NSFW - Bonny Scotland..

[Sir Limpsalot]

As I write this the rain is lashing against the windows and the radio news is reporting traffic problems due to the number of uprooted trees in the high winds.
This can only mean one thing.......
Yep, I leave tommorrow for a week in Scotland.
Half a dozen of us are going and we've been doing it long enough to have learnt better by now if we were going to....
Machines included are an F650CS (don't scoff, you have simply no idea how fast one of those can get down a twisty road in the right hands) my 850R an 1150RS and a 1100S Boxer Cup. Also along, for those who relish a spot of chain maintainance in Hotel car parks, are an SV650 and an FZ1.
As well as some of the best motorcycling roads in all of Europe, Scotland also offers great hopitality to its' visitors.
Salmon, fresh from the Lochs. Scottish beef. A good selection of Ales and a bewilderingly large selection of malt Whiskies will go some way towards easing those high mileage aches.
See y'all when I get back.
Si

[DJ Down Under]

Say hello to Nessie for me..:D

Have a good one and ride safe.

DJ

[arkline]

Simon,

Please, please take a bunch of pictures. I've always wanted to visit Scotland and swear I will sometime. When it comes time to post the pics, just PM me and we'll work that out. Be safe and have a crackin' good time.

[Promethean]

Si,
Sounds wonderful. Have a great time and as Ron suggested....take a lot of pics.

[Arby]

Si

Looking forward to the ride report. Hope it's a safe one.

RB

[DarthRider]

Simon -
Be careful your kilt doesn't blow up over your head and put you in a bog while riding your old Excelsior up there!

[BobFV1]

As well as some of the best motorcycling roads in all of Europe, Scotland also offers great hopitality to its' visitors.
Salmon, fresh from the Lochs. Scottish beef.

Si - You forgot to mention haggis and crappit head! :eusa_drool:

Have a great trip - ride safe!

[Est51]

Ok Si, where's the story of your trip to "bonny jockland" and the pics?

Not wishing to colour [color] the view of our US hosts but Scotland [in my experience] is a pretty inhospitable place. It's the only place I've ever been that had frost in August [!] and that was in 1976 [the year of the interminable drought cum heatwave in England].

I'm not surprised that Scotts are among the most emigrated peoples on earth. It really is a miserable place to visit! Miserable weather and miserable architecture.

Just to clarify the situation, I'm half Scotts and I'm very glad my ancestors moved to England.

Cheers, Steve

[DJ Down Under]

Post removed so we can remove the NSFW tag from Simons great ride thread...bring it on Simon.

DJ

[jamming]

Well, and the best part is SHE has'nt noticed.
Thanks DJ..

Roger

[Promethean]

Nice shoes. :)

[DarthRider]

Attay boy DJ..."The view from Down Under"!
And thank you Si for providing the image...Yummy!

[Sir Limpsalot]

I've had a bit of a turgid time of it just lately, hence the fact I've been "missing in action" for a while. Seems to be mostly sorted out now which means I can get back here more often.
Seems a long time since Scotland, but I do have some pics to share. I shall probably have to provide links rather than post them in line though.
Bear with me while I experiment............http://img120.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc290&image=05990_wetscotpics_050.jpg
Luckily, this came towards the end of the trip!
Si

[Sir Limpsalot]

