Featured My Run Roon Scotland

Went for a first proper run on the America over the Easter weekend, The missus had been out for 4 or 5 wee local runs but never more than 80 mile in a day.

Day 1
Full tourer mode, sat nav fitted. Knew all the roads but is useful for knowing how far, how long , etc. Lomo 60l dry bag was brilliant, carried all our clothes and kept it bone dry.

Stopped off 1/2 way up for a 'Brisk' walk on the beach at West Kilbride, was bloody freezing and blowing a hooley, so kept my helmet and gloves on walking the dog on the beach !!!!

Then the best bit of any bike ride - a trip on the ferry. The picture was taken just as I came into Dunoon, the rest of the ride over was spent hanging onto the bike as the ferry pitched and rolled in quite a swell. Front brake held on, knee into side of bike and try not to fall over myself. The deck on the ferry is wet from the waves crashing over !!!!

You wouldn't believe it from this picture taken 15 minutes later at the war memorial at Sandbank !!!


Day 2
First 'proper' day of our mini tour. There is a severe weather warning issued for the West coast of Scotland, later find out the missus was nearly in tears (they actually come later) at the thought of 170 miles in the rain, but we set off any way. Managed to get 10 miles before i had to give up and stop to demist my visor, even pinlock couldn't cope with the weather conditions. But we decided to carry onto the Green Welly at Tyndrum and then decide to carry on or give up. Anybody who has been to the Green Welly will be amazed at the next picture - 1 BIKE AT THE WELLY !!!, in all my years and crappy scottish weather, there has always been at least 5 other eejits out on their bikes and parked up at the welly. Doesn't look like it was raining, but it was.

The ride over Glencoe was a cold and miserable affair. Stopped off in Fort William for onion rings and chicken strips at Morrisons. Place was packed with Indians !!! (More of later). Raining was still hammering down.

The next bit of the route from Fort William to Kyle of Lochalsh is absolutely biking heaven, but unfortunately the only heaven part was the biblical rain all the way. Fortunately all my gear was water tight, but the hands were frozen. Made a mistake and put my hands on the cylinder heads to warm up, which then makes the goretex work the other way and lets water in !!! Must remember not to do again ! (I did) But eventually we made it to Eilean Donan Castle.



It is obligatory to take a picture of your bike with the castle, so we did! Believe it's written in ancient scots law about all who pass must stop and take picture with thy steed !!!!!

The missus then wanted to go onto Skye, told her pals we were going to Skye on holiday - so we went to Skye !


But luckily on Skye I mentioned a good curry house (just over bridge turn right and it's on your left, not cheap but very good) and was told we should book in. I poo-poo'ed the idea of needing to book as it is always empty, but anyway I did as I was told. Bloody good job we did! Arrived back later that night for our curry and the indian restraunt was full of INDIANS !!! Couldn't believe it. Never been to an indian restraunt with Indians eating there!!!

Craigmonie B&B, Badicaul. Recommmended, very friendly great breakfast, dried all our wet biking gear and even cleared a space in his garage cos my bike was too nice to leave out in the wind & by now gale force winds.

Day 3
Big mile day, was to be 230 miles, but trimmed down due to the cold. Was absolutely freezing. FIngers numb after 25 miles and having to stop to jump around and regain feeling in fingers, at least the rain had sunsided, a bit. First stop of the day was a wee village called Plockton, anybody remember a 90's TV show called Hamish Macbeth? It was filmed here and we had our honeymoon here 20 years ago, so we had to stop in. Lovely little village and great sealboat trip if you are ever up there.


It was then a very long ride in the cold up to Ullapool, 80 miles in one hit with lots of dancing to the birdy song !!! to keep hands and arms warm ! It works, try it

Lunch of spiced bread pudding and double cream was had, lovely. All I needed because breakfast at the B&B was huge and delicious.

Then ride down and across back to Fort William, weather had improved and other than ocaasional hailstorm, could almost be pleasent. Again obligatory stop and photo's of bike and commando memorial at Spean Bridge. Lovely place, but very cold and you can see the snow on Ben Nevis in the background, but the sun was out !!!


Day 4
Day started drizzly. But steadily improved until we had a big 'moment'. Just north of Oban, round a bend with what looked like shell grip, but evidently wasn't. Front end slide on a slow tight'ish left hand bend, road empty so saved it and ran onto other side of the road. Biggest front end slide I ever had, rode for a few miles then pulled over, could feel the missus had froze up and no longer relaxed. Stop, helmets off, tears, helmets on and carry on to Oban, buy her coffee.

SHe was a bit nervous for an hour, but cured her by doing Oban to Lochgilphead road. If you have ever been on the biking nirvana, you will know how many corners ther are, soon cured her of her corner fear, sun came out and all was good in the world again.

The first bit of warm weather and sunshine all weekend, stopped to enjoy it.

Rode down to a tiny village of Tayvallich for lunch, great wee palce and an awesome view whilst eating soup.


Last stint was a run around to Inveraray and back to Dunoon to pick up the weans.

Day 5
Just a reverse of day 1, but get a nicer trip over on the ferry, no crashing waves this time.

and uneventful run home

Time to wash the bike

Soon washed 760 miles worth of crap off the bike and all shiny again. ACf50 is good stuff.

Hope you enjoyed reading my little write up, wet monday morning of the second week on holiday, so bit bored, but at least I am not at work

 

Thanks guys, didn't know if would be appreciated, but I always enjoyed folks trip write-ups on other forums.

Believe it or not, she says she had a great time !!! Never laughed so much in her life.
She was woopin and holer'in as we rode down the bumpy road to Tayvallich, and can't wait to get away again. Already planning a trip to Ireland and some road racing

I guess idiocy is infectious !!!

 

The B&B first night in Badicaul, took pity on us, took all our gear and dried it, he then spent 1/2 hour clearing space in his garage for the bike, leant me a jacket and gave me a hand to push bike in out of the rain, then a couple of old towels to wipe the bike down and dry it off, so yes had a sneaky clean then and also when I got back to my parents at the end of day four I washed the bike again.

I am so sad, when i got back on the last day, unpacked bike, kettle on, bike washed, drank tea and dried her off, then into heated garage and dehumidifier on !!!!

All before taking my leathers off !!!
Gotta look after her

 

The weather is shite, but when the sun comes out, roads dry, can't beat West Coast of Scotland, beautiful place with great roads. Have to get a forum trip organised one day ;-)

 

Brilliant , worked an absolute treat, and it got a proper testing. Bit of road dirt on the lomo bag, but nothing like they spray previous.

 

My missus has just asked me to get the next one planned, so I just arranged my parents to come and dog / child sit at the start of July (next school holidays) for 4 days, so we can go do a tour of Ireland !!!!
Even with the crappy weather she still loved it

Who's in Ireland? I'll be after route and accomodation advice

​

 

Done the coast road and nw200 a couple of years ago. Stenna used to do a day return for bikes from Stranraer for £25, was a good day out.
Thinking of doing the coast to Derry then south to Galway, then back across to Dundalk. Just a rough plan at the moment. Depends on roads and accommodation.