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2019
2020
Aug
23
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Cannot believe that we are at the end of our 3 trips / 2 year plan to visit the UK and explore the transport and logistics industry / infrastructure while seeing some of the country.
• We have discovered many things are very similar to home and others vastly different to suit the population base, the terrain and history over time. So much of the land here was settled before it was surveyed where in Australia more of it was surveyed before settlement as an example so we have fewer legacy issues with lots of infrastructure placement for instance.
• It has been a wonderful experience and while we would love to continue we want the time and opportunity to do the same thing in other places (on sealed roads / tarmac of course) so will explore the possibilities for doing a similar exercise in the USA and Canada over the next year or so. So, as they say ‘watch this space!’
Bits and Bobs – some of the things I will miss:
British rural farmland scenes I remember from childhood books and china from my Grandma’s.
Beacons all over the country like this one at Chislet (up the hill from Phil and Jeans) which were used centuries ago to alert the population of impending danger.
The good old Gate Inn at Marshside………..Baked spuds to die for and really fast WIFI.
This video was shot by Norm as we headed across a field towards a farm (with a genuine Oast House behind it) on our way back to Marshside…..and this was a pretty wide one compared to a lot we travelled on and we could see what was coming here instead of the luck of the draw and who will dart out around the next corner / hedge / thicket. We SO should have had some decent video gear. (If you cannot follow the link copy and paste in yur browser)
http://youtu.be/-8GAVaLvWSE
Last nights’ Accommodation:
St Kilda, Marshside (England) UK
We’ve said it all before. This is a lovely home away from home for us and it’s a bit sad to think we may not be back. Our hosts (Phil and Jean) have managed over time to miss a good deal of us…….but we don’t have a complex about that. We don’t we don’t we don’t’ Assuming we will be back in the future some time we just won’t give them as much notice so they cannot organise a full or partial absence. Ha ha. We hope to return the favour for them or their family in Australia in the not too distant future.
St Kilda, Marshside with a couple of very clean bikes compliments of Norm.
• Cannot believe that we are at the end of our 3 trips / 2 year plan to visit the UK and explore the transport and logistics industry / infrastructure while seeing some of the country.
• We have discovered many things are very similar to home and others vastly different to suit the population base, the terrain and history over time. So much of the land here was settled before it was surveyed where in Australia more of it was surveyed before settlement as an example so we have fewer legacy issues with lots of infrastructure placement for instance.
• It has been a wonderful experience and while we would love to continue we want the time and opportunity to do the same thing in other places (on sealed roads / tarmac of course) so will explore the possibilities for doing a similar exercise in the USA and Canada over the next year or so. So, as they say ‘watch this space!’
Bits and Bobs – some of the things I will miss:
British rural farmland scenes I remember from childhood books and china from my Grandma’s.
Beacons all over the country like this one at Chislet (up the hill from Phil and Jeans) which were used centuries ago to alert the population of impending danger.
The good old Gate Inn at Marshside………..Baked spuds to die for and really fast WIFI.
This video was shot by Norm as we headed across a field towards a farm (with a genuine Oast House behind it) on our way back to Marshside…..and this was a pretty wide one compared to a lot we travelled on and we could see what was coming here instead of the luck of the draw and who will dart out around the next corner / hedge / thicket. We SO should have had some decent video gear. (If you cannot follow the link copy and paste in yur browser)
http://youtu.be/-8GAVaLvWSE
Last nights’ Accommodation:
St Kilda, Marshside (England) UK
We’ve said it all before. This is a lovely home away from home for us and it’s a bit sad to think we may not be back. Our hosts (Phil and Jean) have managed over time to miss a good deal of us…….but we don’t have a complex about that. We don’t we don’t we don’t’ Assuming we will be back in the future some time we just won’t give them as much notice so they cannot organise a full or partial absence. Ha ha. We hope to return the favour for them or their family in Australia in the not too distant future.
St Kilda, Marshside with a couple of very clean bikes compliments of Norm.
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Aug
22
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Started the day with a glorious sleep in and woke to sunny skies.
• We continued to sift and sort the luggage we had taken on the bikes, what we plan to throw out here or in Faversham when we drop the bikes and how we organise what will be taken home.
• A leisurely breakfast followed then we got on the bikes to have one last look at some of the local sites we have enjoyed and where we started our initial exploring to become acclimatised early in our trips.
