In view of the decent weather & the promise of a cooler day (huh)- we four- JT, JH, JPG, W McG (Grumpy was misled by a clerical error in an email & didn’t make it) set off from Milton via the Military Road to Kilcreggan for brekkers. Round by Cove to near the Copper Kettle & muck fee, the b road to Arrochar was closed.

So back to Loch Lomond, Crianlarich & stopped for fuel just short of Killin.

This is when John G complained that JH was holding us up & we were getting bored at the speed he was going. (I am obliged not to indicate the details). Willie, however, agreed that the speed was fine but took it upon himself to waive 2 fingers as he passed JH going down Glen Lyon.

The rest of us reached the Trossachs in good time & waited on JH to join us at the Harbour Cafe at the side of Loch Venacher- a gorgeous spot & so was the lunch & chat.

The foto said it all- make the most of your retirement- it won’t last as long as you think!

Back by the Duke’s Pass, Ice Creams in Aberfoyle & then home- A GRAND DAY OUT!

By way of a PS, JG heard on the run that Rex was selling his rather splendid Kawasaki. It’s in gorgeous condition and only had done 3K miles in 4 years. (a little less than JH has done in 3 months on his new BMW!) So it’s in Lenzie now. That means a ’58 similar bike is for sale for a very most £2.25K.

Following our fab weekend last year at Bridge of Cally, we hoped our good fortune would not desert us.

We  booked the Whitebridge Hotel as our base. It is situated opposite Ft Augustus on the South Side of Loch Ness, some 9 miles up a single track road. Dave Stewart has experience of this road which joins the A9 at the other end, and is, as we found, “fantastic- single track some of the time but good surface and reasonably straight.”

We started @ 9.30am at Milton, stopped @ Tarbet for coffee, then avoided Inveraray as convoy system at The Rest. So via Crianlarich, Green Welly, Dalmally, Connel, lunch at Cuil, where we had a minor kucking falamity with a certain Gold Wing- the restaurant wanted to provide us with a challenge by keeping the half barrels rather close to each other, in order to deter cars.

Then by Ballachulish, Fort William, Invergarry, Ft Augustus where we stopped for ice creams and watched the canal gates being operated etc.

Here, Grumpy came out with his famous comment- when ordering ice creams he tells the ice cream lady, “I shouldn’t really be having this”. What’s she supposed to say, Norrie?

Then to Whitebridge Hotel- a very pleasant surprise, the place couldn’t be more ideal. We had the place more or less to ourselves, the hosts, David & Sarah were very pleasant & hospitable & provided food so fresh, attractive to the eye & mouthwateringly tasty. The best we’ve experienced for, I don’t know, how long- a real find..

On the Saturday, 9.30 am- off towards the North, then North West- Drumnadrochit, Beauly, (coffee- Fiona’s idea), Muir of Ord, Contin, Garve, Achnasheen, alongside the south banks of Lochcarron (views to die for) to Stromferry, then to Plockton for lunch. Some had not had the pleasure of visiting this Haven of Beauty- just magical

We returned by the coast road to Sky of Lochalsh, Eilean Donan Castle for fotos etc, Inverinate, Cluanie, to Glengarry- these are the very best of biking roads known to man.

Then “home” via Ft Augustus to Whitebridge.

A good soiree, fab food again, & some sore heads in the morning

Home via  the B962 to Daviot on the A9. Thereafter South to Carrbridge, We then headed for Grantown on Spey, (here, some ne’er do well imitated The Pied Piper, leading the weak willed for an early coffee etc, which didn’t half put the mockers on the planned coffee/lunch stop at Tomintoul)  A short stop at Tomintoul, then Bridge of Cairn, Braemar- great roads again, to Dunkeld for lunch.

Change of return route at Braco (JG contact lens probs), by the M80 home.

Fackered but happy. A great weekend.

Next year- Dunbar, up north again?- has to be new & out of range of our Spring Run. We can always return to Whitebridge at a later date- God willing

Some Photos of places we were near or passed by.

As usual with Sam, we let him sleep in & he reluctantly joined us yawning, 5 minutes from his house at the Puffer in Irvine. at 10 am!

Some 20 bodies, not bad for a day looking suspiciously like a rainy one

I am a virgin as far as Ayrshire roads are concerned. The following flashed by my peripheral vision-. in no particular order- Stewarton, Fenwick, Moscow, Galston, Mauchline, Auchinleck, Barony Hoist (passed on left) and finally to Stair Inn- a favourite haunt.

The route was excellent, plenty of bends, ruined by having to go through so many villages with speed limits- can spoil the fun ye ken,

There were some moans aimed at a guilty party not marking a corner towards the end- but he’s not called Grumpy for nothing.

However, his fotos are appreciated.