Monday 21 April 2014

Easter, what a great weekend

We made the most of the Easter break leaving work on our bikes on Thursday night and heading up to the Ardnamurchan peninsula for the evening. By the time we got there it was still sunny but it was dropping fast and the cold started. Our stove was on the way out but luckily it lasted long enough to make dinner (there's nowhere near here to get stuff to eat!)
A fine evening watching the scenery do not very much, a cold night though and the morning dawn brought a hard frost which covered everything in a white blanket. Being stove less we couldn't make a cup of tea in the morning, tragedy, but the post office about 6 miles along the road has a superb tearoom so we took breakfast there before having a superb ride along the single track roads to Mallaig and another ferry over the sea to Skye.
The weather was incredible, still evidence of snow on the hills but real heat in the sun, we took the back road through Plockton and then over the Bealach to Applecross. A great night in the Applecross Inn, plenty alcohol and new friends made (hello Graham & Linda)
Saturday was a hangover day, a walk to the visitor centre to read about local history and then we met Bert & Laurenne who'd come down in the noddy car, a great lunch and blether at the walled garden followed by another overindulgent night at the Inn in great company.
We decided to head home on the Sunday but took our time, stopped plenty and enjoyed the ride in glorious weather all the way home although from Stirling to Edinburgh it was bloody freezing!
A fantastic weekend and when you get weather like this Scotland is unbeatable, a chippy tea in Comrie rounded off the main party.
Today was spent swapping bikes around, now got my Guzzi here so I can get it ready for the Rally in two weeks time, great thing this motorcycling lark!


 
Ballahulish for petrol, sun and snow on the hills
The Corran ferry to Ardnamurchan
Fi preparing the chicken
Stunning
Note Hairy Bikers low fat option!! (Dlesn't work for me!)
Breaking camp
Excellent Tearoom
It doesn't get better
Waiting for the ferry
Mallaig Harbour
We share the same hairdresser, the local barber offers the "Mallaig Mullet" I think our is better
Ferry to Skye....speed bonnie boat and all that nonsense
Ahoy there
Braw
Moooo
Applecross House
Skye in the Background
This stone cross is 1400 years old
The Famous Bealach Na Baa

Chippy at Comrie
Loch Carron for beakfast (Thanks Kate)

Sunday 13 April 2014

Speedway, MOT and Classic bike meeting, busy weekend

I was quite glad to finish work Friday and could have easily retired to the couch for the evening with a beer, however Mrs R had already suggested going to the Speedway at Armadale to watch the Edinburgh Monarchs. I'm ashamed to say this is the first time I've gone to the speedway and I really enjoyed the experience despite it being cold and wet. I can recommend it for a good Friday night out.
Saturday I had the Mk3 Commando in for an MOT which it passed and then had to service our BMW's so that they are ready for a wee road trip next weekend (Easter). A full day in the garage on Saturday saw everything up to date thankfully.
An over indulgence in Beer and wine meant we were later for the Scottish Classic Club's meeting at Yetts o Muchart today. Fi's first run this year on the Norton and a bit of a challenge with high winds (The bike not me) rain and mud and gravel on the roads. Once again great to catch up with everyone but due to our lateness we only managed snatched conversations with most. Had tea and soup (not in the same plate) with Ian (Drummer Extraordinaire)  and Lorraine whist talking nonsense. A very windy run home and glad to get over the Forth Bridge before they closed it to bikes due to the gusting winds.
Another weekend with maximum results, braw, roll on Easter.


Exciting stuff
Round the outside
Ready for the off
Service the BMW time, first since we done it in Kevin Stratton's garage in Minneapolis 
The Mk3 after passing its annual test
Busy busy
Fi getting back into starting the Norton
Nice restoration and a great way to get youngsters into classic bikes
Eric's BSA doon frae Smokey Toon
Nice Norton
Velo Venom, nice man moved his helmet so I could get a better shot
Simon Linfords Matchless's
Nice Nortons but Mikes showing the mud after a wee trip into the ditch after some over exuberance
Pre War Velo, very smart

Sunday 6 April 2014

Huntygowks Meeting

Our annual Norton Club Huntygowks meeting today at Comrie was a wet affair, Fi and I had a great run up despite the heavy rain starting around Knockhill. Fi decided to take her Kawasaki since she hadn't been out on it since we left for Argentina 18 months ago and because she didn't want to get another Norton dirty.
A good turnout despite the weather and great to catch up with old pals we hadn't seen for a while, it was a day of tea, rolls and cakes and talking bikes and nonsense, a perfect day really. My bike was great on the run up but decided not to start after our day, Bill hung around to watch me change plugs, looks like a weak spark so a dodgy coil methinks, it got me home on a mixture of one, two and one and a half cylinders, not fun really on the soaking roads and horizontal rain. Looks like my waterproof gear isn't any more either and as I write this half an hour after getting back the sun's just come out, thank you!
Some maintenance to do then this week and more spares to be bought!

David chats to a Greeves owner in the rain
Fi glad to be back on her Kawasaki (except for the run home when she was missing the BMW's heated grips)
Forfar Johns well fettled Commando
Jake Beatson's nice Falcone
Philosophy at its best, maybe it is what it all about?
Sandy's ES2 leaves a rainbow for John Hymans Commando to admire
David paying Homage to George Martin's Triumph
John D arrived on a nice Stelvio, I want one!
Talking bikes, a great way to pass a Sunday (and talking comedy facial hair)
Nice Norton Commander all the way from Aberdeen
Wht does that do mister H?
Well, you pull that, sit on there , hang on and it goes!
Bill & Kat arrive.....wet!
Our Edinburgh branch visitors, Davie and George arrived on a 750 Atlas (front) and Davies nice patina condition Dommie
The Wormit contingent
Nice line up of Nortons
Davie and George wondering if the Hokey Cockey is what its all about
She never arrived on a bike!