Earraghail Tour

Coastline of the Gaelic isles is the meaning but pronunciation of Earraghail is down to you!  Friday 20th April and the riding season starts with our regular kick off event of a Scottish Tour.  For some of us the riding season, in reality, never stopped but this one has always been billed as the kick off event (the Heart 'n' Soul is equally billed as the year end event but that's another storey).  Rally headquarters are Oban, Scotland and about 100 dared to book this adventure.

Friday 20th April 2007 06:30 and we are getting ready for the ride to Oban and the start of the Erraghail Tour.  Rally packs and tour t.shirts have been given out, routes and groups of riders have their instructions; the only thing not playing it's part is the weather!  As I sit here breakfasted and having walked the dogs there is a steady pitter patter of rain on the conservatory roof, oh well get the heated vest and FXRG gear out because whatever the weather I'm going to ride and have fun.

Brilliant day in the saddle, with mostly dry North of Glasgow.  Ernie lost his gear lever and this is the fix that got him 50 miles to the dealer in Glasgow.  The dealer had a new one and once fitted it was heading North West but trouble lay ahead.  There had been a chemical spill and our chosen route was blocked but we could take the better road, although a little longer to our destination. 

Now rested and fed once this uploads to the WWW then it is Party on, watch this space for more news tomorrow; but first why not check out the Photo Page?

Saturday 21st April 2007 19:30.  Just back from the Saturday ride out to Tobermory, Island of Mull, a wet, twisty, greasy, testing ride; wonderful! Here is Tobermory, famous for its colourful houses (the photo-stitch function on my new Cannon IXUS 850 came into play!):

There were two ferry rides and on the first we took the opportunity for a Chapter photo, courtesy of the ferry operator!

Unfortunately I have an 'off' to report, Ernie dropped his Sporty yesterday evening about eight miles from Oban, he got a helicopter ride to Glasgow where today's news was a broken vertebrae and a broken wrist.  We all wish him a speedy full recovery.

I got fuel at Tobermory and saw what the islanders have to pay £1.04 per litre (for my American readers that is about $9.00 per gallon).  We all had lunch in Tobermory we decided to eat at Macgochans Bar & Bistro and I had Cullen Skink which is a smoked haddock fish chowder; delicious.

Sunday 22nd April 2007 06:30.   Typically of me I'm up at 06:00, at least this morning there were no all night drinkers in the bar!  Perhaps it was the fact that Jen is off to Sharm El Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt this morning that I was up so that I could wish her and Dot a bon voyage.  It was a real family affair with Jen, Dot, Natalie, and Adam in the car to Newcastle airport but the extra addition was Barley an eight week old Clumber Spaniel, the latest addition to our family that welcomed my early morning call.

Last evening we were treated to a Scottish night.  Highland dancing, bagpipes and a traditional accordion band.  Bev and Ann entered the spirit and in tight confines danced the light fantastic.

So what does today offer.  I've been asked to lead a ride on what we have denoted as the Archaracle Loop.  About two thirds of our merry band are returning to England today but the third left will be in Bonnie Scotland on April 23rd, St.George's Day for the run South.

The rain was persistent, all day but good gear meant we stayed dry for the Archaracle Loop; however just before the official ride out set off we managed a partial group photo.  I say partial because many were missing, left already, doing other stuff, still in the arms of Morpheous, whatever, but some of us were there.

 During today's ride we came across a little Bistro at Strontian and the owner an ex-publican from Bakewell told us about Tioram Castle at Dorlin (about 4km North of Archarcle) after I advised him I was looking for a killer photo to enter the Motorcycle Tourer's Forum (MTF) monthly photo competition; I got one and once more used the new camera's stitch function; what do you think?

On the way into Fort William, at Corpach, Jono had a shudder as on one of the first Scottish Chapter trips we had stayed at the bunkhouse in Corpach and as the youngest Jono had to get on the top bunk of a three tier bunk!  His nose was touching the ceiling and he could not even turnover; but now days the Geordie Chapter is much more civilised and its Five Star all the way now.

Monday 23rd April (St George's Day) 2007 07:00 Up and at 'em, that's my motto and with my bag nearly packed I'm ready, but Jono has some z's still to knock out!  We've got all day for the 250 mile run home and today's plan is 'There is no plan'.  I suppose the main agenda items today are clean the bike and get our gear in the wash and squared away after three heavy weather days. Home alone means all the drudgery of domestic turmoil are on the shoulders of Jonathan and I so I guess once we have the bike washed, the first batch of clothes in the washing machine it will be off to Spice 1 for our supper; first there is the small matter of 250 miles - how to avoid the traffic of Glasgow?

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