Bill's 130th birthday bash

So we realised at the end of season meeting last year in the borders that this year Bill Reith from Aberdeen would turn 80 and his Norton Atlas will have been in his ownership for 50 years so we thought we should celebrate this occasion by having a camping weekend in his honour. A great turnout at the Camp site at Fort Augustus as well, plenty of older guys on older bikes as well, some of us let the side down by bringing modern bikes but I think we got away with it. Longest distance would be Simon I think on his Blue Commando all the way from Coventry although Gary Bloy was up from even further South but on a BMW so I'll exclude him from the results. Some went up on the Friday, seemingly it rained like hell, Phil & Simon went to the pub before putting their tents up and ended up sleeping in the bike shelter!
Fiona, Alex , Gill and myself trundled up on the Saturday, very wet but really enjoyed the ride. I had Gill as a pillion as her Suzuki isn't well at the moment. I used this as a shakedown to make sure the V11 is good to go to Sicily soon and it is so I'm happy. Great to see the regulars, and glad that George Martin Sandy Bloy and Tam Bradley made it up on their bikes as well. Tam just got back from the Italian Rally on Tuesday so good effort.
David booked a table at one of the pubs and we passed the night talking nonsense and drinking and eating heartily, a great night despite our incursion to the Legion for more drink that nobody really needed. 
The Birthday boy was on good form and of course bore the brunt of the miserable Aberdonian jokes. As always I am inspired by our senior riders, four septuagenarians and one octogenarian still riding, camping and taking a dram, fantastic!
The rain couldn't have come down harder today after Dalwhinnie but who cares, it was a great weekend anyway.

Gill & Alex preparing for the off

Ducks were happy with the weather

The Ladies less so

Alex is now Mr Dayglo

Bert was on the new Indian

Phils Commando looking well

Davids Commando with the same seat mod as my MK3 (you could have used black tape David!)

Tam explaining why the Italian rally was crap

One half of the birthday duo

Phil happy at being ripped off for a new camping mat

Simon's long distance commando

Bert & David talking technical, or was it bobbed Vincents

The 130 year duo, Bill and Atlas

Silly hat competition

Bert & Ernie (I like Bert's badge)

Gone fishin

The impressive Locks at Fort Augustus

The assembled throng

Part of the senior end of the table and don't be fooled by George's coffee he was drinking something stronger later

Bill telling David his Atlas still has the original air in the tyres (dae ye ken the price o air Loon)

David & Anne departing

George and Tam disappear

And finally Bill gives his Atlas a good kicking

Sidecar Rally

Circumstances meant our usual trip to Southern Ireland to see Martin and the crew didn't happen, a most excellent substitute though was Norrie's Sidecar rally at Moniaive, Dumfrieshire. Its a part of the country neglected by tourists in general and its their loss, most tourists are speeding up the M74 or A1 to the Highlands not realising the jewel that is the South of Scotland. The great thing is the roads are very quiet which for us is perfect, not the campervan and caravan hell that the A9 has become. We rode down Saturday in excellent weather, the field was already full of the usual (and some unusual) suspects. One good thing about sidecars and their owners is that in general they are a bit different (in an interesting way) Bert, Laurenne and Ian appeared and the evening sped by in a flurry of beer and large whisky's. Sunday appeared alongside a hangover but it was a scorching day so we sat about outside all day trying to cultivate some sunburn, we were joined by Liz who came across from Prestwick for the banter and Dave who rode down from Luss for the festivities. White wine in the afternoon sun is most agreeable but after 3 bottles, some more beer and whisky it meant that today (Monday) my co pilot took over the controls for the homeward journey whilst I sat in the chair contemplating whether I will ever learn my lesson. A fantastic weekend helped by the weather, next year we'll be back in Ireland to try to catch the rain.........

Fish and chips in Thornhill, braw

Busy enough

Ian Ross's sidecar, almost bigger than our house!

