GS's to APPLECROSS....April 2015......?

[(RIP) mainescots]

Have posted about this before....

Another year, another "wee" ride from wherever you may live, to Applecross, Wester Ross, Highland Scotland. Well, you know where it is!

Date for the Rendezvous, Noon, April 26 2015
Most riders will head North on Saturday 25th, either staying in the Lochcarron/ Strathcarron area. Campers......April......Scotland....NO midges!!!

We USED to overnight there, get together for dinner then ride over the Bealach on Sunday morning. In 2011, riders went to Applecross directly and stayed there, all bikes lined up along the shore
(Depending on the weather.......if inclement weather, I was never keen to have the bike near salt water.....?!)

Motorcycle Sport & Leisure have slated the start of the ride North as West Coast Harley (sorry!) but I had offered the route from Charing Cross, Glasgow. Think they took me literally and looked at West Coast as the origin - although they are Sponsoring the event.

ALL bikes welcome but honestly, truthfully - convoys of GS's on the Bealach..... What is going to look better??

 

[Arsey]

ALL bikes welcome but honestly, truthfully - convoys of GS's on the Bealach..... What is going to look better??

Absolutely anything ??

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Hey Arsey..... I take it you don't ride a GS???

Listen, every year from 2006 onwards, there were as many GS's as Triumphs, Kawasakis etc etc...... There is a Vimeo video of the 2010 Run......with bikes streaming down the Northern slopes of the Bealach......

A wee bit intimidating to cars but what the hell!
Methinks, there might be some wives going by car so if anyone is interested......?

 

[Mr K]

I always wanted to stop there for a night, so I'll be watching this thread.

 

[columbus]

You've mentioned West Coast are sponsoring the event but what is the event? It reads as just an open invite trip but there's not much need to sponsor those.

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Columbus, the event was always known as the CHAS weekend (Children's Hospice Association Scotland). I started the event in 2006 and it continued each year until 2014 when nothing was arranged. I had relocated back to the US in 2010 and it was organised by Stephen Moore and Jim McGregor (Ewan's Dad).
Not quite sure what happened last year!

Had hoped that all the Glasgow bike shops would be mentioned in MSL but I think they looked at who was nearest to Charing Cross and started it there. I think!

Arsey wrote or questioned......"absolutely anything?" And truthfully.....yes, we have had lady passengers heading up by car, bikers with a chase-vehicle.....

Stephen and Jim changed the date from April to June to very assured of better weather but then the traffic is much worse, the campers are besieged my midges.....

 

[columbus]

I remember that event from its early days but wasn't aware it was an annual thing.

Is this a charity event for CHAS or just a meet up? What other details do you have?

I realise it seems a lot of questions but just wondering?

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

No bother at all.....
The whole concept started as an excuse for me to rendezvous with a friend with whom I travelled to Sturgis in 2003. One Harley and one 1100GS.
Sunday lunch together translated into inviting as many folk as possible, all riding there independently and handing over the cash to CHAS.
Got bigger and bigger each year. 2008 saw us leave Crieff at 2pm Saturday, 30+ bikes with two police out-riders and take the A85 to the A82, North to Invergarry and the A87, overnighting in Lochcarron. The Bealach on Sunday morning!

Jim McG and Stephen changed it in 2011, from April to June and going all the way on Saturday evening. They also left at 10am -

Despite a wee fall out with the CHAS organiser in 2013 and a rift..... This year WILL have CHAS as the Charity recipient. Local charity, the children and their parents still need events like this and riding to Robin House....or Rachel, a few weeks later, is always fun for the kids!

Care to go?
Can you promote elsewhere?
Where will you be coming from?

 

[columbus]

No bother at all.....
The whole concept started as an excuse for me to rendezvous with a friend with whom I travelled to Sturgis in 2003. One Harley and one 1100GS.
Sunday lunch together translated into inviting as many folk as possible, all riding there independently and handing over the cash to CHAS.
Got bigger and bigger each year. 2008 saw us leave Crieff at 2pm Saturday, 30+ bikes with two police out-riders and take the A85 to the A82, North to Invergarry and the A87, overnighting in Lochcarron. The Bealach on Sunday morning!

Jim McG and Stephen changed it in 2011, from April to June and going all the way on Saturday evening. They also left at 10am -

Despite a wee fall out with the CHAS organiser in 2013 and a rift..... This year WILL have CHAS as the Charity recipient. Local charity, the children and their parents still need events like this and riding to Robin House....or Rachel, a few weeks later, is always fun for the kids!

Care to go?
Can you promote elsewhere?
Where will you be coming from?

Thanks for the info, I'll keep an eye on this thread for updates.

I'm always up for a run to Applecross but the dates are during a shift rotation and as I'm off just now I can't say whether I could take time off.

I could post this to a couple of sites but one would definately need it to be approved by CHAS and like most I can let family and friends know. The dates also clash with the Perth Bike Night which is also collecting for CHAS -

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Perth-Bike-Night/584910491580096

Like you I'm in the central belt so it's only a short jaunt to Applecross.