The trip really starts after about 150 miles or so when we meet up at the "American Diner" on the A1 aka "Great north road".http://img144.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc70&image=07460_wetscotpics_002.jpg
Of course, we have no idea how "authentically 1950's America" this is, but it looks as though Fonzie and the "Happy days" gang could come bursting in at any moment, so it's good enough for us.
The rest of the day was rain, rain and more rain.
The entire British Isles just had a thorough soaking that weekend, not just us, which makes a change.
First night was in the Borders town of Moffat. We use the same B&B here whenever we're in the area. Best breakfast in the entire UK!
When I'm in Moffat I always make time to go to the "Dowding Memorial". Sir Hugh Dowding was head of RAF "Fighter Command" in WW2 and living as I do on the edge of "Hellfire corner" I never forget that without the heroic actions of "The few" in the summer of 1940, if I was here at all now I would probably be speaking German.
http://http://img37.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc204&image=08319_wetscotpics_005.jpg
http://img22.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc67&image=08397_wetscotpics_004.jpg
As we continued north the weather improved to merely showers! Fresh snow on the mountain tops around the pass of Glencoe was worrying though...http://img19.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc1&image=08635_wetscotpics_017.jpg
http://img42.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc14&image=08727_wetscotpics_019.jpg
There is another memorial at Spean Bridge, this one to the Royal Marine Commando's who were trained in the area. It's a bleak and desolate place.http://img124.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc259&image=09007_wetscotpics_020.jpg
We stayed at Invergarry that night, another place we've stayed before.
Next day started with the magnificent A87 "Road to the Isles" one of my all time favourites. It passes through some wonderfull scenery and right by the Eileen Donan Castle.http://img34.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc199&image=09387_wetscotpics_023.jpg
http://img153.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc179&image=09508_wetscotpics_026.jpg
http://img126.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc11&image=09582_wetscotpics_027.jpg
By this time I was in the grip of a severe cold (man flu! my wife calls it) which I am using as an excuse for the not very wonderful pics. If I win the lotto I'm going to hire DJ to come along on future trips as "staff photographer".
More later.
Si

[DJ Down Under]

If I win the lotto I'm going to hire DJ to come along on future trips as "staff photographer".

It would be my pleasure....but gees it looks cold...just looking at your pics made me shiver.

btw..great pics...a little on the big side..but still great.

Pic two will not work for me...anyone else?...and pic eight (the Eileen Donan Castle)..is a ripper!

Anyone else see a mysterious dark ripple on the water..:icon_mrgreen:

Thanks for the pics...keep them comming....and tell us about that broken belt pic.

DJ

[DarthRider]

Beautiful in a dark, cold, somber way. Did you see dragons? I'm sure they are there!
Some of the mountains look like our Rockies.
The "American diner" is not far off what you'd see here quite often in the 50's & 60's. But it's really more like what they are building here now as part of the nostalgia craze. Watch for an Ariel Sq 4 "Bobber" in the "Eye Candy" section. We shot that in front of a "new age 50's diner" in Fort Worth, Texas.
Didn't your kilt blow up riding a bike up there?

[DJ Down Under]

Hey Simon...is that the same castle that's on the BMW site?

DJ

http://www.motorcycles.bmw.com.au/common_content/models/motorcycles/R1150R/R1150R_gallery_17_lg.jpg

[Bones]

NOW I understand why DJ goes to so many bike shows. NOW it all makes sense.

But DJ, how do you carry those large floor mirrors with you on the bike?

Jeff

[arkline]

Si,

I shiver looking at those brooding vistas. Macbeth and his bloody wife hover. It must be grand when the sun shines and the weather warms. I still want to go there to see the stark, beautiful realness of the place, the country, hear the burr voiced by a native. Thanks for the pictures and the atmosphere.

[Sir Limpsalot]

Ron, I've been planning a "Dream Trip" for you, more on that another time.

DJ, yes BMW shot all the pics for the "Roadster" brochure in the area. The angle they used for the castle shot is the more photogenic one, but it's a bastard to get to. My buddy Derek took this shot of his RS.
http://img154.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc150&image=89281_scotland_2006_012[1].JPG
Depending on which historian you believe the Eileen Donan "has no historical significance" or "it was from here that Bonny Prince Charlie began his escape following his defeat by the English".

Dave, all this talk of "blowing your kilt up". OK, you asked for it (and seeing this is now a NSFW thread following DJ's "outing" of me as as big a perv as the rest of you..........)
Only for the strong of stomach.
http://img44.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc198&image=89678_DontletDariussingtoyourkids[1].JPG
http://img141.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc75&image=89732_Royalty[1].JPG

