Kyle of Lochalsh from the west. That's the Stevenson lighthouse

https://www.alamy.com/stevenson-lightho ... 05537.html

https://goo.gl/maps/eXsXLKPj5xEJpSco9

Nice and quick! Might be able to identify the name of the boat too now :-bd

Probably the Moil

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:56 pm
by summittoppler
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 6:40 pm
summittoppler wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 3:34 pm
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 2:31 pm Photo 14 is approaching Kyle of Lochalsh from the west. That's the Stevenson lighthouse

https://www.alamy.com/stevenson-lightho ... 05537.html

https://goo.gl/maps/eXsXLKPj5xEJpSco9

Nice and quick! Might be able to identify the name of the boat too now :-bd

Probably the Moil
Yeah I had a bit of a Google and saw that the Moil was active back then :geek:

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:21 pm
by summittoppler
Photo 16 possibly...
Imagetop road by Jeff Price, on Flickr

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:33 pm
by ScotRoutes
That looks like a burn coming down the hill (from the bealach) in the old photo. I'm not seeing it on the Steeetview one but that could just be down to weather conditions.

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:55 pm
by summittoppler
ScotRoutes wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 7:33 pm That looks like a burn coming down the hill (from the bealach) in the old photo. I'm not seeing it on the Steeetview one but that could just be down to weather conditions.
Yeah, i know what you're saying. I'm not 100% on this one but the shape of the hills sits. Must be around there somewhere...

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 8:55 pm
by JohnClimber
Photo 16 could be this one behind Marsco on the walking track (no bike in the photo) up from the Sligachan.
What do you think?
https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/266194

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:14 pm
by Escape Goat
Jeff you won on my Facebook so many times too haha. Well done mate.

Re: Needle in a haystack!

Posted: Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:42 pm
by summittoppler
Escape Goat wrote: Sat Apr 18, 2020 9:14 pm Jeff you won on my Facebook so many times too haha. Well done mate.
:cool: :cool: