Yes indeed, the Club’s first venture overseas in 2013- a long, long wait- AND Ronnies Maiden Run.

We arranged to meet at Western Ferries Gourock Terminal for the 9.30 am sailing to Dunoon. We were delighted to welcome 7 of our Members from Peebleshire, coming to see the West Coast Scenery- they were not disappointed.

We nearly missed the boat, waiting for John Mitchell as Shona promised he would come– too long in bed, we suspect- and why not!

Ron was driving his TF, the previous one having been written off reversing out of his garage.

While we admire his Moggie- it was given a rest for this run- phew!

So, Passports at the ready, 20 plus of us reached Hunters Quay safely the same day, indeed, in time for breakfast at the Garden Centre alongside Younger Park.

There are not many choices of road in the peninsula, so off to Strachur- negotiating chucky filled roads & then turning onto the coast road to Otter Ferry by another VERY LONG road with loads of chuckies again.

Those on the appropriate bikes were fine & enjoyed the challenge, but those on sports bikes- well!

There are not many places as pretty as Otter Ferry, nor the road to Portavadie, where we enjoyed a very, very long lunch. The food was fine & the location wonderful..Richard Spinks now lives mostly up here & works at the Marina, welcomed us & his parents, as they were baby sitting Bramble, das Hund

Two of us returned via The Rest, while the remainder went to Dunoon, by the gorgeous road to Colintraive & the required visit to Sheila’s Meringue Emporium.

Back via the ferry. The Border Reivers must have covered at least 250 miles- we hope you enjoyed the run as much as the rest of us.

Thanks, Ronnie, for “a Grand Day Out”

We had a Star & a Pantomime Villain rolled into one. This villain was suffering from Morganitis- a deadly form of self destruction- however, I will start at the beginning to put you in the picture.

Fantastic weather was forecast, & sure enuff, that’s how it turned out.

Meeting at our usual Milton Petrol Station, we met an all ladies motorcycle club, good looking bikes & the ladies- well, very nice indeed, Good for them- Off to Oban in some rather powerful bikes too!.

We, modest souls went the long route to Tarbet, via Helensburgh & the Gare Loch. by now some 22/23 of us (someone was shy in putting his hand up!). Thereafter, Crianlarich, Killin (a stop at the Falls), then via Fearnan to Kenmore, for lunch. This at The Courtyard Restaurant. a great find, hugely better than the Kenmore Hotel, which was rubbish the last 2 times we visited..

We were frying by then & it was a relief to get into the shade while we (most of us) were fed. The rascal who left out his/her order at Tarbet, enabled the Chairman to go on a starvation diet.

This is where the Star shone. Ron was overwhelmed by the interest shown in his spluttering Morgan, & huge bundles of cash were offered by the glassy eyed customers- running into £000,000s. Ron refused the highest offer which would have paid off Jim McGugan’s  mortgage & then some.

Silly man, he should have taken the largesse. For by the time we had fuelled up at Aberfeldy & stopped at Lochearnhead via the Sma’ Glen, Crieff & Comrie- the Morgan displayed it’s real character- neither pretty nor pleasant.

Despite us all shouting- Ron, keep the engine running- would he pay any attention- NO.

On reflection, when Ron was farting about changing jets & leaving the fuel lines loosely connected (suspicions of a large Insurance Claim)- he should have left well alone. The gallon of oil deposited at the Tarbet Cafe, was a sign of problems to come.

The Insurance Claim has now been dismissed- Ron couldn’t have got out of the Moggie quickly enuff, before he became a burning Buddhist Monk.

Oh Joy!–  this non starting at Lochearnhead managed to destroy the team. As the Moggie was shamefully towed away by a trike to finally get it going, Willie was sitting at Liz McGregor’s tucking into the largest slice of cake you ever did see, John G & Ian were at Kilmahog, waiting for what seemed like hours, then got the go-ahead from John T to rendez-vous at Aberfoyle with coffee & cake at the ready.

Unfortunately for the late comers- John & Ian plus Elaine, felt obliged to consume before the place shut, and to Hell with the late comers.

So, other than the Moggie, we had a fab day, fair drookit with the sweat- not normally a problem, AND Andy won Wimbleton- hey-hey!.

Thanks Willie- well organised, very relaxed, great roads & food- any Doggie Bags?