Just back from 5 days riding and 1400 miles round Scotland. Since two weeks ago I broke down twice in 30 miles each way to Blackburn, I really wasn't expecting to get that far - but got home without an AA van, so that was great. I might write it up for the Cossack club mag (bike is Ural-Daihatsu) - if I do I'll post it here. But here are a few photos. Assynt was particularly lovely, and I also love Mull and once again enjoyed a trip to the abbey on Iona, which is a special place for me. Those touring might like to know that the guy who runs the garage in Craignure where the boat comes in on Mull is a great guy from Salford who works in an explosion of old Ford parts (he restores Mk2 Escort rally cars amongst other things) and who might be useful if you get stuck. That might be a good forum thread - 'remote garages who might lend you a spanner'. The west coast of Mull is so amazing I forgot to take any photos of it - but all the single track roads, and there are loads all over the NW highlands, are excellent for a 30mph bimble for mile, after mile, after mile. It even made riding back from Ardossan (I came via Arran) in solid rain for 200 miles with my hands / arms wrapped in CalMac bin liners, worth it. And now I have seen the north coast - I got to Durness. I thought about John O-Groats, but as I tried to joke to a workmate, I thought about going all the way but decided I'd have more fun if I called it a day at Tongue
The bike made it really easy to make friends despite touring alone. The smiley Spanish couple got a ferry from Spain to Ireland (I think), and were looking at Scotland before going to Dover on the way to... Norway!!
