weekend sortie to fort william

[Chad]

Can't make this either Chad - short notice, cannot rearrange commitments or get hols at short notice

Fort William is 4 hours from mine. If you are getting stuck or having difficulty on travel you could both stop over at mine Friday night and then head off dark no'clock saturday morning if you need to

See you next time, have a great one

nice to have a backup dude many thanks

[lowflyer]

Chad my man,

Might be able to crack on with you a bit of the way.
I have sent you a pm

[Wee Jack]

Jings, Crivens, help ma boab, I nearly missed this !!!

The "Hobbit Hotel" is always available as a bolt hole if your plans go tits-up, should you wish to stoop (quite literally) that low !!!!! You know where we are.

What time you planning to be around the Erskine Bridge on Friday ? a wee ambush could well be in order.

On your way home on Sunday - I'll be in Avuss from 12:00 if you fancy a coffee ??

Cracking weekend of weather has been ordered for you - bring yer long johns.

I'll give you a bell today.

[Chad]

Mate it will be great to see you again . I look forward to your call
if i don't answer it's cos I've got concrete flying round my earholes
I'll get back to yous hehee I love my iphone

[Paul-S]

nice to have a backup dude many thanks

Same goes for your return journey on the Sunday - I'm about 5 hours from your house

[RickSkye]

Looks like the weather is going to be good, which means I will have to do some work on the house, last good weekend we had, I went to the national, so if I took this weekend off, probable divorce, or worse, the silent treatment. I might risk divorce, but not the silent treatment.

Pop in for a coffee if you are over.

Have a good one

Rick

[Wee Jack]

The ambush is set.

13:00hrs - Friday 16th October 2009.
Venue -Erskine Bridge.

One wee fat baldie Scots bloke versus two big strappin Essex boys - they won't stand a chance.

Let the battle of Erskine Bridge begin.

[Steve T]

Well, 3 of the Highland clan managed to meet up with Chad & his chum this afternoon - myself, Africajim & Lowflyer. Met them at Tongue @ 4pm and rode down to Inverness via Ullapool chip shop. Great craic, superb weather (well, it was when it was day light - by the time we left Ullapool all light had disappeared from the sky ).
Chad and a few others will have loads of pictures to share with you all.

Looking forward to the ride report

[lowflyer]

As Steve says, cracking day, weather gods were good to us
I was actually thinking about turning back when my clutch cable started playing up on the way there,along with other little problems but thanks to Steve and Jim, managed to push on and it never really caused me any major grief for the rest of the day.
As usual, left my camera at work, and Steve forgot his, so we have to rely on Chad and Jim for any photos

The boys from the south did well, a fair old mileage to cover, but I think they enjoyed the wee bimble.

Big thanks to Steve for being my " eyes " on the way home, much appreciated
Maybe it's as well I never saw the deer

[africajim]

Well what can I say? I know some on this forum are hardcore but,,,,, GOOD GRIEF! Twisty, single track roads, over 100 miles in the dark and deer hazards (red deer are almost the size of cows!)
Started the morning with a call from Steve T confirming my service time so to organise meeting Lowflyer in Inverness. Following my 8000 mile service for the Vara we headed off. B road route to Inverness (dislike the A96) and met Lowflyer who had just had a front tyre fitted and had front brake issues! We then headed N.W for Lairg where en route Lowflyers clutch starts slipping, after a bit of cable adjusting we got it running again and on we went. Comms were established with Chad and arranged to meet at Tongue (I thought was a body part?) and off we headed.
We stopped on the causeway and while waiting for Chad we investigated the route to the beach but unfortunately the sand was too soft and as light was fading didn't fancy digging a Vara or @T out of the sand so no beach fun today!
Chad arrives and we head off. An amazing run was had to Durness then down Geoff's road,,,, sorry,,, Durness to Ullapool! One thing Geoff, no matter how often you travel that road it never fails to be stunning! We arrive at the food stop in Ullapool. A cracking fish supper was had which allowed darkness to fall properly which I find easier to ride, especially with the mighty Vara, NOTHING has lights like a Vara! We had noticed the "beasts" coming down off the hills on the way to Ullapool as dusk fell so no surprise to see them on the road home! A large hind came out in front of me about 20m away, on went ABS and disaster was averted! Thank you for my brakes Mr Honda! Three times Red deer were a problem coming down the road in the dark.
We parted company at Inverness to Chad, his mate and Lowflyer and myself and Steve T headed down the A96 homeward. Steve T led for a change and we had a merry "focussed" run down the A96 in the dark, we made "good progress!" I arrived home around 21.10, 1degree above freezing, cold and tired!
Up at 07.00, see Fiona off to work, service at Wullie Young mc's at 09.00, meet Steve T at 10.00 and return home at 21.10! A damned long hard day, 350 miles through God's country with good company, an adventure was had! Just what the bikes were made for, what more could you ask?

Here's some pics to make all jealous!

Firstly the breakdown sorry LF! Steve T, threatening to punch it won't work!



Heavy metal on the beach (almost)!



This is the Atlantic! The top of Scotland



That's a mighty fine Varadero!



Group shot at dusk



A great day, and night, was had, thanks to all who made this possible, Chad for instigating it, Steve T for calling to invite me along and everyone else for making it a great run. Roll on Chads return and we'll see his stunning pics.