I try camping and this is what I found ...

[Deleted Member I]

After lots of hmmm 'ing and ahhhhh 'ing. I joined SADO/Blue n' Twos/Easy Sushi and JP on my first real camping trip since school.

So as usual .. I leave everything to the last minute to make it exciting

Shopping on the Friday for the Saturday set off.

So up at Saturday morning at 5am and started packing. Meeting the guys at 7am at Junction 2 M40, so plenty of time

What I forgot is that when my panniers are installed, I can't take the seat off .. which means really late or no ipod for the trip

So our first stop at the services on the M6 toll .. what I did not know then and know now is that we were going to be riding some of the best roads in the world and no need to touch a motorway

We had a special guest with us on this trip ... very nice

 

[Deleted Member I]

Our second stop was a lovely tea shop in the North somewhere but not quite Scotland.

At this point it was interesting to watch some of the OAPs checking out EasySushi's bike and helmet and then preceding to "mess" with it. Old people

Although Ty was quite taken by the old lady that sat on his bike

 

[Deleted Member I]

Our first night of camping ... my fellow cheeky cockneys experienced discrimination. We were turned away from an EMPTY campsite. Why? Because our chosen mode of transport for our holiday was not a stupid RV .. fecking brainless twats

So we had a nice tussle with the Satan Slaves. These are not the Day-Glo harley riders but some hardcore biker gang. Glad I was not shot for blocking them overtaking me.

We eventually found the campsite but I was face with a U turn on a hilly road with the turn being into the adverse camber ... I peddled slowly backward instead

A nice evening was had .. with us comparing torches .. mine was crap (note to self .. remember to goto torch shop). How much more excitement can there be

 

[Deleted Member I]

Then we hit Scotland!

The guys wanted to wild camp but I was unsure

So here is Billy No Mates ...

 

[Deleted Member I]

The next day .. it started to rain

But the road and scenery was still amazing

 

[Deleted Member I]

The next it continued to rain ...

The guys decided to head south which I couldn't do as I wanted to meet up with a friend in Edinburgh later in the week. So I kept my head down and went to Ooyakinstan

That loch in Waternish is just so pretty

 

[Deleted Member I]

Then it was a run to Edinburgh via Perth ...

 

[Deleted Member I]

Meet up with Stumpy just outside Edinburgh and he took us round to the bike shops of Edinburgh

Then had a lovely evening catching up with an old friend in Edinburgh.

What a lovely holiday ..

Thanks to Jon for picking the best roads in the world to ride!

Thanks to Chris for putting up with my snoring

Thanks to Ty for lending me his Axe so I can put the pegs into the ground

Thanks to JP for the horror medical stories ... now I can't sleep

 

[Deleted Member I]

What I learnt about camping ...

I am crap at it but it was still fun

My Coleman tent was more than sufficient for my camping needs. It was 100% waterproof for the trip (but do remember to peg the outer skin so it doesn't touch the inner tent :aguie)

The primus stove is amazing. So much more advanced than the trangia things I used at school.

The down sleeping bag that I bought was good for packing down into a small size but it wasn't as warm as I had thought .. I think my 20 year old synthetic bag would be warmer

What made the trip is the company and it was a great laugh! Cheers Guys .. see you at the Royal Standard in June!

 

[takahe]

Please to see you enjoyed your Scottish trip Tom nice report and pics.
Paul.

 

[STUBBS]

good to see your back safe and sound see you later

 

[RideTheWind]

Great post. Great pics too. Looks like a lovely place. I enojed reading that one

 

[LOLGEOFF]

Good report Tom. Glad you enjoyed yourself after all your initial trepidation.

 

[THE DOCTOR]

That's got me in the mood Tom.

I'll be packing my camping gear into my panniers & setting off very soon.

Got 9 days riding around the West coast set up.

 

[Deleted Member I]

That's got me in the mood Tom.

I'll be packing my camping gear into my panniers & setting off very soon.

Got 9 days riding around the West coast set up.

We missed the road to Applecross because of the rain .. if you have time and the weather is kind to you .. you should do it.

I found campsites aren't all the same. The one in Braemar was really good, a proper drying room which was really good. Same price as one we used the day before which wasn't as well equipped. Maybe because it was a "Caravan Club" approved/affiliated one??

Have fun. Even if it rains, it's better than my ride to work.

 

[STUBBS]

so what did you take that you didnt use or was a waste of space and what did you forget to take

 

[Deleted Member I]

so what did you take that you didnt use or was a waste of space and what did you forget to take

I used everything I took with me.

In fact I should have took more cold weather clothing, so had to buy a fleece half way into the trip. Other than that it was all good

I need to find a camping chair that is less wide when folded up. Or need to buy a bigger roll bag.

 

[THE DOCTOR]

We missed the road to Applecross because of the rain .. if you have time and the weather is kind to you .. you should do it.

Applecross campsite is on my itinerary, 2 nights planned there.