Scootland

[Ninjachica]

I'm currently in Oban for 3 days, then touring around.
Will post pics if/when anyone logs back in

[bobsnicholson]

We are off to Norfolk for 4 nights from Monday (in car and hotel stay).
Don't know that part of UK so will be a change.

[Ninjachica]

So...
Made the decision to set of on the Thursday and get a few hours of motorway behind me.

Full day at work, then 3 hours riding in the rain, to Carlisle south.

Hotel straight off the motorway, but behind trees, so quiet enough.

Shower and bed, but worth it.

[Ninjachica]

Day 1 Friday 17 May

Pootle up A74 then through Glasgow, following satnav. Bit confused as i remember going over a huge bridge last time, but not this time.

Blindly carry on, then satnav sends me down a country road. Trossachs Route or something, i don't remember. No problem, this must take me past loch Lomond. Then it wants me to go right. No. That's NE, i need to go NW. Ignore satnav, even though i am in the middle of nowhere.

Some time later, I'm confused by the number of signs to Glasgow, and the miles don't seem to have reduced! Finally pop out at a roundabout i recognise, and I'm happy again. Fill up at an unmanned fuel stop. Bit complicated, but i figure it out. To my amusement several cars appear from nowhere and fill up too. Maybe they thought it was deserted until they saw me successfully filling up.

Follow the satnav to Rest and be Thankful. Planned stop for lunch. Had some sandwiches from a garage and a flask of coffee.
Beautiful view. Roads all around were stunning.

Just after did a small diversion to see 'Cakes in a callbox'. Honesty box, run by a friend of my daughter. Sadly honesty is no longer a thing, and there is now a defib in the box, but at least my daughter knew where i was.

On to Oban. Finally found the hotel. (Lancaster) It was every bit as bad as the reviews. I hot there too early to check in, but the coke in the bar was most welcome. Finally got my key. Oh dear. Still. View of the bay out of the window - if i knelt up on the bed!

Stroll into town. Food, treck up to the tower and time to sleep (after a beer).

[Ninjachica]

Day 2 - Saturday 18 may

Big day. Huge. Fingal's Cave. Always wanted to go.

Stressed myself out, panicking that i would miss my ferry to Mull, so set off on the 7 minute trip, and got to the port 45 minutes early.

Chatted with a spanish girl on a bicycle that has caught the train from Glasgow, and then a chap on a monkey bike, going to Iona.

I love ferries.

Hop off at the other end, turn left and ride across the bottom of Mull. Beautiful. Go, if you haven't been.
Stopped to take a photo, and Mr monkey bike rides past. After that, he got me to lead the way.
Golden Eagles, hairy cows. What more do you need.
In a little village / hamlet, satnav said go left. I took one look at the gravel and thought, no. 5 yards later it had reset to continue on the decent road, but mr monkey had turned up there. I never saw him again.

Got to the port and chilled, waiting for my little boat.
I think mr monkey got on the ferry that was departing as i walked down from the car park. I could see Iona, and that looked lovely too. Blue water and white beaches.

Finally. Little boat arrives and off we go. Lovely captain explains everything. Seals, pink granite, hexagonal volcanic formations.
I sat outside on the back. I got wet. Waves and spray. I loved it. Sea salt on my lips. Mascara disappeared.

And there it was. Rising majestically out of the sea. Awesome.
We docked at the side and walked to the cave, and inside. Go, if you haven't been.
The colours were amazing and it was quite ethereal. Someone ought to write an orchestral piece...

Then, up a scary scary 'staircase' to see the puffins.
I got part way, and thought, i can't do this.
Then i managed to pull myself together and got to the top somehow. Calmed myself down as i walked to where the puffins were nesting.
Amazing. Go...

Nearly pooped myself going back down the scay steps. But had given myself enogh time not to have to rush. Little boat back to Mull, then ride back to the ferry.

Wanted to stop and take photos of the hairy cows in the middle of the road, but i had a ferry to catch.
Somehow caught an earlier one, more by luck than judgment. Pulled up at the dock, and they put me straight on.

Another thing off the bucket list

[Ninjachica]

Day 3 - Sunday 19 May

Nothing planned.
Mull / Tobermory?
Mull of Kintyre?

Decided to go to Inveraray. Very pretty. As i left Oban, there was a gantry sign saying 'motorcycle event in Inveraray'. Oh. Not what i planned.
Got there, and loads of bikes, and a police stand. A bit like a Bikesafe event.
Ignored it completely and went to the castle. Deepest gravel car park ever.
Being an old fart, got in cheaper.
Really beautiful building. Very light inside and beautiful grounds and garden. Nice cake too. But hot chocolate was terrible!

