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Travel StoriesScotland, And A Little Rain
Deluge, Disaster, And Delights
Ride Date 5 June 2024
By Ren Withnell
I wake to the sound of rain on the tent once more and I'm awake too early as per. I get up and head out in the siling rain to visit the loo and have myself an early morning shower, it passes the time constructively while I await the rest of the world waking up. As I return to the tent I notice there's a puddle by the door. Hmmm. It's deeper than I'm happy with.
Ben Nevis is now covered in snow.
The tent now has en-suite bathing facilities.
Ah. Poop. Yes the porch is underwater at one side, there is a chance Sharon's side of the inner tent is underwater too. It is. Errr... ahem... sweetie, er... you're side of the tent might be a bit soggy? Sharon grumbles and mumbles then launches into action, I've never seen anything like it. I fear this is it dear reader, I'm about to meet my maker at the hands of an irate and wet Madam Moisture. I envisage my blood mixing with the muddy puddle water as my life ebbs away.
Oh, oh dear. HELP!
She's not chuffed, I can tell you that. Surprisingly though she's being pragmatic about it all. Let's do this, oh no that's wet, well we can dry that in one of the statics, oh phew that bag's dry and this stuff don't matter if it's wet. I can't decide if she's seething inside and holding it all in or genuinely putting her mind to finding solutions. I run around trying to assist, expecting death or tears at any moment.
Nope, she keeps her poop together. Her sleeping bag is slightly damp, off to Rob's van along with the mattress that is soaked but that'll dry just fine. Things are moved, items taken to the statics and others rammed into dry bags, I organise my own kit and the crew help us move the tent briskly to a better position. It's all hectic for about 45 minutes but in this time the rain stops and everything is made better. It's not good, but it could have been a whole lot worse.
This is approximately where Sharon's sleeping mat would have been.
Finally we settle into Rob's van with a brew and toast for breakfast. I relax. I won't ever tell her this but I'm quite proud of Sharon for not going to pieces. Perhaps I ought to be proud of myself for not running away like the wimp that I am. I can't help but feel a tinge of guilt for not positioning the tent better in the first place. I am human, I make mistakes. As her sleeping bag dries we are both thankful to our friends for having the statics.
Right! To business. Today we're going somewhere I've been before but on a route I have never explored and have wanted to for some time now. I can't take credit for the route though, this is Rik's doing. We're going to Loch Ness, then taking the smaller less travelled south east roads up one side then back via the overpopular A82 on the north west side. Presently it's not raining but the skies and the apps assure us it will be sooner or later.
A detailed and comprehensive map of Loch Ness.
If ever there was a day I'd expect Sharon to choose to go pillion I'd think it was today. Nope, she's riding today. This'll be 140 plus miles of questionable weather and unknown roads and after this morning's minor disaster she's still up for it. I'll never understand her thinking, it's best not to try.
We follow the A82 north easterly to get there. I am of the opinion that Loch Lochy just after Spean Bridge is in fact a much nicer and more impressive loch than the famous Loch Ness. Alas when we arrive at Loch Lochy the rain is coming down in stair rods and the usually impressive view is shrouded in mist and drizzle. I have to admit I'm rather disappointed with the weather and the denial of my viewing pleasure.
Loch Lochy is not looking its best today.
Yes, of course it does doesn't it. By the time we turn off the A82 at Fort Augustus taking the new to me B862 the weather has turned. The rain is gone, there's the odd blue patches and the road is drying rapidly. As we make our way along this new road I learn I've been missing out. It's a cracker! Firstly it's much much quieter than the bustling A82, secondly the scenery is good, especially as we can see it now, and thirdly it's a mixture of all kinds of corners and straights and surfaces and undulations.
Aiming for Foyers we take the B852 which is narrow single track with some challenging sharp bends. As we get closer the heavens open with big fat noisy raindrops that I can feel hitting my legs through the waterproofs and my bike gear. We find a cafe in Foyers, struggling to even see where to park.
Dagnammit. The cafe is but a shop with a few seats, and it's full. Outside there's benches but even with the sunshade umbrellas our tea would soon be washed away by the rain. The cafe staff could not be more accommodating - they move a display, shuffle chairs around and get more from out back, make a temporary table from a box and a tray, there WILL be room made available for the soggy bikers. Now this is true service.
We leave the helmets and bags under a sunshade, get our tea, coffee, and cake then take our rest. Yup. As soon as we're in and accommodated and served - the sun comes out. Later we thank the cafe team for their kindness and pay our bills.
You would't think it was belting it down 20 minutes ago would you. Thank you Waterfall Cafe.
We're right on top of Foyer Falls here, according to the signs across the road. While I stay with the kit the rest of them take the short stroll to a viewing point to get some (what I later learn) rather impressive images of Loch Ness from the side less viewed.
Rik and Rob enjoying blue skies and the Loch Ness vistas
The views without the lads ruining the shot.
I lead us out still heading north east towards Inverness. The B852 remains narrow but now mostly straight as we follow the side of Loch Ness. There's no doubt about it, this route is a far prettier route, a much more peaceful route, and in spite of the passing showers I'm impressed. We're not pressing on, just steadily cruising, letting the odd vehicle past from in front or behind, it's all very chilled and calm.
