MadDogMcQ
Well-known member
My Father left Northern Ireland when he was a young fella and moved to Bolton, England. Sadly, he got cancer and died at the young age of 27 and as a result, I never got to meet all his family back in Ireland. So at the ripe old age of 48, I decided to search for his brothers and sisters and go over for a quick meet this Bank Holiday weekend. Unfortunately, out of a family of about 13, only 3 sisters remain, but nevertheless I thought it would be great to meet them at last. I got to meet two of my Aunts and a good few cousins.
Rather than travel from Liverpool and sail for 8 hours, I decided to ride up to Stranraer in Scotland and jump on what is claimed to be the largest and fastest ferry in the world - the Stena Voyager (I think it has a couple of FJR engines). :yahoo: It takes just 110 minutes on this baby and its incredibly smooth. Someone on the ferry told me that we were travelling at over 60mph, so I pulled out my Zumo and it clearly showed that we were travelling at just 30mph (although it did peak later at 47mph)
The journey up to Scotland had been as boring as every other Motorway journey, apart from a little respite as I passed through the Lake District. Having said that, I was amazed at how quickly I had reach Gretna Green. The FJR just eats up those miles as if they were an appetiser!! What a great highway bike! With that adjustable screen (the large one, not the standard) I could achieve the perfect position where wind-blast went straight over my head but not enough to cause too much pushing on my back.
Once I got onto the A75 to Stranraer, things really started to get exciting. The sun was shining, the roads were dry and the FJR was eager to make some progress on those long sweeping bends. What a fantastic bike and what fantastic roads!! I couldn't believe how fast I was riding - this bike will definitely lose me my licence!!! One twist of that throttle and she just picks up her skirt and flies down that road like there's no tomorrow. Brilliant!
On the return journey, I was followed off the ferry in Stranraer by a young chap on a Honda 600RR. He had previously been looking at my bike as if to say "I'll get one of those when I get my pipe and slippers". I tell you, he got the surprise of his life when we reached the A75 because I just left him for dead!! There was simply no way that he could keep up with me. It was no surprise to me of course, but I think he was more than a bit miffed
The only time he could catch me was when I was held up by double-white-lines and slow traffic. But of course as soon as a break came, I was away again and he disappeared from sight until the next hold up.
Well, I had a fantastic time and I will certainly be going back again soon. I never saw a single speed-camera while I was in Ireland and the roads in Scotalnd are just awesome. Okay, so my Miles-Per-Gallon suffered a little, but what the hell.
Can't wait to go again! And for any Police Officers reading this....it's all fabricated rubbish! :lol:
Rather than travel from Liverpool and sail for 8 hours, I decided to ride up to Stranraer in Scotland and jump on what is claimed to be the largest and fastest ferry in the world - the Stena Voyager (I think it has a couple of FJR engines). :yahoo: It takes just 110 minutes on this baby and its incredibly smooth. Someone on the ferry told me that we were travelling at over 60mph, so I pulled out my Zumo and it clearly showed that we were travelling at just 30mph (although it did peak later at 47mph)
The journey up to Scotland had been as boring as every other Motorway journey, apart from a little respite as I passed through the Lake District. Having said that, I was amazed at how quickly I had reach Gretna Green. The FJR just eats up those miles as if they were an appetiser!! What a great highway bike! With that adjustable screen (the large one, not the standard) I could achieve the perfect position where wind-blast went straight over my head but not enough to cause too much pushing on my back.
Once I got onto the A75 to Stranraer, things really started to get exciting. The sun was shining, the roads were dry and the FJR was eager to make some progress on those long sweeping bends. What a fantastic bike and what fantastic roads!! I couldn't believe how fast I was riding - this bike will definitely lose me my licence!!! One twist of that throttle and she just picks up her skirt and flies down that road like there's no tomorrow. Brilliant!
On the return journey, I was followed off the ferry in Stranraer by a young chap on a Honda 600RR. He had previously been looking at my bike as if to say "I'll get one of those when I get my pipe and slippers". I tell you, he got the surprise of his life when we reached the A75 because I just left him for dead!! There was simply no way that he could keep up with me. It was no surprise to me of course, but I think he was more than a bit miffed
The only time he could catch me was when I was held up by double-white-lines and slow traffic. But of course as soon as a break came, I was away again and he disappeared from sight until the next hold up.Well, I had a fantastic time and I will certainly be going back again soon. I never saw a single speed-camera while I was in Ireland and the roads in Scotalnd are just awesome. Okay, so my Miles-Per-Gallon suffered a little, but what the hell.
Can't wait to go again! And for any Police Officers reading this....it's all fabricated rubbish! :lol:
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