North of Scotland jaunt

 We had a few days off and despite the dire weather forecast we decided on a small tour around Scotland, the length of the tour would be decided by the weather ultimately and the , well and the WEATHER! We had been in touch with Savi a friend of ours from the Netherlands who is touring around the UK and the Isle of Man in a converted van and her Norton Dominator. We agreed to meet her in Helmsdale for the night and continue on a small tour of the North.

The route as far as Strontian

Fi and I left Perth on a windy and wet morning and stopped at Tore services for fuel and food, we had also arranged to meet Guzzi Club North supremo Gavin (aka Mad Farquar) and his wife for a catch up there. A pleasant lunch followed and we set off in windy but dry conditions North, around 20 miles from Helmsdale we waved at a Norton heading south which looked suspiciously like Savi. We stopped and tried to call and eventually got a message she had a problem with her side stand and was looking for a welder and we would see her at Helmsdale, she arrived eventually having had the welding sorted out. A pleasant night at the private Hostel in Helmsdale followed catching up on what had been happening. The wind and rain woke me up in the early hours but I got back to sleep again and by the time morning came it looked nice again but remember this is Scotland and that can and does change rapidly.

Breakfast was taken in a nice cafe and we set off on a slightly modified route as heavy winds and rain were forecast, up to Altnaharra and then after a stop to admire the scenery and to water the plants the Norton started to misfire a bit but was fine into Lairg where we stopped for lunch.

A9 Stop

Gavin, Iso and myself at Tore services

Fiona's V85 contrasting with the flowers

Savi's Dommie

Helmsdale

Interesting architecture at the restaurant

Ready for the off

Well almost, we had to have breakfast first

Stopping to enjoy the rain

A brief respite from the wind and rain

The Dommi with the long road ahead

After a leisurely lunch the Norton was reluctant to run, several attempts at changing plugs with some used ones Savi had and managing to get a spark plug from a local garage it became obvious there was more afoot. A decision had to be made so a call to the welder from yesterday proved fruitful, he would come and bring spark plugs and a trailer (decent chaps)  we went back into the cafe then even they closed so we waited but true to his word the blacksmith from Tain appeared, still no go so he agreed to take the bike back to his workshop and Savi would pick it up the following day in her van. 

Just after 5pm we headed to Lochinver in the rain and fading light but managed to arrive just before another downpour, a pleasant night was spent catching up with our friend Kenny Wheelan our host at the Culag Hotel who as always looked after us very well and we crashed out early, Scottish weather gets to you sometimes...... often!

I was woken up by the heavy rain and wind battering the windows at about 3 am but thought it was a bad dream and managed to get to sleep again. We got up for breakfast with the rain still howling down but as we enjoyed breakfast some blue skies appeared. The plan today was to set off for a short visit to a nearby beach for a photo then ride to Inverness to drop Savi off for her van, it was cold and wet most of the day with glimpses of blue skies to show us what Scotland could look like albeit briefly! Petrol at at Ullapool was a rip off at 10p a litre more than the rural Highlands but by Contin I had to stop, same rip off prices and no toilet facilities, typical Scotland! We had a quick stop to heat up and then drove into Inverness to drop Savi off, say our goodbyes and carry on via Whitebridge to Fort Augustus and to the Corran ferry, The cafe at Spean bridge was closed as it was after 3pm and who would want a cup of Tea or to eat in the afternoon so the lukewarm tea in our flasks was the first drink we'd had since breakfast, We had been on the road all day in driving rain but our spirits were still high. We were relieved to roll into Tim's campground just before 5pm, we had a pod so managed a cup of tea after we had pulled off our wet gear, (did I mention it was raining) 

Dinner was excellent at the hotel as always and in the morning it was raining! Luckily the rain stopped at Comrie and the last 20 miles home was dry, what a result! Fiona and I enjoyed the trip and the bikes were excellent, less rain would have been good but then it wouldn't have been so much of an adventure.

Until the next time, keep on keeping on!

I will do a video once the pain has worn off!

The girls and Kenny saying goodbye

The Beach

Don't let the sun fool you it didn't last long

Almost the Bahamas but 8 degrees!

Fiona and Savi , note Fiona lives here and isn't fooled into taking her helmet off because a a brief appearance of the sunshine 

A view

Looking happy despite the cold

Saying goodbye

Oh look its  still wet

Waiting for the ferry

Peaceful at night on our way to the pub

Excellent view from the front of the pub

The bikes getting soaked again!