sockpuppet
Registered user
Now being a man of leisure till I find another job I decided that I needed a holiday before I find some more work.
Took the opportunity to take a ride upto the Isle of Skye
Started on Saturday. Left mid morning and took a slow ride up to the Lake district where I was staying in the YHA at Derwent Water.
Not many photies from today as the camera battery was flat
So had to charge it at the hostel.
Took some back roads upto Derwent water then onto A Roads to get through Windermere. Stopped to help a young chap on his Honda that was playing up - flat battery. Got him bump started once but stalled it looking for neutral. After that it was a no go. His dad has an F650 (not sure if GS or not) so maybe is a member on here?
Anyway in an attempt to feel more Scottish I stopped off at a petrol station to get.....
Anyway I then carried onto the first stop which was the YHA overlooking Derwent water. The room there was massive, which I shared for the night with three or so teachers and a group of blokes from Hull who were on a weekend pass from the respective SWMBOs. Woke up in the morning to the weather looking particularly good.
Packing in the morning...
Decided that instead of heading for Scotland straight away I would first head towards Grange and do some local routes before heading northwards.
Taken at the top of honsiter pass just near to slate mine.
From here I headed towards the coast and up towards Carlisle. As I was passing through a road I saw twigged a memory I had. Decided to go down for and a few more guessed turns later I was stood outside my Great-Aunts house, even though I'd not been there for at least 10 years (and never driven there). This was on the Sunday morning and when I got back home I my parents told she'd passed away on Saturday evening. Spooky.
Just north of Carlisle met a 1200Adv rider in Todhills services who was heading to the Isle of Mull to do some photography.
So as it was getting late I decided a quick hop onto the M74 to get past Glasgow was in order, eventually arriving at my next stop Rowardennan Hall SYHA. This was on the east side of Loch Lomond and at the end of a 6 mile single track and a 500 yard gravel section. I knew I got the GSA for a reason
Anyway, still fantastic views on offer either way.
Also worked out that the Scottish YHAs are tighter than the English ones. They only give you one pillow as opposed to two.
Monday morning rolled around and set off back to the bottom of Loch Lomond in order to head around and up the west side. Didn't get far before the rain and lack of breakfast at the hostel meant I'd found a cafe at Invergluss and parked up next to the hydro power plant.
Had a friendly word with some local coppers who advised me to take it easy then set off towards Tyndrum for some fuel. Refuelled at the Green Welly and took the coastal road to Oban then Fort William. There must have been something in the air (possible just the rain it was pishing it down). But before long I'd found another coffee stop overlooking some more water.
After well any truly getting pished on I made it to Fort Wiliam and opted just to get to Mallaig asap and the ferry. Took the 16:00 sailing. (yes, the helmet is secured before anyone else moans
)
Home on the Isle of Sky was a hostel known as the Skyewalker and is probably one of the strangest places that I have stayed. Various StarWars characters direct you around the place, saying that its clean, tidy the rooms are warm with a good radiator. All for £15. It also came with some good looking Ozzie chick who was also staying there one of the many benefits of hostels.
The morning after I decided to look up Oonyack which turned out to the a whole day affair. First I had to take care of the seat which was going to prove chilly on the arse.
Bike fired up first time though.
After a few miles stopped to check the oil levels and found the bike needed some so stopped to take in the views while feeding the engine some lotion. Not the worst place I could think of to be topping the bike up with oil.
After failing miserably to find Oonyack Towers I did to find out he'd gone to do some work (yeah I know, shocked is not the word
). Decoded we'd meet later.
Headed off to Sconser to board the ferry, got there at 10:35 with the ferry having sailed at 10:30. Next ferry not till 13:00 so instead I turned my attention to another of my favourite activities. Lunch.
Parked up at the most hard core of food outlets. The co-op.
Did a few laps of the Island roads at well under the limit after which a bimble to the Sconser - Raasay ferry was in order.
Got talking to Robert who offered us a cup of tea and stuck us in the Life at the end of the road blog.
http://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/the-press-gang-cometh/
The road has to be ridden to be believed. It is simply a work of art well when its not trying to kill you that is. There is lots of gravel and tight turns with a steep climb and drops. I reckon at least one person is going to drop the bike on this first mile next year.
Headed back towards the ferry past a sign too good to miss.
Did a short burn across the Island towards
onyack where I was plied with coffee by HRH and NashSkye - thanks very much guys was very appreciated 
After finally convincing NashSkye that I didn't need food or a place to stay she finally let me go after stickering the bike up some more. There was no way i was getting away without a 46 sticker on the bike.
Now and I've done some research on this. Apparently the 46 is used by some rally driver that's trying his hand at motogp
I sincerely hope Nash has a thing for him due to his driving ability and not looks. I reckon he looks a bit like a malnourished Vin Diesel with hair.
Waved goodbye to the Oonyack clan and made a bee line for my bed - 70 miles away.
So the final stop was Morags Lodge in Fort Augustas. Possibly the most Scottish place in the world. Their DVD rentals consisted of all the highlander films and brave heart
Anyway morning came and I prepared for the god know how far ride from Loch Ness to Leicester. Packing up for the final day.
Overall a cracking break. Did close to 2000 miles and loved every one of them. This dirt smiley I drew on the Monday when I was particularly narked off at the rain and needed to amuse myself pretty much describes the whole trip.
