tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-51238257356816556682024-02-23T07:43:04.183+00:00Winton Massifwww.wintonmassif.co.ukMikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.comBlogger215125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-74224686913844059112022-01-30T18:12:00.000+00:002022-01-30T18:12:05.775+00:00Winter run to Braemar and Gopro upgrades.<p style="text-align: center;"> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852743280/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852743280_3dc26ca21c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">January! New year, same me but possible a new bike! More on that in the future, but first have a look at some of these photos. They were taken by my mate John on the way up to Braemar. We had booked some of the excellent cabins up at Braemar campsite for this years winter run. Braemar is in the Cairngorms just north of Glenshee and the Cairnwell Pass, the highest public road in Scotland. It's a great run on the bike, even in winter and it's always funny sitting with the skiers having a bite to eat.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852744175/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852744175_47106ccbab_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852743580/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="305" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852743580_40693558bc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852743035/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852743035_39da79dac4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51851126752/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="264" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51851126752_8b6e0f5e46_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51851126897/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51851126897_3a78c44fba_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">We had lunch with Tim at the top of the pass before we rode down to Braemar. As we pulled up to the campsite Yachtmaster turned up having ridden down from Caithness. A few hours later Snake and Ferg arrived. They'd also ridden down from Caithness but on much smaller bikes. Ferg on a newly acquired CG125 and Snake on a tiny CBR125. A few hours after that Lewis and Richie arrived. They were in a car as Lew was heading back from college. The weekend was spent mostly drinking and talking pish with very little biking being done. I'll get a video edited together and get it up on youtube soon.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852746155/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852746155_6a662ddc50_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51851125802/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51851125802_7bd4c36ffa_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852375528/in/dateposted-public/" title="FB_IMG_1643565687347"><img alt="FB_IMG_1643565687347" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852375528_c274ebb8b1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852375458/in/dateposted-public/" title="FB_IMG_1643565680566"><img alt="FB_IMG_1643565680566" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852375458_f50dfd9f02_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852626119/in/dateposted-public/" title="FB_IMG_1643565670930"><img alt="FB_IMG_1643565670930" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852626119_222fd965d9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852955620/in/dateposted-public/" title="FB_IMG_1643565609436"><img alt="FB_IMG_1643565609436" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852955620_bf5ac822b0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"> <a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51852093521/in/dateposted-public/" title="John's Braemar run photos."><img alt="John's Braemar run photos." height="330" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51852093521_55ecf69b00_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">Thanks to John and Ferg for the photos.</p><p style="text-align: left;">I've also got a new microphone set up for the Gopro. Now I can get the sound of the bikes rather than just wind noise. I tried it out on the C90 while showing off my bling new wheels.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/n-st5jSJacQ" title="YouTube video player" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></p><p style="text-align: left;">That's it for now. More to come in February, I might even share my new bike!!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Mike</p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-38167912217051081322021-11-24T22:10:00.003+00:002021-11-24T22:10:54.858+00:00I'm still here!! Films and laziness.<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51312108528/in/dateposted-public/" title="Colonsay"><img alt="Colonsay" height="416" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51312108528_7222e91c76_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I've still been doing plenty biking but admittedly I've been piss poor on the blogging front, but I have an excuse! I've been trying to up my YouTube game. I'll get right in and showcase what I've been doing, starting with Cubs2Colonsay!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51331202723/in/dateposted-public/" title="ferg pano"><img alt="ferg pano" height="176" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51331202723_8744756cda_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you're one of the few folk who regularly read my blog, you may remember <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2015/10/roots-part-2-colonsay-by-motorcycle.html" target="_blank">this trip from way back</a> in 2015. Well, as indicated at the end of <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2015/11/roots-2015-part-3.html" target="_blank">this post </a>we had a plan, and that plan was Cubs2Colonsay. This is where I'll direct you to the first in the series of the YouTube videos. Remember and set the quality to maximum for the full viewing experience.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/b3mYFX2XGcw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">The first video is just me gibbering pish, but the following three feature lots of bike riding and calamity as we prepare the bikes and figure out the best way to travel on our wee, underpowered Honda Cubs. The fourth video is a bit longer and includes a shakedown camping trip.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Xm7zYhYnjJw" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/A3pxlBdoHbI" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/xMWdBXYPgro" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">If you've made is this far then thank you and well done. Hit that subscribe button and all that. This next video is a bit of an epic so grab a coffee, open a cold beer, roll a fat one, grab some snacks or do whatever you do, sit back and enjoy........ Cubs2Colonsay The Movie. It's a long one!</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-kiHgIx9_Hg" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Please leave any feedback you like. It's always good to see what folk think of my videos. Here's a few of the photos from the trip.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51311907711/in/dateposted-public/" title="Colonsay"><img alt="Colonsay" height="361" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51311907711_c0b8648bf5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51320915414/in/dateposted-public/" title="Colonsay"><img alt="Colonsay" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51320915414_e18bc4f506_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51331202368/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_0397"><img alt="DSC_0397" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51331202368_4bbacb2e13_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51331716724/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_0398"><img alt="DSC_0398" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51331716724_836d50f874_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51320198041/in/dateposted-public/" title="Colonsay"><img alt="Colonsay" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51320198041_619bfe843d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51320400968/in/dateposted-public/" title="Colonsay"><img alt="Colonsay" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51320400968_5a241f9581_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">I've been away on the Africa Twin a fair bit too, I'm still editing all the footage into something. All this writing blogs and making YouTube videos takes loads of time but I really will try and remember to post stuff. Here's some photos and a video from a run to Kinloch Hourn, another place I'd not visited for ages. We had a night there followed by one in Braemar.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51655951400/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kinloch Hourn"><img alt="Kinloch Hourn" height="364" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51655951400_2bfb3f7eb9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51655090966/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kinloch Hourn"><img alt="Kinloch Hourn" height="379" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51655090966_7dcb452810_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51655314668/in/dateposted-public/" title="Kinloch Hourn"><img alt="Kinloch Hourn" height="197" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51655314668_c73278c5ff_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;">Loch Hourn</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/51655314393/in/dateposted-public/" title="Braemar"><img alt="Braemar" height="395" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/51655314393_fd8cf1acf2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;">Freezing fog rolling down towards Braemar</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ophgmM7Zoy8" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">So for 2022 I'm going to set a target at one post a month for the blog, even if it's just a moaning rant about how crap new bikes are or something. If you want to help my motivation or tell me to get my finger out my arse and get posting you can do so on YouTube or find me on Instagram <a href="https://www.instagram.com/yodagoat/?hl=en" target="_blank">@yodagoat</a>.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">More soon, honestly.</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Mike</p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-21750391392662582672021-01-22T15:12:00.006+00:002021-01-22T15:13:25.800+00:00Riding on ice<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50817790762/in/dateposted-public/" title="Honda C90e"><img alt="Honda C90e" height="362" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50817790762_80f8708c01_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50816949813/in/dateposted-public/" title="Honda C90e"><img alt="Honda C90e" height="362" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50816949813_89b823a71a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50817790987/in/dateposted-public/" title="Honda C90e"><img alt="Honda C90e" height="362" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50817790987_2c9fdb38c7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p><br /></p><p>I get pretty excited when we get snow. I've always enjoyed driving, riding bikes and cycling on the white stuff. We've had a few dumping's recently but instead of taking the C90 out this time I used the XR. I wanted to get a spin on it to properly try out the new Supertraap pipe. I had visions of drifting around, gracefully spraying plumes of powder everywhere. Unfortunately what I found was that everything had frozen into one giant ice cube. Still, it made for a funny video.....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/CuDYdBsDB_A" width="560"></iframe></span><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795755471/in/dateposted-public/" title="XR600r in the snow"><img alt="XR600r in the snow" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795755471_e9018633be_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795008558/in/dateposted-public/" title="XR600r in the snow"><img alt="XR600r in the snow" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795008558_c04b3f6150_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span>Mike</span></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-79525839649305989882021-01-18T11:17:00.007+00:002021-01-18T11:38:43.154+00:00Timmelsjoch Top Mountain Crosspoint Motorcycle Museum fire.<p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/32133602888/in/album-72157699019148382/" title="DSC_8711"><img alt="DSC_8711" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4803/32133602888_13a53fc477_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p><br /></p><p>There's been some photos and video appearing on social media showing the <a href="https://www.crosspoint.tirol/en-museum" target="_blank">Mountain Crosspoint museum </a>on the Timmelsjoch pass engulfed in flames. I've been unable to get any further information or find out if any of the bikes were saved. It's a huge loss if not. Joe and I visited a couple of years ago when we stayed at Sölden. It was a great experience and there were some very rare old bikes in the collection. If you hear any more can you let me know?</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/45954974952/in/album-72157699019148382/" title="DSC_8707"><img alt="DSC_8707" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4851/45954974952_0fa0080137_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/45954976302/in/album-72157699019148382/" title="DSC_8709"><img alt="DSC_8709" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4847/45954976302_e4b52a12a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/45954977632/in/album-72157699019148382/" title="DSC_8710"><img alt="DSC_8710" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4823/45954977632_7ff7c80d95_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/45954979412/in/album-72157699019148382/" title="DSC_8712"><img alt="DSC_8712" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/4893/45954979412_d348114471_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p><br /></p><p>UPDATE:</p><p>Here's the video. It looks pretty bad.</p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div style="height: 0px; padding-bottom: 176.847%; position: relative; width: 100%;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="100%" src="https://streamable.com/e/bvwv6f" style="height: 100%; position: absolute; width: 100%;" width="100%"></iframe></div><p></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p>Mike</p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-46811643605572564212021-01-15T13:38:00.003+00:002021-01-15T13:38:26.105+00:00November rain.<p> Back in November our area dropped to level 2 covid restrictions so HB and I decided to get away for a couple of nights. I was pretty desperate to get away on the bike so I took the K75 while HB kept nice and warm in her car. I serviced the K75 and treated as much of the bike as I could with ACF50 in an attempt to keep the damage from the salt at bay.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837929022/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837929022_c2d1501e7c_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p>We decided to posh things up. We'd booked the Applecross Inn and Tim's big cabin at Strontian. Covid restrictions, the lack of daylight and freezing temperatures meant I had to take the most direct route to Applecross. Usually I'd do my best to avoid the A9 between Perth and Inverness but this time I was so grateful to be able to get away on the bike I actually enjoyed it. It was however, freezing. It was wet for a fair chunk of the run too. I rode from East Lothian to Inverness in one go and by the time I got to the cafe in Tiso at Inverness I was properly shivering. I felt much better and warmer after I'd eaten half the food in the cafe and I set off once again.</p><p><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837929072/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837929072_92567c0fe3_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661631252/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9975"><img alt="DSC_9975" height="389" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661631252_7ef63c859a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">Inverness to Applecross was a pleasant run. I was hoping for a nice sunset from the top of the Bealach Na Ba. Unfortunately the teaser at Tornapress was clouded out at the top. Still, it was a nice run over and it was great to get down into Applecross.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661630802/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 at the bottom of the Bealach Na Ba, Tornapress."><img alt="K75 at the bottom of the Bealach Na Ba, Tornapress." height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661630802_5fc6f654d9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837120158/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837120158_3725ab4d2e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837928887/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837928887_b574975a4c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837845966/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837845966_029a58df2a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIHRo4ZHmel/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13" style="background: rgb(255, 255, 255); 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font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px; text-align: center;"> View this post on Instagram</div></div><div style="padding: 12.5% 0px;"></div> <div style="align-items: center; display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px;"><div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12.5px; margin-left: 2px; margin-right: 14px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px); width: 12.5px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"></div> <div style="border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); border-top: 2px solid transparent; height: 0px; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg); width: 0px;"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="border-right: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); transform: translateY(16px); width: 0px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; transform: translateY(-4px); width: 16px;"></div> <div style="border-left: 8px solid transparent; border-top: 8px solid rgb(244, 244, 244); height: 0px; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px); width: 0px;"></div></div></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"></div></div></a><p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0px 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a href="https://www.instagram.com/tv/CIHRo4ZHmel/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">A post shared by mike (@yodagoat)</a></p></div></blockquote> <script async="" src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script><p></p>We had a quiet but good night in the Inn. It was good to catch up with Judy and the folk at Applecross. The weather was cold but sunny the following day making for a really nice run to Strontian. HB was a bit concerned about the icy conditions on the Bealach Na Ba but I never noticed it apart from a few frozen puddles.<div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50837120413/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 to Applecross"><img alt="K75 to Applecross" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50837120413_fbe10ea83f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;">Judy Fish MBE loves the K75.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661538036/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s at the top of the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Skye and Raasay."><img alt="BMW K75s at the top of the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Skye and Raasay." height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661538036_52ee39ea5a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50660808438/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s on the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Loch Kishorn"><img alt="BMW K75s on the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Loch Kishorn" height="331" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660808438_b46dd631a6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661538556/in/dateposted-public/" title="Eilean Donan"><img alt="Eilean Donan" height="397" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661538556_94e190062b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661537666/in/dateposted-public/" title="K75 and a cloud inversion over Loch Garry, Scotland."><img alt="K75 and a cloud inversion over Loch Garry, Scotland." height="408" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661537666_f6779b6ba4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was a cold run down but I really enjoyed it. I even seen a few other bikes out and about. The salt on the roads may wreck your bike but the scenery makes up for it. We had another good night at Strontian, discussing plans and hopes for 2021. We're still hoping to have the Sunart Wildcat rally, although we'll be waiting till it's deemed safe to do so before we announce anything.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50660810303/in/dateposted-public/" title="A cold K75s at Sunart Camping, Strontian."><img alt="A cold K75s at Sunart Camping, Strontian." height="357" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660810303_5f67764f5e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661634702/in/dateposted-public/" title="A cold K75s at Sunart Camping, Strontian."><img alt="A cold K75s at Sunart Camping, Strontian." height="394" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661634702_f4af46e910_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was another freezing run home the next day. Once back the K75 got a good wash down and I warmed back up with a long shower. I had the Gopro so I'll knock up a YouTube video which I'll post up here later on.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661633112/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_0007"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661633112_2fb5f35319_z.jpg" width="640" height="424" alt="DSC_0007"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50661633407/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s at the top of the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Skye and Raasay."><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50661633407_0516b2b29f_z.jpg" width="640" height="419" alt="BMW K75s at the top of the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Skye and Raasay."></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50660809838/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s on the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Loch Kishorn"><img src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660809838_ea7cc83664_z.jpg" width="640" height="416" alt="BMW K75s on the Bealach Na Ba overlooking Loch Kishorn"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com0Applecross, Strathcarron, UK57.4319012 -5.80972728.464836100651734 -40.965976999999995 86.39896629934826 29.346522999999994tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-39769199777284975152021-01-06T14:58:00.001+00:002021-01-06T14:58:08.865+00:00Scottish Mike Rides Yer Bike - Episode One - BMW R18 First Edition - A ride and review.<p style="text-align: center;"> </p><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50807198712/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW R18 First Edition"><img alt="BMW R18 First Edition" height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50807198712_a7c9759397_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div><br /></div><div>A couple of months back I got the chance to ride BMW's new R18. I also had the idea to make some bike review videos and so was born "Scottish Mike Rides Yer Bike". The rough idea is to ride a bike I've not had a shot on before and do a wee review of what I think. I don't want to just do brand new bikes either, it would be great to get some older machines on as well. The plan is to start the video by giving an idea of what I'll think the bike will be like. Have a quick look around the bike. Get some riding footage and some pre ride feedback then a summary at the end. I'm already realising other stuff I need to do. I definitely need to say a few things I don't like about a bike, which I find pretty hard at times. All bikes are good fun after all. So likes and dislikes will be added in. I'll add in a bit of information and a few specs on the bikes, the background of the bikes will be interesting too if I get the chance to ride some older machines. If you have any feedback at all let me know in the comments. Some folk clearly don't like the music I've used on the R18 video so I'll play about a bit. I'll try and speak a bit clearer and maybe even swear less. Maybe. </div><div>Anyway, the video is below, check it out.</div><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/RGHxtChEu8g" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">If you have a bike that you think would make an interesting video and you're kind enough to let me take it for a spin please get in touch. it'll really help me in making what will hopefully be an interesting and entertaining bunch of videos.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50806341313/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW R18 First Edition"><img alt="BMW R18 First Edition" height="452" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50806341313_cb2d4ac382_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50807086666/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW R18 First Edition"><img alt="BMW R18 First Edition" height="397" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50807086666_e7898dda00_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Big thanks to Joe and the team at <a href="https://www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/central-dalkeith/en/home.html" target="_blank">Motorrad Central</a> for giving me a shot of the R18 despite the mucky roads.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More soon,</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike.</div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-65478205328508265452021-01-03T16:10:00.004+00:002021-01-03T16:13:17.155+00:00Happy New Year!<p> 2020 is over! We're back in lockdown here in Scotland but with a possible vaccine on the horizon I'm getting hopeful for some good biking in 2021. Clearly, I didn't use 2020 for productive blogging, but I was lucky enough to get away on the bike when it was deemed safe to do so. I also done a fair bit of work to the bikes with the C90 receiving some much needed TLC and the K75 getting a new final drive seal, rear disk and a service. The C90 became my go to bike during lockdown. It's was the ideal thing for tootling a couple of miles to the next village to get shopping. I even added a new rack to the back and bought panniers for it. There may possibly be a trip in the C90 yet.....</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49765956296/in/dateposted-public/" title="2020-04-12_07-52-39"><img alt="2020-04-12_07-52-39" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49765956296_45eeafdaab_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50072784553/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200425_015700_938"><img alt="IMG_20200425_015700_938" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50072784553_c17f8819df_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50073351906/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200629_235516_720"><img alt="IMG_20200629_235516_720" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50073351906_4e1d61c2db_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50413589696/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200119_160223"><img alt="IMG_20200119_160223" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50413589696_3edc4a6e6c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a>Jake advises on the K75 back end.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49679977418/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9794"><img alt="DSC_9794" height="395" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49679977418_40cd3124a5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49680510306/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9803"><img alt="DSC_9803" height="382" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49680510306_226c9026b8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">The K was used for any time it was necessary to go further afield. I was pretty chuffed that my repairs had worked and there was no longer a wee dribble of oil on the rear wheel. </p><p style="text-align: left;">My XR600 had an issue with the exhaust always coming loose. It was jetted to run an old Supertrapp can but the link pipe had rotted away. I got a new one made up by <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Harrison-Performance-1343479885761207" target="_blank">Harrison Performance</a> who done a great job. I can't recommend them enough. It's currently pretty cold here so I attempted to do some snow riding on the XR. Unfortunately the whole place had turned into one big ice cube! I was nearly on my arse on multiple occasions. There was zero grip. None. Even the rough bits were as if they had been polished, the bike just slid around sideways!</p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795770301/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20201106_154202"><img alt="IMG_20201106_154202" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795770301_454fcdbe3e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795892682/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20201106_160740"><img alt="IMG_20201106_160740" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795892682_d5f8cbe4fb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795755471/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20210102_125845"><img alt="IMG_20210102_125845" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795755471_e9018633be_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795008558/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20210102_132800"><img alt="IMG_20210102_132800" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795008558_c04b3f6150_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50795023493/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20201228_210552"><img alt="IMG_20201228_210552" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50795023493_1ea293e2a5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p><p style="text-align: left;">As I said, I was pretty lucky to get away over 2020. I've put this wee video together of the Gopro footage I got over the year.</p><p style="text-align: center;"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/g6X-gpuQMss" width="560"></iframe> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">For obvious reasons we had to postpone the <a href="http://passingplacestours.com/our-tours/sunart-wildcat-rally-2020/">Sunart Wildcat Rally</a> but luckily most folk are still keen to attend when we can do it. I've also got an idea for a "Small and Old" charity run with the idea being we do a camping trip around Scotland on bikes either below 125cc, over 20 years old or ideally both. The cost would be either £120 with £100 going to charity and £20 covering the cost of t shirts and stuff, or just proof that you've raised a minimum of £100 for a charity of your choice and £20 to cover t shirts etc. I'd book campsites for everyone but folk will need to cover the costs themselves. I'd try and get us a good deal of course. What's your thoughts on this? Let me know in the comments if you think it's a good/bad idea. I'll also add it to my <a href="http://passingplacestours.com/" target="_blank">Passing Places Tours</a> site once I know where we stand with the Covid situation. I've still got a couple of runs to write up as well and a new YouTube idea where I roadtest bikes. I'll post it up soon. </p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;">Stay safe everyone and Happy New Year!</p><p style="text-align: left;">Mike</p><p style="text-align: left;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50660808438/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9997"><img alt="DSC_9997" height="331" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50660808438_b46dd631a6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></p>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-39076004229520566392020-12-02T23:09:00.005+00:002020-12-05T14:41:40.177+00:00Between Lockdowns - An old bike run.<p>Coronavirus was still very much kicking about. There was talks about Lockdown type guidelines coming back into force and the weather forecast was looking fucked. Aidan and I were still positive, as was Andrea. Bike trip!</p><p>The plan was pretty simple. Three nights camping with an extra night for me staying with Aidan and Jess at the start of the trip. We'd decided to take our rolling projects rather than our usual touring... sorry, Adventure Bikes. I'd picked up my BMW K75s a while back and had been fixing through the issues which a BMW that's been sitting around doing nothing throws up. Aidan however had just got his bike a week before, a Suzuki DR350 which he'd procured from Joe. Joe is usually seen in these pages driving a BMW car through the Alps on our Europe tours. A rolling project usually isn't short of issues but the DR was legal and roadworthy and we had all assured each other it was reliable when Aidan bought it, hadn't we?</p><p>The weekend before the trip, the weather forecast was looking fucking horrific for our panned route. As the week went on however things began to improve. Portmahomack, my proposed first night destination on the East Coast, was looking great! Positive vibes a flowin', I packed all the things necessary for the trip on to Mikey Sunter (the name I had given the K75) which was in my parent's garage (I was in the middle of flitting) and got my shit together to set off. When you're used to packing an Africa Twin with stacks of space then you're used to having plenty space for a few luxury items. It's not just that, top loading panniers are always much easier than suitcase style stuff or soft bags when you're camping. There was a genuine panic when I thought I wouldn't be able to fit my Boombox on the back.</p><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Panic averted, I set off with my Boombox secured to the K75. I'd also rigged up a charging system to keep my spare Gopro batteries sorted. A nice but wet run took me to Oban where I refuelled the bike and filled myself with a chippy. Aidan's place was just a half hour or so away where it was beers and hot tub o'clock.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363105628/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_112422"><img alt="IMG_20200911_112422" height="435" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363105628_a0cbd56814_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The sun was shining as we set off the following day after a few minor adjustment's to Aidan's DR and I repacked my kit on the K75. Aidan had a minor brown moment as we came back into Oban but turning the fuel tap to reserve (remember that?) confirmed he was just low on fuel. Fifteen minutes later we stopped again, it had started spitting so Aidan needed to get his one piece suit on. We had a good run up the east side of Loch Ness managing to avoid the worst of the rain. There's some great bits of road that run that way and they're often much quieter and have arguably better scenery than the A82 on the west side.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363801511/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_113621"><img alt="IMG_20200911_113621" height="401" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363801511_72b6d591d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363967617/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_123712"><img alt="IMG_20200911_123712" height="446" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363967617_d7045d5d60_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363802161/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_152258"><img alt="IMG_20200911_152258" height="366" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363802161_b1238ab659_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363802396/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_154143"><img alt="IMG_20200911_154143" height="401" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363802396_d993ea7316_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50346254651/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9950"><img alt="DSC_9950" height="375" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50346254651_41fb30cab7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50346412887/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9948"><img alt="DSC_9948" height="385" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50346412887_008c0be097_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We arrived at sunny Portmahomack and found the campsite a real old school place ran by the church! I was slightly concerned I'd burst into flames or something but the minister was a sound guy who loved bikes. The site is pretty basic but has everything you'd need and is right beside the beach. We got some beers and stuff from the local shop and chilled out on the campsite to wait for Andrea who arrived a couple of hours later to the distinct sound of his Harley. We had a good evening in Portmahomack, it's a place I'll definitely visit again once the covid situation is better.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50346255591/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9952"><img alt="DSC_9952" height="416" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50346255591_2bc4782c8b_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363103918/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_180953"><img alt="IMG_20200911_180953" height="397" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363103918_e4c046d184_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363965642/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200911_193325"><img alt="IMG_20200911_193325" height="396" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363965642_efbca4c971_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"> We had planned to ride over to camp near Gairloch the following day but the weather there was absolute shite. The rain and wind was so strong some of the roads we'd need to use were closed. A quick google threw up a few options and we ended up going for a Wigwam near Kinloss which was just down the road. I booked it over the phone and we were sorted. Even if it all turned to shit weather wise we'd have somewhere warm and dry that evening so instead of riding straight there we opted to head for a spin up to Lairg. Andrea and I were enjoying the run but Aidan was being battered about the place something stupid on the lightweight DR. Being the awesome navigator I am I missed the turn off for Alness after Bonar Bridge, totally fucking up the route I had in mind and bringing up out right back at Tain where we'd had breakfast that morning. Aidan and Andrea seemed oblivious to my navigational fuck up and we carried on down the road.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363104973/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200912_133456"><img alt="IMG_20200912_133456" height="399" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363104973_43ab6636b8_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We arrived at the Wigwam place (which shall remain nameless) to find it seemingly bereft off all staff. Eventually someone appeared asking "Who booked online?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Nobody, I booked over the phone." says I.</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Yes, but did you get an email? You must have got an email."</div><div style="text-align: left;">"I got the paypal link, is that what you mean? I paid via paypal while I was on the phone."</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Yes, well you've not read your e mail!"</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At this stage I was wondering what the fuck was wrong with this guy. I humoured him and reread the email. Sure enough it says that the keys are in an envelope with a welcome pack in a box by reception. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Keys in had I ask "Which wigwam is ours?</div><div style="text-align: left;">"You've not read your welcome pack!"</div><div style="text-align: left;">Now I'm thinking "this guy's a fucking idiot." There's a wee map in the envelope. i now know where the wigwam is.</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Right mate, can you open the gate so we can get up to the wigwam?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">Nothing in return but a blank expression. I jump on the bike.</div><div style="text-align: left;">"How do we get to the wigwam?"</div><div style="text-align: left;">"You've not read your welcome pack..."</div><div style="text-align: left;">"You could just fucking tell us."</div><div style="text-align: left;">"There's no vehicles allowed on the site."</div><div style="text-align: left;">"Fuck this, we'll go somewhere else."</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">At this stage Aidan took over with his more diplomatic approach. The guy accepted that having the bikes at the other side of the site to where we were staying wasn't the most practical option and thankfully that was the last we seen of him. I've since given the site some feedback so I'm not going to name and shame on here. Apart from this guy the site was great but the last thing you want after a long day on the bike is an arsehole like that.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50363966637/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_20200912_182926"><img alt="IMG_20200912_182926" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50363966637_23762e9b00_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We visited Findhorn the next day for breakfast. I was expecting it to be a hippy commune but instead we found quite a normal looking village and a pretty decent cafe. Andrea was heading home and Aidan and I were supposed to be heading to Glencoe to go camping but the rain washed that plan away. We opted to go back to Aidan's instead. What followed was one of the wettest runs I've had on a bike in years, we were both soaked!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50346465627/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9967"><img alt="DSC_9967" height="376" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50346465627_b5c6bd9fc4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50345556858/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9968"><img alt="DSC_9968" height="385" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50345556858_969fd5bc59_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">All in all it was an enjoyable trip despite the weather and fuckwitery. I discovered the K needed new brake pads which upon changing looked the the first new pads it had seen in years! The sun even came out for my ride home.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">The epic feature length film of the trip is below.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YtKb4eSPHTQ" frameborder="0" allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen></iframe></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More soon.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50346412652/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9949"><img alt="DSC_9949" height="385" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50346412652_acfd3296a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-80338259281644265102020-09-20T17:16:00.066+01:002020-09-23T15:35:12.770+01:00Escaping LockdownAfter what felt like ages there was an announcement from the government that tourism was allowed in Scotland from the 15th July! A quick plan was cobbled together involving wild camping, a couple of campsites that were able to open to taking tents, and a night or two staying with friends. There was a lot of apprehension surrounding our trip. We’d all seen folk blatantly flaunting the “rules” around Covid 19, bending them to suit themselves. Unfortunately motorcyclists and cyclists, two activities I love doing, were among the worst groups for said flaunting with a few selfish individuals of the opinion that the requests made of everyone didn’t apply to them. We hoped that the behaviour of this small minority wouldn't have a negative impact on our trip.<br />
