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Skyeline, Keeping Calmac Afloat And The Periodic Table


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#1 James

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Posted 13 May 2017 - 02:25 pm

March 31st 2017 and Scot-trip regulars Mike (Tiger Explorer) and George (Guzzi Stornello) rode over to my place for a four day trip north of the border. After our last two trips, I'd convinced them that there was good riding further north of Fort William :). After a spot of lunch we made our way north to Inveranan using the most direct route because it was blooming' cold (and we've turned into wimps staying in hotels rather than camping out :D )

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After a few beers and a good night's sleep in a chalet at Beinglas campsite we headed north to Skye with a quick side trip to Drumnadrochit for a bit of Loch Ness Monster spotting...

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Urquhart Castle, the locale of the most famous Nessie image ... 'The Surgeon's Picture'

With no monster apparent we left without paying the exorbitant cost of entry to the Castle and grounds. The brilliant A887/A87 got us over to Kyle of Lochalsh, over the sea to Skye (there's a song there somewhere) and up to our next accommodation at the Sligachan Hotel - highly recommended!

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Portree, Isle of Skye

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The view from the Sligachan Hotel. The Red Cullin on the left and the north end of the Black Cullin on the right.

After a few minutes wait with a beer in hand, the light gets more interesting...
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Next day...

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...started with ride-by at the Talisker Distillery, Carbost. I don't really drink anymore but if I'm forced into a 'wee dram' the smokey, peaty 18yr old Talisker on the rocks is my tipple of choice.

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As we had a lap of Skye in mind we had no time for a Distillery tour, and without Graeme's (Bonneville 1200) SatNav we had to rely on a good old paper map...

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From Carbost up to Dunvegan...

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Dunvegan Castle

... across to Portree via Edinbane (great campsite there BTW) and down to Armadale ferry terminal...

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... where, after a short wait with a posse of bikers from Inverness, the sun came out and we boarded the ferry to Mallaig ...

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Armadale > Mallaig Ferry. Thank you CalMac #1

We'd planned to top up the tanks in Mallaig but, being Sunday on the west coast of Scotland, the fuel station had closed at lunchtime. Now, I know I've got a good 200 miles plus in the tank before the TDM goes into countdown mode (so, another 50 miles at least), but Mike and George weren't quite as certain of their range.

We knew we could get fuel at Fort William but decided to take the longer scenic route down through Salen and Strontian and experience the Corran Ferry. We made it. Just. Both the Triumph and the Guzzi were in minus figures on their respective countdowns by the time we got to the ferry.


Side note #1. The element Strontium (Sr, atomic number 32) is named after the village of Strontian we'd just ridden through (where there was fuel! (and a great campsite btw)) - see https://en.m.wikiped.../wiki/Strontium

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Corran Ferry. Thank you CalMac #2

Happily we were able to get fuel a couple of miles south of the ferry and enjoyed fast, flowing roads all the way down to our last hotel at Inveraray.

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Ballachulish Bridge

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The Inveraray Inn was home for the night and after a leisurely amble around downtown Inveraray (a 10 minute time investment) we retired to the hotel for beers and food. To finish off a perfect day's riding, Graeme pulled the trigger on the last cheese-board of the trip.

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Side note #2. The Clyde Puffer, Vital Spark, moored at Inveraray, is the star of the Para Handy books by Neil Munroe written in the 1930's - see https://en.wikipedia...wiki/Para_Handy
It was originally named VIC72 but was renamed (and later reregistered) for the making of a TV series 'The Tales of Para Handy' in the 1990's. Munroe was born in Inveraray.

Here ends this RR. The following day we all made our way south in the normal deflated mood that means a great trip is coming to an end.

Edited by Jim, 13 May 2017 - 04:26 pm.

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#2 Studley Ramrod

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Posted 13 May 2017 - 02:58 pm

Thanks for sharin' Jim. :good:


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#3 Andy25

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Posted 13 May 2017 - 09:08 pm

Great pics and write up Jim
You do realize that you will have to go back to Skye as you missed
A fair bit of the island ,

There simply is nothing more stunning than Skye when the weather
is right .













Getting

Edited by Andy25, 13 May 2017 - 09:11 pm.


#4 James

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Posted 13 May 2017 - 10:34 pm

Thanks for sharin' Jim. :good:

 

My pleasure :)

 

Great pics and write up Jim
You do realize that you will have to go back to Skye as you missed
A fair bit of the island ,
There simply is nothing more stunning than Skye when the weather
is right .


I don't need any excuse to go back to Skye Andy :) I've been going up there for over 30 years and I guess there still are a few parts of the island I haven't seen yet. I've never driven a car on Skye, only been up there by bike, even when I was going hiking or climbing and I've never had anything like bad weather! I think that's probably a jinks on my next trip :)

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#5 Catteeclan

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Posted 16 May 2017 - 05:53 am

:good: Great report.


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#6 Quartermaster

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Posted 16 May 2017 - 07:15 am

Enjoyed the report very much and terrific pictures Jim. What camera do you use?


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#7 Bjørge

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Posted 16 May 2017 - 01:13 pm

Beuatiful pictures! Got more arguments for taking a trip to Britain.... :)

Just gotta go there some day !


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#8 James

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Posted 16 May 2017 - 10:20 pm

Enjoyed the report very much and terrific pictures Jim. What camera do you use?


These were all taken on either an iPhone 5s (for example, all the panoramas) or a Canon SX610 point and shoot. It's just whatever came to hand first to be honest.

Beuatiful pictures! Got more arguments for taking a trip to Britain.... :)
Just gotta go there some day !


Ha! I'm planning a trip that'll end up in Norway next year. I guess it's a case of 'the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence' ;)

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#9 Studley Ramrod

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Posted 17 May 2017 - 09:23 am

Just been reading a ride report of a guy who winged it up to Nordkapp.  Think you might need yer thermals regardless of the time of year Jim. He had 6 layers and a heated jacket and was still freezing.  :lol:

 

http://www.ukgser.co...to-the-Nordkapp


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#10 James

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Posted 17 May 2017 - 05:01 pm

Just been reading a ride report of a guy who winged it up to Nordkapp.  Think you might need yer thermals regardless of the time of year Jim. He had 6 layers and a heated jacket and was still freezing.  :lol:
 
http://www.ukgser.co...to-the-Nordkapp


Oh yes, I'll be prepared ;)

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