I dont think i have ever hidden my love of motorcycling in Scotland and try to go as often as possible.
This year i thought it would be a good idea to share my favourite roads and scenery and cake shops with some friends and aquaintances so Andy (Roadcraft rider) and myself opened up our plannned jaunt to others to join in.
The plan being 10 blokes with 10 bikes on a jolly caper to the Highlands.
Rooms were booked well in advance working on the pack em in and keep it cheap principle.
Sure enough we had plenty of takers and thats when it started to get complicated .....; One bloke decided that he was going to bring his Mrs along as pillion. Another bloke who had never done a tour before wanted a single room ...... then of course we have to take into account Andys snoring which believe me can make Thor put his fingers in his ears, mine and Kevins farting Oh dear........
I was a little concerned at this point as the roads i use and the distances on those roads are fairly tough and for a pillion could be pretty tiresome but hey ho on with the plan ..........
The Suspects their credentials and bikes are:
Andy ( Roadcraft rider) a RoSPA Tutor, GSA 90th aniv.
Nigel Bowers ( Advanced biker .com) Ex police rider and RoSPA Examiner, no end of other quals and riding God, 1200 GS
Dave Midlands RoSPA and IAM big wig, GS1200later to be re named the Stalker.
Pete W Yorks RoSPA coidinator and tutor, Pan European
Geoff W Yorks RoSPA Tutor, VFR 1200
Kevin RoSPA Gold, GS LC
Clint and Mrs Clint, RoSPA Gold ( not Mrs Clint) GSA bought a few weeks ago for not much money and not really tested !
Guy, Duccati 1100 MS qualified in talking a good game
and Me, A degree in hooliganery and causing trouble on my GSA LC.
As you can see or guess, on paper this would be a good progress making group and so it turmed out to be.
Andy and myself set off to the rendevous at Skipton nice and early, mainly due to being as excited as schoolboys on the first day of conker season, with temperatures soaring to 11 degrees which was as hot as it got for the next 5 days! I was suprised to see Andy wearing his old Neotec rather than his flashy Tour X but as he said tried and trusted ..... More on this later
We arrived at the Little thief for a bacon sarnie and met up with Clint, Mrs Clint (who i discovered was called Lynne) and Dave who had all travvelled up the night before from southern parts.
The rest of the group arrived about half way through the bacon.
So the route for day 1 was
Just under 300 miles on great roads.
Extra layers were added as it was down to about 7 degrees and looking like rain, Helmets on, comms tested and sworn at until it worked and then a little after 0900hrs we were off......
We set out over Malham tarn and onto Hawes and the creamery for the first stop of the day and to have a scone! Scones almost became the staple diet. A ride order developed with me leading and Dave at the back. Andy was supposed to be TEC but dave insisted and proceeded to harrass Andy for the duration and became known as the stalker. The pace was brisk albeit within the legal limits you understand.
From Hawes our next stop was The cafe at Chollerford where we got to chatting bollocks and getting to know each other a bit.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/Redrick1/Highland fling 2015_zpstlw5jxll.jpg
We thought Clint had lost all his clutch fluid but he hadn't so no disasters so far !
Onto Jedburgh for lunch which was more scones and a high tea for some !
No Passports required yet !
So far we had encountered a couple brief showers so I considered our selves lucky although the temp was still in single figures and started to think about the heated grips thread and came to the conclusion mine are shit too, at under 8 degrees they are ineffective to sday thye least but feck it Im on a trip so cope with it i did !
From Jedbutgh on to the Edinburgh By pass via the tourist route off the M9 at knockhill to Glen Eagles, crief and our digs for the night.
We Stayed in the Royal Dunkeld hotel which wasn't my first choice but as that couldnt accomodate the room rerquirements here we were and in honesty it was pretty good, the Owner was helpfull and welcoming. We were in the Garden rooms (portakabins) We were on the cheap remember ! The food was good as was the Guiness !!
Not my meal as i forgot how much tossers like pics of food
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/...6013875_6437739529873059950_n_zpsfceuhmpn.jpg
Day 2 to follow
This year i thought it would be a good idea to share my favourite roads and scenery and cake shops with some friends and aquaintances so Andy (Roadcraft rider) and myself opened up our plannned jaunt to others to join in.
