Easter so it must be Applecross

Easter has fallen a bit earlier this year which of course guarantees weather, when I say weather I mean it all, all sorts including gale force winds. The ride up to Applecross (sidecar mounted) was excellent, sunny when we left, almost freezing but dry at Drumochter, stunning along the Loch Laggan road, quiet to Invergarry and then to Loch Carron where we stopped for a late breakfast courtesy of Kate and Geoff at the Riverside cafe, It turned a bit windy and wet over the Bealach (my maiden voyage over here in the sidecar, Fiona having already piloted it over last Summer)
Bert and Laurenne arrived 5 minutes after us but sensibly in the Land Rover, putting the tent up was a challenge in the windy and wet conditions. We got wetter putting the tent up than riding the 250 miles up there! A change of clothes, aperitifs with Bert and Laurenne in their "Glamping" tent and then the usual mayhem at the pub, great to see everyone and spend some time with Judith later when it died down. A usual Applecross day on Saturday, Lunch and Dinner in the Walled garden, time catching up with our friends who live in Applecross and more banter with Bert and Laurenne. A most excellent experience.
Sunday the McCalls (like most of the other Glampers) had abandoned the site early due to tent leakage and breakage during the previous nights storm, We had breakfast at the Walled garden and then rode up via the coast road, Torridon, Gairloch and Ullapool to Kenny and Sheilas hotel at Lochinver . This has to be one of the most spectacular rides in Scotland and forms part of the NC500 route being promoted by the tourist board, truly amazing. The Culag Hotel in Lochinver a great place to stop off if your considering doing it at some point. Monday the ride home, fantastic until Inverness then the slog down the A9. A great Easter weekend despite the "weather", great company and hospitality, we shared the sidecar driving (although its probably more like steering a boat) and did over 700 miles.
The sidecar's done over 1000 miles the last 2 weekends so its won a reprieve!  

Fuel at Dalwhinnie

A stream

Applecross house

Highland cows with their new born calves

Applecross bay

Out for a walk

Tent and chair

Rain while we pack up

Torridon (I think)

Pose for a pick

Pretty

Ullapool

Gas stop Ullapool

My turn to pilot 

The Bealach

In the rain

Coo's

Selfie

Has to be one of the most stunning roads

Tighnabruaich

Last weekend saw us heading to the West coast, Tighnabruaich to be precise for a meeting. The sidecar was needing its annual test so we set of to Perth just after 8 am on Friday morning. Hamish at Cherrybank garage was pleased to see me, he hid in the corner hoping I’d go away. The bike was tested efficiently by Jimmy Storrar, certificate printed, abuse exchanged and we were on our way. We rode past Loch Earn which was stunning as always, it reminds me of Lago di Como in Italy, an ad for the Mk5 Le Mans Guzzi had two Guzzi’s side by side riding along the shore of lake Como, I always thought of that as I rode along loch Earn, not sure why as mostly it would be raining and cold!

A pit stop at Tarbet and a late breakfast then a pleasant run along the Loch to Tighnabruaich stopping for a look over the Kyles of Bute.

The Friday night was a bit of a wipe out, Bob, Kate, Heather and Geoff helping Fi and I get very drunk, good to meet up with friends, an evening also spent talking bikes and planning routes with all and sundry. Saturday we made our way over to Portavadie , in this small place overlooking Loch Fyne there’s a leisure complex, what a stunning setting overlooking the loch and the hills, sitting in the outdoor hot tub it felt surreal, like something out of a holiday advert.

Saturday night was a less hectic rerun of Friday and very surprisingly we won best 3 wheeler prize!