Aidan and I decided to head off to a wild camping spot we know about. We had decided that if there were lots of folk in the area then we’d need to carry on and find somewhere else. Turns out that our chosen location was indeed pretty popular with most of the spots already containing a tent. Luckily it was a bit quieter along the road and we found a place to pitch away for other folk and any buildings or houses. If you recognise the area, please keep it to yourself, I’ll go into why this has become quite important later in this post.<br />
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We got up early (for us) the next day packed up, tidied up and set off heading for Glenshee. As always, we prefer the Glenshee/Braemar/Lecht/Tomintoul route over the A9 between Perth and Inverness. It’s a great run and it was good to see so many bikes out with folk enjoying getting out for a run in the good weather.<br />
We carried on north, riding on what they now call the NC500. I’ve heard lots of folk advising avoiding the east side of the route, which suits me, I'll have the roads to myself! The run from Golspie up to Wick is a cracker. Caithness has so much to offer, especially if you’re a visitor to Scotland or haven’t travelled around the country much. The open, barren landscape, cliffs and sea stacks give a good contrast to the hill and beaches of the west. There’s also loads of historical sites and wee harbours to visit if that’s your thing. I stopped in to visit family while property magnate Aidan went to look at a house for sale before eventually finding my way to Ferg’s place. It was pretty easy to spot which house was his…..<br />
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That'll be Ferg's place then,<br />
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K KREW!<br />
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A run across the north coast took us to our next destination, Altandhu. I'd not been over the top of the mainland for a while, I really enjoyed the solo run I took, stopping for photos and wee bits of video here and there. It seemed much shorter than I remembered for some reason and was surprisingly quiet with only a few other cars and motorhomes kicking about. I was surprised not to see more bikes. One of the only other bikes I saw had been clipped by another tourist, a situation which is unfortunately becoming more common, especially on our single track roads. So if you find yourself on a single track road (even some A class roads are single track) then take care!<div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">
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When riding the north coast (anticlockwise) you are presented with an option just after Kylesku. The quicker option is to carry on the main road, riding the fast sweepers past Loch Assynt. Option two is to take a left onto the tight, nadgery single track roads through the villages of Drumbeg, Lochinver and Inverkirkaig, riding through what is arguably some of the best scenery we have here in Scotland. I was wanting to get to the site at Altandhu and get my tent pitched so I opted for the faster run. At Altandhu we found the site to be really busy. We managed to get a wee corner away from the masses and had a good night dodging between the busy pub and the quieter campsite. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50141368461/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9826"><img alt="DSC_9826" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50141368461_e15faa1051_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">We split into two groups the following day with some folk heading to Strontian for the next couple of nights and the rest of us heading for another secret wild camping spot. I had a great run down to Gairloch with Aidan and Bob where we met up with everyone else at Ian's house. Ian has a great knowledge of the area and had offered to show us a few places to wild camp. If you recognise any of the wild camping spots please keep them to yourself and especially don't band it about online. There was a big problem in Scotland with manky bastards leaving shite and rubbish all over the shop after "wild camping." These arseholes could ruin it for everyone so the less places the cunts can find out about the better. Of course we all took our rubbish away with us and didn't have a fire anywhere it could cause damage or burn anything down.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I rode down to Strontian the following day with Bob and Ferg. Once again we had good weather and surprisingly quiet roads. We took the best route, via Gairlochy, Glenfinnan, Lochailort and Salen. It's a really nice run. In Strontian we managed to have our usual visit to the Strontian Hotel. They had set up a big tent with open sides for socially distanced eating and drinking. We were all pretty happy with the measures they'd taken to try and keep everyone safe.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50141371181/in/dateposted-public/" title="Looking down to Loch Maree with Bob and Ferg riding up the road."><img alt="Looking down to Loch Maree with Bob and Ferg riding up the road." height="369" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50141371181_2550507c05_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;">Can you see Bob and Ferg?</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50140833998/in/dateposted-public/" title="DSC_9859"><img alt="DSC_9859" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50140833998_9e139e8d31_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/50141609512/in/dateposted-public/" title="The Winton Massif walking through Strontian"><img alt="The Winton Massif walking through Strontian" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50141609512_631f2c3fb1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It was great to get away. At the time of writing this new Covid regulations have recently came into play here in Scotland. Up to six people from a maximum of two households can meet up anywhere, indoors and out. Obviously this will have a negative impact on bike trips but we need to do what we can to stop the spread of the virus. But fear not! You'll not be bored. I made a feature length film of our trip! Grab a beer and check it out!</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;">
<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/h1EaNLR573o" width="560"></iframe></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">More soon hopefully, once again I'm well behind in writing my blog.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Mike</div>
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</div></div>Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-57525067684671683652020-04-12T20:04:00.001+01:002020-04-12T20:04:21.150+01:00Coronavirus!!Like the rest of the world I'm in lockdown. No biking for a while. I managed to get a few runs in before it all happened so I've got a few things to post here. As always I've been pretty active on social media which is a great way to keep in touch with folk in these dark times.<br />
There's been a fair bit of arguing about whether of not you should be riding, with lots of people saying they need to for the sake of their mental health. I can understand where they are coming from. Riding my bikes is one of the few things that keep me grounded and sane but with what's going on with everything the bikes have to stay in the shed. It's just not worth potentially spreading the virus not to mention the hassle an accident or breakdown could cause. So at the moment its all about maintaining the bikes than riding them. Anyway here's a few photos and video from local rides I got in before lockdown.<br />
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These were from a wee run down the Borders to the Riverside Bakehouse in Abbey St Bathans. They honestly make some of the best bread I've ever tasted and it's a nice run down on some single track roads from here in East Lothian. Definitely one to add to the list of runs to do when we get over all this shit.</div>
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One of my last runs on the trusty BMW K75, Mikey Sunter, was a short spin down the coast. I think people are going to really appreciate what we have on our doorsteps if we make it through Covid 19. </div>
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Another thing I done was to make a video of the past year and a bit gopro footage. I'd accumulated a fair bit from the trips so chucked it together along with some royalty free music. I tried to keep it similar to the video I made from our <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2018/12/another-summer-in-alps-part-1.html">Europe tour</a> a couple of years ago. I don't think I've posted that up before either, so here ye go.</div>
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The <a href="http://passingplacestours.com/our-tours/sunart-wildcat-rally-2020/">Sunart Wildcat Rally</a> I was due to hold next weekend has been postponed till September. I managed to collect some of the raffle prizes and the rally has practically sold out. It WILL be happening when it's safe to do so. I know lots of folk were looking forwards to it.<br />
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So, back to the bikes. It's the C90 that's came out best. I've given the areas that were looking a bit worse for wear a good tidy up and a paint and fixed some cracks with more high quality cable tie stitching. It's far from good but looks good from afar! I'd MOT'd it and got it back on the road just before the lockdown and it made an excellent bog roll delivery bike when the panic buying started and some of my family members were running short on arse wiping materials. Yes, I even made a video of that. (the C90 MOT run, not the arse wiping)<br />
The XR has had a good clean and is ready to go as is the Africa Twin. I've got a few wee bits and bobs to do service wise as well. Even Mikey Sunter got a new air filter which was a bit overdue a change.<br />
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So that's all there really is to say. I've got a write up from another trip we done to the Outer Hebrides last year which I'll get done when I can drag myself away from Call Of Duty Warzone on the xbox. Apart from that all I need to make sure to do is not drink myself into oblivion, keep the heid and wash my hands. Just keep in mind that viruses don't move, people do. </div>
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Stay safe everyone and hopefully we'll get out for a spin soon.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-86139306436939986282020-02-28T19:05:00.000+00:002020-02-28T19:10:09.948+00:00The Hunt For A New Bike<div style="height: 0px;">
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<i>Guest writer Chris "Egor" Egan gives us a few words on buying a new bike.</i><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><br /></span></i></h3>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Words by Chris Egan. Pics By Chris Egan and Mike.</span></i></h3>
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Sometimes a bike just grabs you and you think “I’ll get on
with this one.” That's what I thought when I seen my F800GSA. It’s not the
pride of the BMW fleet but rather a bit of an unsung hero. For all its little
pains, a 21 inch front wheel that flexed as much as those guys in the gym who's
favourite machine is the mirror, a screen that felt like its sole purpose was
to buffet and deafen you to death and front suspension that may have well be
steel rods it was that nonadjustable. But I loved it. It took me to some
great places all over Scotland, Europe and a trip into deep dark England. <o:p></o:p></div>
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After a couple years of renting the bike (bloody PCP) my
time was coming to an end with the big beemer. Time to start the hunt, but what
can match "The Walloper" as it had been christened?<br />
I hit the net (who knew, there's more than porn on it!) and looked at few
options. On a trip to Motorrad in Dalkeith I was handed the fob to a new 1250
Rallye, holy shit what a bike!! So planted and comfy that I didn't want to get
off. I took it on a few different roads and gave it a handful, it just got more
planted and better. I’m not a fan of quick shifters but having tried one I can
see why people like them on the crotch rocket sports bikes but on a giant
tourer? Nah, not needed in my opinion. Still had that distinctive GS noise. As
I rolled into the forecourt I was sad. I knew in my heart that nearly 18k for a
bike was way out my league. A chat with the Salesperson confirmed this.
Bollocks, onto the next one.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Next on my radar was a dream bike, a tiger 1200 explorer. From since I got into
bikes I've wanted a Tiger. I don't know why but just do. A trip to Two Wheels
on a nice afternoon and the fob again was in my pocket. What ever happened to a
key?? I like a key, putting in a key is the start of something, the click on
the turn and everything coming alive! It’s not the same pressing a button, to
me there’s something soulless about keyless. And bikes are all about the soul
and feeling alive. But the Tiger? It’s some machine. As smooth as the giant GS
but felt more manageable and easier to ride long distance. Makes a great noise
to, that triple engine is feat of engineering, plenty poke and torque. It will
sit at stupid speed and you can have your visor up thanks to well designed
screen. I was happily surprised, not as much as Mike though, he took out a 1200
Scrambler. It looked massive even with his lanky 6ft4 frame astride it, he said
it was a great fun bike and very capable.<br />
Again it came down too cash and again it was too much cash for me.<br />
All this time I was still using The Walloper and thinking “why do I want to
change this?” Maybe I should refinance it and keep it. But every time I took it
out I was using everything it had and everything I was prepared to use of it.
It was definitely time for a change.<br />
All the reading and net searches (did you know there’s more than porn on the
net??) had narrowed it down to a few choices. They were the new Yamaha T7, it
looks the dogs baws and it supposed to be great but on closer looking and
reading it’s not for what I do. Tracer900GT, again great looking and riding
bike, having tried a MT09 tracer I know what its capable of, but it couldn't
pass the garage test. The garage test is when you close your eyes and imagine
opening your garage door and what do you see.<br />
After several lists and a lot of thinking a message pinged on my phone. It was
from wee Hutch that I work and go for day trips on the bikes with. You'll like
this it said with a link to Cupar Motorcycles. It was for a Suzuki V-Strom
1000. I thought about it, did some research and decided to give it a bash.
What’s the worst that can happen? At the worst I get to take another bike for a
test run and use someone else’s fuel for an hour.<br />
Test ride booked we rode to Cupar on a cold October day. Again, I was thinking
why am I swapping this, as The Walloper buffeted and deafened me up the
motorway in the way I’ve loved for last couple years. The V-Strom was waiting
for me all ready to be enjoyed. Quick run through and I was off into Fife for
an hour of fun.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49596421173/in/dateposted-public/" title="Egor's V Strom pics"><img alt="Egor's V Strom
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Holy shit!! was my first thought. I was instantly at home
with it, the controls all felt natural and the seat is brilliant. It just
fitted my 6ft2 and amply cushioned frame perfectly. Once I got over the
childish noise making and over taking I settled into riding how I normally
ride. The power from the V twin is brilliant and the peak torque is available
from 4500 rpm, just a blip of the right hand and it fires off round cars making
a great farty noise as it does so. The screen on the beemer was always a bug
bear to me but the Strom has a riot shield for a screen and it’s just as
effective as a riot shield. Manually adjustable on the move, even on the lowest
setting there’s little wind blast. There’s no fancy electronics, quick
shifters, keyless fobs or gadgets to dick around with. It’s just an honest
simple motorbike. Fully adjustable suspension front and rear and bomb proof
Givi metal luggage make it great for touring and I can be a bit naughty on it.
The brakes are fantastic, radial mounted callipers have great power but also
feel supple and you just have to brush the lever and it’s on its nose, in a
good way.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The deal was done but due to shifts and being a grown up
with a family I had to wait 10 days to pick it up. It was a seriously long 10
days but I was buzzing. The day came and after stripping off the stickers and
twat nav from the BMW a few days before, I set off for Cupar motorcycles. After
missing the exit for Cupar I had to take a slight detour along some brilliant
A&B roads, the beemer was running great and soaking up all the road could
throw at it. I still had that nagging thought that “what if I’m making the
wrong decision?”<br />
I arrived at Cupar in good spirits, but the doubt was still there. I didn’t
have to worry, once I’d signed everything and shook hands I set off for home, I
was grinning like Mike when he gets a new crayon to chew on. The bike was
everything I remembered on the test ride only this time this one was MINE!! (or
will be after a few years of payments). I was seriously impressed and on the
route home I was caught in traffic, it handled it well, the Strom is a big bike
and has a great presence on the road but also felt slim and agile enough to nip
in and out while filtering. <o:p></o:p></div>
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I was that impressed that the first thing I did was throw
some kit in the bags and go to Cannich for the night, thanks to my loving and
long suffering wife Lee for the permission slip being signed. The journey was
cold and wet, but I arrived totally buzzing without a sore bit and ready to do
the trip again. The bike was outstanding, every type of road was handled and
eaten up with ease.<br />
Home on the Sunday and I spent a few enjoyable hours cleaning and polishing.