Bert fooled us by painting the big Vinnie grey for the weekend

Even I could read that speedo without glasses

Tilting sidecar, different

Norrie shouting the raffle

Fi in the sunlounger

Interesting Kawasaki from the late60's. said to be a copy of the A10 BSA but without the oil leaks, quite a rare beast, more so with a chair attached

No oil leaks

Obligatory Guzzi photo

Sunday afternoon Blues

Sunday afternoon Moniaive

Some beer following some wine

Liz and Laurenne being happy

More wine following the beer

A couple of the Irish Sidecar guys entertaining us, most excellent

Heading home, quiet roads

Blue skies, perfect......

Our 3 hour Summer

Today the forecast was for some heat and sun but only after the rain cleared so we took advantage of the 3 hour summer weather today, a fine run up past Knockhill for a late lunch at Powmill. The weather brought out plenty motorcyclists, all shapes and sizes which was good to see. I met an old friend there out with his wife enjoying an ice cream in the sun. She instantly reminded me of an incident returning from the TT in the late 70's where I cleared the queue on the Steam Packet boat for teas and rolls by throwing up in the bin , this was of course after a last night party on the IOM (before I raced there) Now I have raced bikes, ridden halfway (or more) around the world and yet the only thing I'm remembered for is throwing up in a bin almost 40 years ago, sad eh?
We continued through Perthshire and parts of Fife before stopping at Port Edgar in the hope of a cup of tea, the café though was closed (why close on a sunny Sunday evening? It doesn't happen often , I'd have maximised the opportunity) Tealess we wandered around looking at the launch of a yacht and looked at the boats until the cold from the water reminded us its not proper Summer yet.
So the Guzzi is running much better but the critical part of me says there is still some fine tuning to do before its perfect.

Blue sky, almost summer riding gear, happy Gino

Guzzi looking good

Big boat loading up with Scottish oil

It could almost be the South of France (except for the architecture, the weather, the people......)

Interesting for us non boaty types to watch the launch of this yacht

Rai Uno Moto Guzzi Scozia

This year’s Scottish Moto Guzzi was welcome, for me it marks the end of the winter normally, the last few years the seasons seem to have slipped, now we seem to have a long period of shit weather followed by some less shit weather and then a glimmer of heat before it turns shit again. It had been a rough week in the run up to the rally with several bits of bad news so I was looking forward to a blow out, we started accidentally a day early but that’s another story involving trains to the wrong destination and unscheduled visits to a hotel!

The run up was cold, a bit wet but clearing towards Stirling, when we arrived we heard there had been a few call offs due to snow in many places, England seem to have got it worse so numbers were down, it was up to the remaining troops to help get through the beer! The evening started with one of the Scottish Branch members having what we thought was a heart attack, collapsing, having to be resuscitated via CPR (thank god someone knew what they were doing) and the local defibrillator being called into action. Very dramatic but I’m glad to say he’s doing ok and on the mend now. The Friday after we got over the drama was a bit subdued but a chance to have a chat and catch up, we also made a new friend, Guy from the Belgian Guzzi club.

Saturday I had to go up to Perth to pick up some newly machined engine parts from Derek Wilkie (Engine Resource) and visit my sister, an opportunity to get clean in comfort as well, a fine run up and back with only a hint of showers. Saturday night was excellent, copious alcohol, good music and dancing, the rain though got into the tent during the night and we woke up to wet gear which wasn’t good. Breakfast over we found out a camping hut had become available so we decanted into that. Sunday was spent talking nonsense, sobering up and coming 2^nd last in the quiz (not enough bike questions!!!!) Another band on Sunday night and that was that, Guzzi rally over till next year, thanks to the organisers who put on an outstanding rally again, oh and it still doesn’t feel like summer!!!!!

My V11 in a rally field for the first time in a long time

Plenty sidecars

Russell's outfit

Another one!

Stelvio Pete's Stelvio, well used, not pampered

Old and the new, Derek's Cali alongside Martin's Spada

Nice

1200 Sport

Kate, from down South's Loop

And her husband Guy

1200 Laverda, getting rare

Before the melee

George's new hairstyle

Ali's sporting one as well

The band on Saturday, very good

Volunteers selling beer, take a bow

Mr Clink looking relaxed

It did get messy

Party Party

Guy, all the way from Belgium

Fiona, all the way from Edinburgh