• We finished off our day by enjoying a meal with Gareth and Dawn and reminisced about this crazy expedition we have been on and the friendships which have developed along the way. How blessed are we!
Many lovely sand beaches on our ride both small and large. This is a view towards Margate from the east.
Lunch at Captain Digby, Kingsgate near Margate. Quirky old place which has survived where many haven’t. This whole area was a popular holiday destination for London’s rich and famous many years ago but with travel costs reducing and international travel becoming achievable this is more a destination spot for average folk like us. The consequence is that there are a lot of old tired places about and not a lot of substance to replace it (my opinion). Doesn’t stop the locals from having a good time.
Bleak House, Broadstairs the one time home of Charles Dickens.
Carnival time at Broadstairs and a peak to the beach way below the cliff top festivities. Many big cliffs through this area and development both up and down.
Ramsgate from the sea wall back across the marina to the town. Boats, boats and more boats as well as dry dock in operation.
An ice cream at Herne Bay was in order before we headed back to Marshside.
Dinner at the Gate Inn Marshside. L - R Gareth, Dawn, Nola and Norm.
Bits and Bobs:
Poor resolution photo of some of the wind turbines off the coast around the Margate / Broadstairs area. A group of 100 originals and 175 new ones under construction as well.
And some of the ships which look after them. The front one lays out cable from the turbines and the two behind are support vessels. A lot of infrastructure tied up when things aren’t on dry land….mind you there probably aren’t warring neighbours complaining over who gets the rental from the placement of the towers either!
• Started the day with a glorious sleep in and woke to sunny skies.
• We continued to sift and sort the luggage we had taken on the bikes, what we plan to throw out here or in Faversham when we drop the bikes and how we organise what will be taken home.
• A leisurely breakfast followed then we got on the bikes to have one last look at some of the local sites we have enjoyed and where we started our initial exploring to become acclimatised early in our trips.
• We finished off our day by enjoying a meal with Gareth and Dawn and reminisced about this crazy expedition we have been on and the friendships which have developed along the way. How blessed are we!
Many lovely sand beaches on our ride both small and large. This is a view towards Margate from the east.
Lunch at Captain Digby, Kingsgate near Margate. Quirky old place which has survived where many haven’t. This whole area was a popular holiday destination for London’s rich and famous many years ago but with travel costs reducing and international travel becoming achievable this is more a destination spot for average folk like us. The consequence is that there are a lot of old tired places about and not a lot of substance to replace it (my opinion). Doesn’t stop the locals from having a good time.
Bleak House, Broadstairs the one time home of Charles Dickens.
Carnival time at Broadstairs and a peak to the beach way below the cliff top festivities. Many big cliffs through this area and development both up and down.
Ramsgate from the sea wall back across the marina to the town. Boats, boats and more boats as well as dry dock in operation.
An ice cream at Herne Bay was in order before we headed back to Marshside.
Dinner at the Gate Inn Marshside. L - R Gareth, Dawn, Nola and Norm.
Bits and Bobs:
Poor resolution photo of some of the wind turbines off the coast around the Margate / Broadstairs area. A group of 100 originals and 175 new ones under construction as well.
And some of the ships which look after them. The front one lays out cable from the turbines and the two behind are support vessels. A lot of infrastructure tied up when things aren’t on dry land….mind you there probably aren’t warring neighbours complaining over who gets the rental from the placement of the towers either!
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Aug
21
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Overcast but dry all day so no wet weather gear. Yay!
• We rode around Bakewell ogling at the lovely houses and picturesque views then headed off to travel through more of the Peak National Park on our way south.
A sample of the Memorial gardens at Bakewell which were just beautiful with lots of garden beds and spots to sit and reflect on the day. Beautifully laid out in between spectacular old buildings. A great credit to them.
• We had a lot of ground to cover today so a good bit of it was on Motorways and fast and congested travel so no time for doing too much sightseeing when that was happening.
• The GPS directed us off the highway instead of putting us on the bypass road which would have been the fastest route and sent us straight through the guts of Nottingham which must have been the shorter distance. We saw a collection of quirky, beautiful and some neglected buildings as well as streets of all sizes and quality with interesting street names which reminded us of the Robin Hood story, got pretty hot in our bike gear with all the tooing and froing and got some fuel and got out of there.
A sample of some of the lovely country views with tiny settlements nestled in the valleys.
• We rode through more of the Dale country and soaked up the many views of rolling hills intersected with hedges and more substantial trees then climbed up the sandstone cliff face and moved on.
