Had a great ride today - weather for the weekend boded well, so I decided to join the NE GS'ers for a ride - the first real pleasure ride of the year
We met @ Hexham for 10, so it was a fairly early start for me, about 8 for a Sunday
Yorkshire was chilly.................so an extra fleece was in order, at the Scotch Corner fuel stop
Trundled up the A1 and A68.............destination Corbridge and Hexham
All was well until the GPS
threw a wobbly, just outside Corbridge and took me down a single track lane and through a ford was washout debris everywhere..............fecking thing
Oh well........... arrived at the meet point ok and met up with a good number of other weird talking GS'ers - I thought I was dreaming about Forry
Colin (Borderraider) led us off in the direction of Otterburn/Kielder and Hawick................as soon as we traversed into Scotland the weather transformed into big blue skies and wall to wall sunshine
Colin took us on some fabulous roads and it was good to re-visit them.
We ended up up @ St Mary's Loch for lunch and this is one of the best lunch stops in the whole of Britain (IMHO)
With views like this......................does it get any better?
After lunch it was over towards Megget annd the Reservoir & Pass
Again..............this is one of my favourite views in the world
The narrow pass down to the Water................
This time last week, I believe it was blocked with a 5' snow drift................what a difference 1 week makes, Micky
Back to the main road and on towards Moffat and then Langholm
After a comfort break and T stop we made our way to Brampton and the group split to make for home
I decided to go to Alston and had a fabulous ride home on one of my favourite roads through Slaggyford
After Alston it was over Alston Moor towards Middleton In Teesdale
Big Sky patterns today..........................
A big day.......................pure GS pleasure
Things................... that I learnt or remembered today
Gravel.......................can be fun, but not on the apex when cranked over @ 45 degrees
Traction Control.........................bikes without it are better fun on hump back bridges and fast moorland roads...............when airborne is the order of the day
Once familiar roads......................seem distant memories after winter
Spring rides........................show up one's frailties and rusty riding skills.........braking points were missed...............apexes were lost............concentration was lacking........................however things will and do improve.................bring it on!
Pigeons..............................do give a shit....................when you hit one full on!
Scotland........................can sometimes be a lot warmer and sunnier than England...................judging by the amount of flesh displayed today in Scotland.....................summer has landed
The Scottish Borderlands..........................have some of the finest traffic-free motorcycling roads in the whole of Britain - with the most awesome views
1150 GSAdv's.......................are a fantastic bike
If you are going to the UKGS'er event - Bordering with the Insane............you will not be disappointed
We met @ Hexham for 10, so it was a fairly early start for me, about 8 for a Sunday
Yorkshire was chilly.................so an extra fleece was in order, at the Scotch Corner fuel stop
Trundled up the A1 and A68.............destination Corbridge and Hexham
All was well until the GPS
threw a wobbly, just outside Corbridge and took me down a single track lane and through a ford was washout debris everywhere..............fecking thingOh well........... arrived at the meet point ok and met up with a good number of other weird talking GS'ers - I thought I was dreaming about Forry
Colin (Borderraider) led us off in the direction of Otterburn/Kielder and Hawick................as soon as we traversed into Scotland the weather transformed into big blue skies and wall to wall sunshine
Colin took us on some fabulous roads and it was good to re-visit them.
We ended up up @ St Mary's Loch for lunch and this is one of the best lunch stops in the whole of Britain (IMHO)
With views like this......................does it get any better?
After lunch it was over towards Megget annd the Reservoir & Pass
Again..............this is one of my favourite views in the world
The narrow pass down to the Water................
This time last week, I believe it was blocked with a 5' snow drift................what a difference 1 week makes, Micky
Back to the main road and on towards Moffat and then Langholm
After a comfort break and T stop we made our way to Brampton and the group split to make for home
I decided to go to Alston and had a fabulous ride home on one of my favourite roads through Slaggyford
After Alston it was over Alston Moor towards Middleton In Teesdale
Big Sky patterns today..........................
A big day.......................pure GS pleasure
Things................... that I learnt or remembered today
Gravel.......................can be fun, but not on the apex when cranked over @ 45 degrees
Traction Control.........................bikes without it are better fun on hump back bridges and fast moorland roads...............when airborne is the order of the day
Once familiar roads......................seem distant memories after winter
Spring rides........................show up one's frailties and rusty riding skills.........braking points were missed...............apexes were lost............concentration was lacking........................however things will and do improve.................bring it on!
Pigeons..............................do give a shit....................when you hit one full on!
Scotland........................can sometimes be a lot warmer and sunnier than England...................judging by the amount of flesh displayed today in Scotland.....................summer has landed
The Scottish Borderlands..........................have some of the finest traffic-free motorcycling roads in the whole of Britain - with the most awesome views
1150 GSAdv's.......................are a fantastic bike
If you are going to the UKGS'er event - Bordering with the Insane............you will not be disappointed