The V-Strom was looking good and as I closed the garage doors I looked back and
it definitely passed the garage test.<br />
So ends my tale of hunting for a new bike. Moral of the story, test ride
everything and read everything available (did you know there’s more than porn on
the net?).</div>
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Written by Chris “Egor” Egan.<o:p></o:p><br />
More soon.....<br />
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<br />Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-58579833727510386042020-01-26T18:17:00.002+00:002020-01-26T18:30:00.118+00:00The Possible Birth of a Winter Motorcycle Rally.<div style="text-align: center;">
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Last year we had the <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/01/winton-massif-frosty-pubes-rally.html">Frosty Pubes Rally</a> at Tim's in Strontian. The only thing was it wasn't very frosty with the weather giving us a relatively warm 9 degrees and loads of rain. This year we wanted to do it again but we needed somewhere a bit colder, plus we're at Tim's all the time so it's nice to go somewhere else. I had somewhere in mind.<br />
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"I know where we can go. The Cairngorms!"<br />
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I've stayed at Glenlivet Hall a few times in the past and figured it would be ideal for our needs. It's pretty central in Scotland meaning everyone involved would have to travel about the same distance. After some Facebook based organising we had a plan and some willing attendees. All in we had around 30 folk invited.<br />
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A few folk had pulled out by the time it came to leave. Old Mike had to help his daughter move, poor Andrea had came down with the flu and Aidan went to watch the football (I know, what the fuck's that all about?) I felt sorry for Andrea. He'd been looking forwards to a winter run for ages, buying himself a winter a bike for the trip and everything.<br />
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My run up was nice. The sun was out and it was freezing cold. I had loads of layers on and Mikey Sunter's heated grips so I was nice and warm. This was the first outing of my new Forma Adventure boots. They were great too, keeping my feet warmish and dry all weekend. I headed up the Blairgowrie, Glenshee, Lecht, Tomintour route. This is known as "The Snow Road" as it goes over two of Scotland's highest roads and past two ski centres. Unfortunately for them there wasn't much snow and a fair bit of ice which I don't think makes for the best ski conditions, it look good though. I stopped off at Glenshee cafe for some lunch, getting a few funny looks and laughs from the other folk there.<br />
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When you're riding in the snow or where there could be ice I've found the most important thing to do is be as smooth and as relaxed at you can. Be extra careful on parts of the road that are in the shade as there's a much higher chance of ice being there, plus you get lots of shite falling off trees which makes the road slippy. I tried my best to stick to this way of riding while heading off down towards Braemar. There was quite a bit of ice at the top as I said, but it all calmed down a bit as I dropped in altitude.</div>
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The Lecht was the same story but with a bit less snow. Mike Sunter was playing up a wee bit going up the steep part off the road. It felt like it was being starved of fuel when holding sustained higher revs and the fuel pump was making a bit more noise than usual. Hopefully it lasts the whole trip! Fuck being stuck at the side of the road waiting to be recovered when it's only 2 degrees!</div>
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After a few navigational errors I found my way to Ruud's house. Ruud helps run the hall and came down with me to remind me how everything worked. While I was there I got a call from Mikey Sunter (the man, not the bike) who was riding down with Snake from Caithness. They had met up with Tim from Strontian on the road but Mikey had got a puncture on his C90, so they'd stopped to fix it. There no pub or anything near the hall so I headed to the shop to pick up beer for us all. While I was there the rest if them rolled up, puncture fixed. We had a grand total of 4!</div>
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There's no other way to put it. The hall was fucking freezing! We jumped around like lunatics playing tennis with a wee bouncy ball using bars of chocolate and books as rackets but it was still chilly. However there was the kitchen and the bar area which were much smaller and easier to heat. Ruud even suggested sleeping in there as opposed to the hall as it would be warmer. He even though a tent outside would be warmer!</div>
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I was actually OK when in bed. We had all dunted ourselves with beer, whisky and poitin. I had my Exped mat, my sleeping bag, a blanket I'd brought and three base layers, but when I got up for a piss it was FREEZING. You could see your breath and everything. When I woke up in the morning Mikey Sunter (man, not bike) was gone! He'd dragged himself through to the bar as he found the fridge like quality of the hall a tad too cold. </div>
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"That floor is fucking FREEZING!" - Snake.</div>
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"I was OK. My sleeping bag I got from a skip is really warm!!" - Tim.</div>
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Hot drinks and some food warmed us up as we planned our "ride out". We came up with the following. </div>
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<li>Go up the Lecht which is about 40 minutes away and fucking frozen.</li>
<li>Go to Dufftown where there is a warm cafe, a coopy for more food and beer and a guy Mikey knows on facebook we can scrounge a puncture repair kit from to fix Mikey's knackered inner tube.</li>
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Option 1 didn't even get a look in. We waited another hour or so to allow the sun to get up a bit before we set off. Snake led on Pedro, his adventure scoot, followed by Mikey, me then Tim. He was fair hauling ass too. I was pretty concerned by everything around us being covered in ice but Snake ploughed on to Dufftown. He must have really been looking forwards to the cafe because after a quick stop in the shop for supplies it was straight to the cafe leaving his lid in a flower bed beside Pedro!<br />
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Second breakfast was had in the cafe where I entertained the group by showing them how much brown sauce makes me sweat. We found Snake's lid, got the puncture repair kit and set off just as it began to rain. This isn't as bad as you'd think as it meant that the temperature had risen a bit so there would be less chance of ice. The rain became snowy sleet as we headed back up the hills giving a Star Wars feel to ride back to Glenlivet.</div>
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Mikey Sunter and Mikey Sunter.</div>
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Back at the hall it wasn't long before Gerrit arrived. We were 5! The sun came out so we had a wee wander down to the old packhorse bridge where I got a few nice photos. The bar at the hall is open on a Saturday from 3 till 7 which we took advantage of, having few beers after discussing the merits of various bikes. Then Colin showed up! We were 6!! Colin was on a flying visit so were were back to 5 in no time. We were speaking to Derek, one of the local folk who had came for a beer. His bike was at his house just along the road so technically he was at the rally. We were 6 again!</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49443671453/in/dateposted-public/" title="Snake on a Bridge"><img alt="Snake on a Bridge" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49443671453_10cdfdc65f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Mikey Sunter on Mikey Sunter. I'm yet to convice anyone else to join the "K Krew".</div>
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The rally!</div>
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Once we'd eaten as much of our remaining food as possible the following morning we set off. Gerrit and I opted to ride down the A9. Usually I would avoid it like the plague but it was the fastest way home. Over Drumochter had more snow than the ski centres so it even looked nicer than normal. </div>
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Everyone got home safe, nearly. Mikey Sunter's (bike) fuel pump didn't die, so I'll change the fuel filter and see how that goes. Mikey Sunter (man) got another puncture 5 miles from home but got rescued in a van.</div>
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So....... We're going to do it again next year around the same time. Who wants to come along? I reckon it'll be £10 to £20 per person to cover the cost of the hall and electricity etc for two nights. I'll probably advertise it on <a href="http://www.passingplacestours.com/">www.PassingPlacesTours.com</a> closer to the time.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49444152226/in/dateposted-public/" title="cub"><img alt="cub" height="408" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49444152226_f85ac12eb2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Mikey's C90 and a braw sky.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-36739090734583025462020-01-11T18:00:00.001+00:002020-01-14T10:44:38.949+00:00Destination Stelvio - Part 3<div style="text-align: left;">
Carrying on from <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/11/destination-stelvio-part-2.html">Part 2.</a></div>
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The two days at Como had been great. I’d eaten my weight in
pizza and bruschetta, drank gallons of Aperol and done little else. Now it was
time to get back on the bike. I had been looking forwards to today’s run for a
while. We were heading to Livigno, heading up to Chiavenna, back through
Switzerland and up the Maloja pass. I had ridden down this pass a couple of
times and I was really looking forward to heading up the other direction. We
were also meeting up with Rick at St Moritz. He was joining us for a couple of
nights at Livigno before we all headed over to his place in Germany’s Black
Forest.<br />
<span style="text-align: center;">It was sweltering leaving Como but it soon began to cool
down a little once we began to climb back up into the Alps. The Maloja is a
tremendous road, like big steps up the side of a huge cliff. You’ll see plenty
photos of it in magazines like ABR as it looks mental from above. It’s pretty
technical too, with quite a few tight hairpins which are still open enough to
take right at full lean in first gear. We regrouped at the top of the pass.
While I waited for Egor and Gerrit I chatted to some Swiss folk who had a BMW
M1, one of the crazy cars that has doors that go into the sills. They had
visited Scotland a few years before and loved their visit. It really shows how
nice some of the places we have on our doorstep when folk from a country as
stunning as Switzerland love it so much.</span></div>
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The road along to St Moritz would be a bit boring after the
Maloja if it wasn’t for the scenery. The heavily enforced speed limit was always
in the back of my mind too, squashing any temptation to blast past a slower car
or camper van. Even the sight of a speed trap coming into St Moritz caused a
huge arse twitch and panicked checking of the speedo.<br />
My speed was fine and we rode past the fuzz and into St
Moritz where Rick was waiting to meet us at the petrol station. We all carried
on up the Bernina Pass and crossed the border back into Italy and the tax haven
that is Livigno. I quickly got us to the campsite where we discovered the place
to be full of camper vans. Shite! There was another campsite a few kilometres outside
Livigno which looked OK but far from ideal for a Saturday night on the town. We
were trying to come up with a solution when a guy told us he was about to
leave. We all managed to cram our tents on to the pitch. It would only be for
the one night as most people would be heading home the following day. We had a
few beers on the campsite before having a wander into Livigno for some food and a few more.<br />
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Stefano, a friend who runs Hotel Concordia in Livigno, Me with Rick's fingers in my ears, Gerrit and Egor</div>
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The following day we split into two pairs. The year before I had ridden the Gavia Pass and really enjoyed it. I recommended Egor and Gerrit done that as well as Stelvio where as Rick and I were heading up to Stelvio for some lunch before heading down the Umbrail and into Switzerland. Stelvio is one of these over hyped roads. It's got great scenery and history, but the road to the bottom of the pass is better than the pass itself, especially if you start off in Livigno. Rick and I had a good ride over and up the pass. Stopping as you do for photos and to take it all in. We got lunch at the Tibetan Hotel HB and I had stayed at previously, enjoying our food while watching some giant bird swooping about (anyone know what it is?) We were taking some photos when Rick spotted some poor guy who had binned his Goldwing on one of the hairpins; easily done on the tighter east side of Stelvio. Egor and Gerrit arrived for a flying visit before carrying on, I bought some souvenirs and was recognised by the lady who ran the shop from my previous visits!<br />
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Rick on Stelvio</div>
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Rick and me</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49367721816/in/album-72157710678112008/" title="Stuck goldwing on Stelvio"><img alt="Stuck goldwing on Stelvio" height="280" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49367721816_f66cb5f5cc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/49367721561/in/album-72157710678112008/" title="Unknown bird at Stelvio"><img alt="Unknown bird at Stelvio" height="237" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49367721561_139d7c8273_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Any ideas what kind of bird this is?</div>
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Lady on Stelvio recognised me from previous visits!</div>
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My phone was also going mental. My mate Chris Jones had seen my photos and was in the area. I help Chris run his UK Adventure Riders Facebook page. he was over with Ben, his American friend. It was quite funny speaking to with my own accent and Chris's broad Lancashire accent. I think Rick was the only one of the four of us who could understand what was being said. We arranged to meet for a coffee halfway down the Umbrail. It was good to get the craic for a bit before saying our goodbyes and heading back to Livigno via the Ofenpass and the Livigno tunnel. Once again the road manners made the transition from Switzerland back to Italy an obvious one. There were groups of cycling teams training who were going mental at anyone around them, bikes fleeing along ignoring the speed limits and lots of other funny stuff. We stocked up on beers in the shop and returned to the campsite where we were surprised to see Egor and Gerrit. Unfortunately the Gavia was closed for an event so they had just came back to the campsite to chill out. Egor and Gerrit were chuffed to have ridden Stelvio, they even bought me a t shirt to say thanks for getting them there. Stelvio marked the furthest away from home we'd get so we were now on the homewards leg.<br />
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Me, Chris, Rick and Ben.</div>
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That evening we headed out in Livigno once more for a night at Bait dal Ghet, a great wee place Rick had recommended. It's a proper family run Italian restaurant and really popular. We had to wait outside for a while before a table became available. Waiting was a pleasure as they gave us free drinks! It was a great night but if you every get offered chilli schnapps just say no!<br />
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There's a reason the guy in the background is laughing.</div>
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We rode back over the Bernina away from Livingno before taking the Julierpass over the Alps. We stopped at the top for a bite to eat and Rick showed all the Swiss defences hidden in the hills. The other thing that was there was a huge red tower. It turns out its a theatre. There must be some hardy thespians in Switzerland. We also rode through the hilariously named Cunter.</div>
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Can you see the hidden gun emplacements?</div>
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Even roadworks in Switzerland look amazing.</div>
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A few hours of motorway later and we were in Germany and onto roads that were familiar to me. At Rick and Andrea's we had the usual great time. Unfortunately Stefan's Pizzeria, our usual place to go, had closed so we went out to a fancier place. The food was really nice. It was Chanterelle mushroom season in the Black Forest and I had a really tasty pasta dish, but I missed the craic you got at Stefan's place. Still, we made our own craic and had a good laugh and a great night.</div>
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Rick's boots were a bit worn out.</div>
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Egor, Gerrit and I said our goodbyes to Rick and Andrea and took a short run through the Black Forest to Wolfgang's place, stopping as usual at Todtnau for a shot of the luge thingy. Wolfgang greeted us with his usual big smile and it wasn't long to we'd convinced him to get his old Willys Jeep out. We took it for a spin into the local town and stocked up on beer and food which was barbecued that evening. Some whisky and card games followed but we couldn't kick the arse out of it too much as we had a long run the following day to our final stop, Vianden.</div>
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It was a straightforward motorway blast to Vianden in Luxembourg. For our last night we had booked a hotel. Gerrit went for an early night while Egor and I had a few beers and shared the last of my whisky with the whole pub. Another motorway blast the following day and we were back at Ijmuiden. It had been a great trip.</div>
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The three of us in Vianden.</div>
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Egor gutted to be going home.</div>
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Sunset on the ferry</div>
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Here's all the short videos i took on my phone while away. Riveting viewing of course.<br />
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If you've not done a tour of the Alps get it done. You're missing a great biking destination.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-36358917963097149292020-01-11T15:00:00.001+00:002020-01-11T15:26:13.604+00:00First and Last.<div style="text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year!! That photo there was from my last run of 2019. I took a wee spin over the mucky roads around East Lothian here in south east Scotland a few days before Christmas. <a href="http://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/09/mikey-sunter-red-bmw-k75s.html">Mikey Sunter </a>(the K75) is proving to be a great winter bike. I'm using <a href="https://www.scottoiler.com/products/refill-lubes-protectors/fs365-bike-protector/">Scottoiler FS365</a> to keep the corrosion at bay. It's straightforwards to use. Spray it over the whole bike before you put it away. Once dry it leaves an oily film over the bike hopefully keeping the bike protected against the salt and the elements. It makes washing the bike a quick and easy job too. I'm trying to wash Mikey Sunter down after every run and it all seems to be working. </div>