Anyway, we continued up the north west coast. I was feeling really rough by now with a nose running like a tap and a sore throat that felt like I'd been swallowing lighted matches, so we split up. Three continued on our planned route around the Applecross peninsular while I and two bodyguards cut out that section and headed off around loch Maree to get to our hotel in Ullapool.
http://img137.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc93&image=90193_wetscotpics_030.jpg
http://img18.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc67&image=90275_wetscotpics_052.jpg
By now my usually pristine 850 was looking as though Ewan & Charley had ragged it through a bog somewhere. It looked as rough as I felt.
We had a couple of days in Ullapool, my first stop was a Pharmacist where I loaded myself up with cold remedies and then slept for the best part of the day. Ullapool is a lovely place, but check out the weather.....http://img11.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc189&image=90629_scotland_2006_020[1].JPG
http://img137.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc161&image=90675_scotland_2006_023[1].JPG
The most amazing rainbow I've ever seen ended in the primary school.http://img40.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc7&image=90838_wetscotpics_039.jpg
http://img159.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc285&image=90925_wetscotpics_038.jpg
We dug all night but there was no crock of gold.....
On the way south again there is this little known and hardly used "B" road alongside loch Ness. I called out "hello from DJ downunder" as requested but I don't think Nessie heard me.
What's that? No such thing you say? Well, if you can stand among the ruins of castle Urquart and look down into the dark waters of the loch and maintain that view, then brother you don't have an ounce of imagination or romance in your soul.
http://img45.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc84&image=91483_wetscotpics_053.jpg
http://img146.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc106&image=91587_wetscotpics_048.jpg
Don't miss the next thrilling installment..........
Si.

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Simon..very funny..and your pics and report is great..keep it comming..:eusa_clap: ..don't forget about that broken belt pic. (I know you'll be getting to it)

DJ

[Sir Limpsalot]

Having failed to provoke an appearance from Nessie we carried on south, stopping only infrequently for the odd photo as we still had quite a few miles todo back to our last overnighter at Moffat.
Right next to the road was a large steam locomotive with a team of guys working on it, polishing the brass, shoveling coal and so on. It was the "Jacobite" (featured in the "Harry Potter" films) http://www.steamtrain.info/
The weather, at last, began to brighten up a bit.
http://img143.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc58&image=73724_CIMG0085[1].JPG
http://img157.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc81&image=73776_CIMG0083[1].JPG
http://img7.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc63&image=73825_CIMG0086[1].JPG
We had to filter (split lanes) through the Glasgow motorway system because an accident had blocked part of it off. Once south of the city it should have been plain sailing.....
In the ten years I've been running these trips we've never had a problem that could not be resolved at the roadside. A battery died in the Yorkshire Dales so the unfortunate rider jumped on the back of my Sprint and we bought a replacement in the nearest town. A CBR600 got a puncture in Wales so we plugged the tyre and rode it to a Tyre Depot. In fact, these are the only incidents that come to mind.
As we neared Moffat on a little used "B" road the road dropped downhill slightly and opened up, it seemed rude to waste the opportunity so I wound on full throttle. So did everyone else.
The F650 showed a very creditable 110MPH. A road crew had set up a temporary traffic signal which forced us to stop. When the light changed the 650 refused to move, yep, the belt!
We scrounged some rope from the road guys and I towed the bike into town with the 850.
Many harsh words were heaped (unfairly it later turned out) on BMW and their designers. The bike had done 17,000 miles, well within what the owner understood to be the 25,000 mile life expectancy of the belt. On his return home (on a trailer provided by his breakdown assistance company) he double checked the handbook to find the belt should have been changed at 12,000.
The belt cost £163. To fit it you need to remove the swinging arm which will be a struggle at home or expensive at the Dealers. Repeat at 12,000 mile intervals. Hmmm, maybe not so keen on the new F800's now then.
The last day was a bastard, while Spencer sat in the recovery van and dozed his way through the showers, the rest of us faced the nightmare of the British road system as the country prepared for the coming holiday weekend.
Apart from the last day though I wouldn't change a second of it!
Si

[DJ Down Under]

Thanks Simon...great report and pics...btw..I've removed the rude pics so they can remove the NSFW tag...sorry about that..we thought you were still off on your ride..:)...bugger about the belt...wouldn't some girls panty-hose work to get you home..:037:

DJ

[Elsie Smith]

Wow, I'm so jealous. Loved riding the F650 in Scotland a few years ago (plus Wales and a bit o' England. Take lots of pictures and post 'em.

[Gord]

Hey Simon...is that the same castle that's on the BMW site?

DJ

http://www.motorcycles.bmw.com.au/common_content/models/motorcycles/R1150R/R1150R_gallery_17_lg.jpg

That is the pic from the BMW brochure that grabbed me and made me say "I gotta have one of those!"