Deleted account Cooperman
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Whenever you talk to any biker about touring Scotland you always get the question 'Ah - but have you done Applecross Pass?' Not having done so it was an itch that needed scratching.
We were a party of 2, one on an RS and my first real run on a KTM SA.
Anticlockwise was the plan.
For a change we came off the A1 early onto the A68 at Darlington, setting off early to miss the traffic. We were soon in the borders but too early for any Scottish breakfast stops who were all still asleep
So with empty stomachs we then had a traditional inclement Scottish welcome coming through Edinburgh and up to Perth
Fortunately from there things dried up and we got to warm the tyres up across a dry Cairngorms 
As annual alpine skiers it was interesting to see Scotland's offering. I think we will pass
A passing friendly wave
We were staying in Ballater just beyond Braemar. As we descended off the hills the SA started squeaking, audible from both bikes
Nothing was immediately evident and whilst Mr RS took the piss about the problems of having a chain I was comforted with the fact I had been very generous with the lube before we set off. Something to sleep on.
Ballater was caught in the Christmas floods. The local Indian is still closed which was a shame.
The next morning having reflected my lube may have been washed off by the Scottish welcome I nipped over the the MTB shop and secured a solution.
A liberal application later and hey presto - no more squeaks. Bloody chains
The exit from the Cairngorms across the whiskey and salmon fishing areas could not have been bettered. The temperature rose and stayed near 20 degrees for the rest of the trip
A bit industrial above Inverness.
We then cut across from east to west heading to Ullapool. The road was a bit slow with passing places.
The descent into Ullapool.
Saturday night in Ullapool is an experience. It was like a comedy sketch about a town full of drunks. In the FBI the barman was more pissed than the customers
Great views but not a place we would rush back to.
A misty start to the next day and our visit to Applecross. What an experience. I will let the photos do the talking.
We stayed in Fort William and were looking forward to the road back from the Mallaig ferry. Be warned, unless you have booked you will be lucky to get on the ferry
Staying away from motorways we elected to head down to the Hunters Quay ferry and come across Dumfries and Galloway. The road down to the ferry from Fort Bill is a gem
Then a cheeky unplanned stop in Bowness which backfired as this was the last room in the Inn
With the weather playing game this turned out to be a great trip
How did I get on with the SA? One photo sums it up
