Scottish Mini Meet/Ride-out, September?
 

Hi Folks,
After hi-jacking Marias thread about a London meet I've decdided to start a new one!
Who fancies a two day-er up north? Depending on what people would like to do/where people are coming from I have a couple of suggestions.

1: Ride up West coast, along Oban road to Ballachulish, Coran Ferry and A861 to Mallaig. Ferry to Skye. Camp at Sligachan.
Next day round to Kyle of Lochalsh, back to Fort Bill, Glencoe etc. and home.

2: Up through Glencoe to Fort Bill, A82 then A87 to the Kyle of Lochalsh, A890 to Garve, up to Ullapool. Camp somewhere near Ullapool. Round the A837 via Bonar Bridge and down A9 towards Aviemore but heading off down the Tomintoul road past the Lecht. Onto the A93 through Glen Shee, Blairgowrie, Perth etc. et home.

What do people think?
I think keep it as informal as possible. Agree on a morning meeting place, general route, a campsite and that's it.

Sassenachs and other forners welcome. :)
Matt

correction!
 

Hi Matt

Just a quick point - You are a sassenach too. You should know it means Southerner, which, being in Edinburgh, you are. Gaelic speakers regarded Lowland Scotland as "the South". Naughty boy.....0/10

Matt- I'd be well up for that. Can't do wknd 25th Aug and we're hoping to get the bikes shipped by mid september.

So either early aug or sept would do me.

Those routes sound good, can I also throw in Mull as a suggestion. That would probably take 3 days but would be up for taking a long weekend.

Hi Denis,
Originally from Dunblane. North enough for you, or does anyone south of the Great Glen qualify as a Soft Southern er...what's the PC term...sports bike rider?!
Gaelic speakers, pah! There's more native Polish speakers in Scotland!

Matt

Hi Mike,
How about the weekend of the 2nd and 3rd of September? I am basically busy all of August. Can't definately commit to a long weekend but would if I can. Option would be a 'Highlands and Islands Tour'. Through the Coe to the Corran ferry, through Ardnamurchan to Mull then next day up to Mallaig and..oh, actually, it's gonna be a three day trip that eh?!
Maybe we could ride up the East and over to Skye, then down the West, and those with three days to spare could pop over to Mull and the others could head home?
Matt

2/3 Sept would be fine for me, we can sort out a good route in due course.

I'd better get out and enjoy the sun while it lasts!

Cheers

Grrr! My bike is off the road! Waiting for a chain connecting link coming from Wemoto! And it's a bloody lovely day!
Matt

Still 0/10
 

Hi Matt

Dunblane is south of the Highland Boundary fault. Even geology agrees with me. So you're a Scots sassenach, as I am. I lived for a while in Doune. Very boring, but nice countryside.

I'm sorry you pour scorn on Gaelic speakers - that's hardly an endorsement of a part of Scottish culture. It also shows a worrying lack of awareness of history. Let's not talk of "soft southerners" - that's as valid as the propaganda that Scots are mean, and Englishmen dim. Both are clearly untrue. What is true is that you are very naughty and must promise to be good from now on.

As for types of bike -"Run what ya brung" is my motto. If you only have a moped, that's all right with me, Matt.

I am glad that you are organising some trips through the glorious Highlands - you'll be pleased to hear that as I am exiled out of Scotland I can't attend.

As a first generation jock with an English pop I am constantly told how soft, dim and mean I am. Therefore the propaganda must be true.

As for the sports bike thing, well sometimes I think it might be nice to ride one. You know, just to see what it's like...I'm not that way inclined or anything, but sometimes I wonder what wearing one of those leather all in oners would be like... maybe my animosity is linked to a kind of latent yearning...

Matt

Well I never!
 

Dont let bigots tell you you're soft, dim etc. Assert yourself. Tell them to p*** off.

Why shouldnt you ride any damn bike you please? Stop worrying about what others think!

Hey Matt- Its looking like I'll be taking the w/c 28 Aug off as I'm down in Wales, back up on Tue. Think I might meander up the west coast, maybe do Arran then Kintyre so could meet Mull or wherever on Fri 1st or Sat 2nd?