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Ah but......a Bike Night.....or a ride to the West Coast, then North.....? Know which I would choose!

Wait a minute, I thought the Perth biker night was a Tuesday or Wednesday? The same that used to meet at Broxden Services....? Or was that the FuCHrs, or however they spell it?

The great thing about keeping it as CHAS means that all the PR and advertising needs only the dates changed!!! All the Old Guard from Crieff might still go..

Am 45 mins from Perth but still unsure of whether to do the Perth-West, or Dalwhinnie-West or head for Glasgow first. Might make the day longer but A9...... Will make the first day about 280-300....
Suggestions?

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Ever get up to Pitlochry?

 

[shedboy]

Im in forfar i may join you on this will keep an eye on this post for further details.

 

[Shinyface]

mainescots,

Great to meet you today and talk over Applecross, as I said I`m doing the Loch Ness Etape that weekend but if anything changes I`ll call in to see you.

Thanks again for a great lunch,

Shinyface

 

[columbus]

I'm working that weekend so won't be able to join in or get up to Perth. I've passed the details to friends and some appear interested so there could be some that go up

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Fra.....Shinyface.... Thanks for coming in. A small world it is!
Am starting to think that there are so many events on that weekend, we may have precious few at Applecross.....

On t'other hand, that may make for quiet roads and more fun!
Hope you can make it North somehow on RT, GT, GS or......
My best to your party!

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Columbus,
Many thanks! As you may have noticed, Shinyface happened to walk into my place today and purely by accident, we discovered our connection on UKGSER.....
Appreciate any promotion you can give the weekend!

 

[Guigsy]

Just a heads-up... I'm trying to get a couple of mates to do a long weekend in Scotland and it just so happens to be that weekend. It'll be 3 BMWs, my GS, a K1300R and an S1000RR.

At the moment the (very vague) schedule is to head up from West Midlands after work on Thursday night and overnight somewhere around Lancaster/South Lakes to get past the Manchester traffic for a clear run to West Coast on Friday. The plan says we'll be around the area Skye area on Sunday 26th, might try and steer them to Applecross instead. Heading back to Brum on Monday.

I was up for camping, but as the other two don't have lots of luggage capacity, I think we'll be B&B'ing it.

I'll keep you posted.


Guigsy

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Thanks Guigsy, would be great to have you there......fun to see the bikes when you arrive.
2008, we had a guy leave Crieff ten minutes after us. Arrive at The Green Welly Stop - just as we left. Same again in Fort William then - amazingly, he called us whilst eating dinner in Lochcarron, to ask - which side of the street is the hotel.....?

I had to explain that Lochcarron village is on the water, only one sided! Asking where he was, he said that "he had crossed the bridge and was in the town"......!
Ah, he was in Broadford, Skye.

And, unfortunately, one of the GS's with us, was carrying his gear, wet weather stuff and tent.....
(He was on an 1100ZZR......) think he made it from Kyleakin to Lochcarron in about 30 mins.

Trying to work out whether to suggest to the "more adventurous" riders to go North to Fort William, then West to Mallaig, ferry to Skye, then back onto the mainland and up to Lochcarron that way....... Fun side-trip, adding only about 60 miles but taking a lot longer.

Ortlieb dry bags..... Your buddies can carry tons of gear if strapped down tight.
Let me know if you need more info...... [email protected]

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Another possibility.....for the guys who don't mind a few extra miles......?

Ride North to Fort William.....
Look for the signs to Mallaig and ride there.
Take the Ferry to Skye then ride up to the bridge at Kyle.
Back onto the mainland and taking the A890 towards Lochcarron.....
Keep riding Eastwards to Achnasheen and turn left and North to Kinlochewe.
Turn left and South and ride to Shieldaig.
Thereafter, look for the Applecross Coastal Route and take it on single track, undulating hills, sweeping bends.....past one of the best beaches in Scotland to arrive, from the North at Applecross....

Oh.....BTW.....the Applecross Inn is booked so bring a tent or check in at the new hostel.

Look at it on the map!
Ride the route, leaving the A87 for the ride home.....
See you there

 

[(RIP) mainescots]

Just a heads-up... I'm trying to get a couple of mates to do a long weekend in Scotland and it just so happens to be that weekend. It'll be 3 BMWs, my GS, a K1300R and an S1000RR.

At the moment the (very vague) schedule is to head up from West Midlands after work on Thursday night and overnight somewhere around Lancaster/South Lakes to get past the Manchester traffic for a clear run to West Coast on Friday. The plan says we'll be around the area Skye area on Sunday 26th, might try and steer them to Applecross instead. Heading back to Brum on Monday.

I was up for camping, but as the other two don't have lots of luggage capacity, I think we'll be B&B'ing it.

I'll keep you posted.


Guigsy

Hey Guigsy......
Just had folks in the cafe today. A couple on Honda CBR and VFR's who will be headed North from the Borders area. The lady said that she "just straps her things onto the rear of her 400RR".
GetGeared or Sportsbike Warehouse has these great bags, a sort-of-cross between saddlebags and a top-roll that really conforms to the shape of race-bikes.....?