If Carlsberg did Scotland trips ......... June 2008

Its that time of year again, my countdown has finished and its time to go again !

The Plan, ride round Scotland and take some nice photos.
The bike - R1150GS, mint, nice and shiney etc. (To start with anyway!)
The Camera - Canon 40D 16-35 L Mk2 F2.8
The weather - changable (As usual!)

Friday.

Packed and ready to go, 0700 hrs, sun shining.


Left Yaxley 0700 hrs in perfect weather, rode up the A1 and cut left through the Yorkshire Dales to break up the journey. Missed one of my turns so i stopped close to the side of the road so i could do a U turn, went to put my foot down and ...... couldn`t reach the floor properly, CRASH ! I dropped it for the first time. I couldn`t believe it. I couldn`t pick it up either and had to flag down a passing motorist to help me. Luckily no damage except for a few marks on left hand engine cover. Bad start really.
Anyway, put that behind me and off i go again, great roads and some good riding. Stop at Bainbridge for fuel and off i go again. Just a few miles down the road i come to a set of temporary traffic lights so i stop, and the bike leans to the right, and guess what ???? Yup, i dropped it again !
This time however, it seems we had not shut the fuel cap properly, petrol pours out of the tank, under my tank bag and cover and out onto my hot exhaust and engine. I feared the worse and got my camera bag off the bike quick, grapped a passing motorist and after a few attempts picked it back up. The was petrol all over the road, i was covered in it, if it had ignited i would be toast ! Anyway, apart from that there was no damage. I decided to ride it several more miles and if there were anymore problems at all i was going home.
All seemed ok so i pushed on. I joined the A66 and headed for the M6 and up to the A74 to Glasgow.
Drove past Glasgow, up the side of Loch Lomond and to a campsite near Tyndrum on the A82.



There is a nice river running down the side of this place with some waterfalls so i thought i would get some pics, the midges however had other ideas and i got mobbed by a huge cloud of them !

Saturday.

Up early, very cold, drove up A85 then turned right up the B8074, Bridge of Orchy road. Great road with a fantastic river running alongside with loads of waterfalls.



Then rejoined the A85 Glen Coe road. this is one spectacular road when the weather is nice.











I then turned left into Glen Etive. Its a dead end road about 12 miles long with Loch Etive at the bottom, its popular with wild campers and its great.















Got to Fort William, went to b&b then out for a meal.

Sunday.

Up 0730, breakfast at b&b and headed for Applecross.

Now we have all seen this picture before ..........



Do you ever wonder what is down there ? What is there past that bridge ? Well i can tell you and show you, it is the most amazing road, it goes for 23 miles to Loch Hourn, the road changes from open, to forested to windy, to well, everything. Its great, go see for yourself.

This is the bridge up close !





















And then............ on to Applecross, and it was a bright clear day this year !













There was this handsome chap at the top !!





I chose to stay in a wigwam this year, they are really good.







It was a great day and i was getting over dropping my bike the day before, the weather was great and all was well. I packed so i could get an early start Monday and got an early night.


Monday.

Woke up, coffee, shaved etc, loaded up bike, just putting last bag on the tank and guess what ????????

















The bike needed a lie down !!



I was not impressed. This time there was noone around to help me pick it up. Eventually half an hour later a chap i had been speaking to the night before came and helped me pick it up. This time i had smashed the right front indicater, broken off the r/h engine protector, ripped the HT lead out of its socket and broke both front clips off my tank bag !
I was really not happy.
After half an hour with some insulation tape and a few cable ties i was ready to go.

I went from Applecross via the coast road up to Durness where i intended to camp.















Then the weather turned really cold and wet and windy. I decided i would head back to Fort William for the night and return home Tuesday.

Got a really nice room in the b&b.




Tuesday.

The weather has decided to stay, i decided to go !



I left at 0800 and drove through Glen Coe in an absolute rain storm and didnt stop till i got home at 3pm. Scotland is great in the sun but miserable in the rain.

I have decided a few things on this trip.....

My tent is too small.
My sleeping bag is too small.
I hate camping !
I carry too much stuff !

From now on its b&bs and just a few clothes !

Oh, and only if its sunny !!



Hope you enjoyed this, please leave a comment, thanks for reading it.

Alan

Alan

Sorry to hear of yer mishaps, but good wee write up and some nice photograph's,even the best of rider's drop their bike at sometime or other but it doesn't stop the of it.Pity the weather cut short yer trip.

Schultz

Top piccies

Scotland is great in the good weather right enough But maybe not so much fun in the rain...

Best get yerself down the gym though

Great report, on my way to Scotland on saturday morning first thing, really can't wait !!
ORCA

Quality report & pics - a greater advert you won't find for a Canon - if only it was that easy

Thanks Alan, that has just whetted my appetite for the Clans weekend.

Great pics too.

I really like this pic

plus i was just tellin Aidan the other day how good the B8074 road is...10 miles of smiles

Alan,
I have done all of the roads you mentioned and your report brought back lots of fond memories. I get back at least twice a year it's so good. Best kept secret in the UK.

From all my visits, I have learnt one thing..... no tents and "GORETEX" from head to toe.

Pics are first class!

Alan,

Great pictures there, bringing back superb memories, whilst I sit looking out at the grey and wet before going to work.

Glad your mishaps didn't spoil your trip.

Great write-up and superb photo's. Not just the quality of the images but the composition too.

Great stuff Alan, you seem to have had a good time regardless of your mishaps.

There is a technique for picking the bike up on your own which has been well documented and debated on this forum - might be worth you doing a search and acquainting yourself with it.

I would really recommend you learn how to pick up your bike and practice it.

The ideal spot is just on some grass when you can lift and lower with out any damage.

I have dropped mine twice and my dad his once.

It is more about technique than raw strength.

There are 2 ways to do it. Once involves facing away from the bike and useing your bum against the seat. There is an excellent video of a small woman picking up a goldwing or harley kicking around.

The way I do it is the same with my off road bike and that is by picking up the handlebar that is on the ground and using the leverage it provides you. Just remember the strength is in your legs and not your back.

Also make sure it is in gear first, for either technique

With only a little practice you will gain confidence and not worry.

bigalmac said:

The way I do it is the same with my off road bike and that is by picking up the handlebar that is on the ground and using the leverage it provides you. Just remember the strength is in your legs and not your back.

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seconded.

great photos... i'll be off to scotland after these.

Often wondered what was down the road from the wee bridge at Glen Garry...thanks for showing us...

Sorry to hear of the mishaps. Great photos from a wonderful part of the world. When the weathers good its unbeatable. Camping and motorbikes only mix in good weather IMHO, plus you've got the bulk. Try youth hostels, a brilliant compromise, plus no midges!

Stunning photos, a good advert for Canon and the bloke behind the camera. Makes me want to take a look at Scotland except for the weather...maybe thats why the ancestors got free tickets to the colonies !

Wow - some really stunning photographs there.

I hope that you don't mind but I've poached one for my wallpaper - the one with the river and the mist....

I love Scotland and those shots have really got me planning my next visit.

I tend to take old 'disposable' clothes on my trips. I may look scruffy but I simply bin stuff when I've finished riding in it.

Love the wigwam idea. Where are they and how much do they cost?

Can't be arsed carrying tents around.

Davel said:

Love the wigwam idea. Where are they and how much do they cost?

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Here?

Ta

Hi Mate

**** me you cleaned the bike, great photos see you tomorrow mate