BootsnAll Travel Blogs

April -as always- is punctuated by the ride to Scotland to take part in a memorial ride for a fallen rider (Greg)
this year, Tucker and I rode to MiT and waited fro the other 16 riders from south of the border (and had coffee and bacon sarnies while we waited, of course)

On their arrival, we immediately set off with Tucker leading to Alston on my favourite road B6277.
a quick stop for fuel there and then continue to Hexham and the Falstone cafe for lunch (at which point I realised we had lost 2 riders due to a puncture prior to MiT) From there it was was north to Hawick with my lead.
After Hawick I managed to lose everyone else and waited for them further north (they had gone to the Hizzy memorial without telling me) Nevertheless we all managed to arrive safely at Edinburgh for a drinkee night out with Grumpy, Chyrel, et al
NExt morning was te ride proper with Davy (Grumpy) leading us thru to Stirling services. Where we met more riders. Then on to the Green Welly and Further on to Oban for fash and chaps.
As usual, we hit it lucky with the weather and had glorious blue skies the whole day!
After Oban we headed thru GlenCoe to the Scotsbrugring, where Tucker, Emma, Martin, Al, Fordy and myself bade farewell and headed north on the amazing A87 to Applecross. A fab ride got us there past incredible scenery …and a majestic highland stag crossing teh road right in front of me! -only to find great little elf barns for us to sleep in that night. After decided on the sleeping arrangements, we headed down the the water (ocean) edge and we ALL HAD A DIP !!!…was bluddy cold but very proud of everyone for doing it! 🙂 OFf to the Applecross inn for a great meal and a couple of drinks we went to celebrate.
(after lush hot showers, that is)
Next day and we set off across to Isle of Sky (for coffee) on the rest of the fantabulous A87 and then back to the Green Welly and then on to Glasgow to stay at Angels in Uddingston. it started to rain a little that afternoon but not enough to dampen out enthusiasm!…. We thankfully left the bikes in Alzo’s garage (cheers dude) had a few beers and a meal for the others (I abstained) and then a good nights kip, ready for a very rainy start to the ride back into Engerland
Al and Fordy went their seperate ways from Glasgow and I left the rest at the A68 junction to head back home
a FABULOUS trip….. as always…with great company

was great staying with Shaun and Maria – tho in actual fact, Shaun wasnt there a lot of the time as he got a job in the gold mines nr. Laverton (where Id driven thru) so was working fly-in fly-out shifts.
I/we did a few beach trips, and found the beach with the memorial to the engineer who designed the water pipeway for the goldmines before committing suicide at the beach; I went to a drag strip for the first time

and many shopping trips with Maria or by meself. Was nice to meet Shauns family again – as they regrouped for Davids wedding, on the day I left Oz.
so, good luck with your marriage DAvid, many thanks to Shauns mam and dad for their hospitality and many MANY more thanks to Shaun and Maria for their hospitality, help and friendship!!! 🙂

The trip out of the national park and into the Gibson, Simpson and Great Victoria deserts, isnt half as bad as I thought it would be ...though of course in my case all went well - I had no mechanical ... [Continue reading this entry]