• Stamford for lunch was a treat. A pretty and quirky little town and we had an English family asking us where the Market Square was in spite of the sign on the back of the bike. Needless to say we weren’t a lot of help but could tell them that the sign on the wall behind them said the ‘Red Lion Square’ so perhaps that was it….who knows? We certainly didn’t.
Red Lion Square at Stamford. It looked like it had been recently repaved and there were no lines for traffic direction or parking on it and it was a free for all!
• We fed ‘Cambridge’ into the GPS in the hope it would find a route away from the Motorways but it was not to be convinced. Damn! Anyway we rode around Cambridge for quite some time being redirected and redirected and redirected around massive holes in the streets so not sure what work is happening there; just know it was a lot. This was a city of bicycles! They were everywhere with people of all ages on them. Obviously there was a predominance of University age people but all ages were represented and they were parked up against buildings and trees and anything vaguely vertical all through the streets. I think we saw more bicycles here than we have seen for our whole trip!
Now anyone can take photos of awesome University buildings in a University City but no....we only stopped at the station car park to try and get our bearings so here is our offereing, some of the bikes (small number) at the Cambridge Railway station.
• The later it got, the more doubtful the sky got, and the more I just wanted to get in so we had an occasional stop for coffee, hot chocolate and fuel and reached Marshside before any rain. It was nice to get the gear off the bikes dry and nice to just be in even though we are feeling a little sad that our UK odyssey is drawing to a close.
Bits and Bobs:
A sign on the wall in the American Diner we had a coffee in yesterday. Do people really do that these days?
And another….had to take it…a very good vintage that year!
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell (England) UK
A beautiful old building well refurbished decorated and maintained. Comfortable public spaces and our room was a comfortable place to retreat to. The hotel is in the main square of the town made famous by a previous owner of the hotel who invented the ‘Bakewell Pudding’ which we shared for sweets last night. Quite yummy and the rest of the food was very nice also and the staff was helpful and cheery. The town is delightful and the area would be a treat to explore further and the hotel a good spot to use as a base to do it from. The town itself is a bustling place with major regional intersecting roads and what looks a healthy commercial community. Good to see.
The Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell.
• Overcast but dry all day so no wet weather gear. Yay!
• We rode around Bakewell ogling at the lovely houses and picturesque views then headed off to travel through more of the Peak National Park on our way south.
A sample of the Memorial gardens at Bakewell which were just beautiful with lots of garden beds and spots to sit and reflect on the day. Beautifully laid out in between spectacular old buildings. A great credit to them.
• We had a lot of ground to cover today so a good bit of it was on Motorways and fast and congested travel so no time for doing too much sightseeing when that was happening.
• The GPS directed us off the highway instead of putting us on the bypass road which would have been the fastest route and sent us straight through the guts of Nottingham which must have been the shorter distance. We saw a collection of quirky, beautiful and some neglected buildings as well as streets of all sizes and quality with interesting street names which reminded us of the Robin Hood story, got pretty hot in our bike gear with all the tooing and froing and got some fuel and got out of there.
A sample of some of the lovely country views with tiny settlements nestled in the valleys.
• We rode through more of the Dale country and soaked up the many views of rolling hills intersected with hedges and more substantial trees then climbed up the sandstone cliff face and moved on.
• Stamford for lunch was a treat. A pretty and quirky little town and we had an English family asking us where the Market Square was in spite of the sign on the back of the bike. Needless to say we weren’t a lot of help but could tell them that the sign on the wall behind them said the ‘Red Lion Square’ so perhaps that was it….who knows? We certainly didn’t.
Red Lion Square at Stamford. It looked like it had been recently repaved and there were no lines for traffic direction or parking on it and it was a free for all!
• We fed ‘Cambridge’ into the GPS in the hope it would find a route away from the Motorways but it was not to be convinced. Damn! Anyway we rode around Cambridge for quite some time being redirected and redirected and redirected around massive holes in the streets so not sure what work is happening there; just know it was a lot. This was a city of bicycles! They were everywhere with people of all ages on them. Obviously there was a predominance of University age people but all ages were represented and they were parked up against buildings and trees and anything vaguely vertical all through the streets. I think we saw more bicycles here than we have seen for our whole trip!
Now anyone can take photos of awesome University buildings in a University City but no....we only stopped at the station car park to try and get our bearings so here is our offereing, some of the bikes (small number) at the Cambridge Railway station.
