Sunday 12/12/04
You bunch of wusses. Where were yer? No-one showed so on
my lonesome then....Q8 to Morrisons for fuel 79.9p vs 83.9p no contest...OK cloudyand
dull to the south Hmm north..Combat Touring GSer stylee then, shattered back roads covered in slime, mud and gravel
it is. No poser Power Rangers on fartblades or girly gixxxers on these MENs
roads. Stewarton lugton Braes Johnstone Houston. Here a photo opportunity as a
Transit reclines on its side in a country garden feds and owner think worky was
bevvied and hence legged it.Bishopton Erskine and over the worlds last standing
Box girder bridge (the rest fell down and this one is under repair AGAIN)
Helensburgh and the wibbly wobbly way to Arrochar. Little traffic and no Bikes
yet.It is misty and moody like the celitc soul here so a cuppa and an Empire
biscuit and we're off again.. turn left at RABT..roads are challenging but fun
the superb torque and melodious blat of the Remus waft me effortlessly along to
my Dunoon destination. Cheap ticket in the wee shop and the ferry was waiting
as I rolled up fab service. bike count is 2 pushcycles 20. Then the woman trys
to kill me...over take a fiesta as I get level it lurches toward me..by jingo I
thought and nailed it..she kept coming and drove into the layby on the opposite
side of the road. I had stopped to remonstrate with her by means of suitable
gesticulations. She was most appologetic and held up her detached rear view
mirror by way of explanation for her near
homicide...naturally I immediately forgave her and
departed with a world weary chuckle. Home and several buckets of scotlands soft
treasure has the Teutonic continent flattener looking its masculine best(
unlike those plastic tarts handbags one sees so many off) darkness as dictated
by our southern masters decended and so to tea. 140 ish miles no fed cars or
choppers looking at me or trainee bike polis getting in the way(recent lunch
run to Glencoe) Biking in winter great stuff the Summer. ToNe
After a successful quiz during the summer against the Loudoun MCC, we were invited to a return in the Loudounhill Inn on Monday 6th December.Sadly only 3 club members made the journey to Darvel where we were given a very warm welcome by 30 odd ( some very odd!! ) members of the Loudoun club. Allan, Richard and myself faced some difficult questions ranging from Take That to The Simpsons, upholding the club honour by not finishing last! The evening ended with a rather boisterous debate about future events that the club is planning including a Valentine rock disco and various rally events the club will be attending, all of which the atmcc were invited to. Watch this space. John
Club Dinner – held on 4th December at the North
Beach Prestwick.
22 members and a selection of guests participated. Nice food, most not too keen on the
music. Think we were spoiled by the
hairdressers – they won’t be back! The
KAD member of the year trophy was presented to Andy Forsyth. The pillion winner
was Fraser Richmond.
Weds 1st
December
Evening meeting and Christmas Party attended by
a grand total of 19 members, and various guests. No-one on a bike, which is the
first for a while. Usual selection of
food went down well. Party game won by
Ben, a junior Rankin.
Sun 24th October
Four bikes for todays run. Andy, Fireblade, Gary, ZX9R,
Tam, Fazer, Robin, CBR1000. It was
decided to head for Inverary so it was over to Stewarton, Lugton and on to A737
through Beith. Crossing the Erskine Bridge, Andy went over the military road,
while the rest went up Loch Lomondside. We met at Arrochar for coffee and
fuel. Then on to Inverary, which was
busy with a lot of bikes. After lunch in a little café, we turned round and
headed back out the same way. Then down the Dunoon road for the ferry across
and back down the coast through Largs.
Andy.
