However, this meant that we were able to all pile into Nick's Big Red Beast (tm) for a day of carefree motoring.
First stop was Ferntower golf course on the edge of Crieff, where we had arranged to see the stone circle by the second hole, imaginatively titled "Druids"!
Martin prepares the Megaraks' savoury dips on the cup-marked stone
Next on the ambitious list was a trip up the Sma' Glen towards the Clach na Tiompan complex in Glen Almond. But there were several stops en route, firstly at the Giant's Grave cairn, where Milgi showed her hands-on approach to Megaraking by "rediscovering" the peristalith of the cairn, while in Irene's absence Martin & Nick made the first (and quite frankly pathetic) attempts of the day at hide and seek.
Between the Giant's Grave and the road, the Megaraks investigated a possible standing stone.
A quick hop in the Big Red Beast (tm) to the next layby found us at Clach Ossian. This huge boulder is surely the largest cist slab ever seen! It was moved in the 18th century by the English soldiers building Wade's military road - don't get me started on Wade's military road! - and found to have been covering a short cist.
Unacustomed to visiting so many sites before lunchtime, Martin prays in vain to Ossian for a pudding delivery.
Fearing the sun was getting to Martin, Milgi lent him some hair....
Next stop was Clach na Tiompan in the impressive surroundings of Glen Almond. A quick look at the rather sad remains of the River Almond four-poster was followed by some more hand-digging by Milgi at the Clach na Tiompan four-poster, which revealed the third stone.
A short distance further down the track from this circle (and just visible in the background of the photo above) is the great length of the Clach na Tiompan chambered cairn.
Leaving Glen Almond, the Megaraks headed through Glen Cochill over to Aberfeldy, from where they followed the River Tay round to Croftmoraig.
The mighty stones of Croftmoraig should provide excellent hiding places, but once again Irene's expertise is sorely missed, and Martin again fails to grasp what it takes to be champion.
With the sight of the cup-marked stone (and its dip connotations) proving too much for Martin to bear, it was decided that lunch should be taken at Croftmoraig. And this was when Milgi cemented her place as an official Megarak - by producing a home-made apple pie AND hot custard from a thermos!
While at Croftmoraig, a small visitor tried to get a share of the puddings
A short drive in the Big Red Beast (tm) took us on to the Taymouth Castle estate, where the Newhall Bridge standing stones are found just beyond the gatehouse.
Whether or not it was related to recent pudding intake perhaps no-one will know, but Martin finally seemed to be getting the hang of the hide-and-seek.
Next on the list was the stone circle at Acharn, high up above Loch Tay. Cheating slightly, and taking full advantage of the Big Red Beast (tm), we saved ourselves a 2 hour round trip by driving up the (very) steep farm track. Three of the Megaraks were able to sit in comfort all the way there, but as the youngest Megarak - and the only one who's not arthritic! - I had to jump out and open innumerable gates. This extra time in the sun clearly explains why I was the only Megarak to be a nice shade of fire engine red by the day's end!
On the way back down to Loch Tay, the Megaraks stopped at the Hermit's Cave, and walked through it to the viewing platform opposite the impressive Falls of Acharn.
Driving round to the other side of Loch Tay by way of Kenmore, the Megaraks' next stop was Machuim stone circle.
And then it was off to Fortingall to see the oldest tree in Europe, 3 stone circles, a pair of standing stones, a long cairn, some cup-marks, and Pontius Pilate's grave - possibly!.
Just before the picturesque village of Fortingall is a field full of interesting features. A medieval moated site and a long cairn can be seen, as can the Bridge of Lyon standing stones.
In the same field, but a bit closer to Fortingall, are the remains of a round cairn, upon which is a fallen standing stone carved with cup-marks. This cairn has been described as Pontius Pilate's grave, which is highly unlikely! However, there is a local legend that Pontius Pilate was born in Fortingall - the product of a marriage between a Roman soldier and a local woman.
A bit further along the road is the picturesque village of Fortingall.
Fortingall village is home to an ancient yew, said to be the oldest tree in Europe. At one point the yew measured over 50 feet in circumference (which is now marked out with wooden stakes) but Beltane fires over the years have gradually reduced its girth. Beltane was celebrated by the residents of Fortingall until 1924.
Not far from Fortingall Church (where there are Celtic cross slabs) are three stone circles in a field.
And so the longest day in Scottish Megarak history came to and end as they headed back to Crieff in the Big Red Beast (tm) before heading off on their seperate journeys in search of pudding.