bank holiday weekend

This weekend im planning a ride to john o'groats leaving berwick about 8 am after walking my Labs there normal 4 mile.

thinking of stopping off to see lock ness on the way/way back if i have the time, thinking it will prob take me around 7 hours straight through, with 3 stops at least for fuel, so i am all excited about my first real long run on my swing.

hope i can d/load a photo or two on my return

Plan for 7 and allow for 10. Don't let the schedule detract from the journey.

certanly wont m8, the highlands i def want to see, wouldnt think i have lived next to them for 50yrs ha

gooffy wrote:

This weekend im planning a ride to john o'groats .... thinking it will prob take me around 7 hours straight through

7 hours? Are you sure?

According to Google Maps, it's of a round trip of about 700miles!

That would require 100mph, non stop!

It's about 335 miles from Berwick upon Tweed to John O'Groats and I suppose you could do it in about 7 or 8 hours if you didn't stop that much. But it's a Bank Holiday Weekend and the roads will be very busy in the Trossachs, Loch Lomond, and Luss, the village where they used to film 'Take the High Road'. There's loads of cameras on the way through the Central Belt into Perthshire, and the A9 though good to ride is long and boring between Blair Atholl and Aviemore, and from Aviemore and Inverness.

Then it's another long haul up the East Coast to Wick before heading up to John O'Groats where the sole purpose of the place is to relieve you of as much of your cash as possible. I've been there, and further West over to Durness a couple of times, but I was riding BMW's with tank ranges of 200 and 300 miles, I'd fill up every 100 miles or so if I was up there on my Silver Wing but maybe you don't need to nowadays if sat nav is showing you where the nearest fuel is.

Have fun

Meldrew, I agree, 300+ each way, and on Highland roads. But his post includes the words "on the way back", so it's reasonable to assume that he's talking about a round trip. That doubles the miles, then there's the extra to Loch Ness; it's not on the direct route. No mention of an overnight stop. Non stop it will take best part of a day.

It would be a shame to have to race, and not stop to look for a while.

I'm concerned that for the first long run he's biting off more than he can chew.

If the ride is just about getting up to John O'Groats and back for a long run then it will be seriously boring, especially hours of hauling a** up and down the A9. Most of it is classic GAFA country, Great Amounts of **** All.

Gooffy,
Are you new to riding or just new to the Silverwing? I can understand Colin's concerns.
If the weather is good (fat chance of that in Scotland and on a Bank Holiday) then allow plenty of time for photo stops and general rubber necking.

Good luck and a report on the journey would be good.

Cheers,

Hi all
Its a bank holiday weekend and im not in any great rush, im staying overnight probably in Wick, was thinking of taking the chance to see whatever i could, if it means staying the sunday night as well somewhere thats fine i have an understanding wife

Going to have an easy run up, and what ever time it takes is the time it takes, the reason i bought the swing was for riding
although the posing is well good too.
The last few weekends i have been out travelling the borders putting in alot of miles
last weekend travelled to edinbourgh then back around by Jedbough, hawick kelso etc


I aim to have a few stops i like happy meals alot along with the odd haggis an chips, as i mentioned the aim is to get to john o'groats taking in what i can on the way.

Not rode for a few year Colin but i have been out on the Swing very much every day commuting and most weekends weather permitting so hopefully i will have an enjoyable ride.

Don't foget to eat the occasional battered deep fried Mars bar to keep up the energy levels !!!!

Meldrew wrote:

Most of it is classic GAFA country, Great Amounts of **** All.

Sounds a lot like I-10 from here to Tucson, AZ. Definitely GAFA country there. 700 miles, took me 14 hours with short stops a few years ago and that's in my truck, a little more comfy than a bike.

Well looks like a lot o people thinking im going to be a sick puppie.

Lets hope im not, anyway, i'm a believer in learning by my own mistakes
im doing it to enjoy the ride and the weekend if i dont you will be the 1st to hear.
hopefully i can post a photo of my swing at the northern edge of the british isles

Goofy, your first post read as though you were attempting the entire run in one go - no mention of stopping overnight. Please accept our concerns as wise counsel, rather than criticism.

Take your time and enjoy.


And report back.

Of course i do Colin
which is why i joined such a wise forum in the first place

hoping for a warm,calm weekend with a fair maiden serving me a frothy lager in Wick

Fat Chance of That.. Dream On..

More likely some old witch will throw you a warm pint of freshly strained slops watered down by the constant rain and the barrel doubles as a water butt for the leaking gutter, and if you complain you'll be getting on her wick!

Enjoy it whatever the weather.

Cheers,

gooffy wrote:

Well looks like a lot o people thinking im going to be a sick puppie.

