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Travel StoriesScotland, And A Little Rain
Homeward Bound And Epilogue
Ride Date 8 June 2024
By Ren Withnell
I don't remember a damn thing, not even getting up for a pee. I was well out of it, goneski, totally zonked. Sharon has slept well too although I did disturb her a little by snoring, apparently. I don't regularly snore, it seems I really was out of it.
The view from the room is worth waking up for.
We gather our thoughts and our kit together and then head downstairs for breakfast. I doubt Gordon Ramsay has anything to worry about here yet the food is fine and we're soon suitably fed and watered and ready for what should be an easy enough day.
This is Saturday and we're not back in work until Monday - we have the option of camping for one more night en-route home. We shall see, the forecast is fine and there's some lovely options ahead. Yet I can't help but feel as though we've enjoyed what we've done so far but perhaps it's time to get home? I don't know, it matters not, we'll see what the day brings eh?
The first and most pressing item on the agenda is getting fuel into Sharon's Z400 before she stabs me with a steely hard stare and uses my blood as petrol. I make doubly sure we're both Sat-Nav programmed into Hawick's Morrisons then we set out into a warm, dry, somewhat cloudy day.
The narrow lanes from The Tushielaw Inn to Hawick are slow. This is good for fuel consumption, bad for my nerves as I constantly check my mirrors in case the Zed has come to a stuttering halt. It's lovely countryside here I'm sure, but I'm not seeing much of it. When Sat-Nav shows but 0.5 miles to go and Hawick comes into view I start to breath once again. Morrisons has fuel, all is well once more.
Following the A7 south we pull in just before Langholm, to a proper truck stop greasy spoon type cafe we both know. Alas, all good things shall pass. It seems the once plastic gingham table cloths have gone, there's no more steel and plastic chairs, the faded floor tiles have been replaced, and gone are the brown and red rubbery plastic squeezy bottles. While I'll admit the staff are better looking, along with the update the prices have risen and the choices are less trucker more hipster. It's a thing, times they are a-changing.
We partake of tea and a bite to eat and mount up once more. I'm glad to see at least Langholm is still Langholm and all the better for it, I like Langholm. The A7 leads pleasantly to the M6 southbound and we're cruising the highways in glorious sunshine and warm air. It's all rather nice, shame we're on our way home now.
The day is still young so I pull off at Penrith and we follow the signs for Ullswater. Yes indeed The Lake District is very pretty, but on a Saturday in summer with sunshine it's also getting busy. We're stuck behind a meandering line of cars, all stuck behind a massive coach that's struggling with the slender road and oncoming traffic. It's a grind but this, I'm afraid, is my persistent experience of The Lakes.
We take a break in the car park at Glencoyne Bay to stretch our legs, and another atop The Kirkstone pass to take a few piccies. Then it's back to the familiarity of Windermere and the main roads back to the motorways. We've decided - we're not camping out tonight, it's time to get home to a comfy bed. A quick stop for fuel in Preston and a cheap brew at Sports Bike Shop, then back to Sharon's via Ormskirk because I'm obtuse.
Kirkstone Pass.
Ullswater looks splendid, although busy.
And that's it. Done. All that's left to do is unpack and dry out the tent and wash the clothes.
So, how was this trip Ren?
Good, great! Different too. Things change, Scotland is changing, I am changing and change, be it good or bad, is inevitable.
As Sharon and I have noted over the last few years - Scotland is getting busy, there's a myriad of reasons why which have been discussed elsewhere. I'm more concerned as to what to do about it. It makes sense to come out of season, taking the risk of inclement weather but then Scotland NEVER guarantees good weather as we've found out many many times.
In terms of traffic and having the roads to oneself then winter would be ideal. Except for the ice. And the snow. And the wind. And nearly all of the campsites are closed. And you can't see the views for the mist or cloud or rain. And most of the cafes and facilities are closed. And it's cold. And it's wet. Still, it's a challenge and it's still beautiful. Ask me how I know.
I'd suggest the now popular Highlands are likely best in spring and autumn, outside of any school holidays - and check for Scottish school holidays they can be slightly different to English ones. I'd suggest looking towards the slightly less photogenic and slightly less tourist orientated areas to the South West. Otherwise I'd suggest being ready to take your time and enjoy the scenery.
Our small group of friends has now enjoyed 3 splendid holidays together. There was Northern Ireland, there was Devon, and now this trip is completed. There's nothing special about our little group. We're not particularly nice, we can all be annoying in some way or another, and we don't hang out every weekend together.
That, that's probably why it works? We're not under each others feet and grinding each others gears all the time. Plus with not constantly being in communication when we do meet up we have things to talk about. It also helps we're all a bit older now so there's a bit less macho showing off.
There's one last thing we need to sort out. Next year's trip. So far we've agreed on Galloway, South West Scotland. We're now struggling to find a suitable place. I guess we've gotten a good few months to sort things out.
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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.
It's Been A Fair Old Day
After a great week in The Highlands it's time to leave. However fate doesn't want them to leave, nor does Ren. Things aren't going quite to plan today.
Homeward Bound And Epilogue
After yesterday's debacle things are going much better for Sharon and Ren today. It's an easy ride home and the final summing up.
Reader's Comments
Simon K said :-
Ahh, it's good to see you both got home fine.
Have you considered the North East of England? Just as easy for you to get to as Galloway, some great roads and plenty to explore.
01/10/2024 08:21:04 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Hi Simon K. The North East is an area we've been to, but admittedly I don't know the area at all well. Presently with this group it's not just my call and to be frank it's taken a lot of effort for us to settle on the Galloway area, I don't wish to complicate things. Might get up there sooner or later though as I must tap Upt'North for a brew...
01/10/2024 19:48:01 UTC
nab301 said :-
There's some lovely scenery there Ren, as an aside how does the Z400 compare to the 500X MPG wise ?
Nigel
02/10/2024 16:39:33 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Oddly enough... almost the same! We've noticed on our trips if we both fill at the same time we're putting similar amounts in. The Zed is a bit more revvy but it's lighter, then so is Sharon. I'd say my 500 has the edge around town but oddly the Zed might be oh so slightly better on the motorways. I'm sure we're not fully accounting for aerodynamics, riding style, and many other factors... but quite similar.
02/10/2024 20:06:45 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
My experience with bikes from 250 to 955cc is that fuel consumption was remarkably similar across the board at around 55 mpg - which I put down to riding style more than anything else.
04/10/2024 10:07:18 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
My experience is that smaller capacity bikes are more economical if they are ridden very slowly. Once you ride at "normal" speeds the difference between large and small capacity fuel consumption reduces or even disappears.
My 350 Enfield will return 95 mpg at 50 mph where my 125 would return 90 mpg at the same speed.
If these bikes are used at higher speeds the consumption drops to a mpg figure in the 70s. I have never had my 1649 cc bike below 60mpg with mixed riding and 70 mpg taking it easy. I am sure I could get the mpg down to the 25 mpg range, but none of the so called economical bikes would keep up.
It is difficult to accurately compare bikes for fuel consumption unless you are riding together as Ren and Sharon do on their travels, and ride them at differing speeds ect.
04/10/2024 12:02:21 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Yeah my "economical" 500 ain't so economical at motorway speeds. It never gets down to 60mpg like your 1649 behemoth (60mpg seems rather good actually) but it'll rapidly drop form the usual 80mpg to 70mpg. I'm sure if I went above the legal 70mph speed limit it'd drop further, but of course we'll never know because that's illegal innit.
07/10/2024 07:54:42 UTC
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Travel StoriesScotland, And A Little Rain