mr badger
Registered user
It’s about time I wrote up our May trip to Scotland.
Madame B and I have been several times before but this is out first time on GSs.
Last time it was Hondas for both of us.
Madame is so delighted with the ‘bee after other bikes.
That's her being delighted, that is!
We were joined by Bawdeswell and Foxley.
B has done a few miles around Europe but first time away for Foxley.
Bawdeswell was a bit miffed to leave his badger family
but was after an adventure since he met Bacon this year.
Left Norwich after work on Wednesday. Quick stop at Kings Lynn for fuel and the first road snack on the trip. Yum! The foul capsule of nourishment was enough to see us onwards.
First night in Chesterfield and then on to Pitlochry for one night on the way north and west. Excellent B&B here www.almondlee.com despite slightly naff website.
Carefully left my camera at the B&B so failed to take snaps of stunning view in the sunshine from the dam. Just imagine it...
Next day on to first proper stay – Ullapool
Ahh. That’s even better. A real sense of peace and quiet in the Highlands for me. I find it hard to let go of the everyday and this area just does it for me more than anywhere else in Europe. Well, maybe Andalusia on a good day.
Four nights at http://www.riverviewullapool.co.uk/ and one at http://www.riversideullapool.com/. (booking mix up
)
We had triangular breakfast
‘Toast, Lord Vader...?’
Spent the first day just hanging out in Ullapool. Winds were gusting up to 55mph = bit much for me! Beer, whisky, lunch, sleep, beer, food, whisky, sleep.
Had to have a sit down half way round.
About now I realised Bawdeswell had gone missing. He was a faithful chap and had travelled miles with me. Farewell old mate.
Found GT Badger had stowed away, but just not the same.
Foxley made tea. Just to hide the tears...
Next day, off to Applecross and the high pass, Bealach Na Ba.
Nice route there
Madame relaxed as ever
Mr B slightly more aggravated
Actually not a big deal. Very tight hairpins needed steering rather than proper sweeping but a good journey, even if a little tiring
Amazing viewpoint. Like much of Scotland, it’s hard to photograph well but here goes.
Oonyackistan
Very alive looking stacks of rocks
Bikes happy – the highest they’ve been so far.
Off down to Applecross itself. Here we had the4 only black bit of the trip. On a 1 in 5 downhill, a Volvo appeared ahead. I stopped as the car was just reaching the next passing place but it just kept coming around the corner, followed by a 19’ boat trailer!
They “simply couldn’t” back up
(the wrong kind of slightly posh English tw@s that embarass us the world over) and proved it by jacknifing the trailer by moving backwards 10 feet. “Can’t you go round?” Not with 12” of space above a big drop lady. Ended up pushing the beast uphill and running it back into a gully. Madame had to do the same. 20 mins later and the road is clear. Pigs!
Why bring a boat trailer up a road that has great big warning signs about the challenges?
Especially with no boat on it! My only consolation is that they would have got stuck on the way down in the hairpins. Natives have probably made then into Haggis by now.
Rant over. Chill :cool This was the only bad moment in 10 days so hey...
On to Applecross and lunch on the beach. Looks gloomy but was actually a lovely day.
Bags on panniers are for catering /bivvying purposes
Lunch bought at market in Ullapool. Handmade bread and smoked cheese, proper coffee (and caramel wafers
). Yay!
Onwards and stop to look over to the Outer Hebrides
Bit of a gourmet day so we stopped here on the way back.
Just for a coffee - but saw the menu and...
Wow!
(We did share it)
Next day up to Bettyhill along the coast road and back via Lairgh.
Stopped on the way here – my favourite spot. The kyle is so shallow you can hear the tide turn and the colours of the water and sandsare fantastic, but of course, un catchable.
Reminded of Blake "He who catches the joy as it flies, Lives in Enternities sunrise"
Anyhow - Fire up the jetboil!
More shots from stops on the way. We only tend to stop if we need a breather rather than to take photies but wherever you stop, it looks fab.
How camouflage doesn’t really work
Also went round Assynt and most of Wester Ross over the next two days.
Last night in Ullapool we moved B&B. Guess who we met on reception!
He’d been found and handed in. He worked on reception and actually got paid!
He still has his Scotty fiver. Saving for next trip. Haven't told him it's France in August.
Next day off to Inverary for a couple of days. Stayed at Newton Hall. Top end B&B – big rooms and fantastic setting, looking over the loch.
Inverary is really nice – plenty of places to eat, petrol, hotels and bars despite small size.
Great roads around and we’ll probably be back for a longer stay.
The only casualty of the trip – my favourite gloves wore through, including the lining, and had to be given a decent send off.
So home. Accidentally took this on my phone while unpacking!
<o
> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>Adieu and may the road rise with you.
Mr B and Madame.