• The later it got, the more doubtful the sky got, and the more I just wanted to get in so we had an occasional stop for coffee, hot chocolate and fuel and reached Marshside before any rain. It was nice to get the gear off the bikes dry and nice to just be in even though we are feeling a little sad that our UK odyssey is drawing to a close.
Bits and Bobs:
A sign on the wall in the American Diner we had a coffee in yesterday. Do people really do that these days?
And another….had to take it…a very good vintage that year!
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell (England) UK
A beautiful old building well refurbished decorated and maintained. Comfortable public spaces and our room was a comfortable place to retreat to. The hotel is in the main square of the town made famous by a previous owner of the hotel who invented the ‘Bakewell Pudding’ which we shared for sweets last night. Quite yummy and the rest of the food was very nice also and the staff was helpful and cheery. The town is delightful and the area would be a treat to explore further and the hotel a good spot to use as a base to do it from. The town itself is a bustling place with major regional intersecting roads and what looks a healthy commercial community. Good to see.
The Rutland Arms Hotel, Bakewell.
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Aug
20
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Bit of a wet start to the day.
• A lot of motorway wet and fast travel this morning but balanced by warm dry and country road and less traffic later in the day.
• At the end of the day, just when we thought we had seen it all we rode from Sheffield through country roads to Bakewell and what a treat! Beautiful farmland and winding roads and SPECTACULAR countryside and views. One leafy road after another connected with shady leafy lanes and seeming mossy leafy tunnels with lovely sandstone farmhouses strewn across the hillsides. Just beautiful!
Coffee time…likely to see more of these next year in the USA.
We spotted a sign to Whitby (which we recognise from the Heartbeat show we love for the countryside and music) so had to head in and were rewarded with beautiful heather all over the moors on the way in and out of the town. Spectacular!
We can pick the days…e.g.: riding through Liverpool on Beatles Day and many places on race day so also managed to cop some traffic congestion….well today it was the Whitby Regatta and the town was awash with people. A view beyond the dock to an old Castle and the carousel and fairground to the left. Yummy fish and chips for lunch.
Another view of Whitby before we fought our way across the bridge to get our fish and chips.
Whitby Abbey over the fence. This was high above the town and the car park was full with cars as were the roads way out beyond it and people walking into town for the festivities.
Scarborough South Harbour where the locals and holiday makers were out in force.
A new College building in Sheffield ‘very Eco friendly’ according to the local we spoke to.
Bits and Bobs:
The things you find. Two ships which were in the First Fleet to Australia came from Whitby!
Some shabby parking! Should have taken some lipstick to the windscreen and said what I thought of the parking! I told Norm parking behind the car would have been more appropriate but that could have been problematic if we came back to find them on their sides.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Villas, Stannington (England) UK
Lovely comfortable home and not surprisingly spectacular hosts since they are related. Ha ha. Had the best sleep we have had since we have been on the road. Felt greatly welcome and were spoilt rotten and felt part of the whole extended family. Hope we get some visits in Oz.
Lovely comfortable lounge.
• Bit of a wet start to the day.
• A lot of motorway wet and fast travel this morning but balanced by warm dry and country road and less traffic later in the day.
• At the end of the day, just when we thought we had seen it all we rode from Sheffield through country roads to Bakewell and what a treat! Beautiful farmland and winding roads and SPECTACULAR countryside and views. One leafy road after another connected with shady leafy lanes and seeming mossy leafy tunnels with lovely sandstone farmhouses strewn across the hillsides. Just beautiful!
Coffee time…likely to see more of these next year in the USA.
We spotted a sign to Whitby (which we recognise from the Heartbeat show we love for the countryside and music) so had to head in and were rewarded with beautiful heather all over the moors on the way in and out of the town. Spectacular!
We can pick the days…e.g.: riding through Liverpool on Beatles Day and many places on race day so also managed to cop some traffic congestion….well today it was the Whitby Regatta and the town was awash with people. A view beyond the dock to an old Castle and the carousel and fairground to the left. Yummy fish and chips for lunch.
Another view of Whitby before we fought our way across the bridge to get our fish and chips.
Whitby Abbey over the fence. This was high above the town and the car park was full with cars as were the roads way out beyond it and people walking into town for the festivities.
Scarborough South Harbour where the locals and holiday makers were out in force.
A new College building in Sheffield ‘very Eco friendly’ according to the local we spoke to.