Sunday 17th October:
Only four for today's run, Les (Bandit), Dougie
(Fireblade), Tam (Fazer) and me (Deauville), we decided to stick with the
planned run of Dumfries. Leaving Kilmarnock we headed down the A76 through
Cumnock to Dumfries, it was a little cloudy but the sun was shinning and it was
dry, although it is starting to cool down now. We arrived at the cafe on the
Whitesands in Dumfries for a coffee; Dougie said he was just going to head back
up the road, heading for Castle Douglas and Dalmellington. After coffee I was going to visit my
brother, so Les and Tam left to head home the same route as Dougie. I left
Dumfries at about 3.00 Pm to come home, also using the same route. It had been
a very pleasant run, apart from the slightly cool temperatures, but had
remained dry. Tam phoned me after I
was home to let me know that Les had crashed the bike on the topside of
Dalmellington, and was in hospital. Hope he his welling well soon and that
there is not too much damage to the bike. Not a good week for the club with
Alan having crashed his the previous week, I believe that he is OK but the bike
is a right off. Hope they are back on the road soon. Stuart.
Attended by 15 members, 5 on bikes. This turned out to be a much-anticipated
quiz. The quiz comprised 26 questions.
The sound was either that of a motorcycle, and the answer was the make and
model – quite difficult, or a song, with the answer being title and singer –
even more difficult. The most
recognized song was a tie between Leader of the Pack by the Shirelles, and Born
to Be Wild by Steppenwolf. Bit of a
mixture there. The most recognized bike
sound was a three-way tie between HARLEY DAVIDSON 883, DUCATI 996 and Honda
Fireblade. The winner, who received a
grand total of 4 KAD points, was an impressive Dave Wotherspoon. Personal favourite of the quiz setter, who
may be allowed to return, was 1952 Vincent Black Lightning by the Del McCoury
Band. This may be influenced by
memories of actually seeing such bikes as part of the normal traffic before
they became classics. Actually, it is
not that long ago that someone was racing one at Knockhill – perhaps one was
out at the Bob McIntyre memorial?
Weekend run 2 – 3rd October,
Lakes/Blackpool.
2 bikes, Andy (Fireblade), Gary (ZX9R). We met
at Cairnryan as planned, along A75 to Dumfries, down the M6, turned off for Kendal,
over to Windermere. Very nice but busy down the side of the lake, some more
back roads then the M-way to Blackpool.
Found hotel near the front were we got a suite. Sleeps 5 with our own
pool and sauna. For £60 – bit of luck there.
After a wash and drink, it was straight along the seafront to the
pleasure beach for a shot on the Big One. What can I say – no words can
describe it. The illuminations came on as we headed back for something to eat.
Sunday, left Blackpool 10 am for York. Through a lot of villages to Skipton
then up to Ripon. Quite a few Sunday bikers about. RR2 passed them all no
probs. With Yorkshire done, it was 40 miles of the A1 for lunch at Scots
Corner. The afternoon leg started with the A66 to Barnard Castle, missed turn
off ended up in Brough, more B roads with tiny villages with no petrol stations
open. We landed in Alston at 3pm wasted another 24 miles on a moor road going
nowhere, back to Alston down the side of a mountain to Penrith. Up the M6 to
Carlisle and then Dumfries where it started to rain. Blackpool, the Lakes, the
Dales and the Pennines all in one 600-mile weekend in October, a brilliant
finish to a great summers’ biking.
Andy.
Sun 26 September,
5 bikes. Andy (Fireblade), Gary (ZX9R), Steven (GSXR),
Graham (Bandit), + non-member. With grey skies and spots of rain, it was
decided the listed run was too risky. So, it was down the road to Girvan for
coffee then onto Portpatrick. Not many bikes about from portpatrick. Steven,
Graham and non-member headed back up the road. Andy and Gary stopped for fuel
and something to eat in Stranraer then headed home. Stayed dry all in all not a
bad wee run.
News today – Andy has sold his beloved Fireblade. To be
replaced soon with the No1 sports bike out. Honda CBR1000RRS FIREBLADE – the
best Honda Power – no other bike comes close. Andy.
Sun 19 September
2 bikes today. Andy (Fireblade), Gary (ZX9R).
Dry start as we left Kilmarnock with the intention of going via Erskine Bridge
to Inverary. But, got to lugton and it was getting darker and darker and the
roads were very wet. We turned round and headed in the direction of the bright
stuff which was Dumfries Way. Down the
A76, had coffee in Dumfries. Along A711 Dalbeattie- Castle Douglas road back up
to dalmellington. Then Ayr, back to Maybole for 2.30, just before the heavens
opened. Andy.
