Glen Clova camping field.
Dickie's report
For those who didn’t know, I was originally going to Scotland with the Hardings & the Ozmeister for the week but later found out that Mel didn’t get back from her school trip to Paris until the Sunday of the rally. We decided that if we couldn’t do the rally & the following week, we wouldn’t go at all.
As a consolation I booked the ferry to do the HSOC in Ireland with Jenny & Oz instead. Also H as always wanted to go to Florence, to do the museums, & as I had some travel vouchers from work these were used to sort this out.
I rang Denis on the Wed evening to wish him a good trip to Scotland & he mentioned that we would be missed & that one day when the kids are older we would be able to do what rallies we like. Well that got me thinking, why wasn’t I going? Couldn’t afford it, no excuse I can never afford it. It’s a long way for the weekend, no problem I can go on my own. Jenny’s working & can’t get the time off, so what; she is nearly 18 & would be ok at home. Bugger it, I will go, so asked H, she said do it, told Jenny, she was fine with it.
So I rang my boss & told him I was having Thu & Fri off, rang a work mate to get my standby covered, Sorted.
At 3am I got up to take Mel to school to catch the coach to Paris, this left at 4:50, so on my way then.
Next thing, should I call round at Ozzies house for him, best not to I thought just in case it was a bit too early. I should have known better, he had already left at 4:30.
A quick thrash up the A1 to Barton services, just above Scotch corner, where I knew they were meeting at 8:30. On the way, passed Doncaster, I noticed a solo in a lay-by who waved as I went pass, blinking eck it was Alf Tindall who caught me up as I nipped into Barnsdale services to top the Wing up.
Left the services after a swift smoke & wound the Wing up, lost Alf who was having problems with a floating tank bag, but he & the Hardings found me just before Scotch Corner, filling up the Juggernaut again.
We all went & had breakfast in the café, where I surprised & was surprised by Oz. Later Chad & friends turned up for the second leg of the run up thro’ the borders on the A68.
More petrol & smoke stops later saw us arrive at Glen Coe late afternoon. Tents were erected & kettles put on for tea & coffee. After cooking a meal we all went to the hotel for some liquid refreshment, but we only managed a couple before we started falling asleep.
Fri was gorgeous so we decided to go for a walk up the Glen to the end of the road. We found a picnic bench next to the river at the end, to rest our weary legs & to take in the stunning scenery. Whilst recouping at the river, it’s rumoured that Chad cupped his hand to scoop up some refreshing water from the highland stream when a gamekeeper shouted “dinna drink tha waaater, ets foo ae coo’s shite an pish”. Chad replied “my good fellow I’m from England could you repeat that in English for me”, the keeper replied, “ I said use both hands, you will spill less that way”.
Look what the water did to Chad, or was it the whisky that was with it.
Anyhow, after a rest we trudged back in the scorching sun to the campsite, where some went straight to the pub whilst I jumped on the Wing to go and rescue Chad, who could not take one more step.
Later that afternoon the peace was shattered when a thunder came down the glen, it was the Tri-Anglia on Tour Mob led in by the big V twin of Martyn Aves. Geoff & Anne started sorting out their dodgy poles, Martyn slung his tent up in seconds, Pearl started being nice to me (worrying) & Rebo was passed bits & bobs from everyone else in the group. It turned out that Rebo, who wangled a lift to pick up his new outfit, had more stuff than the rest. Work that one out?
Friday night turned into a bit of a Pool night, as I managed to stay unbeaten all night, with some stunning moves (according to Pearl & Anne) & a lot of luck.
Sat saw us on a run to Arbroth through the lanes. Norrie had sorted parking on the harbour & everyone was left to wander. Some went to the café whilst others were seen heading to the smoke house for some Arbroth smokies.
Sat night in the hotel was just like being at Hallaton, there was a Grand Prix which was adjudicated over by our very own Pearl, who also won a trophy for something like Longest Girlie! Geoff & Anne won longest outfit or something as well!