There's a little confusion with roadworks and directions in Inverness, leading to a 5 motorcycle u-turn in some random estate before sat-nav and my befuddled brain can get us back on the A82 heading south west. The A82 is flowing but it's a busy road with lorries and coaches as well as the regular cars and seemingly endless adventure motorcycles resplendent with Klim clothing, aluminium top and side boxes, and bright LED additional spotlights. Eeee when I wur a lad it wur all sportsbikes and one piece leathers.
Loch Ness from the A82 is far less impressive.
Yes, Loch Ness is nice enough I suppose, from this side. I now know it's far nicer from the other side so remember that folks. We're not doing too badly for time today and no-one seems bike weary, as such I suggest a minor detour. We'll take the A887 turning at Invermoriston, but rather than go all the way to The Kyle of Lochalsh we'll turn right at Bun Loyne back to the A82. Agreed? Good.
The weather remains "mixed". One minute we're swooping around the fast curves of the A887 then as we turn onto the A87 southbound the heavens open. That's a bit annoying to be honest, the section between Bun Loyne and Invergarry is a rider's delight, and now it's all wet. We stop for piccies at one of the Glengarry viewpoints then Rik, on the least likeliest motorcycle suitable for twisties, shoots off at hyperspeed leaving us all in the wake of of his enormous rear tyre.
Sharon gets a great pic at Glengarry.
The evening goes much as last evening did. Sharon's kit has dried in the statics which is a relief and we return it back to the tent. Janine returns from another enormous walk somewhere not too far from Glengarry apparently. Some real food is cooked and consumed but the biscuits, crisps, sweeties and chocolates are where it's at. Yakking, silliness, and nonsense ensues till around 2230 when we all drift off to our respective beds.
Janine's doggo, worn out after a long day's walk.
Today would have been better with good weather - no doubt about that, and yet as I reflect upon the day I'm satisfied and content. I was told about the route south east of Loch Ness quite some time back, perhaps I was put off because there's far better routes in Scotland both visually and motorcycling wise than the A82 alongside Loch Ness. The B862 and B852 is a much better route and I'll recommend it to anyone who'll listen.
I'm glad this morning's debacle passed without too much wailing and gnashing of teeth. There's a lesson in tent positioning to be learned somewhere, though experience tells me I'm destined to repeat the same mistakes endlessly.
It's our last full day in The Highlands tomorrow, these trips always go far too fast.
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Prologue - Scotland, And A Little Rain
In the lead up to this year's trip with friends it's all sorted and settled very swiftly. With that done all Ren has to do is contain his antici...pation and try to be a growed up and not a child. No hope.
A Lovely Start
Good weather, good roads and a good campsite next to a pleasant town. There must be something wrong with the universe if Ren isn't grumbling and griping, this can't last.
Northbound, A Ferry And Big Trees
The Dynamic Muppets are continuing their ride north and so far there's no major disasters. There's roads to be ridden, a favourite ferry and a strange new place to explore.
Finally - The Highlands
It's the time of The Gathering in The Highlands (some of you might get that...). The sun is shining, Ren is less miserable than usual and all is well. Wait, are we on the right website here?
Mixed Weather And Mixed Roads, Mallaig And Strontian
With mixed weather on the cards it'll be interesting to see what the day brings. Not everything goes quite to plan but things are done, motorcycles get ridden and sights are seen.
Deluge, Disaster, And Delights
Oh what a day! There's disaster and rain, sunshine and delightful hospitality, and the drama of weather and Highland scenery. Buckle up.
Easy To Dalwhinnie And Shameful Friends
It's an easy day's ride in The Highlands today although not everything is going quite the way it should. It doesn't help when Ren's friends are shopping for... soap.
Reader's Comments
ROD¹ said :-
Scotland has some lovely views, when it stops raining!
15/08/2024 23:42:16 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
It's a fair comment ROD, even so I'd rather be in a wet Scotland than a dry Bolton.
16/08/2024 07:09:45 UTC
Simon K said :-
How wet was Sharon's kit? I had to cut a trip short when my tent leaked and everything got wet, and I had nowhere to dry anything.
19/08/2024 08:23:01 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Hi Simon K. Fortunately Sharon's kit was not totally drenched. The mattress is some kind of fancy plastic but being plastic dries really fast. Luckily Sharon's sleeping bag was on the mattress and not the floor otherwise I reckon that would have been soaked. The sleeping bag is down (which doesn't like getting wet) and was only wet in a couple of places where odd bits hung over the edge of the mattress. That was very fortunate.
The rest of her kit was things like bottles of lotions and potions, they dry fine of course. Her boots and shoes may have had wet soles but that's OK. Almost all of her clothes were in their dry bags which is good. Odds and sods like a sock or t-shirt got a bit damp. With our friends in the static they dried just fine.
We would have survived without the drying in the statics, but it would have been much more of a problem.
I feel for you - getting all your kit soaked. It's easily done be it a leak, an en-suite impromptu puddle, or as I've experienced having the tent collapse onto your kit. It's frustrating when you're not too far from home and you have to quit and go home. I can imagine it'd be a nightmare if you were far from the safety of home.
19/08/2024 15:06:35 UTC
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Travel StoriesScotland, And A Little Rain