Saturday 18th September weekend run to Whitley Bay
John/Linda, Alan/Wendy, Adrian – the cruiser fraternity.
Clark/Jacqueline (Pan), Bob/Nan (ZZR), Martin/Linda (Varadero) and Robert
(K75), set out, eventually. Leisurely run down cross-country with lunch at the
Black Swan in Kelso – a good place for a weekend. Bit smirry, fortunately, Alan put on the bargain waterproofs at
Biggar so the rain did not come to anything.
Whitley Bay, not a lot to say, not a lot that is positive anyway. A
change. Few will wish to revisit.
The Return
All met for breakfast. I asked the landlady if the ladies
in our party could try out the exercise machine – a huge vibration machine. Boy
did it tone up your muscles. So, bags packed, Clark and Jacqueline and Bob and
Nan headed off first. Adrian and I headed for Blyth. So off we went, refuelled
at Blyth. The day looked menacing - dark clouds, windy. But it did stay mainly
dry. Blyth to Morpeth then A967 Coldstream. What a road, long straights, some
bends but no cameras. I did stick to Adrian’s’ speed limit. At Coldstream there
is a speed camera on the other side of the road and beyond the 30mph sign,
which gave a wink as we passed it. A698 to Kelso, A699 to Selkirk, A708 to St
Mary’s Loch. As we entered the valley heading for the loch, the temperature
dropped quite a bit. So it was nice to
stop for a rest and large coffee and cake.
Talked to other BMW owners, one had a new BMW, which had been recovered
twice. Then on to Moffat, A74 to Abington where we reached the motorway. Down
on our left I noticed a milk tanker as we crossed and recrossed the motorway on
to the B7078 there in the distance was the milk tanker. Again we did stick to
Adrian’s’ speed limit, honest. All in all a good run home.
Friday 10th September:
I meet up with Peter, Sam, their daughter,
Alan, Fran and their friend at the lay-by on the A76 at the old toll, as
arranged at 9.30. Alan said he was also meeting up with someone else at New
Cumnock, so we headed down the A76 to Dumfries, where we stopped at the petrol
station by the Little Chef. From there it was down the A75 to the turn off for
Gretna, then along the A6071 to Longtown and Brampton, then left onto the A69
to Hexham, where we stopped for something to eat and to pick up the last
essential supplies, good job Sam had the car with her! It was then back onto
the A69 to the junction with the A68, turning right we followed this road along
with lot's of other bikes to the campground at Witton-Le-Wear. After a bit of a
disaster, we got into the campground and found somewhere to pitch our tents. Up
until now it had been dry and sunny, but the first spits of rain started as we
unloaded, but didn't come to anything until the middle of the night. Met up with
Les who was in the next field for a beer, some more of Alan's friends arrived
late on and set up their tents beside ours.
We
woke to a very overcast day with showers and a strong wind, it was not a day to
go on the castle run, so we all just took it easy, having a look round the
show, talking and playing games, while Peter entered his bike into the show. In
the evening we went for a listen to the bands, which were not bad. I even meet
up with someone from work, small world.
In the morning it was another overcast day with a very strong wind, after breakfast we broke camp and helped Peter carry his stuff up to the top where the car was parked. As we came back down, we met Alan and the rest heading up the field to leave! I left Peter at the car park and made my way out to the main road, I had decided that as the weather was so bad I would just head back the same way, and decided that as the weather was so bad I would just head back the same way, and make for home as quick as possible. When I got to Dumfries I turned onto the A75 where it started to rain, to Castle Douglas, then onto the A713 to Dalmellington and home. Stuart.
Day 1 Went to
Rosyth and got on the ferry.
Day 2 Ok Ferry
crossing. Took the motorways to the Namur area then headed for the hills.
Crossed into Luxemburg and got a room in an Irish Pub in Isenborn. Weather hot!