Sunday morning & I had to nip home to pick Mel up. I left at ten to nine & took a steady run across to Glasgow & down the A74 & M6, with a head wind for most of the journey. I got home at ten past five. Not too back for 448 miles with a stop for dinner & lots of stops for fuel & smokes. I was only managing 90 miles to a tank full, the weekend did cost me a fortune but I really enjoyed it.
Thanks to Norrie, Bob Dennie & family. Heres looking forward to next year.
Dickie
Martyn's report
As Dickie departed on the Sunday morning I will fill in from there, but first, 4 members of the Tri-Anglia Wheels mob met a Markham Moor services at 7am.m On wednesday I picked up Rebo on the way and tanked down the A1 and a £14 fill up at the services. Rebo said he would pay for the juice on the way up as I was giving him a lift up to pick up his new outfit. Jeff and Ann already at the café so we joined them and had breakfast ten all of us set off for Kielder where we planned to meet up with Pearl and Mick and camp for 2 days before then setting off for Glen Clova.
Not to sure about Jeff's pose.
Martyn, leading, take to the tracks.
Pearl was heard to say, "there is no way Martyn will take his new bike on a stone track". Wrong; She followed and was fighting her big fat front car tyre all the way and Jeff was in his element.
I followed Jeff up the A1 until the second fill up, £11 for the same amount of miles, which pleased Rebo. I then led taking B roads to the A68, we got to the campsite at around lunch time, set up camp had a bite and cupper.
We then went for a walk, which ended up at the edge of Otterburn Range, when we returned Mick and Pearl had arrived. I led the mob for a tour around the area on Thursday, this saw Pearl struggling to keep up with Jeff on a forest track I had taken to get a good view over Kielder Water. Friday morning and we all set off for Glen Clova, we me leading a Rebo on the map, but that was debatable as I think he was just enjoying the scenery.
Pole repair on Jeff and Ann's tent.
We arrive on Friday, so with Dickie and Ozzy there were 8 wheels there, with 18 wheels on the road, (ah Fed pub quiz question I think). As Dickie said in his report, a pleasant night was spent in the Hotel.
A green goddess at the museum, note the fire symbols on the side, well there would never be any hedgehog ones as they didn't go fast enough!
I think the symbols represent the fires they made it to before the fires actually went out.
I didn’t go the run-out on the Saturday opting to go to Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre http://www.rafmontrose.org.uk so on to the Sunday. The planned run out was a long one ending up at the Edradour distillery, the smallest in Scotland, located at Pitlochry http://www.edradour.co.uk Due to time the run out was changed, as I, Pearl and Mick didn’t wish to walk around the shops at Pitlochry we headed back to the site at should I say an enthusiastic pace and Mick and Pearl were a little surprised at the tarts handbag midrange power, in one word phenomenal.
Ann in Arbroth, sort of has a ring to it!
Sunday night came and passed with loads of excuses and creeping in the morning by my fellow travelers, the incident has been noted in my little black book. Monday morning and time to leave, we thank the organisers who did an excellent job and made us all most welcome.
We headed back home stopping at the campsite we used on the way up. I took a different route going over the Tay Bridge and used the A7 to Galashiels stopping for supplies before heading to the campsite.
It is amasing what you can see on your travels.
No it is not trick photograpthy, but a much modified Mini; named "MINUKI"
At the English / Scottish border.
It was a bit of a hot ride in the glorious weather and I spent quite some time in one of the lovely showers at the site. Tuesday morning and I had to head for home; the others stayed on for one more night. I suffered a puncture about 15 miles from home and had to call international rescue, namely Lesley, with a Re-air plug and a can of puncture repair I was on my way, but needing to purchase a new tyre as the hole was too big to repair safely.
I now feel comfortable with the new Outfit at last, handling issues have all now been sorted, in fact so comfortable the Outfit was nearly driving itself on the A1.
It was a most pleasant trip made all the better by my travelling companions; somehow I don’t think it will be the last Wheels Tour.
Martyn
