Gmvii - 2014

[carelesschucca]

I've been having some thoughts about the ride out people. At this moment I still haven't decided on a departure time. Now I was thinking that we can make the DEPARTURE TIME 10am at the latest. This does mean that Ron will be doing the 'don't be an idiot' speech around about 9:45am (while I pace and start to panic)

Reasons for being slightly earlier that previous years. If we set off slightly earlier than normal, we can get along the A82 to Fort William before it starts to get busy and really slows us down.


We can get back to Kinlochleven earlier and enjoy our lunches before its mid-afternoon.


Other thing to note is this years GM ride out includes a short crossing on the Corran Ferry. The price for this crossing is £2.40 so it may be an idea to have the cash ready for when we get there, the crossing itself takes about 4 or 5 minutes but I'm hoping to get us all on the ferry at the same time for a wee photo opportunity.


How does this sound with you guys?

[Littlepeahead]

I want to see a photo of you all doing a wee off the ferry! ;)

[carelesschucca]

easy woman theres nothing to see here, my wife can testify to that... however it can be sorted out.

[christopher]

How does this sound with you guys?
It sounds to me like you're starting to panic... and that means it's almost time, let the GM commence!

[Tiger 55]

You had me at ferry.

[sputnik]

I want to see a photo of you all doing a wee off the ferry! ;)

A wee what? ;)

[JamesMio]

A wee what? ;)

Depends how chilly it is I guess.

[atassiedevil]

Waters cold. Deep as well.....

[Bibio]

mines that small it disappears when its cold.

[littleoldman2]

10 o'clock's good by me.

[TamSV]

Fine by me. Should be back from my morning jog by then. :)

[andrewsmith]

10am works for me.

Want a air horn wake up or will Blue Flames snoring keep you up?

[AJC]

Fine by me, my alcohol to blood level should be about perfect...

[Blue Flame]

10am works for me.

Want a air horn wake up or will Blue Flames snoring keep you up?

Ach you should all be fine. I have a hotel room this year.:smt041:smt041

[andrewsmith]

Ach you should all be fine. I have a hotel room this year.:smt041:smt041
Poor hotel porter! How many people are in the hotel?

[SIII]

Spent the weekend at MacDonald Hotel and Just a word of warning - THE MIDGIES ARE FREEKIN BRUTAL :smt066

If you thought the midgies at the AR were a wee bit annoying, just wait till you get to Kinlochleven. I can guarantee you will not be able to stand outside for more than 5 minutes without wanting to rip your face off.

Luckily there is a good bar :cool:

Bring a midge net. If you are camping you will not survive without, if you suufer from the bites - bring some gloves. i will be taking my biking undergloves. Any midgie repellant will help, but not for long and will just put them off a wee bit, but you will still get bitten. Lots.

[carelesschucca]

I WAS TRYING TO KEEP THIS A SECRET!

Yes folks the wee blighters are friendly in Kinlochleven. All the more reason to stay in the bar :D

[andrewsmith]

So SIII they're like the AR, but have been on the steroids?

[sputnik]

Gee, thanks SIII! No surprises but I'd been trying not to think about it til now. Just reading your post resulted in an evening of puffy feeling eyes and uncontrollable scratching.

The bulk skinsosoft and ludicrous head net order should have arrived before then. Last two Applecross weekends have resulted in partial blinding through an eyelid bite and an inside of mouth bite that looked like I was chewing a gobstopper. Who knows what horrors this year might bring. As for last year's petrol stop between applecross and Ullapool... I still have nightmares!

[Littlepeahead]

I read somewhere that if you have a big hairy man slather you all over in honey and KY jelly this stops them biting. But only if someone films it and posts the footage on YouTube.

[carelesschucca]

if you make the effort to come up and film it I'll do it...

[SIII]

Do not be outside once the sun has gone down !!!

Just remember - it's only the females that bite !!!

These are zombie - vampire midge's on steroids !!!

[littleoldman2]

if you make the effort to come up and film it I'll do it...

Who to ?.

[carelesschucca]

the person who wants stupid films put on YouTube.

don't worry I'm pretty sure LPH has something on that weekend so your all safe...

[andrewsmith]

the person who wants stupid films put on YouTube.

don't worry I'm pretty sure LPH has something on that weekend so your all safe...

ahem

You know what we're doing on the Friday morning

[SvNewbie]

After the sun has gone down? The little buggers were driving me mad while strapping my panniers to the bike at 10.30am.

