A very rare thing happened today.NOT MUCH RAIN.
In 2007 we wanted to get to The Isle of Skye but the weather beat us. Not today.
A prime bit of real estate.
The Bridge to Skye.
Happy Snaps.
The view from our B & B.
Start heading East and South today.
Since the day slacking it at Pooley Bridge we have made it into Scotland. The weather predictions have been for very wet and windy, however so far so good. Scotland is spectacular as far as scenery goes.
The only bridge over the Atlantic Ocean.
I’ll let the photos tell the story.
Plenty of rain, all the dams are full.
Yes, snow.
Today we go to Inverness to shout Olga a new front tyre.
All is good in sunny Scotland.
The sad day arrived and it was time to head back to England. The ferry was 100% full, 99% motorcycles.
Coming into Liverpool the ferry passes a small power station. To think that we kick up such a stink if a wind farm was to be put near us. The noise from the wingers is louder than the windmills.
From Liverpool we headed North to the Lakes District. We called into a small village where Mr and Mrs Potter’s little girl Beatrix wrote stories about rabbits and things.
“Hill Top”
More wide roads.
Dut dut darrrr, THE STRUGGLE. MOTORCYCLE HEAVEN. The road, 2 way, starts from Ambleside as a main(ish) road. Olga was in 2nd gear for most of the way.
Going up.
Where the road disappears in the photo, it drops down to Ambleside, STEEP AND NARROW.
Up.
What goes up must come down.
We made it to Pooley Bridge, a small village at the North end of the district and had a day on the lake ferries. Not as hard as wrestling Olga.
Further North tomorrow. Heading towards some feral weather.
Well it’s nearly over. 2 weeks of fantastic racing and sight seeing on the most beautiful island (my opinion) in the Irish Sea.
An unexpected bonus was a joy flight over the island. Yep, that’s me, just like riding a sidecar.
Once it was off the ground it was easy.
Now to get this thing down. The white spot to the right is a big plane waiting for me. SCARY, not really as the shoulder belongs to the proper pilot.
Friday is the final race, 6 laps of the circuit, 226.5 miles at an average speed of 130 miles per hour. The riders leave the start line at 10 second intervals so even the rider who is last off the line has an even chance of winning. The race has to be run in either total wet or dry conditions due to the tyres used, so when it rained on one small section of the course, the race was postponed for a few hours. We were in our position at 7am, but we were still not the first ones there. Bradden Bridge is a very popular viewing spot with great food and amenities in the church hall.
Front row seats. You would pay hundreds of dollars for this at the GP races. Here, a few pounds admission to the church ladies and a few pounds to park behind the church, off the street. Our money, about $20.00 for a day at the races. There are plenty of places absolutely free but here no one minds paying for the use of the amenities and the GREAT food available.
Janice’s feet, my hat shadow, the track. The race line is half way to the painted medium strip.
The church ladies and healthy food.
How’s this for roughing it at the races. This is what makes this spot so popular. Very civilised.
Where else in the world would one sit for 10 hours to see a racer go past 6 times? You have to be there to experience the anticipation when the first rider starts. EVERYBODY is on the edge of their seats listening to the commentary on their radios or over the PA system. A rider may make up a place 30 miles away yet people all round the track will either cheer or ooooh, depending upon who they are supporting.
The TT festival finishes with a race meeting at Castletown on the 4 mile Billown circut. A mass start of 40 riders and very fast close racing for 8 laps. Nice and close to the action.
Catch the ferry to Liverpool Monday afternoon. SAD. However, we have booked for 2013. Still so much to see and do. Maybe 3 weeks in 2 years time.
Next stop?????????