Bits and Bobs:
The things you find. Two ships which were in the First Fleet to Australia came from Whitby!
Some shabby parking! Should have taken some lipstick to the windscreen and said what I thought of the parking! I told Norm parking behind the car would have been more appropriate but that could have been problematic if we came back to find them on their sides.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Villas, Stannington (England) UK
Lovely comfortable home and not surprisingly spectacular hosts since they are related. Ha ha. Had the best sleep we have had since we have been on the road. Felt greatly welcome and were spoilt rotten and felt part of the whole extended family. Hope we get some visits in Oz.
Lovely comfortable lounge.
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Aug
19
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Had a great night last night catching up with Jenny and Dave and all their family.
• Started the day today with a sleep in then wandered off for a small walk around Morpeth which was a really pretty well laid out town with some impressive real estate around it.
A street view in Morpeth. The floral displays throughout the town were just beautiful and this doesn’t do justice to them at all.
A newly refurbished Mall, a handy spot in the rain.
The Wansbeck River in the park at Morpeth. Not many boats hired out in the rain today but the kids in them were having fun.
• Had a great night last night catching up with Jenny and Dave and all their family.
• Started the day today with a sleep in then wandered off for a small walk around Morpeth which was a really pretty well laid out town with some impressive real estate around it.
A street view in Morpeth. The floral displays throughout the town were just beautiful and this doesn’t do justice to them at all.
A newly refurbished Mall, a handy spot in the rain.
The Wansbeck River in the park at Morpeth. Not many boats hired out in the rain today but the kids in them were having fun.
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Aug
18
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• We headed off with overcast skies and it was soon raining.
• We crossed two spectacular bridges the Tay Bridge at Dundee and the Firth of Forth Bridge in Edinburgh. The first one I was too slow to put my indicator on when we crossed to get Norm’s attention and the second it was pouring with rain with water sheeting across the road making it difficult to see the surface….or very far in front for the road spray and near enough to impossible to see the big red rail bridge beside it so I will rely on the internet to provide a picture of both.
• As we headed off the Forth of Firth Bridge the rain eased then we basically did a ‘U’ turn to get to the road we wanted and road straight into a hailstorm and man did that sting the old legs even though I had long johns, kevlar jeans and waterproof pants on!
The Tay Bridge, Dundee (compliments of the internet).
The Firth of Forth Bridge, Edinburgh (compliments of the internet).
Lunch at Lauder.
An impressive pink sandstone viaduct just out of Lauder.
Jedburgh Abbey…or what remains of it. Been an impressive building.
Mary Queen of Scots House in Jenburgh. A bit of a stretch this title as she only lived in it for 4 weeks apparently and became very ill and nearly died, but some tourist value anyway.
On the Scottish / English Border looking back towards Scotland. ‘Haste ye back’.
Now chilling in Stannington with Normie’s cousin Jenny. L - R Jenny, Dave, \norm, Nola.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee (Scotland) UK
Beautiful building again in a newly developed area on what used to be dockland just a brief stroll to the shops. Lovely room, bathroom beautiful. Food in the restaurant delicious and the staff helpful and relaxed. Good value as they develop a reputation (similar to other areas we have found). Conference groups here so catering for big numbers but not intrusive. Leisure centre again but no swimming for me.
Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee from the car park
• We headed off with overcast skies and it was soon raining.
• We crossed two spectacular bridges the Tay Bridge at Dundee and the Firth of Forth Bridge in Edinburgh. The first one I was too slow to put my indicator on when we crossed to get Norm’s attention and the second it was pouring with rain with water sheeting across the road making it difficult to see the surface….or very far in front for the road spray and near enough to impossible to see the big red rail bridge beside it so I will rely on the internet to provide a picture of both.
• As we headed off the Forth of Firth Bridge the rain eased then we basically did a ‘U’ turn to get to the road we wanted and road straight into a hailstorm and man did that sting the old legs even though I had long johns, kevlar jeans and waterproof pants on!
The Tay Bridge, Dundee (compliments of the internet).
The Firth of Forth Bridge, Edinburgh (compliments of the internet).
Lunch at Lauder.
An impressive pink sandstone viaduct just out of Lauder.
Jedburgh Abbey…or what remains of it. Been an impressive building.
Mary Queen of Scots House in Jenburgh. A bit of a stretch this title as she only lived in it for 4 weeks apparently and became very ill and nearly died, but some tourist value anyway.
On the Scottish / English Border looking back towards Scotland. ‘Haste ye back’.
