As fatherT works there during the week on an on-going government project, I get to stay in the Apartment he has in Douglas for free 
So booked ferry again (had a few troubles this year most of it was sold out!) £200 later, I had my ticket...
Weather reports for ride up looked bad, and looking at BBC weather online night before, the spot I planned to camp at in Yorkshire on way up had heavy rain, so urgent google for new site in dry forcast area and I was away...
I had a couple of showers on the way up, one really big heavy one, but my Dainese Gortex stuff, a few years old now, kept me dry
Arrived at the campsite, and a bit of disaster, they had a barrier and a stupid intercom which was very quite, but I could hear they were fully booked
I don't usually book when camping, d'oh! Gets the iPhone out, next 5 i ring locally are fully booked too
Quick Googling on the phone, for once Vodafone had signal! Found on 20 mins away with space, Sat Nav set, I blasted over and setup camp:
Dinner was served:
Following morning packed up and ready to go, had rain during night, but was dry in the morning.
Arrived at a wet & windy Heysham
Loooads of bikers, this is just practice week!
Weather was glorious on the Island:
After a few blasts over the mountain section, I went exploring around the Island:
On Thursday did more runs over the mountain (doing filmed runs with my new bullet camera)
I stopped off after a run...
Then spotted something interesting go by, decided to leave and saw them again 3 corners down the road. Got off to investigate....
It was the new McLaren and Ferrari
It was for what i thought 5th Gear, but turns out it was Top Gear Magazine:
After having a chat with Tom & his team, they drove off to come back down having some shots taken. When they did, they asked if us (around 20 bikers) would mind following them up and back again for a shot for the magazine? So we all got on our bikes teared off up to the closed section, did a 3 pointer, then followed them back.
I tucked up behind the Ferrari, as we came down had loads of photos taken of the cars surrounded by bikes. Apparently it will be in the mag in a couple of weeks!
Leaving the Island in perfect weather, the sea was like a millpond, Steam Packets new Super Sea cat (ex US Navy) got the hammer down...
Had an amazing run back through Yorkshire Dales & Peak District in 25c+ weather....
I also took my elcheapo bargin basement bullet camera to the TT, all I can say is watch out Spielberg! Tunnie is directing camera angles
First camera angle was rear facing, I strapped it to the frame of the bike under the top box rack. I was concerned about vibration, big boxers are not known for smoothness! But it was not an issue.
So in true tunnie bodge style, out with the gaffer jaffer tape tape (no really its called jaffer! - Maybe cause its Orange? )
I ran the wire from the camera along the frame to my tank bag:
Another camera angle I wanted was foot view / ground-ish level, this was done by strapping it to the pillion footrest, the view proved to be perfect!
Again lead taped up frame to my tank bag:
Front facing cam was between indicator and screen, this had the most movement, and did come not out as well. Might have something to do with me dropping the camera part
It went all blurry, managed to re-focus it taking the lens out, but its still not quite right
New camera on their own can be had for less than a tenner so I might get one.
Should point out I had to do multiple runs with each angle to get the compilation video below, so that accounts for the changes in weather conditions!
I do also have each angles full clip of the mountain section, but i'll upload those from work, takes 2 mins there up upload 250 odd mb rather than the hour and half at home!
I'll get the excuses in early, I'm useless, only been riding a couple of years, I'm on a big, fat, heavy, boxer twin, touring bike....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1H3uStMmUQ
So booked ferry again (had a few troubles this year most of it was sold out!) £200 later, I had my ticket...
Weather reports for ride up looked bad, and looking at BBC weather online night before, the spot I planned to camp at in Yorkshire on way up had heavy rain, so urgent google for new site in dry forcast area and I was away...
I had a couple of showers on the way up, one really big heavy one, but my Dainese Gortex stuff, a few years old now, kept me dry
Arrived at the campsite, and a bit of disaster, they had a barrier and a stupid intercom which was very quite, but I could hear they were fully booked
I don't usually book when camping, d'oh! Gets the iPhone out, next 5 i ring locally are fully booked too
Quick Googling on the phone, for once Vodafone had signal! Found on 20 mins away with space, Sat Nav set, I blasted over and setup camp:
Dinner was served:
Following morning packed up and ready to go, had rain during night, but was dry in the morning.
Arrived at a wet & windy Heysham
Loooads of bikers, this is just practice week!
Weather was glorious on the Island:
After a few blasts over the mountain section, I went exploring around the Island:
On Thursday did more runs over the mountain (doing filmed runs with my new bullet camera)
I stopped off after a run...
Then spotted something interesting go by, decided to leave and saw them again 3 corners down the road. Got off to investigate....
It was the new McLaren and Ferrari
It was for what i thought 5th Gear, but turns out it was Top Gear Magazine:
After having a chat with Tom & his team, they drove off to come back down having some shots taken. When they did, they asked if us (around 20 bikers) would mind following them up and back again for a shot for the magazine? So we all got on our bikes teared off up to the closed section, did a 3 pointer, then followed them back.
I tucked up behind the Ferrari, as we came down had loads of photos taken of the cars surrounded by bikes. Apparently it will be in the mag in a couple of weeks!
Leaving the Island in perfect weather, the sea was like a millpond, Steam Packets new Super Sea cat (ex US Navy) got the hammer down...
Had an amazing run back through Yorkshire Dales & Peak District in 25c+ weather....
I also took my elcheapo bargin basement bullet camera to the TT, all I can say is watch out Spielberg! Tunnie is directing camera angles
First camera angle was rear facing, I strapped it to the frame of the bike under the top box rack. I was concerned about vibration, big boxers are not known for smoothness! But it was not an issue.
So in true tunnie bodge style, out with the gaffer jaffer tape tape (no really its called jaffer! - Maybe cause its Orange? )
I ran the wire from the camera along the frame to my tank bag:
Another camera angle I wanted was foot view / ground-ish level, this was done by strapping it to the pillion footrest, the view proved to be perfect!
Again lead taped up frame to my tank bag:
Front facing cam was between indicator and screen, this had the most movement, and did come not out as well. Might have something to do with me dropping the camera part
It went all blurry, managed to re-focus it taking the lens out, but its still not quite right
New camera on their own can be had for less than a tenner so I might get one.
Should point out I had to do multiple runs with each angle to get the compilation video below, so that accounts for the changes in weather conditions!
I do also have each angles full clip of the mountain section, but i'll upload those from work, takes 2 mins there up upload 250 odd mb rather than the hour and half at home!
I'll get the excuses in early, I'm useless, only been riding a couple of years, I'm on a big, fat, heavy, boxer twin, touring bike....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L1H3uStMmUQ