[munkygunn182]

Genuinely tempted by attending this...

[carelesschucca]

Do it son Do it. Try and get the extra days off and come to Applecross too... It'll be a great long weekend...

[munkygunn182]

My annual leave is already speeeenked I'm afraid, so it would be the shorter edition for me. Still very tempted though...even if it does mean turning up on a bmw...

[littleoldman2]

Don't let that worry ya, I'll also most likely be on a beemer.

[munkygunn182]

Aye, go on then.

Sent from an alternative dimension by means of a hand held electronic device.

[andrewsmith]

Don't let that worry ya, I'll also most likely be on a beemer.

You will be!! Can you imagine your better half on the back of the SV

[carelesschucca]

There's not going to be that many SVs there. so don't worry about coming on something else.

[munkygunn182]

Cool. I'll confirm later on

Sent from an alternative dimension by means of a hand held electronic device.

[sputnik]

There's not going to be that many SVs there. so don't worry about coming on something else.

WTF?? I thought this was a strictly SVs only event? Just like usual... :roll:

[andrewsmith]

WTF?? I thought this was a strictly Triumph only event? Just like usual... :roll:

Corrected for you ;)

[dizzyblonde]

WTF?? I thought this was a strictly SVs only event? Just like usual... :roll:


My SV will be there in spirit, does that count?




I do believe I have one somewhere in the LouShed :smurfin:

[carelesschucca]

Kinda Lou. I'm sure there will be plenty of SVs there in spirit and plenty of people drinking spirit's so its all good, ar the midges.

[AJC]

Who knows what horrors this year might bring. As for last year's petrol stop between applecross and Ullapool... I still have nightmares!

Oh dear god I had somehow forgotten about that, felt like i had actually given blood... twice. All in the time it took to fill up my bike!

Aye, go on then.


You wont regret it! P.s Irvine beach on your avatar pic?

[munkygunn182]

You wont regret it! P.s Irvine beach on your avatar pic?

Aye lad. Hogmanay 2012 I believe. Looks like I'll be attending then...

[munkygunn182]

Booked. Too late for a t-shirt, but I'll live.

[punyXpress]

So that's 33 of us praying for an early hard frost to freeze the little feckers.

[carelesschucca]

I prayed for a hurricane to blow the ferkers away. As usual it bloody well miss us... Not to worry it seemed to get England instead so its still a result, and Aberdeen. double win ;)

The midgies will be fine the fed on Ron over the weekend they'll be docile for us...

[Bibio]

dont worry as long as i can remember the week up to and the day of my birthday is ALWAYS blowing a gale and ****ing down. now please tell me why the end of August was a good idea?

[carelesschucca]

it was the best of the three options I was given and it was the one that gave me the most time to think and panic...

On the plus side I've just spent my lunch on Google Maps and I'm guestimating that for the fives days I'll be out on the bike I should get about 1,000 miles under my belt. Not that much really but it'll be good...

[SIII]

The bar and accommodation and especially the loop are all brilliant. The midges are annoying, but won't spoil anything.

Will be a cracker of a weekend as they always are. Be my 4th in a row.

Happy Days.

[TicklinJock]

The local radio mentioned there's a chance of overnight frost this weekend. :-)

[carelesschucca]

The MacDonald Hotel now has BT Sports. Anyone fancy staying on and watching the MotoGP before we head up to Applecross?

[EssexDave]

Moto GP? Sure why not!

[andrewsmith]

Or 3 laps of the loop

sent with the power of thought, through the medium of magic marker

[carelesschucca]

Couple of laps first then a final dash once we all believe we're as good as Marc Marquez. What could possibly go wrong?

[Blue Flame]

It's a fair trek to the campsite so depends on time I suppose

[JamesMio]

If I may, I'll just leave this here by way of a little appetite whetter..

http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1241/405/original.jpg

"Just had a brilliant weekend here.

We were booked in at another campsite and were let down at short notice! In stepped the team at MotoGoLoco & Mark at MacDonald Hotel. Mark managed to sort out space for all 10 of us on the campsite and saved our weekend away. We rolled up early evening and Mark was waiting for us with a pile of sidestand pucks ready, can't get better reception than that.

Set up camp on the campsite and got ourselves into the bar a a very welcome 1st pint of the night. We then spent the next 7 hours in there drinking, eating and listening to the live band, who were very good and great entertainment for the evening.

