Thoughts of Scotland.

Right... After the GMII i decided that i just had to get back to Scotland and see(and ride) more of that country... I have not hidden my desire to ride across Europe but after the GM thats been put back.. untill i can atlease say i have seem plenty of what our own island has to offer.

I am thinking of maybe a 5 day trip and going all the way to the top. I have two questions to ask you...

1. For them that stayed on after the GMII and did a bit of touring... What do you have to say about the whole experience... Do's and dont's etc???

2. For those of you that didnt go the GM or did and wished you would have stayed a bit longer.... Would you consider a trip of this type as a bit of a group ride?? Should my plans come to fruition?


Cheers


Dave

[SoulKiss]

Originally Posted by DaveP

Right... After the GMII i decided that i just had to get back to Scotland and see(and ride) more of that country... I have not hidden my desire to ride across Europe but after the GM thats been put back.. untill i can atlease say i have seem plenty of what our own island has to offer.

I am thinking of maybe a 5 day trip and going all the way to the top. I have two questions to ask you...

1. For them that stayed on after the GMII and did a bit of touring... What do you have to say about the whole experience... Do's and dont's etc???

2. For those of you that didnt go the GM or did and wished you would have stayed a bit longer.... Would you consider a trip of this type as a bit of a group ride?? Should my plans come to fruition?

Cheers


Dave

I am planning on heading up to Aberdeenshire on the 4th September - and as I have to go pretty much past your door, if you want some company getting north of the border then let me know.

You can drop off where ever you want, we would go pretty much to Glasgow, close enough to Edinburgh or I could even deliver you into Spearieland, where I am sure Sally and co could show you/advise you on where to go and what to do, it also puts you in a good place for your "trip to the top"

Let me know if its of any use to you.

[Luckypants]

My thoughts FWIW

1) DO's

• Make sure you know where the petrol stations are in the far north and when they close.
• Check bike and tyres will do your proposed mileage. No good running out of tread halfway through the trip.
• Choose a campsite you would be happy to stay at for a few days. Most of the North is accessible as day rides if you choose carefully. This will avoid the hassle of luggage all the time, pitching / striking camp daily.
• Be prepared for 300 mile days.
• stop often to enjoy your surroundings
• take lots of photos
• research some of the historical sites, this will give a far deeper appreciation of what you are visiting / looking at.
• check with the Ecosse crowd for good roads. The route recommended to me from Tyndrum to Inverness was WAY better than the one I had planned.

DON'TS

• Skimp on stops for water, pees etc
• **** off the locals
• miss any ferries
• Crash

Would I be interested in a group ride? Quite possibly, but it would have to be a small group. Riding with Puny and Amarko was great and maybe two more bikes would be OK. Also will depend on when for me, next year I am definitely going back to Europe so will need to fit around that.

Dave my time on here is limited as my son will soon found out that i`ve knicked his laptop! Would agree with all that luckypants says and would add that you have to do this. Some of the sights I saw took my breath away. I`ll email you the routes I did once i can get back online properly. My one regret is that I didn`t do Applecross so that will have to be a must for you along with Gairloch and Loch Carron.

If you need any help deciding on roads, want advice, a floor to crash on..

Just put a post up in SV Ecosse.

Sure you'll get plently of responses.

Sally.

Yeah, I was surprised so many people headed South so early on. Thought more people would have stayed on after last year although more did than the previous year.

Too little time, so many excellent roads.

[punyXpress]

[QUOTE=DaveP;2003001]Right... After the GMII i decided that i just had to get back to Scotland and see(and ride) more of that country... I have not hidden my desire to ride across Europe but after the GM thats been put back.. untill i can atlease say i have seem plenty of what our own island has to offer.

I am thinking of maybe a 5 day trip and going all the way to the top. I have two questions to ask you...

1. For them that stayed on after the GMII and did a bit of touring... What do you have to say about the whole experience... Do's and dont's etc???

DO it!
as Luckypants said - I enjoyed the week & want to repeat it again & again.
Over 2000 miles including GMII
Enjoy it!

[Luckypants]

Any more thoughts on this Dave? I'll be at the Farmers if you want to chat about it.

Very much thinking about this.... got the much needed letter from the soliciter this morning so it could become a huge reality for the end of sept/beginning of October as i hoped.... I wonder when its starts to get really cold up there.... Dont want any ice and snow!!

Dave

Slight teaser.....

Day two... First draught....


Dave