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My first run of the year was my favourite "up the hills and doon the coast" local spin. It was great to get out for a couple of hours, the Lammermuir hills and the East Lothian coast looking good in the winter sun.</div>
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A few days later I was out again, this time with the Lothian and Borders Vintage and Classic Motorcycle Club for their Frost Bike Run. Mike Gray and I took a spin down to the <a href="https://www.baronycastle.com/">Barony Castle Hotel</a> where they meet. There was quite a few folk out for the spin. Dennis who organises the rides always had a good route on wee roads. The actual run was short, only twenty miles or so but it was great to see so many bikes out. the run may be called "The Frost Bike Run" but it was pretty warm, around 10 degrees! Crazy for January. We stopped for a coffee and shot the shit for a bit before heading back to the Barony where Mike and I had a look around the Polish Map Of Scotland. I won't post a photo of it but if you're in the area it's definitely worth checking out.</div>
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It's now getting a bit colder and I've got the urge to get away a bit further on the bike........</div>
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More soon.</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-44206816389627807102019-11-30T15:29:00.001+00:002019-11-30T19:32:44.176+00:00A wee bit nippy.<div style="text-align: center;">
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Aidan had put up on one of the group chats we all use that he was heading away to Tim's place for a couple of nights if anyone wanted to join him. Regular readers of my blog will be pretty familiar with Sunart Camping and Strontian, we go there a fair bit and along with Tim and Lynn I run the <a href="http://passingplacestours.com/our-tours/sunart-wildcat-rally-2020/">Sunart Wildcat Rally</a>. I had been keen to get <a href="http://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/09/mikey-sunter-red-bmw-k75s.html">Mikey Sunter</a>, my BMW K75 out for another decent run since I'd repaired the leaky boot at the clutch actuator and it's always good to catch up with Tim and the folk at Strontian. </div>
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The forecast was looking decent enough, no rain and plenty sun, but it looked like it might be a cold one. In Scotland cold means frost and ice which in turns means the gritters are out in an effort to keep the roads ice free. The grit and salt they put down results in a horrible, corrosive paste which really can fuck a bike up. I'm in the lucky situation of having more than one bike. The Africa Twin is stashed away while Mikey Sunter bears the brunt of winter. I'm using FS365, a corrosion inhibitor from Scottoiler to try and keep the winter damage to a minimum. I've heard good reports about this and other similar products but if I only had one bike I'd not be riding it through the winter.</div>
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Due to time restraints I just took the most direct route to Strontian. Normally I'd avoid as much of the A84/A85/A82 as possible as it's usually jammed full of folk who's driving is so poor they're either pished or driving without a license. At this time of year however they're all away. The roads are relatively empty and, if you get the weather right, the scenery is more stunning than ever. The only other things to contend with other than the salt and the cold is the low sun and the short days. It get's dark around four o'clock. I'd really enjoyed my run up the road, Loch Lubnaig and Rannoch Moor looked stunning, Mikey Sunter was performing well and there was hardly any other traffic around. The light was just going by the time I stopped at Glencoe for photos.</div>
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Glencoe</div>
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I knew I was going to be too late for the shop at Strontian and I was getting cold. It gets a wee bit nippy when the sun goes down. I stopped off at the petrol station at Ballachulish, one of these places sells everything from beer and bread to mops and stuff for your tractor. I warmed up with a coffee and browsed the beers. But wait, whats this? The shelves were full of stuff from my youth! I left the MD20/20 on the shelf, opting for a bottle of Merry Down cider to relive my childhood. The last few miles to the Corran ferry crossing and on to Strontian were taken easy. There are loads of deer around, clipping one of those big beasties wouldn't end well for Mikey Sunter or myself. </div>
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On the Corran Ferry</div>
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Nice view from the Strontian Hotel</div>
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Tim, Aidan and I had a good night out in Strontian, ending up along in the Sunart Hotel. Unfortunately I over imbibed a bit meaning I didn't get on the road till one in the afternoon the following day, having spent most of the morning sleeping, in the cafe, or trying to convince Tim the K75 was a great bike. It was a little bit colder that the previous day, but the sky was clearer and the everywhere looked incredible. Once the sun dipped a bit all the grass and stuff at the side of the road began to freeze up which had me a slightly concerned however the roads remained clear of ice and I had no sketchy moments. By the time I was back on the dual carriageway the temperature had dropped and it had gotten really cold. My visor had frozen up rendering my pinlock useless, my feet were cold and even the excellent BMW heated grips on Mikey Sunter couldn't keep the chill out of my hands. As I said, it gets a wee bit nippy. I could have stopped at places to warm back up but the longer you're out the colder it gets so I just thought "fuck it" and kept riding along.</div>
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What a state.</div>
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Despite being frozen I gave Mikey Sunter a good wash and another coating of FS365 when I got home. It's better to get the salt off as soon as possible. I'd really enjoyed my run. I'll definitely be doing more soon.</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-2945463950061230512019-11-23T19:29:00.001+00:002020-01-11T18:02:10.202+00:00Destination Stelvio - Part 2Continued from <a href="http://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/11/destination-stelvio-part-1.html">Part 1</a>.<br />
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We were leaving Lauterbrunnen to head for one of the motorcycling biggies as far as alpine routes are concerned, the Furka, Grimsel and Sustenpass loop. I had originally considered adding the Splugen Pass as an option but it was closed due to a big landslide. The guys had opted to stay in the campsite in Andermatt, so all that was left to decide was which order we'd do the passes in. We had planned to head to Andermatt to dump our gear meaning we'd ride part of the loop twice. Egor had his shit packed up faster than Gerrit and I so he chose Sustenpass to be the first loop. This suited me as I'd not ridden the loop in a clockwise direction before. Egor set off on his own, arranging to meet us at the top of Sustenpass.</div>
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It was great to be riding a proper pass again. The Sustenpass has all the right mix of good corners, views and visibility. The phenomenally heavily enforced 80 kph/50 mph speed limit is fast enough to make the twisty bits fun while you can take the views in on the short straights. Gerrit seemed to really enjoy his first proper alpine pass. Sure enough, Egor was waiting at the top along with a shit ton of snow.</div>
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Gerrit in the Alps</div>
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We made our way down to Andermatt. The campsite there has taken quite a kicking from the online reviews. I'll be honest, it's a fucking rip off. Especially when compared to what you get at Lauterbrunnen for the same money. Unfortunately its the only campsite there and Switzerland's expensive reputation shines strong in Andermatt. At least the scenery is nice.</div>
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We got the tents up then headed off towards the Furka pass. The sun was out and the whole place looked amazing. There were bikes and fancy cars all over the place, but it didn't feel too busy the way some passes can be. We stopped for a wee bit to eat. A cheese toastie and a juice coming in at the bargain price of £12. The views from the Furka are amazing. You can see the Grimsel pass zig zagging it's way up the opposite hill. It's quite spectacular.</div>
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On the way down the Furka I managed to lose Egor and Gerrit. Then I managed to miss the turn for the Grimsel, the one with the huge sign saying "GRIMSEL" with an arrow pointing the way to go. Luckily Egor and Gerrit's navigation was a bit better than my own. They hadn't followed my lead but my detour meant that they were now quite a bit in front of me. When I got to the top of the Grimsel I was surprised to see the lake still mostly frozen. I messaged the guys and arranged to meet back in Andermatt before heading down back towards the Sustenpass. It was looking pretty grim in that direction and sure enough it was pishing down by the time I got to the Sustenpass. Still, it gave the Metzler Tourance Next tyres a good wet test. They're really quite impressive. Easily on par with Continental's Train Attack 2 while seeming to wear more consistently. I'll do a full review on them soon.</div>
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It had dried off by the time I arrived back in Andermatt. I met the guys at the shops where we bought food to cook on the minimalist campsite, there wasn't anywhere that seemed to be affordable to eat, but back at the campsite we had the wee shelter with a table under it. Pasta and pesto with some nice fresh bread and a few beers while taking in the alpine views was as good as any restaurant, plus we had the boombox for some nice ambient music, although Gerrit may not be in agreement with me on how good the music was.</div>
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We left Switzerland via the Gotthard pass, opting to take the Tremola, the old, cobbled road. The cobbled made it slow going but the views were of the usual mind blowing variety. When we got into Italy everything changed. Gone was the sensibly slow driving and reserved quietness, we were in the land of shouting, horns, hand gestures and chaotic, anything goes, madness. It was great fun once you got your brain dialled in, filtering like a scooter and trying to to jump too much when a Ducati overtakes at four times the speed limit. The biggest shocker of the day was me managing to navigate my way to Abbadia Lariana, our usual place to stay on the banks of lake Como. This one one of Egor's must do's for the trip. We had two days at Como pretty much doing nothing apart from eating nice food, drinking and taking the odd splash in the lake to cool down. We visited the Moto Guzzi factory as usual too. It's always good to have a day or so off the bikes. Recharge your mental batteries, wash your clothes and generally chill out.</div>
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More in <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2020/01/destination-stelvio-part-3.html">Part 3</a>.</div>
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Mike</div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-90632016175543435552019-11-04T16:05:00.000+00:002019-11-23T19:52:16.335+00:00Destination Stelvio - Part 1<div style="text-align: center;">
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Destination Stelvio.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had always promised Egor that I’d help him plan a European
tour if he ever got the chance. I’ve done a fair bit of touring in France,
Italy and Germany and I figured I could come up with a decent enough route if
he could free up the time. Egor had a couple of weeks off and could spare some
of his time for a bike trip. Usually I’d be away for two to three weeks but
this was going to be a bit shorter. After some haggling we had eleven days of
his two weeks off to play with. All he had to do was decide which direction we’d
head in. I came up with a few rough suggestions but Lake Como was one place he really
wanted to see, as was Stelvio Pass, even after everyone had told him it was a bit over
hyped. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We booked our ferries. We’d be heading over in July which
was a bit of a pain in the arse as that’s high season here and the start of the
high season over there. The ferry was pretty expensive and it meant that campsites
were going to busy and there was a high chance of it being really hot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We started to get more prepared as time moved on. Kit was
bought, maps were read and more plans were formed. Gerrit decided to join in on
the trip and was bombarded with information and route options as a result. I
was keeping an eye on the weather too. A couple of weeks before we were due to
leave the whole of Western Europe was caught in a heatwave. 45 degrees were
being recorded in some areas!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had been in the area a few times over the past few years
so I had a rough idea of a route taking in the Swiss Alps, Como, the Black
Forest and the Stelvio area while still allowing for a couple of nights saying
in the same place. Having a couple of nights here and there would mean less
packing and re pitching tents and would also allow for a day off the bike. The trade
off would mean a long first day. This was going to be both Egor and Gerrit’s
first European tour and I was aware that the first fay being a biggie wouldn’t
be an ideal introduction for them. I made sure we all knew where we were going
and had a way to navigate. It’s pretty easy to get separated when travelling in
a group on bikes and the last thing I wanted was for one of us to get lost and end
up miles off course. I gave them my basic technique for tackling long distance
stuff; ride at the speed limit, don’t stop unless you really, really have to. I
jokingly said that you have a big drink of water at the start of the day. If
you need to stop for a piss you’ve drank too much. If you need to stop for a
drink then you’ve not drank enough. I wasn’t really joking though.</span><br />
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Egor on the ferry.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We took the ferry from Newcastle to Ijmuiden, just outside Amsterdam. After a quick visit to the shops and a fuel up we were on the road. We all made it out of Ijmuiden together easily enough and I got myself comfortable, sticking to the maximum speed limits so I could make progress over the coming 400 miles or so without worrying about all the speed cameras and stuff. I could see Egor and Gerrit in my mirror a wee bit behind me. After an hour or so I slowed up a bit to let them pass and make sure they were ok. As a GS and a maxi scooter passed me I realised the headlights I had seen in my mirror were not those of Egor and Gerrit. Once separated there's not much point in trying to catch up with folk again, their navigation may have taken them a slightly different route from mine. I sent a message out over our group chat and carried on to the campsite at Anould where I'd stayed <a href="http://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2018/09/cat-sitting.html">the year before</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">The journey had taken me around 7 hours, it had been warm but not as bad as I'd thought. I'd received a few messages from Egor and Gerrit who were making good progress. Everything in Anould appeared to be closed so I stocked up at the supermarket, getting enough food for all of us and a few beers each. An hour or so after I'd arrived Egor and Gerrit showed up. It had been a bit of a baptism of fire for them but once everyone was cooled off and fed we were all feeling much better. </span><br />
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The good roads started pretty much straight away the following day with a run up some of the Route Des Cretes to the Col du Grand Ballon. It's a popular run with local French and German bikers but many tourists seem to skip past the area. If you're taking a trip to the Alps its definitely worth a day or two riding in the Vosges at least. Gerrit and I managed to lose Egor somehow. I'm sure I'd seen him ride past the top of the Ballon where we'd stopped for a snack. Once down off the hill we got him on the phone. He'd stopped in a nice wee village so we arranged to meet at the Swiss border.</div>
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We all bought our Swiss vignettes at the border before heading and hour or so down the motorway to Lauterbrunnen. Out of all the places we were planning on visiting I think Lauterbrunnen was what I was thinking would impress the guys the most. The scenery is the visual equivalent of a chainsaw up the arse. It's on par with Norway. Even the motorways in Switzerland have absolutely stunning scenery. The fines for speeding are horrific but when the place looks this good you don't need to go fast.</div>
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I was a bit concerned when we arrived at the campsite. There was a big queue at reception with folk getting turned away as it was so busy. Luckily those folk were all in campervans. They had plenty room for three bikes and their wee tents. Switzerland is usually fucking extortionate to eat or drink it but luckily in Lauterbrunnen there is the <a href="http://www.hornerpub.ch/en/">Horner Pub </a>which serves food and beer at a decent price. We chilled out with a beer and some music in the sun on the campsite before heading along to the pub. While we were at the boozer the rain came on, a proper torrential alpine lightning storm. It was great to watch from under the canopy outside the pub. Well, it was for Gerrit and I. Egor suddenly remembered that he'd left his boots outside his tent! Oh well, they'll be wet now, may as well get another beer.</div>
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More to come in <a href="https://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2019/11/destination-stelvio-part-2.html">part 2</a>.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-82442790736953946962019-10-29T22:10:00.002+00:002019-11-04T13:41:18.949+00:00A run to Cannich<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981793573/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s on Rannoch Moor, Scotland"><img alt="BMW K75s on Rannoch Moor, Scotland" height="389" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981793573_88f2ce3338_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I was getting the itchy feet again. Mikey Sunter had new
tyres fitted and was serviced and ready to go. Egor had also got himself a new
bike, a near enough brand new Suzuki VStrom 1000 and was champing at the bit to
get away on the bike. HB and I had contemplated going away ourselves but I
think the cold forecast put her off a bit. I started looking at possible
destinations to give us a good run for a night away. Cannich looked ideal, it’s
a nice run over Rannoch Moor and up the side of Loch Ness and I was hoping that
our late October timing would minimalise the number of fuckwits on the road.
There was a camping pod available at Cannich campsite which I quickly booked
up. Snake and Other Mike were coming along too. They were amassing extra
hardcore points by camping properly in their tents with the pod being a warm
safety net if they found it too cold.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Packing Mikey Sunter was a bit of a trip down memory lane.