Good simple food, just what you want after a long day in the saddle and a decent bar with a fine selection of beers & whiskies.

Breakfast was very busy but the staff on duty did a fantastic job and nobody had to wait a very long to be fed. Again the cooked breakfast was excellent and choice of cereals and loads of toast & tea. no complaints from any of us.

The organisation and arrangements were spot on. To get us in and sorted at such short notice and then looked after us brilliantly. Couldn't ask for more especially at the price for the nights camping. Thanks to all at MacDonald Hotel. even the kitchen staff were happy to come out and take our group photo for us, before we left !

We will be back, already getting asked to arrange another run up!"

Ron, Galloway Gremlins

MacDonald Hotel, Kinlochleven (http://www.motogoloco.com/macdonald-hotel-and-cabins-ac-47-a-81)

See you lot next weekend ;)

[carelesschucca]

Has Mark got about 30 odd sidestand pucks?

I'm really hoping he's managed to get his bike fixed so he can come out and enjoy the great ride and weather*. I'm almost getting excited about this weekend. Bring it on guys, I can't wait to meet you all on the Friday night. Be it in the bar or playing on The Loop (not in that order)

*yeah I ordered the weather. Andysmith said he was bringing it with him. Blame him if he forgets to pack it.

[dizzyblonde]

If I may, I'll just leave this here by way of a little appetite whetter..

http://a.disquscdn.com/uploads/mediaembed/images/1241/405/original.jpg

;)


Is that Baron Von Grumble at the back in his lid? :jocolor:

Got the NAFOFF wristbands. Going to order the Citronella burning smoke coils tomorrow(10 in a tin, 6 hours each). Skin so soft in the cupboard. Those midges are toast....well that is if Andy brings a blowtorch and a some inflammable type aerosol :p

[SIII]

Your a cheeky bugger MIO !!!

[JamesMio]

;)

[dizzyblonde]

This time next week

:smt026:smt026:smt026

[Bibio]

hopefully thats me watertight :-)

boots and gloves cleaned and re-proofed using Nikwax products. i'll still be wearing my gore-tex boot liners though as i know they work.

[andrewsmith]

So your expecting a monsoon

Sent from my D2303 using Tapatalk

[Bibio]

Thursday is to be monsoon weather :-(

[haggis]

We are spending three days in and around the rainfall capital of Britain, followed by two nights in the northwest, also known for its occasional downpours.... but I'm packing factor30 and applying nikwax to the relevant areas. Cover all possibilities. :-)

It's been hit and miss with the weather this week here, but generally ok. I think we will be unlucky to experience a total washout.

[Blue Flame]

Dean ordered the good weather so I don't know why you bothered with all of that Bibs

[carelesschucca]

Dean ordered the good weather so I don't know why you bothered with all of that Bibs

It's down to andrewsmith to deliver so I'm worried you know what hes like.

Now Smith ain't god its being delivered to his place and he's bringing it with him. He better not forget it.

[Blue Flame]

It's down to andrewsmith to deliver so I'm worried you know what hes like.

Now Smith ain't god its being delivered to his place and he's bringing it with him. He better not forget it.

As organiser I would have thought that you would have picked a more reputable supplier. Andy will probably have got one of those fake cheap imports after meeting some shady guy in a pub. Extremely concerned now :(

[andrewsmith]

Yeah combat fred

sent with the power of thought, through the medium of magic marker

[sputnik]

Hmm. My BBC weather app would seem to suggest that either the BBC aren't aware of the good weather delivery plans, or else they have some knowledge of... er, supply chain weaknesses!

[TamSV]

Weather forecast is always wrong. A forecast of poor weather at this stage is a good thing. :)

[andrewsmith]

Well Grant says man down the pub...

It was actually a Welshman on a hill

sent with the power of thought, through the medium of magic marker

[davepreston]

please see KG's quote in sig


now I can confirm it shall be sunny and dry on my way into the bar and dark and dry on my way out
in-between aint my problem


DP

[sputnik]

Sir, I salute your indefatigibility! And really, who cares much anyhoo? It's Scotland. There may be rain, there may be midges, there may be sun, there may well be all 3. There WILL be epic roads, there WILL be beer, there WILL be good craic and general tomfoolery. Happy days.

[Bibio]

all together now.. i dont care what the weatherman say when the weatherman says....

[dizzyblonde]

Everything is awesome :p

[carelesschucca]

Oh yeah only 120 minutes till I finish up for the weekend.

