I met Ranger at the Balloch roundabout, after spending a bit of time bodging a repair to my panniers. The clips were turning themselves round and threatening to drop off. The last thing I needed was to have my luggage bouncing along the road behind me. I used a length of windscreen wiper blade I had found lying by the side of the road. It lasted the whole weekend and will probably do for the next time if I can't find something more permanent.
The rest of the group arrived about 30 minutes later and we joined in behind. At that point there were around fifteen bikes. More joined later in the weekend.
We all stuck more or less together until we reached Tyndrum. After that things became a bit strung out along the way.
You've either got go off at your own speed, or everyone has to stick together and all ride at the pace of the slowest. That means overtaking when everyone can or not at all. As someone pointed out later, if the front rider is doing a steady sixty then the ones towards the rear will need to be doing eighty to keep up. Having started off at the end, I concur with this. You're always trying to catch up and this can mean overtaking when really you shouldn't.
Anyway, we all made it to Gairloch with a few incidents but no accidents.
Once there it was time to get tents pitched and then I started to get to know all the guys, their wives and families. Real good bunch they are too.
Gairloch and the campsite were a fantastic place to have a get-together. The sun shone all weekend and the wind kept the midgies away.
It all went by far too quickly. Plenty of beer, food and craic. Then, all too soon, it was Sunday and time to set off for home.
I had decided not to go back down the A9 with the rest and went to Kyle to look up a friend I haven't seen for a while.
That meant a ride back down the A82 on my own. To be honest I much preferred riding at my own pace and being able to take in the scenery. When it was safe.
By the time I reached Glencoe the weather was beginning to look a bit cloudy, though I didn't hit the rain until Loch Lomond side.
I stopped to put on my waterproofs and the bike wouldn't start again. The lights and all other electrics were working but when I hit the starter button there was nothing.
A guy and his daughter/girlfriend on a Fatbob and a Honda tried to give be a push start but there just wasn't enough room in the car park to get it started.
I had almost resigned myself to calling the AA when I decided to try the starter relay. It fired up but as I had refitted the old one by mistake, I wasn't sure if that actually was the problem.
Whatever, I was on my way and didn't want to switch off again, just in case it wouldn't start. I kept a watchful eye on the "miles remaining" readout as I had intended refuelling at Balloch.
I did make it. Just! 390 miles round trip, every mile a good one.
I hope the young guy, who had come off his bike and was being helped by a motorist, meant his thumbs-up to say that he was OK as I just didn't want to stop.
By the time I got home and switched off again at the garage the bike wouldn't restart so it looks as though it is the starter relay that's gone again.
Have put in the new one but will need to remember I've got no spare now.
Just a slight down-turn to what was a great weekend. Not enough to spoil any of it though!
The rest of the group arrived about 30 minutes later and we joined in behind. At that point there were around fifteen bikes. More joined later in the weekend.
We all stuck more or less together until we reached Tyndrum. After that things became a bit strung out along the way.
You've either got go off at your own speed, or everyone has to stick together and all ride at the pace of the slowest. That means overtaking when everyone can or not at all. As someone pointed out later, if the front rider is doing a steady sixty then the ones towards the rear will need to be doing eighty to keep up. Having started off at the end, I concur with this. You're always trying to catch up and this can mean overtaking when really you shouldn't.
Anyway, we all made it to Gairloch with a few incidents but no accidents.
Once there it was time to get tents pitched and then I started to get to know all the guys, their wives and families. Real good bunch they are too.
Gairloch and the campsite were a fantastic place to have a get-together. The sun shone all weekend and the wind kept the midgies away.
It all went by far too quickly. Plenty of beer, food and craic. Then, all too soon, it was Sunday and time to set off for home.
I had decided not to go back down the A9 with the rest and went to Kyle to look up a friend I haven't seen for a while.
That meant a ride back down the A82 on my own. To be honest I much preferred riding at my own pace and being able to take in the scenery. When it was safe.
By the time I reached Glencoe the weather was beginning to look a bit cloudy, though I didn't hit the rain until Loch Lomond side.
I stopped to put on my waterproofs and the bike wouldn't start again. The lights and all other electrics were working but when I hit the starter button there was nothing.
A guy and his daughter/girlfriend on a Fatbob and a Honda tried to give be a push start but there just wasn't enough room in the car park to get it started.
I had almost resigned myself to calling the AA when I decided to try the starter relay. It fired up but as I had refitted the old one by mistake, I wasn't sure if that actually was the problem.
Whatever, I was on my way and didn't want to switch off again, just in case it wouldn't start. I kept a watchful eye on the "miles remaining" readout as I had intended refuelling at Balloch.
I did make it. Just! 390 miles round trip, every mile a good one.
I hope the young guy, who had come off his bike and was being helped by a motorist, meant his thumbs-up to say that he was OK as I just didn't want to stop.
By the time I got home and switched off again at the garage the bike wouldn't restart so it looks as though it is the starter relay that's gone again.
Have put in the new one but will need to remember I've got no spare now.
Just a slight down-turn to what was a great weekend. Not enough to spoil any of it though!
here's some of my photos
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