Went through Inveraray and headed south. Chilling and stopping to take photos. Stopped at some temporary traffic lights, two cars back, and about 10 bikes went to the front. I thought that was a bit rude, but, whatever.
A bit later, more temp lights, but i clocked this was a bit different, and passed everyone. Sure enough. One bike in the verge and a pissed of range rover. All the other bikes trying to sort it. Police lady on hand. I got to the front and apparently the lights were faulty (hence the police already there), but the nice mendyman told me to go through.
About 20 minutes later, saw the ambulance en route.
Note to self, don't crash in Scotland. No emergency services nearby and probably no phone signal either.

On the way back up to Oban, diverted to The Bridge over the Atlantic.

Beautiful roads.

[Ninjachica]

Day 4 Monday 20 May

Bit of a dead day. Very slowly made my way towards the Green Welly (well anot 20 mins the other side) to meet my brother.

Diverted down into Glen Etivie to take the infamous James Bond, Skyfall photo.
Beautiful road. River alongside all the way.
Go, if you haven't been.

Had a picnic lunch at Rannoch Moor. Weather was ok, but all of the mountain tops were clouded over.
Stopped at the Green Welly for a drink and to kill some time. Finally headed off to Innishewan farmhouse for the night.

Lovely place. Highly recommend.
Brother arrived about 1/2 hour after me.
We had to jump back on the bikes to get tea, but pub food, and a steak and ale pie is always a good idea.

[Ninjachica]

Day 5 Tuesday 21 May.

Easy ride up the A82 through Rannoch Moor and Gel Coe. Glorious sunshine this time. Blue skies and snow on top of the mountains. Couldn't have asked for more.
Jumped on the little ferry at Corran and then turned left.
Rode for a long way down very narrow roads, then finally stopped for a break. Checked the satnav, and it was still more than 1 hour of this to Ardnamurchan Lighthouse. We stuck it out.
Most westerly point on the UK mainland.
On the way back, we got behind a local in his pickup truck! First, second, fly, third, stop. Pass, first, second, fly, stop. Pass, and repeat. For 45 minutes! Quicker than on the way there. At one point, we had another car behind us, but, one the first one turned off into farm, the tail car couldn't keep up, as we didn't need to stop each time we passed oncoming traffic.
Back roads out in the middle of nowhere, and we got to Arisaig for the night (The Old Library). Meal in the bar already booked. Amazing food. Beautiful room. Bathroom hidden behind a tiny cupboard door! Panicked and thought i had to share for a moment.
Beautiful location.

[Ninjachica]

Day 6 Wednesday 22 May

Off to Mallaig to get the ferry to Sky. Both low on fuel. Figure there will be some in Mallaig, but we reach the port first. John really wants to fill up. I say, there will be some on Skye, but he doesn't look convinced. I go first, then spot some pumps on a roundabout next to the port. Dive on to the forecourt. John goes in the correct way, laughing. How did we not see this?
I'll tell you how. Because there were no signs. Zero. No shop, kiosk nothing. Single pay point for all 4 pumps. French couple very puzzled. I csn order a ham sandwich in French, but that's about it!
Deutch? Español? Oui Español. So John and i figure it out and explain to them. Everyone is happy. Then we travel 20 yards to the ferry to Skye.

Weather is pretty dodgy. Full wet kit on. Pretty ride across the bottom of Skye, then head up to Portree. Find dedicated motorcycle parking in the square next to the police station. Excellent.
Find a nice cafe for a cake and a coffee. Neither of us have lunch, as the breakfasts have all been excellent.
Head North out of portree for the visa. Fail miserably. Rain continues and there isn't much to see. Stop to see a waterfall, but can't be bothered to go much further. To be fair, we were pretty near the top by now anyway.
Same route back initially, but overnight at Kyleakin. Pishing down. Run to nearest pub for tea.

[Ninjachica]

Day 6? Thursday

Over the bridge, Lochcarron and Applecross.
Yeah.
Wet.
Blowy.
Again.

So off we go. Stop at the bottom of the pass and turn on the gopro. Still don't know how to edit it, but at some point, someone will enlighten me.
Bimble up, on account of it being narrow, wet and Blowy. 35mph is about average. As we get higher, we go into the clouds. Motor homes appear from nowhere! On my clip, i am going so slow, the raindrops aren't even blowing off. I panicked and actually stopped on one hairpin where i really should have continued. We stopped at the famous viewpoint, but could barely see across the road!

On the downward side, John pulled in as he couldn't see. Even parked (while he cleaned his visor) his bike was getting blown about. Horrendous.
Third time I've done it. Twice in really bad weather.

Relief to get to Applecross, so off to the garden centre for a hot drink. Then, when we left, John went the wrong way. His satnav was sending him back over the pass! Thankfully he did come back, and we set off on the coastal route. Weather was a bit better lower down, so at least we could see where we were going.

Stopped on Torridon Moor and watched the waterfalls emanating from everywhere. The more you looked, the more you found.

Gairloch for a warm coffee, then checked in to the Gairloch hotel. Lovely.
Bought myself an NC500 hoodie.
Food was definitely ok, but for some reason i got a huge room with a separate dressing room. No complaints from me.