The old BMW clamshell panniers are basically plastic suitcases that attach to
the bike. They’re not waterproof in any way so everything has to be wrapped in
plastic bags to keep it dry. The weather forecast was for cold and changeable
so I ended up wearing most of my clothes with my camera kit and a few bits and
bobs in the panniers. Mikey Sunter got a good spraying down with Scottoiler
FS365 to keep the impact of any salt and other road shite to a minimum and I
was ready. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982359367/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982359367_00d504a65a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981613533/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981613533_ee3fc2b78e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Leaving East Lothian we quickly negotiated our way around
the usual Edinburgh bypass pish and up the motorway to Stirling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The A84/A85/A82 route is one I try to avoid
in the summer. The scenery is awesome but it's always heaving with some of the
worst driving you’ll come across in Scotland. Unfortunately Police Scotland seem to have
the attitude if they’re slow, they’re safe and do nothing about people driving
like they’ve had ten pints of Stella. Luckily there was far less fuckwittery
present, with only two or three attempts on our lives by brand new hire car
holidaymakers. The only other hazard we had to deal with was a fuel spillage that went from Callander to Crianlarich keeping us on our toes along the side of Loch Lubnaig. We'd stopped briefly in Callander for fuel but by the time we were at Tyndrum we were all needing a heat and some food. The Real Food cafe gave us both and fuelled up we headed up onto Rannoch Moor. The scenery at this time of year really does hit you like a boot to the baws. The clear air showing off the snow capped hills and the ever changing weather giving a crazy contrasting background. Through Glencoe and around Fort William it was its' usual wet, but once up the side of Loch Lochy things improved once more, but it was fucking freezing!! Even with six layers I was beginning to feel it, so another break was had for a coffee and a sweetie in Fort Augustus. I had told Snake, who was riding down from Caithness, that we would be at Cannich for around three but it was already past four! As we carried on to Drumnadrochit I had visions of us turning up to find a very pissed up Snake.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982172546/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982172546_322fa0e253_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">We rolled into Cannich campsite and found our pod. Beside it was pitched Snake's tent but there was no sign of the man himself or his bike. The heater was on in the pod though at it was toasty! We got the bikes unloaded. It was taking some time to get used to Mikey Sunter's panniers. I'm a bit spoiled by the huge top loading boxes I have on the Africa Twin meaning there's always room for shopping and everything is easy to get to. If I open up Mikey Sunter's clam shell boxes half my shit falls out onto the road, a nightmare if you're trying to load up on beers and snacks or stop and get your camera out for a quick photo. I was mid way through emptying all my shit out for a run to the shop when I heard a small capacity engine approaching. It was Snake!</span></div>
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Snake has loads of bikes. His weapon of choice this time was his Italjet Torpedo, a 125cc twist and go scooter. Luckily he wasn't steaming either, instead he'd had a wee explore and had headed up towards Glen Affric. We spent the night our usual way, eating, drinking and talking shite about bikes and bike trips. A visit to the local pub helped us all get warmed up too.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982360107/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982360107_7fb074630e_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981928438/in/dateposted-public/" title="Egor cleans his VStrom on Cannich Campsite"><img alt="Egor cleans his VStrom on Cannich Campsite" height="377" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981928438_efdfc56b87_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981613848/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="335" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981613848_4013cdd6e9_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Snake headed off to join a classic bike run at Dingwall the following morning while we headed to the cafe on the campsite for breakfast. We followed the route back down the road to Spean Bridge where we turned off to head cross country to Dalwhinnie, a great road with more nice views and snowy hills, stopping here and there for a photo or two. It was on one of these stops that I noticed a wee bit of oil dripping from Mikey Sunter. Fuck! I might have to phone the AA. It was only a tiny wee leak that seemed to stop after a while so we put it down to all the water maybe washing some excess grease or something off a part of the bike.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982539797/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s outside Fort Augustus, Scotland."><img alt="BMW K75s outside Fort Augustus, Scotland." height="399" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982539797_b1a7e3a005_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Where I noticed the oil.</div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982173866/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982173866_a683d32172_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981614358/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981614358_ecb25266f2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981614778/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981614778_c1f34128e6_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982022123/in/dateposted-public/" title="2019-10-29_09-37-00"><img alt="2019-10-29_09-37-00" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982022123_76d518fda0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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I stopped a few times and luckily there was no more drips. We got some food at Dalwhinnie and fuel for the bikes at Ballinluig before saying our goodbyes. It wasn't till I got home that Mikey Sunter decided to leave another dribble on the road. I drained the gearbox oil to find this shit!!<br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48982173891/in/dateposted-public/" title="End of October run to Cannich"><img alt="End of October run to Cannich" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48982173891_885a3b273e_z.jpg" width="512" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Luckily it's not as bad as it seems. A wee bit of water had gotten into the gearbox, probably through the clutch rod boot. The boot had been inspected now and looks fine, as is all the vents and breathers. The clutch however was needing adjusted quite badly. The boot relies on the clutch being adjusted to get a proper seal, the clip was also a bit loose. I've refilled the gearbox with clean oil and there's been no drips so far. I'll hopefully take it for a longer run soon and see how it's holding up. </div>
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Apart from that Mikey Sunter handled its first trip with ease. It's an enjoyable bike to ride and can carry enough stuff for plenty time away. I just need to get a tank bag for the camera stuff. I also tried to turn my hand to "vlogging", you can see the finished effort below. I might just stick to photography.</div>
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Anyway, where to next?</div>
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<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/-IFs04haGDs" width="560"></iframe></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48981792758/in/dateposted-public/" title="BMW K75s on Rannoch Moor, Scotland"><img alt="BMW K75s on Rannoch Moor, Scotland" height="400" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48981792758_32b57339a7_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com5Cannich, Beauly IV4 7LW, UK57.347125999999989 -4.76302599999996848.621115999999986 -25.417322999999968 66.073135999999991 15.891271000000032tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-65681996457948131812019-09-17T21:31:00.001+01:002019-09-19T12:37:36.862+01:00Mikey Sunter, the red BMW K75s<br />
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Sometimes something comes up that you can’t say no to. It’s
too good a deal to pass up. A no brainer. The K75 was one of these things.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673537256/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="416" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673537256_3ccf29bd7c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">A few years ago Smillie from the Massif got himself a red
K75s, BMW’s bombproof triple from the late 80’s/early 90’s. Smillie ran it for
a while with the only niggle being that it occasionally snapped clutch cables. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Smillie changed bikes, selling the K to John from
his work. John was getting back on two wheels after a break from biking and the
beemer was ideal for him. Being an engineer, when the clutch cable snapped on
him, John set about finding the problem. After replacing the clutch and the
pushrod he finally found the problem to be the wee plastic piston that had
seized. Problem solved, John ran around on the bike for a while before getting something else.
The K75 sat in his garden unused and John wanted rid of it. This is where I
come in. Long story short is that John was selling the bike at a low price to get
rid of it. It had no MOT and hadn’t run for a while, but as I said; it was one
of these things I couldn’t pass up.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673199323/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="386" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673199323_c7494533c4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I got the bike through it's MOT, gave it a service and gave it a name! Naming vehicles has always been a bit of a bizarre thing to me. My mate Mikey Sunter is the only person I know who has really ever done it properly, so I named the K75 after him. It's called Mikey Sunter, although I'll probably just refer to it as the K75 on here just to keep things understandable. I'm trying to get #MikeySunter trending on Instagram so feel free to join in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673706362/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="436" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673706362_4e1339527d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mikey Sunter and the Bass Rock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I've fixed a few niggles like the broken pannier hinge. Doing the service showed the state of the front of the engine, so I'll give that a clean and a lick of paint. It'll need tyres soon too, so if you've got any recommendations get in touch. I'll need something that lasts a reasonably well while working in the wet and cold. Half worn tyres aside the auld beemer goes well. K75s are super smooth and have that slow revving, heavy flywheel feel. It's comfy despite being surprisingly stretched out. I'm yet to do a proper long journey on it but 150 or so miles down the borders proved it to be right enough. It handles ok, if I'm pushing on bumpy roads then it gets a bit all over the shop. Still, it's very manageable. Brakes are good (ABS no less) but there's a slight warp on the rear disk which I'll need to get sorted at some point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673198598/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673198598_859d2517ac_z.jpg" width="512" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mockit.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673706192/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="360" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673706192_216f7e9d20_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Previous owner and abusive Fife halfwit Smillie rides by.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673537061/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="426" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673537061_588d7a0e3c_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673200478/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="435" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673200478_d5f4240a91_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mikey Sunter meets his modern relatives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673708582/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="458" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673708582_20b4ef9a0f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48672833231/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Mikey Sunter, BMW K75 doon the borders"><img alt="Mikey Sunter, BMW K75 doon the borders" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48672833231_184f0af159_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Great roads down the borders.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Originally I had planned on fixing the bike up a bit and turning it over, but I really quite like it, so Mikey Sunter will be staying for a while at least. It's got heated grips, panniers and everything. It's ready to tour! I just need to come up with a plan.......</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another winter run maybe?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48673536626/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="BMW K75s. The first few days."><img alt="BMW K75s. The first few days." height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48673536626_4543dbff16_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">More soon.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mike </span></div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-32977640481495130342019-08-09T10:34:00.000+01:002019-08-09T11:02:04.004+01:00The Dam Bike RunOnce a year my local classic bike club, the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Lothian-Borders-Classic-Vintage-Motorcycle-Club-556518654490120/">Lothian and Borders Classic and Vintage bike Club</a> have the Dam Bike Run, where they all meet up and have a run over the small roads around the reservoirs and lochs of the area followed by a meal at the Barony Hotel. Faither and Greaser are members so I decided to join the ride on my XR.<br />
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Only issue was a couple of weeks ago I had went out for a half hour spin around the hills. Half an hour became about three hours after I got a puncture. Having no tools to fix said puncture and no phone signal resulted in a three mile push. Finally I got a message out. Egor collected my van and came to my rescue only for us to discover the XR didn't fit in the van! We strapped the bike in as best we could, tied the doors shut and drove home. Very slowly.</div>
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There's worse places to get a flat I guess.</div>
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Not all heros wear capes. Thanks Egor.</div>
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With the rear tyre truly gubbed I had to choose a replacement. The last tyre had only lasted 700 miles or so. It was a proper nobblie with loads of grip. I was willing to sacrifice some grip for a longer tyre life so I went with a Mitas E09. It was a total bastard to fit but after sweating profusely, getting blood everywhere, nipping the tube and putting it into the shop where it was done properly, the new tyre was fitted.</div>
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A couple of spins proved the Mitas to be pretty good. It never had the grip a proper nobbly has but there was enough for what I was doing, plus it was easier to slide the back out which is always fun. The Massif came with me on one of the runs, the heavier, more road based bikes proving a bit of a handfull compared to the XR's dirt pedigree, especially on muddy or loose sections.</div>
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With the XR cleaned up I headed to meet the folk for the Dam Bike Run. I felt like I was cheating a bit riding my "classic" 1995 XR alongside a 1929 Sunbeam, but everyone makes you feel welcome no matter what you're on. There were a few folk taking part on modern bikes too. The route that the club had organised was really nice. Despite riding around the area for most of my biking life I found myself on a couple of new roads. We stopped at Bowhill for a lunch break and to have a look around the bikes a bit more, before heading over the Megget And Talla road and back up to the Barony for a meal.</div>
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Velo the dog on his Beemer.<br />
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I had really enjoyed riding with the club. It was great to see all the old bikes running well and hilarious following the haze from the two strokes along the country lanes. There's no danger you'd get lost following a GT500! I had a great day out and I'd recommend coming along on the run next year. The Dam Bike Run is open to non club members. Follow their page on Facebook for info on how to join the club and to keep an eye on when the events are on .</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-73781901648548492472019-07-27T15:59:00.000+01:002019-07-27T16:35:16.504+01:00Outer Hebrides revisited. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324215712/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Africa Twin in the Coigach"><img alt="Africa Twin in the Coigach" height="359" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324215712_e849549759_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;">The Outer Hebrides. I was last there way <a href="http://yodagoat.blogspot.com/2013/02/winton-massif-outer-limits-tour.html">back in 2010</a> as
part of the Outer Limits Tour. Will it have changed? I really enjoyed my last
visit. Hopefully this one will be as good.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">The plan was to sail from Ullapool on the Mainland to
Stornoway on Lewis on the Sunday, so I had organised an open invitation camping
weekend at Ullapool. It had started off as an Africa Twin Scotland event for a
Facebook group I set up, but to try and remain impartial after a few disputes I
handed the group over to Dave from Two Wheels Edinburgh Honda and opened the
camping weekend up to everyone.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I had come up with what looked like a decent enough route to
take me up to Ullapool. The main part I was looking forwards to was the wee bit
between Drumnadrochit and Beauly. Unfortunately it pished it doon nearly all
the way Beauly, turning my awesome plans into the equivalent of a cold wet
teabag down the back of your t shirt. To make things worse my pinlock had
stopped working, so I couldn’t see anything! Luckily the sun was out for the
last stretch to Ullapool warming me up, drying my gear and making the snow on
the hills look very nice.</span><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";">Having pitched my tent and nipped to the shops I settled
