Once more heading back north and homeward bound. Though I am regularly in Scotland (for work and family) via plane and automobile (trains I avoid), I haven't been back on 2 wheels since 2017. 2017 when I got hit by the beast from the east and closed the journey in one leg from Alness to West London. Not the longest ride I have done in a day but probably the worst. I had planned a camp out on Skye, something I haven't done in decades, but saw the weather coming in on the news. So I thought I would try and beat it home. All was good down the A9 despite the new speed cameras. It was Leeds that got me. I knew I should have stopped in the Midlands and bagged a sofa at a friends but, ever the optimist, I thought I could ride out the other side of it. It just got worse and worse. In the end I was in pieces, threw away half my sodden gear, and swore off touring ever again. So in 2 weeks I will be heading back. I have some work for a couple of days in sunny Aberdeen, so have packed shirts and decent shoes so as to clean up nice. The camping gear is all stowed in a 65litre holdall to throw over the empty pillion. and I'm hoping I'll get the panniers fitted properly for all the other stuff. I have a new larger tent as I'm fed up of touching cloth at both ends and it's side entry so I don't have to do downward dog every time I enter and exit. Also for the first time I have the new fangled blackout liner so I won't be getting up with the sun. The weekend will be in Skye but the rest of the week, bar a couple of days work, I will look up some old friends and generally bimble. I will revisit the the Struie, one of the best wee roads in the Highlands, with a great view of Dornoch Firth, somehow missed off the North Coast 500.
Thought I would put up shots from 2017. Of course I have more recent ones but I wasn't on a bike, so doesn't count.
I will revisit the the Struie, one of the best wee roads in the Highlands, with a great view of Dornoch Firth, somehow missed off the North Coast 500. All the better for the rest of us that this great little road has been missed off the NC500. It’s a great shame the NC500 was ever conceived.
Sorting out kit, fettling the mounts and fitting new Dart Classic Screen. 11 hours of riding tomorrow. Early Start.