It all sounded a bit ambitious but of course I went along with the idea as Keith had been before and knew the route, what could possibly go wrong.
The meeting point was a local pub car park, we all managed to get there at the allotted time the Keith on his TDM, Dave on his Deauville & me on my Kawasaki Z750. 'Three Desperadoes'. Foggy, Compo & Clegg more like. Within two minutes Keith had managed to drop his helmet damaging his brand new visor in the process!, we should have seen it as an omen. With route note's handed out 'just in case' I feel I must point out at this time that Keith is usually our tour leader as he's the one who has taken the time to look at the map myself and Dave are happy to follow. He is what we call our 'Keith Keith' rather like a 'Tom Tom'! (Sort of)
So with tanks full and worryingly looking like we knew what we were doing we headed North. First stop Tebay services, for a coffee and a call of nature, literally as it happen as the ducks seem to like pecking at motorbike boots.
Our first overnight was at a small campsite which as it happens has a pub attached! how fortuitous was that. We slept well perhaps a little to well as we had a hard days ride ahead of us if we were going to get to Gairloch that night. The pace was set for the day as we began to eat the miles all was looking good. Until Dave on the totally reliable Honda came flying past pointing at his boot, as he was now doing about 70 it was hard to see what the problem was? So he quickly pulled up so we could look at his wet left boot. The radiator seems to have chosen that moment to mark it's territory not very Honda like. So we decide rather than ride off waving we better help him fix it. Saturday afternoon in Ayr seemed not to be the place to find any radiator sealant. But just as the autospares shop was closing we managed to find some radweld!!!!!!!!!!! Not a great fan of the stuff for bikes especially but needs must when the radiator runs dry! So in it went to do it's stuff. Because of the diversion and the time taken to track down the said stuff and the biggest greasiest breakfast I've ever endured we were running late. So now to crack on, we continued up the A78 to get the ferry to Hunters Quay. The picturesque A815 taking us up to Inveraray with some great biking roads all the way.
The weather decided to get very Scottish on us and as darkness started to threaten as we rode in to Oban. Having now excepted that we would not reach Gairloch (or anywhere near) that day we just happened to pass a B&B with a vacancy sign, rooms booked wet gear removed a quick shower and change and off for a pint and a curry. After a leisurely breakfast we packed the bikes back up and set off for Gairloch and the MZ rally. We were now very late and still had a fair way to go, the pace had slowed to nurse the still not water tight Honda. We passed some fantastic scenery but no time to stop and take it all in (isn't it always the way?) we were now on some fantastic biking roads and the riding was as good as the view. We came across a garage and decided to take the opportunity to top up with fuel, the first time I'd ever paid more than £1.20? a litre (those were the days!).
Single track mountain roads took us to Gairloch and the camp site over looking a beautiful bay. The campsite manager checked us in and told us where we could camp saying up there on the left you will see all your MZ mate's up there. Great we thought people have stayed on and not just rushed off. So off we went to tell our tales of woe. But as we turned the corner and saw well no one, the camp site was empty all the MZ'ers had gone home! oops a little late then. Still at least we made it and the suns out so set up camp and get some food. Myself and Dave headed for the shop down the road to get some supplies, while Keith decided he would eat out at the pub, and to hell with the expense.
Keith took himself off to the pub while me and Dave cooked our food and had a rest. Later we joined Keith who had found a couple of guys who were MZ'ers staying in the bunk house. It was also the first time we had paid over £3 a pint in a pub for bitter. A couple of bikers had arrived at the campsite while we were cooking our meal they had come over from Holland and had some flash camping kit. They said they would join us later in the pub, which they did. While Keith was having his meal in the other bar me and Dave took the opportunity to tell our Netherland friends that Keith was in fact a very wealthy 'Yorkshire Mafia' Boss who liked to rough it every now and again. Of coarse after meeting him for a few minutes they were totally taken in .............. Keith of course had no idea what was going on, as he told them what we said would be his cover story. How we laughed when one of the Netherlanders said he could give Keith the phone number of someone who could supply him with plenty of narcotics! Maybe it's time to get back to the campsite...............
After packing up it was time to retrace our steps and head for home. The Honda was topped up with water and a steady pace was set. After about the third BMW GS had tried to wipe me out with the as wide as a small car panniers I was getting a bit fed up with the Charlie & Ewan wanna be's. And after a quick blast showing them how to corner! normality was returned. We decided to return on the same ferry and head for the same camp site we had stayed at on our first night. When the ferry docked the sun came out as did the traffic, this caused the Honda to get hot under the fairing and so some filtering was in order to get back to a steady speed. At the next stop more water was added, after letting everything cool down. The subject that was on all our minds (but never said) since day two was will it make it back or do we call the breakdown truck.
The Honda of course made it back laughing off the lack of water, 70K on a Deauville is after all just running in mileage. Time to get the maps out and plan the next trip...................................
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