The plan being 10 blokes with 10 bikes on a jolly caper to the Highlands.
Rooms were booked well in advance working on the pack em in and keep it cheap principle.
Sure enough we had plenty of takers and thats when it started to get complicated .....; One bloke decided that he was going to bring his Mrs along as pillion. Another bloke who had never done a tour before wanted a single room ...... then of course we have to take into account Andys snoring which believe me can make Thor put his fingers in his ears, mine and Kevins farting Oh dear........
I was a little concerned at this point as the roads i use and the distances on those roads are fairly tough and for a pillion could be pretty tiresome but hey ho on with the plan ..........
The Suspects their credentials and bikes are:
Andy ( Roadcraft rider) a RoSPA Tutor, GSA 90th aniv.
Nigel Bowers ( Advanced biker .com) Ex police rider and RoSPA Examiner, no end of other quals and riding God, 1200 GS
Dave Midlands RoSPA and IAM big wig, GS1200later to be re named the Stalker.
Pete W Yorks RoSPA coidinator and tutor, Pan European
Geoff W Yorks RoSPA Tutor, VFR 1200
Kevin RoSPA Gold, GS LC
Clint and Mrs Clint, RoSPA Gold ( not Mrs Clint) GSA bought a few weeks ago for not much money and not really tested !
Guy, Duccati 1100 MS qualified in talking a good game
and Me, A degree in hooliganery and causing trouble on my GSA LC.
As you can see or guess, on paper this would be a good progress making group and so it turmed out to be.
Andy and myself set off to the rendevous at Skipton nice and early, mainly due to being as excited as schoolboys on the first day of conker season, with temperatures soaring to 11 degrees which was as hot as it got for the next 5 days! I was suprised to see Andy wearing his old Neotec rather than his flashy Tour X but as he said tried and trusted ..... More on this later
We arrived at the Little thief for a bacon sarnie and met up with Clint, Mrs Clint (who i discovered was called Lynne) and Dave who had all travvelled up the night before from southern parts.
The rest of the group arrived about half way through the bacon.
So the route for day 1 was
Just under 300 miles on great roads.
Extra layers were added as it was down to about 7 degrees and looking like rain, Helmets on, comms tested and sworn at until it worked and then a little after 0900hrs we were off......
We set out over Malham tarn and onto Hawes and the creamery for the first stop of the day and to have a scone! Scones almost became the staple diet. A ride order developed with me leading and Dave at the back. Andy was supposed to be TEC but dave insisted and proceeded to harrass Andy for the duration and became known as the stalker. The pace was brisk albeit within the legal limits you understand.
From Hawes our next stop was The cafe at Chollerford where we got to chatting bollocks and getting to know each other a bit.
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/mm200/Redrick1/Highland fling 2015_zpstlw5jxll.jpg
We thought Clint had lost all his clutch fluid but he hadn't so no disasters so far !
Onto Jedburgh for lunch which was more scones and a high tea for some !
No Passports required yet !
So far we had encountered a couple brief showers so I considered our selves lucky although the temp was still in single figures and started to think about the heated grips thread and came to the conclusion mine are shit too, at under 8 degrees they are ineffective to sday thye least but feck it Im on a trip so cope with it i did !
From Jedbutgh on to the Edinburgh By pass via the tourist route off the M9 at knockhill to Glen Eagles, crief and our digs for the night.
We Stayed in the Royal Dunkeld hotel which wasn't my first choice but as that couldnt accomodate the room rerquirements here we were and in honesty it was pretty good, the Owner was helpfull and welcoming. We were in the Garden rooms (portakabins) We were on the cheap remember ! The food was good as was the Guiness !!
Not my meal as i forgot how much tossers like pics of food
http://i296.photobucket.com/albums/...6013875_6437739529873059950_n_zpsfceuhmpn.jpg
Day 2 to follow
, it wasnt that funny I was the silly bugger that waited at the turn to man handle them round the bloody bend, 
, but dont forget you also woke up a GSA and a K1600 on your way through, and they didnt like it a jot, both with Yorkshire plates on (not on here by any chance are they) 