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
<o> </o>
Madame B and I have been several times before but this is out first time on GSs.
Last time it was Hondas for both of us.
Madame is so delighted with the ‘bee after other bikes.
That's her being delighted, that is!
We were joined by Bawdeswell and Foxley.
B has done a few miles around Europe but first time away for Foxley.
Bawdeswell was a bit miffed to leave his badger family
but was after an adventure since he met Bacon this year.
Left Norwich after work on Wednesday. Quick stop at Kings Lynn for fuel and the first road snack on the trip. Yum! The foul capsule of nourishment was enough to see us onwards.
First night in Chesterfield and then on to Pitlochry for one night on the way north and west. Excellent B&B here www.almondlee.com despite slightly naff website.
Carefully left my camera at the B&B so failed to take snaps of stunning view in the sunshine from the dam. Just imagine it...
Next day on to first proper stay – Ullapool
Ahh. That’s even better. A real sense of peace and quiet in the Highlands for me. I find it hard to let go of the everyday and this area just does it for me more than anywhere else in Europe. Well, maybe Andalusia on a good day.
Four nights at http://www.riverviewullapool.co.uk/ and one at http://www.riversideullapool.com/. (booking mix up
)We had triangular breakfast
‘Toast, Lord Vader...?’
Spent the first day just hanging out in Ullapool. Winds were gusting up to 55mph = bit much for me! Beer, whisky, lunch, sleep, beer, food, whisky, sleep.
Had to have a sit down half way round.
About now I realised Bawdeswell had gone missing. He was a faithful chap and had travelled miles with me. Farewell old mate.
Found GT Badger had stowed away, but just not the same.
Foxley made tea. Just to hide the tears...
Next day, off to Applecross and the high pass, Bealach Na Ba.
Nice route there
Madame relaxed as ever
Mr B slightly more aggravated
Actually not a big deal. Very tight hairpins needed steering rather than proper sweeping but a good journey, even if a little tiring
Amazing viewpoint. Like much of Scotland, it’s hard to photograph well but here goes.
Oonyackistan
Very alive looking stacks of rocks
Bikes happy – the highest they’ve been so far.
Off down to Applecross itself. Here we had the4 only black bit of the trip. On a 1 in 5 downhill, a Volvo appeared ahead. I stopped as the car was just reaching the next passing place but it just kept coming around the corner, followed by a 19’ boat trailer!
They “simply couldn’t” back up
(the wrong kind of slightly posh English tw@s that embarass us the world over) and proved it by jacknifing the trailer by moving backwards 10 feet. “Can’t you go round?” Not with 12” of space above a big drop lady. Ended up pushing the beast uphill and running it back into a gully. Madame had to do the same. 20 mins later and the road is clear. Pigs! Why bring a boat trailer up a road that has great big warning signs about the challenges?
Especially with no boat on it! My only consolation is that they would have got stuck on the way down in the hairpins. Natives have probably made then into Haggis by now.
Rant over. Chill :cool This was the only bad moment in 10 days so hey...
On to Applecross and lunch on the beach. Looks gloomy but was actually a lovely day.
Bags on panniers are for catering /bivvying purposes
Lunch bought at market in Ullapool. Handmade bread and smoked cheese, proper coffee (and caramel wafers
). Yay!
Onwards and stop to look over to the Outer Hebrides
Bit of a gourmet day so we stopped here on the way back.
Just for a coffee - but saw the menu and...
Wow!
(We did share it)
Next day up to Bettyhill along the coast road and back via Lairgh.
Stopped on the way here – my favourite spot. The kyle is so shallow you can hear the tide turn and the colours of the water and sandsare fantastic, but of course, un catchable.
Reminded of Blake "He who catches the joy as it flies, Lives in Enternities sunrise"
Anyhow - Fire up the jetboil!
More shots from stops on the way. We only tend to stop if we need a breather rather than to take photies but wherever you stop, it looks fab.
How camouflage doesn’t really work
Also went round Assynt and most of Wester Ross over the next two days.
Last night in Ullapool we moved B&B. Guess who we met on reception!
He’d been found and handed in. He worked on reception and actually got paid!
He still has his Scotty fiver. Saving for next trip. Haven't told him it's France in August.
Next day off to Inverary for a couple of days. Stayed at Newton Hall. Top end B&B – big rooms and fantastic setting, looking over the loch.
Inverary is really nice – plenty of places to eat, petrol, hotels and bars despite small size.
Great roads around and we’ll probably be back for a longer stay.
The only casualty of the trip – my favourite gloves wore through, including the lining, and had to be given a decent send off.
So home. Accidentally took this on my phone while unpacking!
<o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o>Adieu and may the road rise with you.Mr B and Madame.
<o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o><o
> </o>
) 
Great pics
