Orkney 2009

Sunday 3rd May - It's just like mid winter

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8.30 Sunday morning and an excellent fried breakfast was enjoyed, only five more to go!

N56 42 06.3 W3 43 49.3 (map)

09.10 Full of warming breakfast (and we'll be needing it today) we'll soon be on our way. It's a cool 10c and the forecast is rain at some point, but at least the sun's shining for now.

N56 42 06.3 W3 43 49.3 (map)

09.52 On the road we've just passed Loch Garry on the A9, but we've had to stop to put on extra layers, it's perishing cold, the temperature's dropped to 7.3c. This picture makes it look mid winter and that's exactly how it felt!

N56 50 23.9 W4 14 05.1 (map)

10.15 Further down the road we got split up a little in the traffic so I pulled over to regroup, this looked a fun place to stop and while we were waiting, sure enough, heads popped up in the camera van to see what we were doing LOL. 

N57 03 34.7 W4 05 29.4 (map)

11.11 Eventually the rain and cold chased us off the A9 and in to Inverness to find someplace warm and dry. I had no idea where I was going and hate taking a group of bikers in to a city at the best of times. But we got lucky when I spotted the local Morrison's supermarket and its cafe. Naturally, one of the gang got left behind in the traffic but on instinct alone he managed to follow us in to Morrisons. We even managed to park the bikes under cover, success all-round I'd say.

N57 28 50.7 W4 13 09.2 (map)

12.25 When we came out again over an hour later (thoroughly warmed up) we found another band of Yorkshire bikers getting ready to go. Seems one of them was one of the riders Dave and I had seen stopped on the A1 the previous day, daren't say here what speed he was doing, but I'd be rather worried if it it was me.

N57 28 50.7 W4 13 09.2 (map)

13.44 So we continued North finally arriving in Golspie and the Blar Mhor guest house at a rather early 13.44. The owners sorted out our rooms then suggested we ride back a few miles as there was a bike 'do' taking place a few miles back in Poles. We'd missed it taking a none too scenic diversion off the main road, so back we went.

N57 58 18.3 W3 59 27.0 (map)

14:45 We rolled in and found the place near deserted, just a pub, an empty marquee and a few tents, we'd missed it. We had a natter with some local bikers then went in the bar for drinks. We asked the barman for coffee, but it seemed they didn't have hot water, not even a kettle LOL! It was coke or beer, I had a can of coke while we hatched cunning plan No2... which seemed to involve lots of texting...

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15.20 Cunning plan No2 was to ride a loop via Lairg to pass on an hour or so. On the route round we passed what seemed to be a ruined castle, there's lots of these around Scotland, but after doing a little research on the net' its not a castle, its actually the ruin of Spinningdale Cotton Mill which burn down in 1804, I'm surprised it's still standing after all this time but it does look like it had been quite solidly built.

N57 52 27.8 W4 14 09.3 (map) But you'll get a much better view from around this point N57 52 25.8 W4 12 08.2 (map)

Near Lairg I managed to cadge a ride on Dave's Gilera GP800 for the ride back to Golspie. At first it wouldn't start, Dave said you have to pull in the rear brake lever first Doh!  Press, vroom vroom, off we go... 839cc Vtwin, no gears, no clutch, speed just builds without any of that gear changing malarkey, It's quite a revelation. When a bend comes up, you just ease off the throttle and engine breaking comes in seamlessly, as you go in to the bend you open it up again and the bike sails around in the perfect gear ratio for that corner. Its totally smooth what ever you do, makes me wonder why we bother with gears at all. The only thing I did notice was wind noise, I just hadn't realised just how well I'm protected by the fairing and screen on my own machine.

16.23 And we're back at the Blar Mhor B&B. I reluctantly handed back the keys to Dave's Gilera, then even more reluctantly try to take my helmet off, its very painful now like someone sticking a knife in my ear, no earplugs for me tomorrow, that's for certain.

N57 58 18.3 W3 59 27.0 (map)

16.30 Means it's playtime, Dave checked his tyre pressures after he'd had reports of the rear tyre looking flat, but it was fine so maybe it was just me sitting on it...

N57 58 18.3 W3 59 27.0 (map)

Gee lubed his chain and the others ransacked mine and David's boxes looking for treasure.

N57 58 18.3 W3 59 27.0 (map)

Quite a bit later we took a walk in to town looking for dinner. I think the owners may have recommend the Caberfeidh Hotel, we looked in briefly and decided to walk a little further. Just around the corner at the end of the village we found the Ben Bhraggie Hotel which looked very inviting.

N57 58 34.7 W3 57 56.7 (map)

19.21 The Ben Bhraggie local characters who kept us so entertained, thanks guys!

N57 58 34.7 W3 57 56.7 (map)

20.42 Our host (a really lovely lady) made us a meal to be proud of (home made chips even!). If all the hospitality and food we get on this this trip is as good as this, well be well chuffed!

N57 58 34.7 W3 57 56.7 (map)

A little later we wandered back and dropped in the Caberfeidh Hotel as we passed (N57 58 25.5 W3 58 30.6 (map) ) It seemed more like a working mans club than a pub to me and I didn't feel inclined to get the camera out to take pictures. The local retired police officer came over and introduced himself which was very nice, apologised for one of the locals behaviour, then later bizarrely suggested we may have 'borrowed' the poor guys walking stick??? A little later it was found with the girls in the corner where it had always been so honour was rightfully restored.

From the Caberfeidh Hotel we walked back to the B&B, just so you know, its a mile from the Blar Mohr B&B to the Ben Bhraggie Hotel, but you can drop in the Caberfeidh Hotel if you really must, that's around halfway.

Back at the B&B Zebedee said it was time for bed because tomorrow its ferry & Orkney!

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Today's tracklog and waypoints in Garmin .gdb format

Today's route in yellow including the loop via Lairg 191 miles.

Today's temperature graph, you can see how cold it got for the first part of the ride.

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