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We started on Saturday which was a little early than expected but our babysitter had mini M on Friday night instead.
We headed up the M4, M50, M5 and then M6 towards Carlisle. We had some really heavy rain all day and even my waterproof boots got very wet. My feet were sloshing and squelching. Uckkk
We got off the motorway at Gretna then headed over to Dumfries on the A75 which is where we planned on stopping for the night. Unfortunately every where we stopped at had no room, although Mr M was supicious that it was because we were in bike gear as a couple of places didn’t even look at their bookings as soon as we walked through the door just said no rooms.
Wet and miserable we carried on, I was a little grumpy at the prospect of having to camp out as all of my kit had now leaked and even my leathers under my waterproofs were wet. We headed up the A712 which I knew was a fabulous road but the rain was now even heavier and it was getting dark so the riding was not enjoyable. We turned onto the A713 and into new Galloway, One last ditch attempt I went into a small guest house / pub and was so chuffed when they said there were rooms free.
The staff were really friendly and asked if we wanted food before the kitchen closed (which was 10 minutes early) they showed us our room then when we went back downstairs produced the best steak and ale pie with lovely crispy chips and a pint of Abbott Ale. Fed and Watered we settled down to sleep straight away.
The next morning it was a little cloudy but only some light intermittent drizel we had one of the best Scottish breakfasts, packed our bikes and headed off.
Our route took us towards Ayr, then over to Gourock on the A78. We jumped on the ferry over to Dunoon
Off the ferry we got onto the A 815 to Inveraray tehn onto the A85. The GPS took us up a little gravely road which was stunning
We stopped in Glen Coe sky lodge for a cuppa and warm
We got back onto the A85 then headed up to Fort William and then over towards the A 87 and to the Eileen Dunan castle. This has got to be some of the best riding road I have every ridden.
From here we continued onto Ullapool where we stopped for the night in the most expensive and tacky B and B.
The next morning we were to tackle the North coast then head down to Pitlochery.
The weather this day was really changeable, started really mild then as we crossed the east coast the wind picked up, then the rain started and as we headed back down country it began to brighten up again.
We stayed in the nicest hotel in pitlochery, a bit pricey but very posh and the meal in the night was fantastic.
The next day we continued back down south on the A9 then onto the M56 into the Lake district. Up until this point I had really enjoyed the riding, but the riding in the Lakes was not what I expected. We have friends who live inn Grizdale forest but thought we would do a few of the passes before we got there. We started out with Kirkstone pass which wasn’t too bad
Then we went over to Hardknott pass, which is where I lost it. Stunning area but the roads were really difficult to ride and half way down just after the third hairpin a car decided that even though a passing point was just behind his rear wheel he wasn’t going to allow me to pass. He expected me to push the bike back up hill which obviously wasn’t happening, then forced me over to the side of the road where there was a big drop to my left. He squeezed passed regardless and it is the first time ever I have cried because of being a motorcyclist. It wasn’t just bikes though he made the car behind reverse uphill.
When I got to the bottom where Mr M was waiting I told him that I would never ride that road again.
We had a fairly good ride to Grizzdale and spent a lovely evening with our friends.
The route home the following morning was mainly motorways.
We have had a fantastic week and ridden some of the most challenging and exciting roads.
Not sure where next !!!!!!
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Originally Posted by Cabby
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