Sunday was stunning, sun in the sky and a bit of warmth in the air Fi piloted the outfit home while I sat in the chair, no dramas just a thoroughly pleasant run (despite the bloody potholes)

Tea stop at Tarbet

The Kyles of Bute

Quite busy when we arrived on Friday

What is this life if full of care We have no time to stand and stare.
Well said that man

It doesn't all have to be about roughing it

So the Geoff and Heather fan club spotted this T shirt and thought it bore a passing resemblance so at a certain point they all donned them, it was funny

Geoff didn't think so

Saturday morning, people heading out for a wobble

Nice V7 cafe

Liz appeared to make up the contingent of Guzzi's

Happy times

Packing up on Sunday, plenty logs for the fire!

Sunny

Being piloted by Fi

Passing Dave (he passed us back)

Final pit stop before home, great weekend in great company

Repairs and servicing (and sunshine)

The last two weekends have been spent in the garage despite glorious sunshine most of this weekend. First the dreaded BMW, the clutch slave cylinder had me stressed, as always when you research these things some guys say its a 5 minute job, some a 5 hour job. Not sure why but I find working on the BMW onerous, I suppose because I DON'T EXPECT TO BE WORKING ON IT SO BLOODY MUCH! However in the end despite hitting my finger with a hammer (i'm now waiting for the nail to fall off) its fixed. The job involves the rear end removal and shock absorber removal and then rolling on the ground in positions yoga practitioners would be proud off and then using the hands of a female surgeon to extract and replace the item (Sara Pedersen, why weren't you here!) Its done and the sidebike lives again, (and for £120 in parts whereas the BMW shop in Passau quoted me 1500 Euros plus or minus 100!)  hopefully we can get a decent test ride done soon to make sure all is well but a short test showed its better than its ever been so I suspect its been on its way out for a while.

There it is hiding!

From the side, nope your not going in there

Some dismantling required

This weekend was a recommissioning of my V11 which has been in hibernation in a big poly bag in my brother John's garage since 2009. Funny I explained to Fiona that working on the Guzzi made me smile (generally) just like the Norton, maybe its familiarity but its an enjoyable and satisfying experience and by 2pm Sunday the Mandello mauler lived again, deep joy. So the list of bikes awaiting first aid is 2 down but the queue in casualty is still pretty long..............
I think I've worked it out, don't use your bike and it'll not wear out and need maintenance......na that would be boring

Hmm V11......nice

Oil filter must have been fitted by a Orang-utan

Nice engine with proper cylinders, an Italian masterpiece not like those floppy BMW things

I was ashamed I'd let the tyre get to this state

Easy access = big smiles

Capper Rally

This weekend saw us going to the Capper Rally, a bit of a cheat though as its only 20 miles from our house but we camped and it was sufficiently cold to make us feel like we were doing our bit.. We both went on one bike, the T3 Guzzi, its a great bike and no chains to get messed up so ideal for this time of year although it does miss occasionally just enough to make you think its going to stop. A full overhaul of the carburettors is on the cards! Although not many attend the meeting its great to see everyone and it gives you a chance to catch up, very sociable, unfortunately I was a bit too sociable so the head wasn't great Saturday or Sunday. Friday night was cold, sub zero and some snow, I woke up a few times very cold, and only half in my sleeping bag, whisky has a lot to answer for!

I managed to actually get in my sleeping bag on Saturday so I survived the cold. Great to see our pals from Perthshire playing on the Saturday night (Slider), they performed a great set despite the lack of enthusiasm from the audience. Rallies have gone weird, now people party on the Friday and stay relatively sober on the Saturday due to the drink drive laws so they can legally drive Sunday morning but slider done their best to keep the party going (worked for me). Geoff won best bike on for his Harris, well deserved, I think Heather should have got an award just for going on the back of it in the wintry conditions. Roll on the Spring and some nicer camping and biking weather

Friday night banter 

Geoff and Kate posing for pictures

Geoff's Harris posing for pictures, I'm sure he said he's fitting a sidecar to it for next years Elefant!

Ade who is a regular visitor from Holland, Guzzi with sidecar, sensible man 

Larenn Bert and Fi pose for pics (after some beer)

The boys belting it oot!

My tent Sunday morning, yes it was cold!

The faithful and cold Moto Guzzi