Day 3 From
Isenborn I travelled around Lux. (nice) and went to Vianden (very nice) then
down the border crossing into Germany at Trier. Roads were not so good and
traffic was heavy so I headed south into France stopping at Strassburg for the
night. (Nice) Weather hotter!
Day 4 From
Strass. Back into Germany and the Black Forest, some rally good roads that used
up a lot of time playing! Eventually I headed south again stopping at Titisee
(how could you not stop at a place with that name?) and then on down into
Switzerland. North Switzerland proved
not to be biking country – too many towns too slow traffic! I progressed down
thro Luzern onto better roads to Interlakken where I found a hotel. Interlakken
was OK but a bit expensive.
Day 5 I thought I
would head into the mountains to see the Eiger etc. – not a chance! You can’t
get near them without travelling in a train or cable car at mountain high
prices! I headed east and got into the
high passes, Sustenspass, Furkapass, Oberalpenpass (and more) all over 2000m. After some fun there I headed to Visp
and out towards Zermatt and got a Hotel.
Day 6 Tried to
see the Matterhorn but you cant get to Zerrmatt without a pass so another
disappointment. So to console myself I headed back into the high passes
crossing into Italy and from their back into France. I went to Val D’Isere and
onto the Col du L’iseran 2770m (the high point of the journey!!!!), from there
I crossed the col and tried to find a hotel – nae luck! I recrossed the col
(good fun) and got a hotel overlooking the lake outside Val D’Isere. Great
food, great view.
Day 7
Time to head north. Taking the twistiest roads on the map
I headed across a few more high passes and eventually to Geneva for a look.
After some navigational errors I ended up back in France on the wrong side of
Geneva (Oh for a GPS). Eventually I headed into the mountains again – this time
the Juras. Great roads but difficult to
navigate. By 3:00pm I had crossed the Swiss – French border 6 times!!! I eventually rested my head in Belfort
(France)
4Day 8 I had
some shopping to do so eventually found the appropriate shop in Wittingen. From
there it was back into the hills; this time The Grand Balloon!!!!! Again this
was good fun but time consuming and as I didn’t want to have a long run to the
ferry it was back on the motorway thro Lux. (some scary moments) and on to
Belgium and a motorway blast to Namur (some really scary moments!)
Day 9 From Namur
I went to Calais and then on to Zeebruge. The weather had turned Scottish (Rain
and lots of wind) and I arrived at the terminal in plenty of time. Got a cabin
on the ferry, had a few drinks and went to bed.
Day 10 Got off
the ferry and went home; arriving in sunny Cumnock at 12:30.
I had covered 2450 miles, Crossed 16 national boundaries,
Used approx 240 litres of petrol (ave. 48 mpg), Weather had been too hot except
in the mountains, French Alps had the best roads (most fun), Very few British
bikes on the roads, lots of Germans.
Planning for next years trip to the North Cape of Norway
will commence soon so anyone interested in joining me for the trip or part of
it can let me know. Dave.
Saturday, 11th September,
Adrian, Tony, Martin, Bob and Nan all
participated in the club night out at the Troon real ale festival. For a short while till the beer ran out.
Again. Just when the band was getting into their stride.
Andy F Blade Ian GSXR Alan R1 Ian ZX9 Les Bandit –
Bit of a dismal start we decided to head up the coast to
Largs, stopped for coffee- things started to dry up. Ian, Alan, Les, and Ian
headed over the hill to Lochwinnoch.
Andy on his own headed up over the Erskine Bridge up Loch
Lomondside stopped for petrol and something to eat at the Green Welly then on
through Glencoe to the village of Glencoe, turned round back down the same way
to Glasgow, then down the A77 for home.
Poor run (need big Davie back).
Andy.
Wednesday 1st September
Attended by 20 members, 12 on bikes. Photo
competition not well supported. Andy put in some nice pictures, but as they
were of him on the Fireblade, it was quickly figured out that he did not
actually take them. Leading to Bob winning with a picture of the slightly
deranged racers at a wet Knockhill.