Now chilling in Stannington with Normie’s cousin Jenny. L - R Jenny, Dave, \norm, Nola.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee (Scotland) UK
Beautiful building again in a newly developed area on what used to be dockland just a brief stroll to the shops. Lovely room, bathroom beautiful. Food in the restaurant delicious and the staff helpful and relaxed. Good value as they develop a reputation (similar to other areas we have found). Conference groups here so catering for big numbers but not intrusive. Leisure centre again but no swimming for me.
Apex City Quay Hotel, Dundee from the car park
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Aug
17
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• We decided instead of taking the route through the lowlands which was suggested to head for the Highland Tourist Route from Inverness to Aberdeen so we could see more of the highlands as we have discovered this is the area which appeals most to us of the Scotland we love and we were not disappointed! We will let the pictures mainly tell the story but add some comments as well.
• It rained all day which was just as well or we wouldn’t have gotten in before dark because the vistas and photo opportunities were just screaming at us all day and the rain prevented the majority of them….the bonus was that the new waterproof pants I bought in Inverness didn’t leak, YAY!
• We saw great rolling hills and plains of harvested fields and intensive farming land in the lowlands both near Inverness and heading to Aberdeen / Dundee.
The first view when we entered the Glenlivett Estate.
• Crossed and followed galloping mountain streams and rivers.
• Miles and miles of heather clad mountainsides.
• Great sweeping water soaked moors.
For those who thought all we had was fun. This is a reasonably low lying ski resort. The artificial snow machine is to the left and the ski lifts are on the right lost in the fog.
• Rode in the densest fog we have EVER ridden in….and no the pic above is not even close. It was quite scary since the road was covered in sheeting water making it almost impossible to see the edges and it was a 14% downhill grade with switchback corners. We stopped whenever we could find a pull off spot to dry the inside and outside of the visors and our glasses. Not pleasant!
Tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere amongst the heather. It has been burnt up to the fence to the left and further over the hill behind.
• Wound through ‘Enchanted Forests’….at least that’s what they looked like with dark understories with mosses ferns and lichen strewn across the ground and up the tree trunks.
After a lot of twisting roads we rounded a corner and below in the valley we spot a castle.
A cute arch (built in 1864) in a very cute little village.
• After lunch we decided not to continue on to Aberdeen but to strike out for Dundee to stay in more high country and away from motorways and high speed traffic.
Glamis Castle and yes the clock on the front confirms we missed the last tour by about 7 minutes. Damn! Never mind we got the photo just before it rained and beat a hasty retreat.
St Pauls Cathedral spire (Dundee) in the distance as the sun is disappearing.
• Now we have booked in to the hotel it has stopped raining and the sun has come out….as of course it would.
• The day was a long one though didn’t feel like that but it felt big (there IS a difference) because the roads and conditions were challenging all day and made for a brilliant ride!
Bits and Bobs:
An interesting unit we found at a servo today. The rear axle on the trailer is a steer axle to assist getting the trailer around tight corners.
Norm spied this quirky arrangement over my shoulder when we were having dinner tonight and said ‘That looks a pretty clapped out old lighthouse’. When I looked over my shoulder I said “Isn’t that a buoy?” to which he replied “I didn’t go round to the back of it to see”. It’s all I have to work with….what can I say?
On a more serious note, Normie's Mum would have turned 90 today and he took this photo some days ago as a remembrance of her and her love of gardens and his memory of her enjoyment of that.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness (Scotland) UK
A lovely old building, well cared for and comfortable to be in. Room a comfortable space and the bathroom recently refurbished and comfortable. The food has been great and staff friendly helpful and keen to be involved. A nice spot to chill. It even had a pool and since I was there 2 nights I should have broken out the bathers but didn’t. Worth a stay.
Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness.
• We decided instead of taking the route through the lowlands which was suggested to head for the Highland Tourist Route from Inverness to Aberdeen so we could see more of the highlands as we have discovered this is the area which appeals most to us of the Scotland we love and we were not disappointed! We will let the pictures mainly tell the story but add some comments as well.
• It rained all day which was just as well or we wouldn’t have gotten in before dark because the vistas and photo opportunities were just screaming at us all day and the rain prevented the majority of them….the bonus was that the new waterproof pants I bought in Inverness didn’t leak, YAY!
• We saw great rolling hills and plains of harvested fields and intensive farming land in the lowlands both near Inverness and heading to Aberdeen / Dundee.