Lets hope im not, anyway, i'm a believer in learning by my own mistakes

That's the right attitude mate, you can read all the forum posts you want but during and at the end of your trip you'll know a lot more about the capability of yourself, your scooter, your riding gear, what kit you should have taken with you, and what you could have left at home.

There are probably a few people on here that wish they were joining you on that ride. I'll be stuck at home more than likely.

Cheers,

Only just back from a short holiday so apologies for a late post on the subject..
I am sure you will have a great time...and a great ride...However if its the "real" highlands ( and by that I mean great big lumps of dramatic rocks surrounded by sea and sea Lochs ) you want to see then a ride up the West Coast of Scotland is where to go...The East coast can be a bit boring in my view in places. ...There is simply nothing to beat the coast line roads North of Ullapool....LochInver/ around Dumbeg/Kyleskewe/ Scourie/Kinlochbervie / then up to Durness....you wont cover miles speedily there however.....but perhaps you can do that area another time.....it is really worth a visit.

Just back, will give you all an update later on an amazing weekend


derek

Look forward to it Gooffy. weather forecast looking like a better day for us tomorrow (BHM).
If my mate is back from Liverpool we just may get out ourselves.

Cheers,

Round trip of 710 miles, loved every minute of it,

set off from Berwick at 7 am arriving john o'groats at 1600 3 stops for fuel and coffee and 1 stop of over an hour at the Colloden battlefield well worth a visit, surround sound of the planning and the battle and a good museum.

Having not got the mod cons of most folk i used my walkman for music on the way down mostly simon & garf( got to invest in something better) as it was always switching itself off.

My Navman was attached to a velcro strap and holder i just got the day before i left, didnt really need it to be honest as its just basicly A1-A9 and once you get to John o'Groats you cant go any futher can you .


Weather was fine all the way down apart from 2 x 10 mins of light rain and very windy at the far north so windy i swear i was riding sideways horizontal

The A9 as Meldrew said is not a good road but it had its moments and some of the scenery was great around the Inverness area after that the sea on one side and sheep on the other.

Arrived at John o groats to a cold wet welcome someone had taken down the sign but i took a photo anyway hung about for an hour having a burger and chatting to other bikers and cyclists who had done the whole trip from Lands end ,well done to them.

Spent the night in Wick and left this morning at 8.30 arriving home at 1600 with only three stops didnt feel much like detouring as i set off to see john o'groats and was happy to be out riding.

I travelled at speeds between 60 and 110 on all major roads and the Swing was a delight i,m glad you all helped me make that choice always power there when i needed it and a comfortable sitting position for my 5.5 frame.

Learnings, dont travel with a new Helmet, was catching my inside cheek with my tooth causing discomfort, Dont pack spare fuel in yout top box along with your bag of clothes get bluetooth for satnav and phone.

I really enjoyed the ride which was a bonding for me and the bike, for those who maybe thought it may of been a bit too much at once, not for me loved it i would still be riding it now if i could.

Three weeks time Lands end, over 4 days, gonna work out a route then i,m twisting and going

Derek
x

Well done Gooffy.

I assume those speeds are indicated, the speedo is notoriously out by about 10% on average. So 110 indicated is just short of the ton actual.

Bluetooth, ideal way to go. My riding mate and I have Cellularline Interphone F5 units. These give excellent bike2bike communication, but there range offers various combinations. If you just want bluetooth between, phone, sat nav and music player then the F2 City would be the one to go for.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Cellular-Line-INTERPHONE-F2-City-Bluetooth-Motorbike-Communications-/180753853699
(These won't do bike2bike comm though).

On a downside, are you aware that whilst riding wearing earbuds to listen to music is illegal. You may want to try something like these, won't be hi-fi.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Motorcycle-Motorbike-Helmet-Stereo-Speakers-for-MP3-GPS-/230889512255?pt=UK_Motorcycle_Parts&hash=item35c2165d3f

Cheers,

Cheers for that,
I didnt know it was illegal but i thought it may of been

i seen the pads for Helmets with a velcro control switch for the handlebars
was going to take another look sometime

i was using my old car satnav which hasnt got bluetooth didnt want to rebuy one just before i left so im on the looksy now

tx
m8

I cant seem to upload photo as file is too big

Glad you enjoyed your trip mate, you'll have found out that the much photographed John O'Groats signpost is a bit of a con and is just a big plain pole until you pay the guy in the hut to slot the signs on it for your souvenir photo.

Guy wasnt even there, bit of a con m8, but a good run out and not a haggis to be seen anywhere

gooffy wrote:

Guy wasnt even there, bit of a con m8, but a good run out and not a haggis to be seen anywhere

That is because it is haggis hunting season in Scotland!

Cheers,

Has a bird just crapped on his head in gooffy's new avatar?

Meldrew wrote:

Has a bird just crapped on his head in gooffy's new avatar?

Hee hee