Cheers

Mike

ps did you manage to get away to Norway yet?

Hi People, a wizz round the west coast would be as good a way as any to start a tour of the Americas so if it is a goer, count me in. (by the way, as they say in Glasgow, the only gaelic I know is slainte)

Ride safe, Mike.

Hey Guys,
West coast sounds good.
MikeS, if you are taking the preceding week off it would be cool to meet up around the 31st/1st as I have been invited to a Birthday party on the 2nd I'd really like to go to as there may be drunk girls. How does this work for you guys?
Matt

Matt/Mike that sounds good, shall we say Thursday-Sat then and can you also bring some of the drunk women with you...

So any suggestions where to meet up?

Also is there anybody else about then ?

Sounds ideal, I'm happy to meet up with you pretty much anywhere on the Thursday. Where do you get the ferry to Mull? How about wherever that is or some handy meeting point beforehand. I'm living in Dunblane still.
Matt

You can go from Oban (£18 single), or via Corran ferry but with the travel time and 2 ferrys to take, Oban prob best bet. Coming back on Sat maybe go via Fishnish then Corran and through Glen Goe?

I'm aiming to stop over in Arran tue & wed eves (only ever went to Brodick once just to sample a building for asbestos- great), there's morning ferries to Claonaig then its about 2 hrs up to Oban, so how about Oban ferry port on Thursday for about 11.30am?

Oban sounds fine. D'ye know if theres a cafe or something near the ferry terminal? Might be the best place to meet.
Matt :)

The Oban ferry seems to leave at 12pm and 2pm (ie every 2 hours) and vehicles need to be there 30mins before so I guess its 11.30am at the latest. From memory, the ferry port is ar the far end of the main front street so just meet there.

As far as campsites go, there's one outside Tobermory (20 mins walk to town) and one in Craignure though Tobers might be best for a bit of entertainment?

Cheers

Mike

Hi Guys, the Oban - Mull ferry is expensive and time consuming. How about an RV on Thursday at the SYHA (cheap) in Oban or tenting by the Clachaig (cheaper but the home of the midgies) in the Coe then on Friday Ft.Bill - Mallaig for lunch then backtrack to Inverairlort and round the back road to the Arndamurchan penninsula, Light house at the westernmost point on the Scottish mainland then back to Strontian for beer and nightstop. Sat A.M. nurse hangover across Corran ferry and back to reality. Ride safe, Mike.

Mike- Yes, I'd be equally happy doing that run as I still haven't seen Sanna Bay yet (I'll bring my beach towel) .

How about meeting up in Oban for a bit of lunch on thurs then a run over to the Red Squirrel campsite for a few jars in the Clachaig then on friday your run around Ardnamuchan to Strontian etc.

Over to you Matt.

Cheers


Mike

Sounds good to me. :)
Matt

Matt

Maja can't make Oban now but he will make the Coe- I'm still planning on heading that way on thurs 31st though.

If weather looking rubbish for those days, give me a bell on my mob (don't seem to have your no, can you pm me it)

cheers

Mike

Cheers
 

Many thanks to Mike (Maja) in St Andrews for feeding and watering Matt and myself. Always good to have a backup plan involving drinking when weather ain't great, especially as I'd seen enough rain down in Wales earlier in the week to last a lifetime.

I had a great night, but not sure how much of the useful info you gave me re S/C America I actually retained due to the volume of red wine we drank.

Have a great trip Mike and hopefully catch up with you before you depart Buenos Aires.

Cheers

Mike

Aye, really good evening, and I'll second that about the grub, Mike does an excellent Spag Bol!
Hope both you guys have a good trip in S.America. Expect to read some great stories and see some good photos on websites!
Matt :)

Cheers Matt - ps I've got one or two not bad photos from the trail riding in Wales & HU meet in Ripley already on my wee website (look at my profile for link) which will be regularly updated in a military fashion once I'm on the trip. Yeah, right.

Mike