Ok, sorry for the delay.
This was supposed to be a trip with a group of friends who go away together in the uk for a long weekend biking.
There are about 8 of us in total. Last year we stayed in North Yorkshire and went around there, up into Northumberland and around the Scottish borders.
One of the lads (member on here) is a co driver in a rally car and has done the Mull rally many times but has not seen much of the island due to reading and shouting pace notes at the driver to try to stay alive.
As such he wanted to go up there this year for a look round.
With that as a plan at the end of 2017 we had a date to work to and anticipation over a cold and snowy Winter.
When the emails started flowing after the New Year it became obvious our numbers would be fewer than anticipated.
Over the last few months, for various reasons people have dropped out and it is now just the three of us.
Those riding are:
Myself on my twin cam GSA
Paul on his recently purchased RT (PX’d a twin cam GSA) and
Alan on his Triumph explorer.
A couple of weeks ago we got together in a pub, Paul unfolded the biggest map of Scotland I’ve ever seen (bits of maps stuck together), god help the driver if he navigates like that at 100mph on single track roads ;-). And the makings of a plan was hatched.
So we are meeting next Friday, heading through the dales, onto the slab and up to hibberdy hibberdy land where we will get onto some twisties up towards Oban.
Dependent on time we will see where we get to and decide when and where we cross onto the islands.
Paul has spotted a campsite on Mull which overlooks Iona, so that could be night 2.
We then plan on taking in a trip up to Skye with a ride over to Applecross then over the road of the cattle.
With the majority of the trip flexible, camping with option of bed and breakfast / boozer if it rains all day and just 3 of us, I am really looking forward to this.
The plans are for camping, so a lot of time has been spent discussing what is being taken and how it will be loaded.
So far i have packed the panniers and a roll bag about 15 times, trying to get a system where i’ll be able to find things and in some semblance of order.
I currently have, riding gear in the left pannier. This has left room for some clothes which will go in a dry bag.
In the right pannier i have a stove, pans, inner tent a d sleeping bag.
In the roll bag (freebie with a subscription to bike magazine last year) I have the tent outer, poles, roll mat, head torch and a Swiss army knife.
I was considering an axe to chop wood for a fire and to knock the tent pegs in, however with the weather we have had recently I doubt there will be a problem knocking pegs in.
I have topped the oil up, stuck a new rear tyre on (Avon trailrider to match the front) and that’s about it for bike prep’.
As the bike is my daily commuter and everything else bike, I know it’s up to the job. Whether we can keep up with an RT and an explorer with all the stuff on and suspension that is 35,000 miles old is another matter altogether.
As a treat for the bike when it gets home, it’s booked into The Workshop where Paul can give it some TLC whilst a ride the noisiest GSX 750 this side of a race paddock (one of his courtesy bikes).
After that we go to Hinkley for a Triumph factory tour, that’s going to see us ahum, making progress through Derbyshire.
I wanted to use the forum to put a few items on so i can recall the tour. A picture or two and maybe a short video clip or two.
I’m sure Paul and Alan will comment as we progress once we hit the road.
That’s it for now folks.