Richard
Took the opportunity to take a ride upto the Isle of Skye
Started on Saturday. Left mid morning and took a slow ride up to the Lake district where I was staying in the YHA at Derwent Water.
Not many photies from today as the camera battery was flat
So had to charge it at the hostel. Took some back roads upto Derwent water then onto A Roads to get through Windermere. Stopped to help a young chap on his Honda that was playing up - flat battery. Got him bump started once but stalled it looking for neutral. After that it was a no go. His dad has an F650 (not sure if GS or not) so maybe is a member on here?
Anyway in an attempt to feel more Scottish I stopped off at a petrol station to get.....
Anyway I then carried onto the first stop which was the YHA overlooking Derwent water. The room there was massive, which I shared for the night with three or so teachers and a group of blokes from Hull who were on a weekend pass from the respective SWMBOs. Woke up in the morning to the weather looking particularly good.
Packing in the morning...
Decided that instead of heading for Scotland straight away I would first head towards Grange and do some local routes before heading northwards.
Taken at the top of honsiter pass just near to slate mine.
From here I headed towards the coast and up towards Carlisle. As I was passing through a road I saw twigged a memory I had. Decided to go down for and a few more guessed turns later I was stood outside my Great-Aunts house, even though I'd not been there for at least 10 years (and never driven there). This was on the Sunday morning and when I got back home I my parents told she'd passed away on Saturday evening. Spooky.
Just north of Carlisle met a 1200Adv rider in Todhills services who was heading to the Isle of Mull to do some photography.
So as it was getting late I decided a quick hop onto the M74 to get past Glasgow was in order, eventually arriving at my next stop Rowardennan Hall SYHA. This was on the east side of Loch Lomond and at the end of a 6 mile single track and a 500 yard gravel section. I knew I got the GSA for a reason
Anyway, still fantastic views on offer either way.
Also worked out that the Scottish YHAs are tighter than the English ones. They only give you one pillow as opposed to two.
Monday morning rolled around and set off back to the bottom of Loch Lomond in order to head around and up the west side. Didn't get far before the rain and lack of breakfast at the hostel meant I'd found a cafe at Invergluss and parked up next to the hydro power plant.
Had a friendly word with some local coppers who advised me to take it easy then set off towards Tyndrum for some fuel. Refuelled at the Green Welly and took the coastal road to Oban then Fort William. There must have been something in the air (possible just the rain it was pishing it down). But before long I'd found another coffee stop overlooking some more water.
After well any truly getting pished on I made it to Fort Wiliam and opted just to get to Mallaig asap and the ferry. Took the 16:00 sailing. (yes, the helmet is secured before anyone else moans
)
Home on the Isle of Sky was a hostel known as the Skyewalker and is probably one of the strangest places that I have stayed. Various StarWars characters direct you around the place, saying that its clean, tidy the rooms are warm with a good radiator. All for £15. It also came with some good looking Ozzie chick who was also staying there one of the many benefits of hostels.
The morning after I decided to look up Oonyack which turned out to the a whole day affair. First I had to take care of the seat which was going to prove chilly on the arse.
Bike fired up first time though.
After a few miles stopped to check the oil levels and found the bike needed some so stopped to take in the views while feeding the engine some lotion. Not the worst place I could think of to be topping the bike up with oil.
After failing miserably to find Oonyack Towers I did to find out he'd gone to do some work (yeah I know, shocked is not the word
). Decoded we'd meet later.Headed off to Sconser to board the ferry, got there at 10:35 with the ferry having sailed at 10:30. Next ferry not till 13:00 so instead I turned my attention to another of my favourite activities. Lunch.
Parked up at the most hard core of food outlets. The co-op.
Did a few laps of the Island roads at well under the limit
after which a bimble to the Sconser - Raasay ferry was in order.
Got talking to Robert who offered us a cup of tea and stuck us in the Life at the end of the road blog.
http://lifeattheendoftheroad.wordpress.com/2009/03/17/the-press-gang-cometh/
The road has to be ridden to be believed. It is simply a work of art well when its not trying to kill you that is. There is lots of gravel and tight turns with a steep climb and drops. I reckon at least one person is going to drop the bike on this first mile next year.
Headed back towards the ferry past a sign too good to miss.
Did a short burn across the Island towards
onyack where I was plied with coffee by HRH and NashSkye - thanks very much guys was very appreciated After finally convincing NashSkye that I didn't need food or a place to stay she finally let me go after stickering the bike up some more. There was no way i was getting away without a 46 sticker on the bike.
Now and I've done some research on this. Apparently the 46 is used by some rally driver that's trying his hand at motogp
I sincerely hope Nash has a thing for him due to his driving ability and not looks. I reckon he looks a bit like a malnourished Vin Diesel with hair.Waved goodbye to the Oonyack clan and made a bee line for my bed - 70 miles away.
So the final stop was Morags Lodge in Fort Augustas. Possibly the most Scottish place in the world. Their DVD rentals consisted of all the highlander films and brave heart
Anyway morning came and I prepared for the god know how far ride from Loch Ness to Leicester. Packing up for the final day.
Overall a cracking break. Did close to 2000 miles and loved every one of them. This dirt smiley I drew on the Monday when I was particularly narked off at the rain and needed to amuse myself pretty much describes the whole trip.
Richard
