Intech
Mr. Camping Meet
Hard to believe that this trip is in our past. We had planned for this trip for over three years. This is our 25th anniversary year and a trip to Scotland was how we decided to celebrate it.
Not being absolutely sure of what we wanted to see we decided on a group guided tour for 5 days and then rented a R1200 GS for the next 5 days and self toured. The first 5 days started in Glasgow and ended up in Edinburgh. We then took the train to Aberdeen and day tripped on the bike from there for the next 5 days.
The trip was not without some excitement. First, the day we got there the volcano in Iceland erupted. We hoped that ten days was enough time for the ash to dissipate. Second, the second day on the bus the weather turned very foul. there was a gale that was the worst in the west (where we were). There were winds up to 100 miles an hour that was snapping trees off. We were lucky to get through several spots where there were trees on the road. That was around Loch Lomand. When we ended that day in Nairn we found out that there were two people killed by falling trees in the area we were. Third, they drive on the other side of the road there. It was inevitable that would be a problem at some point. Well that happened the firsst day on the bike. We had just made a stop at the Glenfiddich distillary (For pictures. We were not drinking). We doubled back to catch the road we wanted to head out on. I went by it and had to turn around. When I did I came back out on the right side of the road and stayed there. Keep in mind that we were in the highlands on country roads, so no traffic to clue me in. I then came around a bend to face an oncoming car. All my instincts from riding here kicked in keeping me to the right. I grabbed all the brake I could to try and stop. I was almost stopped and the back tire locked up and I lost the back end. The bike went down on the right side and kind of pin-wheeled on the crash bar protecting the can. I stayed right in the seat, but the quick spin sent Janet off backwards. I got up and turned to find her laying flat on her back. Keep in mind that were were fully and adequately geared. She was ok, but just kind of shocked. She said shen was saying to herself, "what just happened?" She was fine, though and we righted the bike, mounted up and went on. We proceeded to put just shy of 900 miles on the bike in 4 days.
Enough talk! On to the pictures....
We started in Glasgow. I didn't take a lot of pictures there. We were kind of under-whelmed.
Aberdeen is known as the "Granite City". If you are into gothic architecture this is the place for you. Very cool place.
And then there were the castles. It was really cool to walk in structures that were built back in the 12th century and to imagine what it was like to live in those times.
Braemer Castle:
Huntly Castle:
Balvenie Castle:
Saw this one in the distance. I am not sure which one it is. Could not find access to it, but the pics were cool!
Janet's maiden name is Fraser, so we had to get some shots of the family castle. Castle Fraser:
One of the MANY distillarys we went by in the highlands:
The GS and I:
The GS and the SO:
While riding in the highlands the picture opportunities were limited as there were no shoulders on the roads. If I was alone I would have pulled off, but having already taken Janet to the ground I was cautious. Here are a few shots from highland routes:
More to come later....
Not being absolutely sure of what we wanted to see we decided on a group guided tour for 5 days and then rented a R1200 GS for the next 5 days and self toured. The first 5 days started in Glasgow and ended up in Edinburgh. We then took the train to Aberdeen and day tripped on the bike from there for the next 5 days.
The trip was not without some excitement. First, the day we got there the volcano in Iceland erupted. We hoped that ten days was enough time for the ash to dissipate. Second, the second day on the bus the weather turned very foul. there was a gale that was the worst in the west (where we were). There were winds up to 100 miles an hour that was snapping trees off. We were lucky to get through several spots where there were trees on the road. That was around Loch Lomand. When we ended that day in Nairn we found out that there were two people killed by falling trees in the area we were. Third, they drive on the other side of the road there. It was inevitable that would be a problem at some point. Well that happened the firsst day on the bike. We had just made a stop at the Glenfiddich distillary (For pictures. We were not drinking). We doubled back to catch the road we wanted to head out on. I went by it and had to turn around. When I did I came back out on the right side of the road and stayed there. Keep in mind that we were in the highlands on country roads, so no traffic to clue me in. I then came around a bend to face an oncoming car. All my instincts from riding here kicked in keeping me to the right. I grabbed all the brake I could to try and stop. I was almost stopped and the back tire locked up and I lost the back end. The bike went down on the right side and kind of pin-wheeled on the crash bar protecting the can. I stayed right in the seat, but the quick spin sent Janet off backwards. I got up and turned to find her laying flat on her back. Keep in mind that were were fully and adequately geared. She was ok, but just kind of shocked. She said shen was saying to herself, "what just happened?" She was fine, though and we righted the bike, mounted up and went on. We proceeded to put just shy of 900 miles on the bike in 4 days.
Enough talk! On to the pictures....
We started in Glasgow. I didn't take a lot of pictures there. We were kind of under-whelmed.
Aberdeen is known as the "Granite City". If you are into gothic architecture this is the place for you. Very cool place.
And then there were the castles. It was really cool to walk in structures that were built back in the 12th century and to imagine what it was like to live in those times.
Braemer Castle:
Huntly Castle:
Balvenie Castle:
Saw this one in the distance. I am not sure which one it is. Could not find access to it, but the pics were cool!
Janet's maiden name is Fraser, so we had to get some shots of the family castle. Castle Fraser:
One of the MANY distillarys we went by in the highlands:
The GS and I:
The GS and the SO:
While riding in the highlands the picture opportunities were limited as there were no shoulders on the roads. If I was alone I would have pulled off, but having already taken Janet to the ground I was cautious. Here are a few shots from highland routes:
More to come later....