29th August: -
I arrived at Kilmarnock first, quickly
followed by Andy (Fireblade), then Les (Bandit). It was dry but very cloudy and
a strong wind this morning, so we all agreed it would be a short run today with
South looking the most promising. So we made our way down the A77 through
Maybole to Girvan, where we stopped at the snack bar. After a discussion of
where next, with Ballantrae, and Newton Stewart suggested it was decided that
with the weather looking ever more iffy, we would make for Straiton on the
B741, then across to Dalmellington. So far it had been windy with just a little
rain over to Straiton, then dry to Dalmellington. We turned left onto the A713
for Ayr, when we got to Prestwick Circuits the heavens opened up, Les then
continued down the A77 with Andy going into Ayr, I followed Andy into Ayr then
out to Prestwick. The rain was now very heavy, but the afternoon turned out dry
and sunny. Stuart.
Sunday 22 nd August: -
Heralded a good turn out on a nice sunny
morning, with Ian (GSXR), Alan (Fireblade), Les (New Bandit), Jim (Bandit),
Andy (Fireblade), Tam (Fazer), Clark (Pan European), Dougie (Fireblade) and Me
(Deauville). After much discussion and photo taking (that's another story) most
wanted to go to Inveraray, I had decided that as the planned route was Berwick,
and that it had been a while since I had been there, that was where I was
going. Jim and Tam decided that they would like a run to Moffat, so would come
down so far with me.
We
left Kilmarnock on the A76 to Mauchline, then turned onto the B743 through Sorn
to join the A70 at Muirkirk, from there it was up to Douglas then onto the old
A74 down to Abington. We stopped there to regroup, with Jim and Tam deciding
that they would go to Berwick as well, so we took the A702 to Bigger, then
right onto the A721/72 to Peebles where we stopped for a cup of tea and bacon
roll at the cafe we had used the last year when Jim and had I had been there
with Phil and Katriona. Suitably refreshed we set off along the A72 to
Galashiels, where a new roundabout saw us ending up at Selkirk instead of
through Melrose, but a quick rethink had us along the A699 to St Boswells, we managed
to loose Tam at this point, but undeterred we carried on up the A68 to Earlston
turning right onto the A6105 through Gordon, Greenlaw, Duns and with a quick
check of the passports it was finally into Berwick-Upon-Tweed, this turned out
to be a really good road with a nice surface some twists and some really long
straights which would be good for the sportier riders, just watch for the
tractors! So far the weather had been nice and sunny with the odd cloud, but
the heat from the sun is starting to fade.
As
we entered Berwick Tam was walking up the street, so we stopped to check where
he was parked, then came back to meet him in the main street. After a short
walk up the street we went to a cafe to for something to eat, and a chat about
how we had become split up, it was then back to the bikes to clean the visors
consult the map and head for home. After filling up the bikes we made our way
South on the A1, and then turned right onto the B6461 to Kelso, this was a bit
more twisty (hairpins) and more agricultural (tractors). From there it was back
across the A699 to Selkirk, then the A708 past St Mary's Loch to Moffat where
we stopped for a comfort break. Leaving the town on the A701 then onto the B719
to the B7078, from there up to Abington, where we turned onto the Leadhills
road to Menock. Then right onto the A76 to Cumnock, where Jim carried on for
Kilmarnock and Irvine, while we turned onto the A70 to Ayr, then down the
bypass to Prestwick. It had been dry all the way back until we got to Coylton,
where there was a light shower. We all agreed it had been a great run, which we
all enjoyed and without too many navigational problems. Stuart.
Sunday, 15th August.
Forecast a bit iffy, lots of bikes at Bellfield, but not
ours. Clark (ST), just back from 2800 miles through France, with the only
‘stop’ a request for the headlights to be switched on, Dougie (Fireblade) and
Bob (ZZR) decided to travel to St Andrews, for a model rail exhibition. Started off on the A71, a bit trafficky
through to Priestland, then open roads for a while. On to the M8 at Livingstone, then to the Forth Bridge, then some
more dual then the road to St Andrews which is a fast single carriageway. Big
crowd of bikes in Cupar, quite a few bikes around anyway. Then St Andrews,
where we split up. Rail was fine, then on to an aquarium shop in Cupar – really
good stock. Then back to the Forth Bridge, and along the M8 and A77. About 230 miles, 49mpg with the ZZR. Seat
got a bit hard though, have to look at another. Couple of showers, did not come to anything significant. Nice
day. Bob.
