A scooter trip with Billy to Loch Laggan taking in some back roads (228 miles).
Billy and I haven’t done a trip for some time. This was a wonderful day.
Billy came down to our place round about 10.45 and we headed over the Black Isle to Inverness. We went to Tesco at Inshes and purchased our eating for the day. The usual rubbish. We went up to Dunlichity and then by Farr to Slochd. We stopped at pretty much the highest point on the amazing road between Farr and Findhorn Bridge which I now know is called Glen Kyllachie. The weather was cool with fog all around. We had lunch here and got devoured by midgies. The height is 1503 feet above sea level, higher than Sloch summit which we would go over later on joining the A9.
We headed by Findhorn Bridge to Slochd and onto the busy A9. A couple of miles after that we went on to the small road to Carrbridge. We had swapped bikes so Billy was using my Satnav but couldn’t hear the instructions. We missed the way up Glen Feshie and ended back at Carrbridge! So we instead we followed the old A9 to Newtonmore stopping at Aviemore for petrol. At Newtonmore we went onto the Laggan road. This is us stopped at Laggan. The day had changed now and was roasting hot so we got all excess clothes off. Billy is obsessed with sunburn and covered himself with all sorts of oils and unguents to ward off the UV rays from the sun. He carries a cap with him to help in his battle with the radiance from the sun. We had something to eat and drink. Warm banana milk!
You are my sunshine, my only sunshine
You make me happy when skies are gray
You’ll never know dear, how much I love you
Please don’t take my sunshine away
We headed down by Loch Laggan and stopped for reasons of nature.
We came by Spean Bridge and stopped before the command memorial for a break. The monument is normally mobbed and I wanted to avoid people. When we got to it, it was pretty quiet.
We headed by Loch Lochy (that is some name for a loch) to Laggan (there are many Laggans) and then Invergarry. At Invergarry we headed left on a loop by Loch Garry, Loch Loyne and Loch Cluanie before heading back and coming out at Invermoriston by Loch Ness. It is the Kyle road.
We got to Drumnadrochit and it was so sad – our chip shop of many adventures had closed down. So we headed over the Culnakirk to Kiltarlity and then Beauly. At Beauly we got chip suppers at the Friary.
A Scotch pie and chips. A meal for a king. We sat on a seat outside the priory to eat it. Of course a can of Coke helps it on its way.
How did I end up paying for my bro’s drink. Life treats him well.
We got chatting to a lady and her brother who were watering plants. Good hearted community people. She told us to have a look at the monk – so we did.
We then came with Bill leading on swapped bikes across the Black Isle to Dingwall and onto the Old Evanton road. We came onto the Struie road and up to Altnamain where we usually part – at the start of the windfarm. It was pretty cold by now.
What a great day. As I’ve said on this website before I don’t like scooters as such but they do the job so well. I love motor-bikes but they are not nearly so comfortable. Watch this space!