TIME TO START HAVING PANIC ATTACKS ;)

[AJC]

I am off already, relaxed as a Hindu cow haha...

[carelesschucca]

Ach I'm fine. Theres been no real panics in the last few years. It was always when I was leading other peoples routes.

S'all good. Looking forward to it.

[dizzyblonde]

Our weekend begins as soon as EssexDave rolls up at some point tomorrow.

:D

[andrewsmith]

and has a snoring contest?

You got building and content insurance?

[dizzyblonde]

and has a snoring contest?

You got building and content insurance?

I'm more concerned over Dave not minding Pete climbing on the sofa with him in the middle of the night. :smt082

[Fordward]

Have fun you lot and an extra beer for me! My clan are all heading south from Fife to invade my house this weekend, all 16 of them! That's why I can't make it, but I promise to try and keep the weekend free for GM 2015, it's been too long!

At least my old bike ST06 GRF will be in attendance courtesy of Munkygunn. Here's a few pic's of it at previous GM's

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Facebook/SVEcosse/10369107_10203317336067721_1414781120250812247_n.j pg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Facebook/SVEcosse/10371395_10203317327027495_476052011292609933_n.jp g

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Facebook/SVEcosse/10403282_10203317327227500_5140908265626926093_n.j pg

http://i227.photobucket.com/albums/dd82/colinbal4/Facebook/SVEcosse/10479187_10203317186063971_4710935114708894268_n.j pg

[munkygunn182]

Fordward - I'm afraid she will not. She was sold late last night to a new carer as I've not had her on the road since May.

I was meant to be attending on the new steed, but work have screwed me royally and it now looks like I'm doing an overnighter on Friday.

[EssexDave]

Wondering if I should start packing yet. Think I'm setting off around midday today...is it too early?

[appollo1]

It's persisting down with rain today on the east coast so anyone travelling up this way today ride safe

[EssexDave]

Will do!

[dizzyblonde]

It's not early enough!
Now get gone already, if you want to beat getting drenched here whilst realising your satnav has taken you to Lancashire instead!

[EssexDave]

Oh be gone with you. I'm going to get wet no matter when I leave! ;)

[Littlepeahead]

Essex Dave should have arranged to bring you some Essex weather!

(It's only not raining here because I bought a new set of waterproofs yesterday.)

http://tapatalk.imageshack.com/v2/14/08/28/81c24e0bcbf9301a3a44ae26e34be7eb.jpg

Anyway guys just to say have a superb weekend, ride safe, and we'll look forward to seeing some pics from your slightly more scenic roads come Monday :)

[Littlepeahead]

Hey guys it sounds like you did indeed have a memorable weekend, we got very lucky with the weather - I think I've actually managed to get a bit of sunburn on my nose when we stopped for ice creams.

On Saturday night while sat around the fire Red Herring was in shorts and we did say that this would have been a midge all you can eat buffet at GM.

Lou, Pete, Dave - We raised a glass to Dicky Ticker, an absent friend.

Now let's coordinate dates next year well in advance so a few more of us southern softies can join you and vice versa.

:)

[dizzyblonde]

Our absent friend was with us at the bottom of many spirits this weekend.
What most didn't know was, he had actually planned to be at the GM. He was bringing his bike in the truck. We were informed last month when we were in Essex.

I'm more than certain he would have approved of our shenanigans in his beloved homeland.... Especially getting lost, doing detours and the route that Chucca gave us.

[Littlepeahead]

I'm sure he would, and I'll bet he was up there somewhere looking down on you with a chuckle as you got lost/wet/hungover.

[Fordward]

What most didn't know was, he had actually planned to be at the GM. He was bringing his bike in the truck. We were informed last month when we were in Essex

Yeah, he planned that after last years Scotland trip on the Sprint ST as he found it pretty hard going.


Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

[punyXpress]

This:
A82 closed this morning, BEAR have Tweeted some pictures

https://twitter.com/NWTrunkRoads
. . would have slowed us down, but would have stopped the Panzer Harley brigade altogether!

[carelesschucca]

Talking GM's I have arranged with Macdonald Hotel that it'll be in the middle of August next year Details will be coming out shortly.

[andrewsmith]

Talking GM's I have arranged with Macdonald Hotel that it'll be in the middle of August next year Details will be coming out shortly.

That your a lumberjack and your okay???? ;)

http://youtu.be/sZa26_esLBE

sZa26_esLBE