(Saturday 18th April 2015)
My “wee” brother and I went on another trip. He has sold his Hyosung GV250 and bought a scooter!! Some Kawasaki job. I think this is it – “Brave New World An innovative urban transport solution, the J300 seamlessly blends sport, control, comfort and convenience, and wraps it all in a distinctive design that makes it instantly recognisable as a Kawasaki. The result is a package that will appeal to sports-minded riders looking for daily dose of fun from their commute.“
My,oh my, old age is a bad thing! How the mighty fall! But, I have to confess, I have been repairing a Chinese scooter, which may get an MOT this year. Watch this space. I have to say that it was more than capable and more than reliable! We waited, or should I say, I waited till the forecast was good. I hate getting wet on motor bike trips so I just don’t go if the forecast is bad. We got a wonderful day.
Bill came down from Dornoch just after 10.00. We left just after 10.20. The day was warming a little and we headed by the Old Evanton Road to Dingwall arriving at Tesco about 10.40. We went in to get the nutritious food needed to sustain us for the day – pork pies and banana milk. There is nothing like them. I don’t know does Bill feel the same but he likes to follow his wise older brother. And I am so wise now having hit that awful 60! I’m just so old. Bill filled up with petrol. It’s far cheaper than last year.
We got away about 11.05 heading to Strathpeffer, Garve and followed the Ullapool road. We stopped by Loch Glascarnoch to take photos. It was so still. What a wonderful country we have.





A little bit further along we branched onto the Gairloch road and stopped at the car park for the Corrieshalloch Gorge. They now charge you to park! What are we coming to. Whether we paid or not is another story. We walked to the gorge and took photos. It was a bit of a climb back with our gear on. Got just a little warmed up.





And here is a selfie of two old men.















It was then the lovely run along beside Loch Marie to Kinlochewe. We stopped beside Loch Marie to get a photo of Slioch.







I had to stop at Kinlochewe for petrol. We reached here just after 4.00. The custom tank has a poor range – about 140 miles. I have bought a very expensive rusty old tank from the States. It cost $20. Then I had to spend about £70 on carriage and about £25 on customs charges. It needs done up yet.
There was a whole lot of sports cars belting along these roads at suicide speeds. We just let them pass but kept coming across them. We even saw one broken down so its not just old Yamahas. After Kinlochewe we went onto the Torridon road, through Glen Torridon. This is spectacular. We had to get photos of Liathach and Beinn Eighe.







Saggy Breeks has new trousers. They still seem a bit saggy. I think its just me – I can’t carry off the wearing of clothes to look cool! Bill can. He was always the smooth well dressed brother, from when he was a wee boy.
Just beyond Shieldaig you branch onto the single track road to Applecros. This is an amazing road for bikes. Bill went ahead. He is a much better driver than I am and he made some speed. I could not have gone as fast on my own into blind bends. He reads the road and reacts. I was able to hang onto his tail. We stopped to get the stunning views out to Skye.





We stopped at 5.50 on the top for a sandwich and something to eat. There were a couple who had done it on a push bike. We passed them going up. Bill took a photo for them. My advice was to do it with a bike with an engine. The views out to Skye and it’s satellite islands was stunning. I think we are seeing the island of Rum to the left just over the edge of Skye. It must be Scalpay in front of Skye and to it’s right Raasay. Quite a view!







We stopped in Lochcarron at 6.35 hoping for chips but no joy. We got petrol out of the strangest automated pump. I could have made it back bit its better to be safe. Good to have full tanks. And we got a loo near the war memorial. Left at 7.05.





It was then onto Achnasheen by Achnashellach. There is a little single track road left but then it becomes double track and is really a fast road. It was getting cold. The old Yamaha kept misfiring and losing power but I kept her going. We stopped beyond Achnaseen in a spot of sunlight but the sun was going and by the time we left we were in shadow.



I really wanted to get my pile of junk, or my motorbike home. It was getting rougher and rougher. We got to Garve, then onto Contin and Strathpeffer. Finally arriving in Dingwall about 8.15 it conked out once again. Right at the top of the High Street. I had to push it onto the pavement. How humiliating. We got a poke of chips and let the Yamaha cool. Good to break down across from a chip shop.


Another great day spoiled by the unreliability of my 34 year old bike. But deep down I love it. Bill’s scooter did this with no complaint and no effort. I drove it for a short while between Loch Glascarnoch and the Rogie Falls. How can a single cylinder 300 cc engine produce so much power? It was most comfortable as well. But even doing most of the driving on the Yamaha I had no saddle soreness. Must try and put effort in to get it running properly. Home at 8.55. 230 miles. Bill did a good bit more.