Yea I saw the steam rally, would have stopped myself if I had time. I was on my MT, saw you just after The Riverside.
Possibly the last 'proper' run out of the year today with my old mate @Selmer50mark. Met up at the usual spot but they'd put a sign up saying 'NO BALL GAMES' so he had a right face on him when I got there! Anyway, off we went to Ribblehead and Settle with a new road taken in on the way back which was a blast and hardly any cars on it which was lucky!! Pic looks a bit Hazy but it was brilliant sunshine all day
I too decided it might be the last chance this year. So, headed towards Kielder Forest. We got as far as the cafe at Simonburn. 180 mile round trip.
I did Kielder for the first time last month, I was well impressed, some cracking roads. Did it as a day out from Moffat. Followed this route.... https://www.motorcyclescotland.com/routes/best-of-both-worlds/
Did my first ride behind a hearse for a biker. Wife knew him and I had met him a couple of times so seemed the right thing to do. Quite surreal riding slowly with that number of bikes, especially when roads were "blocked" at lights to keep everyone together.
I was at a biker’s funeral once and it was the most eerie feeling. as they got to the crem the traffic fell silent and then the noise of the trikes and bike rung out. It was the silence that done it Also I had wild horses playing in the car before I got out and finished as I got in That song always reminds me of that day now and the bikes as wild horses
Had the Tiger out today as despite it getting down to zero overnight (and they will have had the gritters out no doubt) it had been so dry yesterday there wasn’t even a frost of the ground or cars when I looked out at breakfast. Had a decent run round the area to blow the cobwebs away but it was getting a little nippy by they time I got home at 14:00 Used the heated grips for the first time (not just on this bike but ever) and was more than happy with them. I think the hand guards go a long way on their own keeping your hands (I wouldn’t say warm but) from getting chilled by the wind. Bike was free from any salt when I got back, but gave it a clean over anyway before putting it away. Expect/hope to get out again through the winter, but theFireblade got SORN’d as that will be in hibernation now till March I expect.
Had to pop over to Dumbarton this morning. Was such a nice day that I reckoned a wee detour was in order on the way home. Up the lochside was busier than expected so I bailed on Plan A(Rannoch Moor) and veered off over to Loch Long. Never did buy into the urban myth back in the day(late 80s when it was built) that the military road didn't have a speed limit. Always just presumed it came from the fact that the MPs patrol it and the civvie police pretty much just leave them to it. Fun little swoopy number. Short but sweet! The wee road up Long took me by surprise. While since I've been along it and was amazed how good the current surface is. Top of the list of roads to hit when the SuMo's back on the go. Had The Rest to myself which even in winter is unusual. The carpark was in shade but I wandered up one of the little hillocks and had lunch in the sun. Went down the far side and round the head of Loch Fyne but then just turned rather than heading into the trees(looked chilly in there). Really only went down because I enjoy the climb back up to The Rest from that side. Cased out the "bust me please" straight on the way down then had a little fun on the way back. Stopped at Tarbet to wash my visor in the loch. ...before heading back to civilization. No oil warning light and no oil on my boot - so resealing the pressure switch seems to have done the job. Still had the big red light glaring in my face though. Code 35 - EGCV Servomotor Lock. Bit embarresing given that cleaning and lubing that has been on my to-do list since day 1. ...and I do mean day 1. "They've got a rep for seizing" my dad said as as we were standing in the garden looking it all over before loading into the van. "No bother" says I. "I'll give it a once over." ...and here we are - four years later.
