Dumfries and Galloway - Easter 2003

[JohnnyBoxer]

I've just returned from the Rainbow BMW Easter weekend @ Longtown,staying at the Graham Arms owned by GS1150 rider, Tom.
The weekend was organised by Mick Wheeler, Rainbow customer and Adventure rider.
The weather and riding were superb and although I have stayed there and attended the event before,we still managed to find some new roads to try out my new Ohlins out on.
Travelling up on Friday, we went up via the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.
Saturday, we went along the Solway Coast trail and then cut up through the Border Hills to Peebles via Biggar and then down the brilliant B709 from Traquair to Langholm,calling in for tea at the Tibetan temple - Samye Ling's @ Eskdalemuir.
Sunday, headed west to the Ayrshire coast via the Galloway hills towards Girvan and Ballantrae,then down to Stranraer and tracking back inland to Kircowan,then down to the Isle of Whithorn,before heading up to Newton Stewart and over to New Galloway via Clatteringshaw's Loch.
Today, we came home via Northumberland to Alston over Hartside Pass and into the Yorkshire Dales.
All in all about 800 miles of great A & B roads with some amazing cornering - those Wunderlich cylinder head flaps are definitely severly grazed on Andy's Adventurer and my GS .
Here's some pics...........
Straiton,Galloway (sorry about the Pan's,Tim-they used to ride GS's,honest)

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Ayrshire Coast @ Ballantrae.......Brrrrrrrrr!!

Ballantrae

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Clatteringshaw's Loch - New Galloway

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Another view of the Loch - happy GS'ers - sun,dry fast and twisty roads and scenery......perfect

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Clatteringshaw's Loch in all it's glory in the early evening sun......

 

[Dutchman]

I've just returned from the Rainbow BMW Easter weekend @ Longtown,staying at the Graham Arms owned by GS1150 rider, Tom.
The weekend was organised by Mick Wheeler, Rainbow customer and Adventure rider.
The weather and riding were superb and although I have stayed there and attended the event before,we still managed to find some new roads to try out my new Ohlins out on.
Travelling up on Friday, we went up via the Yorkshire Dales and the Lake District.
Saturday, we went along the Solway Coast trail and then cut up through the Border Hills to Peebles via Biggar and then down the brilliant B709 from Traquair to Langholm,calling in for tea at the Tibetan temple - Samye Ling's @ Eskdalemuir.
Sunday, headed west to the Ayrshire coast via the Galloway hills towards Girvan and Ballantrae,then down to Stranraer and tracking back inland to Kircowan,then down to the Isle of Whithorn,before heading up to Newton Stewart and over to New Galloway via Clatteringshaw's Loch.
Today, we came home via Northumberland to Alston over Hartside Pass and into the Yorkshire Dales.
All in all about 800 miles of great A & B roads with some amazing cornering - those Wunderlich cylinder head flaps are definitely severly grazed on Andy's Adventurer and my GS .
Here's some pics...........
Straiton,Galloway (sorry about the Pan's,Tim-they used to ride GS's,honest)

Had to do the family thing on Sunday......as we drove from Edinburgh to Girvan, we passed through Straiton (which is in Ayrshire!) at around 1130 to see the assembled fleet, as in the photo....... Family looking forward to a day in Girvan......me wishing I coud swap four wheels for two...............

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Re: Re: Dumfries and Galloway - Easter 2003

Had to do the family thing on Sunday......as we drove from Edinburgh to Girvan, we passed through Straiton (which is in Ayrshire!) at around 1130 to see the assembled fleet, as in the photo....... Family looking forward to a day in Girvan......me wishing I coud swap four wheels for two...............

Hey Dutchman,
If you'd popped your head round the Tea-room door,we could've made our acquaintances and shook you warmly by the hand.
Sorry about the wrong county/region - we saw so many road signs for different regions that it all becomes a blur,I'm sure you know that feeling,Dutchman ~ yourself being a touring man.....

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Re: Re: Dumfries and Galloway - Easter 2003

Hey Dutchman,
If you'd popped your head round the Tea-room door,we could've made our acquaintances and shook you warmly by the hand.
Sorry about the wrong county/region - we saw so many road signs for different regions that it all becomes a blur,I'm sure you know that feeling,Dutchman ~ yourself being a touring man.....

So, the conversation in the car went something like this:

Me: Wow look at all those 'bikes.....three GS's, an RT & a couple of new Pan's........that would be an interesting group to ride with........shall we stop for a cuppa?

Her:Mmmm......we're nearly there now (Girvan.....)......

Son: Don't like 'bikes......grumble......

Me:But I could do with a break.........

Her:Overruled!

Fuggit.................!

The spirit was willing, guys.......another day perhaps.....

 

[Dutchman]

Re: Re: Re: Dumfries and Galloway - Easter 2003

Sorry about the wrong county/region - we saw so many road signs for different regions that it all becomes a blur,I'm sure you know that feeling,Dutchman ~ yourself being a touring man.....

My mind has been somewhat concentrated on county boundries of late......whilst compiling BikersBeds........!

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Re: Re: Re: Re: Dumfries and Galloway - Easter 2003

So, the conversation in the car went something like this:

Me: Wow look at all those 'bikes.....three GS's, an RT & a couple of new Pan's........that would be an interesting group to ride with........shall we stop for a cuppa?

Her:Mmmm......we're nearly there now (Girvan.....)......

Son: Don't like 'bikes......grumble......

Me:But I could do with a break.........

Her:Overruled!

Fuggit.................!

The spirit was willing, guys.......another day perhaps.....

Interesting group to ride with............Hmmmmmm
Dutchman,
Shall I let you into a secret.....shh!!
We couldn't live with the new Pan or the RT,on the GS's on fast roads,the GS's only had a chance when the roads got bumpy and really twisty and then we could only hang onto their number plates and never get passed.
Mind you the 3 riders of those bikes are pretty exceptional and having ridden thousands of miles with them,I can say they are some of the fastest,most skillfull riders to tour with.
The GS simply has not got enough horsepower to keep up with a bike of 100hp+ on a fast smooth A road - eg the road across to Elvanfoot,the A702.

 

[IAIN McKENDRICK]

D@G EASTER 2003

Missed you lot at easter terrorising our quiet roads. You passed me on your way to Isle of Whithorn not that it was very difficult
as I was driving a lawnmower at the time. Did I miss a posting or was this a private run. See attached ( I hope ) a local Galloway run for me
CED