Saturday 14th August,
Adrian (B.M.W.), Jim (Bandit) and Myself
(Deauville) met as planned at the Esso petrol station on Long Drive Irvine at
9.30 am. Andy (Fireblade) was supposed to meet up with us but did not appear,
despite us waiting for 15 minutes. We headed up the A736, and then cut across
to Beith, following the A737 to Glasgow Airport, where we joined the M8/M898 to
the Erskine Bridge. After crossing the bridge we made our way along the A82 to
Milton where we stopped to meet Davy (V Storm), we stayed on the A82 up a very
busy Loch Lomond side to Tyndrum, where we stopped at the Green Welly for a
break, at the same time Andy (who had been running late) appeared. After the
break we made our way for Fort William on the A82, were we had to do a lot of
filtering due to an earlier accident, which had resulted in a very long tail
back, the joys of a motorcycle? A short stop for petrol in Fort William, it was
then on to Spean Bridge where we turned right onto the A86, along the side of
Loch Laggan (very good road) to Kingussie, where Adrian stopped to enjoy a
cigar. From there we joined the A9 for the run to Inverness, with Andy
disappearing into the distance we wondered if we would ever see him again.
After arriving in Inverness, we took a wrong
turn and ended up in a dead end but managed to find Andy. We stopped at a
Travel Inn to enquire about accommodation, they were fully booked (closest was
Dyce Aberdeen!) but a very helpful girl phoned another hotel, got us two twin
rooms at their rate in minutes, so we got fixed up for the night, despite the
tourist information guy telling me to try anywhere but Inverness for
accommodation.
After checking in, having a cup of tea and a
shower we hit the town for the night, curry for dinner then met up with Davy
and his brother at Johnny Foxes, were we had a few drinks before Jim and Andy
retired for the night, the rest of us made for another pub at Davy's
recommendation, which turned out to be next door to where he was staying.
The next morning we woke to another bright
sunny morning, after a £2.99 breakfast at J.D Wotherspoon's we all (except Davy
who was not leaving until the afternoon) left the city on the A96 to Nairn,
were I became separated from the rest, turning right onto the A939 for
Grantown-on-Spey and with no one in sight, I came to the conclusion that I was
on my own. When I got to the junction with the A940, Jim had followed club
rules and had stopped for me, he had also become detached from Adrian and Andy,
so with a double check of the map we made our way on down to Tomintoul, where
Andy suddenly appeared behind us! On his own, he claimed Adrian was right
behind him, so we waited while he went to look for him (wasting half an hour),
Andy came back and we all made our way down to Ballater via Cock Bridge,
another good road, where we found Adrian just preparing to leave. After a cup
of tea we all made our way down the A93 past Balmoral to Blairgowrie, where we
had a petrol stop before continuing to Perth. It was then onto the M90 to
junction 6 where we had a pit stop, then onto the A977 to Kincardine Bridge.
Everything was going fine as we joined the M9, except that Andy was in the
wrong lane, and despite flashing lights, blowing the horn and signalling he was
last seen heading for Stirling. The rest of us continued along the M876, where
we encountered the only drop of rain of the weekend, it was then onto the A80
past Cumbernauld, then onto the M73/M74 turning onto A725 to East Kilbride,
over the moor to A77, down through the road works to Fenwick where Jim left us,
then Adrian peeled off at Kilmarnock to head for Troon and I carried on down to
Prestwick.
After 500 miles of wall-to-wall sunshine, except for about a mile, it
had been a great weekend, which we all agreed, should be done again, possibly
making it a two night stay, so that we can have more time to explore the area.
I would like to thank those who took part for making it a really enjoyable run,
and making the organisation worthwhile. Stuart.