Strontian "Norton" meeting

 First of all I didn't take a Norton this weekend, neither did Fiona, mainly in an effort to have a chilled weekend. Myself, Fiona, Alex, Budge and John T left our house before 1 and decided to take the back road to Bankfoot to avoid the A9 Traffic, it seems Google had directed all the tourists the same way, actually I have read about the locals in Almondbank and Pitcairngreen complaining to the powers that be about the state of the traffic as people avoid the state of the traffic on the A9!!

The intelligence of the people charged with coming up with these schemes has to be witnessed to believe how low down the evolutionary scale they fit in! I suspect if you ask 30 primary 1 schoolkids to come up with a plan they could do no worse and maybe better!

The A9 from Perth which has been a Dual Carriageway for decades had been reworked into a Dual carriageway ? but its now extended to Dunkeld (almost) after years of traffic congestion it opened just after Covid. Then the local council agreed to put in a new Bridge over the Tay at a cost of Tens if not Hundreds of millions to the local taxpayer (We will be paying it back for years after the people that made the decision have died) This involves digging up the new A9 again and disrupting the traffic for months during the very busy Summer period causing mayhem. I believe the "New Road" will open fully this week just before a load of lycra louts will lock down most of Perthshires roads This coming Friday (Whilst our generous Council who cant afford to repair roads or heat the swimming pools can come up with £280,000 pounds to help the organisers no doubt make a profit) Am I pissed off? yes!!!!!

Anyway after the total clusterfuck that is House of Bruar the road was better, some fuel at Dalwhinnie and a brilliant run to Spean Bridge then following Philly's advice we turned of at the Commando memorial and avoided most human contact until the Mallaig road and eventually rode down to Strontian. It was an excellent road apart from a Local trying to Kill/ Scare us in an Audi A4, luckily we got him at the petrol station in Strontian and had strong words, realising he was quite possibly mentally retarded I stopped short of physical violence but I do have a video!

A great weekend, very good crack on both nights and as always great to tell bike stories but the torrential rain all day Saturday meant we couldn't sensibly get out for a run. Unfortunately not a lot of Nortons but Keith Burdon flew the flag with a Model 50 (350) single all the way from Livingston, Phil was on his Commando and Alan on his Mk3, Robert from Inverness arrived later on the Saturday to complete the Norton bringers, I must try harder!!

I was woken by my brother around Midnight on the Saturday to tell me the dash lights were on the mk3 Le Mans, water had got into the electrics (Despite me praising Italian electrics earlier in the evening)  I switched the ignition on and off in a vain hope to sort it then tried to start it, problem was the starter motor kept churning round no matter what I did, including pulling all the fuses!! I managed to disconnect the battery and the following morning left it next to Tims house to collect this week!!

We caught the ferry no problem and had a good run down the road, because we were early it was quiet, breakfast at Tullybannocher and a final farewell saw the end of the weekend. Wonderful weekend in superb company, thanks to all.  

Ready for the off!

Keith's Mod 50 (he left his trousers there to get a good soaking later, oops)

Phil's bike looking good

Friday night pub time

Robert with his Commando

Alan's Nice Mk3

Very trick 6 cyl Kawa

Nonsense being talked

A used Commando, looks raw and braw!

Maybe the sun will come out

Maybe no (The Geese were happy)

Bike talk

Bert and Laurenne were on the BMW's

Some of the crew on Saturday night

On the Ferry

Looking towards Fort William

Penultimate chance for nonsense being talked