Even Ken Had A Good Time.

What a fantastic trip we had, brilliant rides, fantastic scenery, great bunch of people (8 bikes) plus one car, hee, hee! Andy Brown couldn't ride his bike as he had a health problem, so his daughter Emma drove him up in his car, and they joined in as best they could. Each evening we all went out for a meal and had a real laugh! We went up via Barnard Castle to Gretna Green, then Alan Crooks led us up to Crianlarich via a fantastic road over from Dumfries to Ayr (what a road that was). Then up the coast through Largs, Greenock, then over the Erskine Bridge up the A82 along past Loch Lomond to Crianlarich.

Thursday morning we set off for another full days riding; we went round the pretty way via Inverary, Lochgilphead, then Oban for lunch. After that, we boarded the Corran Ferry over the water (very short trip hee, hee), then on down to Lochaline for another boat trip over to Mull. Unfortunately as we were about to board, Dave Williams discovered he had a rear puncture. He was blowing it up as we sailed over to Mull. Fortunately he managed to get up to the Hotel in Tobermory and plugged it with a kit borrowed from Dave Hudghton and it held the whole trip

The first night in Tobermory was a scream, as most of us went in to a local pub for a meal, we were in one of the smallest rooms I've ever been in (for a pub) but what a night! Then on Friday we set off around the island ...very slow progress as the roads were tiny and very twisty. Unfortunately the weather was not good with a very fine mist and very damp, so visibility wasn't very good either but with the roads we were on, the rider hadn't much chance to sight see. Emma rode on the back of Brian Bewley and after a long mornings ride we eventually arrived at Fionnphort to take a short ferry journey (as foot passengers over to Iona) we had lunch over there, then came back over.

Andy came over in his car the short way and was waiting for us when we arrived. We then set off back to Tobermory via the quick way, but very beautiful, eventually getting back to the hotel to get ready for another great night out. We sat outside this pub in Tobermory Harbour, had another great laugh, then off to bed. Saturday morning we were to catch a ferry from Tobermory to Kilchoan on the mainland; as we were getting ready to set off, Dave Atkin discovered he also had a puncture in his rear tyre. He put some air in with Mike Gray's compressor and we were off to the ferry (only a few hundred yards from the Hotel). The ferry journey was the longest at about 35 mins.

From Kilchoan we had a brilliant ride along the banks of Loch Sunart, then on to the Corran Ferry for the short trip back over to the A82, up and over the fantastic Glencoe - visibility wasn't ideal, a bit breezy on the top, but great riding. We had a fuel stop at the Green Wellie then on down the A85-A84 to Callander...what a road that is!

Saturday night in Callander, we all went into this pub and again had a fantastic time - I must say most of the humour was generated by Dave Williams! Then during the Sat/Sun night I had one of my shaking do’s and so I was absolutely knackered Sunday morning. I didn't go down for breakfast, and Babs was suggesting we stop an extra night to get me right, but I managed to drag myself out of bed and get ready. I thought once I got some air into my lungs I would feel better. It was a long day but again a brilliant ride down; Alan Crooks led us to Gretna through some fantastic roads courtesy of Andy Brown’s planning.
From Gretna, Dave Atkin led us back to Scotch Corner - we had a few minutes there, said our goodbyes and headed home.

By the time we got home I was absolutely Knackered........but I wish we were going again this week !!!!

Ed. This is one of the three articles on this Mull trip. 1. I did it by car. 2. Even Ken had a good time. 3. Dave Mulls it over.