down to cook some food while a few other folk turned up. Most people opted to
eat in the pub or chippy that evening so I chilled out on the campsite before
wandering down to meet them. Ullapool is a really pretty town and a nice place
to be. I’m often guilty of skipping through as it can be busy with tourists,
but if you’ve never been you’re missing out.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925217483/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925217483_15e94b6b56_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "times new roman";"><o:p></o:p></span>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">The following day I’d planned a ride around the Coigach
peninsula and Loch Assynt, but only one person wanted to come with me. Pete and
I set off leaving the rest of the guys to enjoy a beer in the sun and wait for
the others to turn up. The run from Ullapool out to Achiltibuie is a cracker,
taking you out to the Summer Isles, passing under the distinctive shape of Stac
Pollaidh. We got a coffee at Altandhu before heading through more amazing
scenery to Lochinver and onto the fast sweepers that take you past Loch Assynt
and back to Ullapool. The Assynt and Coigach area has to be in my top three for
Scottish scenery. I really enjoyed the run. The roads were quiet enough to open
the bike up a bit, I was having so much fun I only stopped a couple of times
for photos.</span><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324211647/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Camping at Ullapool"><img alt="Camping at Ullapool" height="397" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324211647_ca8a5b9b37_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324093166/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Africa Twin in the Coigach"><img alt="Africa Twin in the Coigach" height="356" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324093166_597e1b05d2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324214347/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Africa Twin Outer Hebrides"><img alt="Africa Twin Outer Hebrides" height="380" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324214347_0f54bb24d4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324215017/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Africa Twin in the Coigach"><img alt="Africa Twin in the Coigach" height="406" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324215017_9a2f57e7fe_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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Pete</div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Back at the campsite more folk had turned up. I fired the Boombox
up, cracked a beer and shot the shit with everyone. Some of the Massif arrived
as well as other folk who had heard about the camping weekend. All in 19 bikes
turned up, a good turn out!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324097036/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Camping at Ullapool"><img alt="Camping at Ullapool" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324097036_cd0d940900_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47102277654/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47102277654_c70790a249_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">In dribs and drabs
we wandered away to find food. I opted for a chippy before meeting everyone in
the Seaforth for what turned out to be a great but heavy night. It was nice to
speak to new folk and hear their travel stories. With a severe hangover I packed
my tent up, found some food and made my way to the ferry terminal which
thankfully was just round the corner. Scenery and brief bouts of snoring saw us to Stornoway
where I started to feel much better. A short two mile ride later and we were
pitching up at Laxdale campsite. Everyone had different things they wanted to
see. For me, a bothy on the west coast of Lewis was the top of the list. For
obvious reasons I’m not going to give away its exact location but it’s near
Mangersta. Euan chose to come along, following me over the windy, barren
landscape of the east to the quality twisties in the hills on the west. Riding
round Lewis gives a proper feeling of remoteness. There’s hardly any traffic,
with more sheep than cars on the roads. After a while and with the help of a friendly
local we found the bothy. What a place.<o:p></o:p>
If you really want to visit it send me a message and I’ll let you know how to
go about getting there.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">We rode back to
the campsite via the Callanish Stones. The north and east of Lewis is very open
and barren. It’s quite similar in some ways to Caithness, but with long
straight wide roads. You also get a great view of the hills on the mainland. It
was surprisingly easy to identify places from the skyline. Back on the campsite
we found everyone had already had food. Euan and I wandered back into Stornoway
where we found a takeaway open (yes, even on a Sunday). Beers with some of the
other folk on the campsite made for a good end to a good day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47891540121/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47891540121_e79c798319_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">By the time I was
packed up the following day most of the Massif had departed and were on the
road, but not before Moose had made me a nice breakfast. I waved them off and
headed into Stornoway for supplies. I was booked onto the last ferry to
Berneray where we were staying that night and the wee shop would likely be shut
by the time I arrived. Everyone else had booked on an earlier ferry, but I wanted
to have a look around Harris and some more of Lewis on the way down to the
ferry. Moose had mentioned The Golden Road as a potential alternative route
south and I also wanted to visit the isle of Scalpay.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">As you get into
the mountainous landscape of Harris the roads become amazing fun as they snake
through the hills. At Tarbert I headed through the town and on towards Scalpay,
passing Moose and Jim’s bikes but with no sign of the lads themselves. The road
to Scalpay is another cracker. A really must do if, like me, you’re a fan of single
track roads. Scalpay itself is really densely populated compared to the surrounding
area but it doesn’t mean you should avoid the area. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">I headed back
along that amazing single track road and headed south towards Leverburgh. A few
miles later I seen a sign pointing me along the Golden Road which Moose had
mentioned earlier. I had spoken with an eccentric old dude in Stornoway who had
said it was called the Golden Road because it had cost so much to make. The
road itself is alright. It’s singletrack with decent views and quite a few
patches of gravel to slither about on, but I knew I’d be missing out on a great
run if I followed it all the way so I took a turn off back to the main road
where I stopped to speak with a guy who was cutting his peats. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48383815746/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="2019-07-27_01-36-22"><img alt="2019-07-27_01-36-22" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48383815746_bee172bcbc_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">The main road is
another stunning ride. Big fast sweepers take you down to an impossibly white and blue beach. Harris is famous for its beaches. They really are stunning and for
the most they’re pretty empty. Just keep in mind that while they may look like
the Caribbean the water is definitely Scotland in temperature.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/46975479645/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46975479645_f6e264e0e1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324220632/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Africa Twin Outer Hebrides"><img alt="Africa Twin Outer Hebrides" height="379" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324220632_6579fd3f98_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48383907937/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Seilebost"><img alt="Seilebost" height="402" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48383907937_0609929ee2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: inherit; margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">I thought I may
make the earlier ferry so I headed straight to Leverburgh only to find that I’d
missed it by ages. I had a look around and spoke to the guy who owned the
hostel. He suggested I visit Rodel and the southern point of Harris so I took a
wee spin down there before chilling out in the sun at the pub by the ferry
terminal.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></span>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48383952041/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_20190513_161455"><img alt="IMG_20190513_161455" height="353" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48383952041_64ea53ec22_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47891539591/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47891539591_dfc0797267_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">
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</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The ferry from Leverburgh to Berneray takes about an hour
and is a pleasant enough sailing giving nice views as its weaves among the wee
islands and buoys. Once on Berneray it was a short ride round to the Gatliff
Trust Hostel which is situated right on the beach. Most of the guys had chosen
to stay in the hostel but I prefer my tent. I’ve always used Vango tents,
they’re quick and easy to pitch and are strong enough to take a battering from
the wind, plus they’re based here in Scotland. If they can handle the weather
we get here they should be fine anywhere. Luckily the weather on Berneray was
perfect, sunny but with a slight breeze to see off any midges. The communal
kitchen/dining room in the hostel was full of different folk from all over the
place getting the crack, sharing food and having a laugh, it’s a nice place to
spend an evening, and the views are stunning.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925220133/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925220133_326c85404a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324225317/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray"><img alt="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324225317_ffb80de835_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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</span>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324105701/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray"><img alt="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray" height="424" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324105701_ed9207a76a_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">
</span>
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<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Another braw Hebridean day greeted me when I crawled out my
tent the following morning. We set off south down the Uists in dribs and drabs,
usually catching up at a café or shop on the way. A cracking day made the
island much prettier than I remember them being so I was stopping for photos
here and there. I also headed up to a viewpoint where I saw St Kilda poking up
out of the haze. Everyone else was heading to Eriskay to get the ferry over to
Barra. My journey for the day was stopping at Eriskay where I was going to find
a place to camp. Don’t get me wrong, Barra is an amazing place to visit but due
to the ferry being nearly booked out I’d have had to have caught the first
ferry back to Eriskay to make the next day’s ferry from Lochmaddy to Uig on
Skye. That would only give me about 14 hours on Barra. I’d stayed on Barra
before but I’d never stayed on Eriskay. I saw the rest of the guys off on the
Ferry then found my camp spot for the evening, a great wee bit just beside the
beach. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;">
</span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "inherit" , serif;"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324224627/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray"><img alt="Gatliff Trust Hostel, Berneray" height="405" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324224627_8bd1e9b4a4_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925220733/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925220733_d01f25754f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48384171232/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="IMG_20190514_133144"><img alt="IMG_20190514_133144" height="448" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48384171232_2d4259503d_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925225743/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925225743_ed283c88cf_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/46975481145/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46975481145_875d816544_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925220763/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925220763_036262da29_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47839620482/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47839620482_e00b5094e1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47891542311/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47891542311_cf7b679934_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47839619692/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47839619692_f135be88a1_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925221693/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925221693_67b3f93ca0_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" div="" href="https://www.blogger.com/null" nbsp=""></a><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47102280634/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47102280634_ba3d11c4cb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Africa Twin Outer Hebrides" height="367" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324222617_d9f2dee5a5_z.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Once my tent was up I had a wee look around the small
island. I got stuff from the shop and wandered about taking photos while trying to keep two wee lambs out of my tent. Apparently they were orphaned and a local guy looks after them, so they were pretty tame. That
evening I treated myself to a meal in the Am Politician, a pub named after the
S.S Politician, a boat that sank of the coast of Eriskay and made the island
famous in the following story, Whisky Galore. The staff in the pub evens show
me some stuff that was recovered from the SS Politician, including some of the
bottles of Whisky. Fed and quite heavily watered it was back to the tent to get
some photos of the sunset, listen to some tunes on the boombox and have a
relatively early night.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TC_5YGVTRUc" width="560"></iframe></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47102280814/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47102280814_7739381a07_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925222993/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925222993_60aa0c59a2_z.jpg" width="512" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script><br />
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925225263/in/dateposted-public/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925225263_6f56d73314_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Wild camping on Eriskay" height="376" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324090356_51fce089a0_z.jpg" width="640" /></div>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324210247/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Wild camping on Eriskay"><img alt="Wild camping on Eriskay" height="376" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324210247_62de4abd34_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925222373/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925222373_97164cb177_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40925222663/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40925222663_66d94500c5_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/48324223952/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Wild camping on Eriskay"><img alt="Wild camping on Eriskay" height="395" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/48324223952_8e98383302_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/47839621412/in/album-72157709747060002/" nbsp="" title="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics"><img alt="Winton Massif Outer Limits Tour 2019 phone pics" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/47839621412_12bc05b1fb_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 8pt;">
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">I had just got up and was brushing my teeth down the beach
when I heard the big clang of the first ferry of the day from Barra arriving at
Eriskay’s slipway. Not long after Euan and Kenny arrived. Euan wasn’t the
happiest as Kenny, filled with anxiety about missing the ferry, had woken Euan
up at the back of five o’clock in the morning to ensure they’d make it. I found
that hilarious. I never had long to laugh at them as they were both starving
and rode of in search of breakfast on the way to Lochmaddy. I packed up and set
off after them, keeping an eye out for their bikes outside any open cafes we
passed. There was no sign of them until I got to Lochmaddy itself, where
outside the Lochmaddy Hotel sat two Winton Massif stickered bikes. They’d not
found anywhere they fancied eating on the way up the road, but the Lochmaddy
Hotel provided a good breakfast for us all. All that was left to do now was lay
about and wait for everyone else to turn up.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri"; text-align: center;">They all made it, just, onto the 11.30 ferry to Uig. Skye
came as a big shock after the quiet roads on the Outer Hebrides. The place is
absolutely heaving. I had planned to rid over the Quiraing, but the Uig side
was closed for roadworks. Instead Smillie and I headed over the north of Skye.
Due to the mass of traffic overwhelming the wee roads I lost Smillie somewhere.
I headed up the east side of the Quiraing on my own for a look. The top was
like a busy city car park, except no one seemed to have actually passed a
driving test. I quickly made my way off Skye. It’s a nice place with some good
roads, but far too busy for me. Once over the Skye bridge I headed towards
Applecross, a favourite stop for the Massif. Not far before Lochcarron I spotted
the familiar sight of Smillie and his bright orange lid. I just managed to
catch him as we rode in to Lochcarron where we stopped in at the Waterside Café
for a bit and got stuff from the shop. It was absolutely roasting, a great day
but surprisingly the Bealach Na Ba was quite quiet. I stopped for a few photos
before heading down to the Inn to meet Faither, Kenny and HB who had driven up
that day. An enjoyable afternoon on the campsite and an evening in the
Applecross Inn followed. When we got back to the campsite we met John and his
mates. It turned out that John didn’t actually enjoy the company of his mates
too much, so we invited him to come to Strontian with us the following day.
John was keen to try some dirt roads on the way, so I guided him along a route
I knew of.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Sunart Camping in Strontian is a regular haunt of the Winton
Massif. It was good to catch up with Tim and Lynn. HB and I went out to the pub
for a meal before meeting everyone once more back at Sunart Camping. John seemed
to have enjoyed himself. We said our goodbyes to him and the rest of the guys
the following day. They were all heading home but HB and I were off to visit
Jess and Aidan at their place just south of Oban. There’s some great roads in
the area, HB and I had a good explore around Seil before heading to Aidan's for the evening. It was a grand way to finish the trip. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Next up, the Alps. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">Mike<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><br /></span>
<br />
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<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<i><br /></i>
<i>If you're interested in a guided tour of Scotland that doesn't cost the earth give me a shout at</i><br />
<a href="http://passingplacestours.com/">http://passingplacestours.com/</a><br />
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-8807846729801544932019-05-29T18:30:00.001+01:002019-05-30T09:15:00.550+01:00Shy Monkeys Get No BananasI'm in Two Wheels Edinburgh Honda a few weeks back speaking to Stuart and Robbie about their upcoming Honda demo day.<br />
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"Here, if you get me a one of those new Monkey bikes I'll fire up to Applecross on it and try and get some nice photos on the way."<br />
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It was a semi recyclable comment. I was really surprised when a wee while later I got a message from Stuart. "I've got you the Monkeys!"<br />
Stuart had persuaded Honda to bring up not one, but two of the new Monkey bikes, just in case someone wanted to join me. Ok. I better get planning.<br />
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There were two major constraints to my trip. It was the Easter weekend, so I had plenty time off work, but I had my mate Bennetts' stag do on the Saturday night. The other was what time I'd be getting the bike on the Friday. For some reason I had it in my head that I'd be able to get the bike around two or three o'clock but after talking my plans over with Stuart it was looking like four or five was more realistic.<br />
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Okay, maybe Applecross was a bit too ambitious. Luckily I had a back up plan, Strontian! I'd just been at the Sunart Wildcat Rally the previous weekend but the weather forecast looked good and I knew I could get some decent photos on the way there. Tim and Lynn who run Sunart Camping offered to put me up too, solving the luggage and camping gear problem. All I'd need was the rucksack which I'd borrowed (stolen?) from my Uncle Greaser. I was ready.<br />
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I got the Monkey at five o'clock. It only had eleven miles on the clock and came with a fuel tank of fuel, a perfect start to the trip. In no time I was out of Edinburgh and on the motorway. A Monkey bike is never going to rip anyone's arms out their sockets. The 125cc engine it shares with the Grom only puts out around nine horses but it had enough grunt to haul my sixteen stone arse around. I was quite surprised by the ergonomics too. I'm 6'4 and I didn't find the wee bike cramped at all. On the motorway I was cruising between 55 and 65 mph depending on hills, I even topped out at an eye watering indicated speed of 72 mph.<br />
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Motorway section over, I turned off and headed for Callander. MCN's website had claimed that the Monkey would be getting something like 180 mpg. Now it may have been my bulk, but the Monkey I was on did not have a 230 mile tank range. After the 60 mile trip the wee fuel gauge was showing less than half a tank. I brimmed the tank (£4) and set off once more. I had been slightly concerned about holding up the traffic away from the dual carriageway but thanks to the horrific driving standard on the A84 and A82, combined with a police force who cares much more about speeding than road safety, I was no where near the slowest thing on the road. I even overtook folk. The looks on the faces of the folk I was overtaking was hilarious. Although the fact that they were driving at 30 up a main road, snaking around and oblivious to the huge queue of traffic behind them makes me think they'd had a few sherbets earlier on.<br />
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The Real Food Cafe, Tyndrum. OK food but way overpriced.</div>
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I stopped in Tyndrum for some tourist tax fish and chips. When you stop anywhere on the Monkey bike its not long before folk are round the bike having a wee look. Everybody loves a Monkey! I chatted with a few folk while others just waved or laughed. I must have looked some sight riding off towards Glencoe.<br />
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As the sun went down so did the vast number of licenceless or intoxicated drivers wobbling all over the road. The wee Monkey was buzzing along grand. The only gripe was the soft seat was beginning to hurt my arse and my bulk was overwhelming the suspension somewhat. Minor grumbles aside, Honda's Monkey is a nice place to be. The clocks are cartoonish and funky looking while being easy to read. The brakes haul the bike up good enough when aforementioned shambolic drivers perform an emergency stop for no apparent reason. Despite the limits of the suspension I could chuck it about on the bends too. I was making good time, but was aware that the light was going and when the sun goes down up here there's more chance of coming across deer on the road, plus I didn't want to miss the last Corran ferry. So I juggled a fine balance between speed and safety (flat out).<br />
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I made the second last Corran ferry with time to take in the tail end of the sunset. The crew on the boat had a good laugh at the Monkey and the fact I'd ridden it up for a night. They could remember the original Monkey bike and really thought the new one was smart. Once off the ferry it was a dark 12 mile dash to Strontian. The wee headlight on the Monkey is pretty good, lighting up the sheep on the road and deer jumping about with plenty time to react. I got into Strontian at around half nine. I could have went straight to Tim's, but the lights in the pub drew me in, making me stop for a celebratory pint.</div>
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The folk in the pub were surprised to see me, after all I'd just left a few days before. </div>
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"Come and see what bike I've got"</div>
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They all thought it was hilarious!</div>
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When I arrived at Tim's I found him worriedly phoning around to see if I was OK, sorry Tim! The bike was put away and my gear dumped off and we wandered back round to the pub for the evening.</div>
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There was a bunch of guys up at the campsite from the ABR forum who we'd been speaking to the night before; it's always great to speak to folk who are so enthusiastic about visiting Scotland. I got a photo of the wee Monkey besides their big bikes and joined queue for fuel. It was a great day and I got some nice photos on the way down the road, even if they were only with my phone.</div>
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Tim and the Monkey</div>
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I got back to Two Wheels Edinburgh Honda around two. The demo day was in full swing. I thanked the guys from Honda UK and the guys from the shop for arranging the bike for me, met up with HB, grabbed a quick bike to eat then headed off to Bennett's stag do. Job done!</div>
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Final thought's on the Monkey? It's definitely a cool wee bike. As a second bike it would be great wee thing to have. Ideal for going in the back of a motor home or something. It would be great for cutting about the city, although you'd have to make sure you had secure parking, especially in Edinburgh. It looks great, goes and stops well enough and has cool wee touches, like the way the cartoony clocks blink at you when you turn the key. The seat is a bit soft resulting in a sore arse after a couple of hours, but I doubt the average Monkey rider buys the bike with the idea of touring on it. Overall riding the Monkey is a good place to be and a nice experience. If I had the money I'd have one in a heartbeat.<br />
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Big thanks to Stuart at <a href="https://www.twowheels.co.uk/">Two Wheels Edinburgh Honda</a> and <a href="https://www.honda.co.uk/motorcycles.html">Honda UK</a> for the Monkey Bike.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-90405753976703258182019-04-27T17:01:00.000+01:002019-05-06T09:48:56.286+01:00Sunart Wildcat Rally 2019<br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Last April Tim and Lynn who run <a href="http://www.sunartcamping.co.uk/">Sunart Camping</a> teamed up with my wee tour company, Passing Places Tours to put on a the Sunart Wildcat Rally, a charity motorcycle rally. It was a great success, everyone enjoyed themselves and we ended up raising £1730 for the Scottish Charity Air Ambulance. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">On the 13th of April we did it again, Sunart Wildcat Rally 2019! The plan was to have a treasure hunt style ride on the Saturday followed by a barbecue hog roast in the evening. Folk were welcome to come up early or stay late. I got a webpage built to advertise the rally and we were open for bookings. We picked <a href="https://www.sisonline.org/">Spinal Injuries Scotland</a> as our chosen charity.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It’s always a nervous time. What if nobody comes? Will anyone book up? Luckily some of the folk who had been the year before were quick to sign up. We hold a raffle on the Saturday night so Tim and I began scrounging prizes of whoever we could while Lynn arranged to give away some of her art work. Lynn had also designed the logo for the Rally T shirts. With a couple of months to go we had sold out. It was great to see so many people from last year’s rally once again on the list and plenty folk were planning on heading up on the Friday to properly join in the treasure hunt, or just have an extra night partying in some cases.<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">The weekend of the rally I set off with around 10 folk from the Winton Massif. We had a great run up through Glen Devon and Sma Glen, stopping for lunch and meeting another couple of people at Glen Lyon before heading up over the hill to Killin. A surprisingly traffic free run over Rannoch Moor and through beautiful Glencoe<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>saw us to the Corran Ferry, a short blast from Strontian where we were having the rally. <o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">It was great to see so many folk already at the campsite when we arrived. Some folk had maps out, already planning the following days ride; others were chilling out with a beer (or cheese and wine) in the sun. We had a great evening in the Strontian Hotel where we got a preview of the Michael Mannering, the excellent musician who would be keeping us entertained come the night of the rally.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Rally day! While most folk headed out on the bikes to do the treasure hunt I waited around the campsite for the Saturday arrivals while Tim got everything prepared for the hog roast. The sun was shining on a perfect day for the event. I went for a short spin around the Morvern coast via Lochaline and Clach na Criche with Andrea, who took his bike down onto the beach for some nice photos, getting a wee bit stuck on the way back up. Back at Sunart Camping I dished out T shirts to folk who had arrived, Tim and Lynn carried on with the cooking and we all were selling raffle tickets. Just as the food was ready another bike turned up, a Kawasaki Versys 300 with a German number plate. I knew there were no German folk booked on for the Rally so I was pretty surprised to see him. Helge, the rider, had been heading south with the aim to get to Oban for the ferry to Mull but his sat nav had taken him to Oban via Mull! While he was on the Corran Ferry someone told him about our Rally and here he was. Helge got stuck right in, buying a t shirt and some raffle tickets and giving a donation to the charity pot. With everyone fed we had our charity raffle and auction where we raised a substantial amount of money. I can't thank everyone enough for their generosity. A couple of locals were drafted in to pick Bike of the Rally which was won by David from Wick. Michael Mannering started his set, beer flowed exceptionally well and everyone had a good time.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/40747484673/in/album-72157677950324367/" nbsp="" title="ricjhiesalt2"><img alt="ricjhiesalt2" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/40747484673_2f383c3ff2_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photo by Ritchie Salt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/32770641057/in/album-72157677950324367/" nbsp="" title="richiesalt4"><img alt="richiesalt4" height="640" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/32770641057_6a2f0d2794_z.jpg" width="480" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photo by Ritchie Salt</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/46797735735/in/album-72157677950324367/" nbsp="" title="richiesalt3"><img alt="richiesalt3" height="397" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46797735735_4eaa6d4d95_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";">Photo by Ritchie Salt</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><span style="font-family: "calibri";"><a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/7317806@N06/46715281995/in/album-72157677950324367/" nbsp="" title="Sunart Wildcat Rally 2019"><img alt="Sunart Wildcat Rally 2019" height="480" src="https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/46715281995_9d026c8c5f_z.jpg" width="640" /></a><script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js"></script></span></span></span></div>
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</span></span>Sunday we said goodbye to most folk. A few of us stayed an extra night, recovering from the rally night or going for a spin on the bikes. We totalled up everything in the Strontian Hotel that evening. The grand total raised for Spinal Injuries Scotland was an amazing £2050!!</div>
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Big thanks to the following companies and people who donated raffle prizes.</div>
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<a href="https://www.scottoiler.com/">Scottoiler</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.motorradcentral.com/">Motorrad Central</a> </div>
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<a href="https://www.applecrossinn.co.uk/">Applecross Inn</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.sam-manicom.com/">Sam Manicom</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/category/Pub/Winton-Arms-780819601987354/">The Winton Arms</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.grahamhigh.co.uk/">Graham High</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.rivers-hotel.co.uk/">The Rivers Hotel</a></div>
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<a href="https://ardtornish.co.uk/">Ardtornish Estate</a></div>
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Callum Colquhon</div>
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Another big thanks to <a href="http://www.thestrontianhotel.co.uk/">The Strontian Hotel</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Michael.A.R.Mannering/">Michael Mannering</a> and, of course, everyone who came attended the rally and donated raffle prizes. We couldn't do it without you.</div>
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Who's up for it again next year?</div>
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Mike</div>
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Photo by Iain Kitson</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-86757051600835030262019-04-17T18:26:00.001+01:002019-04-18T11:22:29.237+01:00Dirt bikes"That would make an ideal Adventure Training area."<br />
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It stuck me as a strange statement. I wondered what the fuck an adventure training area was. Said statement was a reaction to a video I'd sent someone to show them an area where folk ride dirt bikes a few miles from my house. How travelling a few miles from my house and riding around for half an hour equals an adventure was a bit beyond me, but I realised what he meant. He meant off road riding.<br />
Now, there's a bizarre movement in the motorcycle world where people confuse the terms "adventure" and "off road". BMW's GS was probably the first victim, but loads have followed. People with a poor understanding of physics are now arguing with anyone that will listen that their Africa Twin is a dirt bike. They ignore anyone who points out the fragile plastics, vulnerable engine casings, under sprung suspension, massive repair costs and the fact that anything that weighs over 200 kilos is crap on anything properly steep. Instead they showcase various very skilled riders on youtube videos and say their smashed bikes are actually showing "battle scars" and aren't wrecked hunks of shite.<br />
Now, if you want to ride your Africa Twin off road that's fine with me. It's your bike and you're free to do with it as you please, but don't go telling other folk, especially new riders (who seem drawn like a magnet to "adventure bikes") that their 10 grand, 200+ kg bike is a good dirt bike, or we'll have even more people complaining on the internet that their "dirt bike" is broken and is going to cost the price of an actual dirt bike to fix.<br />
Ok, rant over. I decided to get myself a dirt bike. The Hornshit just wasn't cutting it. Towards the end of winter, especially around February and March I seem to get very, very bored very, very easily. I need something that would deliver the right goods. The Hornshit was fast enough, but on a wet, greasy day it wasn't inspiring me to get out the house. I know about a classic Honda XL600, 1984 model that was going for sale locally. It was an OK price and in good condition, but it had a wee crack in the crankcase where it had been battered by the chain at some point. I was trying to get in touch with the owner when Faithir showed me an advert he'd seen in the Lothian and Borders Classic Motorcycle club magazine for a 1996 Honda XR600R. The real deal. A proper big traillie. It was at the very limit of my budget but was in amazing condition and practically one owner from new. Money was scrounged and borrowed and I bought it.<br />
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At 145kg wet its still pretty heavy for a dirt bike, but it's got bags of grunt and feels like it would ride up the side of a house. I spent the following few weeks exploring where I could and popping crap wheelies about the place. Old Mike (I'm sure he loves that handle) joined me on his TTR one afternoon and we had a great time spinning about the local trails. You'd never have thought it was still winter.</div>
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See that last photo? You probably can't tell but the bike is stuck on quite a sizeable pile of concrete blocks covered in branches. The back wheel dug itself in when I tried to gun it over and that was me, grounded. I had to lift the bike over it all because I was on my own. I was curious to see what the GS/Africa Twin/Super Ten etc brigade would do in such a situation. Some suggested using a winch or similar to get the bike over while a few others said they don't go out alone, which I guess it pretty sensible. Some said they just ride easier trails. I think when folk are saying they go off road, they just mean "off tarmac" like the road in the picture below.</div>
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Anyway, I was really happy with the XR, but it sounded a bit lame. The previous owner had informed me that it was still jetted for a free flowing pipe, but had fitted the standard one back for the sale as the link pipe for the Supertraap can had rusted away and the titanium Remus system was too loud. How loud is too loud? I guess we'll find out when I fit it, I'll just go for another wee spin first.</div>
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So now the XR sounds like a big thumper should and it seems to pull even stronger. I took it over to show my uncle Greaser who was servicing his beemer. The XR was much louder tha with the stock pipe, but not antisocially so. I'm pretty happy with it.</div>
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Greaser liked it too, but he is more concerned with getting his valve clearances bang on.<br />
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To summarise my earlier rant; ride your bike where you want, when you want. That's great fun.<br />
Ride your adventure bike on whatever surfaces you like, that's also great fun.<br />
Don't go telling people that are asking for advice, especially new riders, that something like an Africa Twin is a great dirt bike. That's bad advice.<br />
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More soon.</div>
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Mike</div>
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Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5123825735681655668.post-90960123242671339222019-03-16T15:30:00.000+00:002019-03-16T15:35:47.139+00:00A wee spin on a..... Honda CB500XWhile the Africa Twin was in getting some work done on it (new wheels and centre stand circlip) I was given Honda's wee CB500X as a courtesy bike. I've heard good things about these wee bikes but to me it just sounded like is was going to be a bit bland and gutless. I'll be honest, I thought it was going to be shite. Well, maybe shite is the wrong word. "Just another bike" is maybe a better way to describe my expectations.<br />
I was handed the keys and I stepped outside the shop where I seen the bike I'd have till the next day. This particular bike had seen better days. It still had the scars up once side from a previous customer's calamity. Still, it's way better than getting the bus.<br />
A quick squint round the bike showed some surprising features. It's got a decent LED headlight and preload adjustment at both ends, something that can be missing from bikes nearly double the price. I fired it up. It sounded more like a bubble machine than a motorcycle. Ergonomically the bike was good, enough space and comfort for my 6'4 body. It's heavy for a wee bike, tipping the scales at 195kg but it really doesn't feel it. Filtering through traffic was easy. I had enough grunt to nip away from the lights and enough brakes to avoid any unexpected arseholes trying to kill me. Once out of the toon the CB500x started to grow on me. My first "big bike" on the road was a CB500s. The younger CB500x doesn't seem to have the go my old bike did but still nips along well enough on the dual carriageway, the wee screen giving enough protection to keep the wind off my chest.<br />
The twisty country roads was where my JAB expectations were blown away. The wee CB500x was great fun! The handling gives plenty confidence when chucking it through the corners. You have to boot the arse out it a bit to keep it going, while the engine didn't spend the whole time at the top of the rev range the throttle was wide open. This added to the fun! The engine has decent midrange poke giving some steroids to the 47 or so horses it produces. This bike isn't a shitey, drab commuter bike, its a great laugh. Chuck some luggage on it and you'll be able to tour with any bigger bikes with no problems. Don't get me wrong, I'm not going to sell the Africa Twin and get a CB500X anytime soon, but it show that while it's nice to have a big, powerful bike to travel on you can still have plenty fun at half the price.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">CB500 X 4/5 Chainsaws.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Perfect first bike.</span><br />
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Mike</div>
Mikehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10482686218383091512noreply@blogger.com2