The first view when we entered the Glenlivett Estate.
• Crossed and followed galloping mountain streams and rivers.
• Miles and miles of heather clad mountainsides.
• Great sweeping water soaked moors.
For those who thought all we had was fun. This is a reasonably low lying ski resort. The artificial snow machine is to the left and the ski lifts are on the right lost in the fog.
• Rode in the densest fog we have EVER ridden in….and no the pic above is not even close. It was quite scary since the road was covered in sheeting water making it almost impossible to see the edges and it was a 14% downhill grade with switchback corners. We stopped whenever we could find a pull off spot to dry the inside and outside of the visors and our glasses. Not pleasant!
Tiny cottage in the middle of nowhere amongst the heather. It has been burnt up to the fence to the left and further over the hill behind.
• Wound through ‘Enchanted Forests’….at least that’s what they looked like with dark understories with mosses ferns and lichen strewn across the ground and up the tree trunks.
After a lot of twisting roads we rounded a corner and below in the valley we spot a castle.
A cute arch (built in 1864) in a very cute little village.
• After lunch we decided not to continue on to Aberdeen but to strike out for Dundee to stay in more high country and away from motorways and high speed traffic.
Glamis Castle and yes the clock on the front confirms we missed the last tour by about 7 minutes. Damn! Never mind we got the photo just before it rained and beat a hasty retreat.
St Pauls Cathedral spire (Dundee) in the distance as the sun is disappearing.
• Now we have booked in to the hotel it has stopped raining and the sun has come out….as of course it would.
• The day was a long one though didn’t feel like that but it felt big (there IS a difference) because the roads and conditions were challenging all day and made for a brilliant ride!
Bits and Bobs:
An interesting unit we found at a servo today. The rear axle on the trailer is a steer axle to assist getting the trailer around tight corners.
Norm spied this quirky arrangement over my shoulder when we were having dinner tonight and said ‘That looks a pretty clapped out old lighthouse’. When I looked over my shoulder I said “Isn’t that a buoy?” to which he replied “I didn’t go round to the back of it to see”. It’s all I have to work with….what can I say?
On a more serious note, Normie's Mum would have turned 90 today and he took this photo some days ago as a remembrance of her and her love of gardens and his memory of her enjoyment of that.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness (Scotland) UK
A lovely old building, well cared for and comfortable to be in. Room a comfortable space and the bathroom recently refurbished and comfortable. The food has been great and staff friendly helpful and keen to be involved. A nice spot to chill. It even had a pool and since I was there 2 nights I should have broken out the bathers but didn’t. Worth a stay.
Craigmonie Hotel, Inverness.
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Aug
16
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• We had a quiet day today doing a bit of exploring but not much riding and this old body appreciated that.
• I have spent a lot of time thinking about my heritage over the time of our trip. I am of English, Irish and Scottish stock and I think seeing the state of things here in time gone by my ancestors believed their descendants would be better off having a chance to make a new start as they did.
• I believe the greatest legacy they have passed on to me is that I am grateful for that new start and do not carry a legacy of hatred for what had been visited on my ancestors so they were obviously strong people and I am grateful for that. I’d like to think any other immigrants to my country would carry that same legacy rather than one of hatred and persecution because it doesn’t help them or anyone else to have a healthy life.
The Memorial on the Culloden Battlefield on Culloden Moor which is the site of defeat in 1746 of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his hastily gathered troops and the end of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. 1,500 of his men died that day compared to only 50 of the English Army (which consisted of English Army and Scottish supporters). There was no mention of how many died from injury after that but 200 of the English soldiers didn’t return to active duty (and they received medical care…..such as it was whereas the Scots didn’t so I guess you can multiply that number by many).
Part of the Culloden Battlefield from the Cairn on the left (with memorial stones for the clans) and the cottage used as the hospital for English troops on the right. I tend to think it would have been a more merciful death on the battlefield after seeing the rudimentary instruments they had. In front of the memorial are a number of cairns erected above the burial pits of the various clans who fought. These were erected in 1881 by the landholder by the name of Forbes as people were coming from all over the land to pay their respects to their ancestors and ask where they were. He may have had the last laugh after all as a Scot as he erected one to the English who died….except it has been identified by X-Ray that this is in the wrong place and it wasn’t just English but Scottish sympathisers. To quote Norm, "this was a mine field not a burial field!”
Cawdor Castle and Norm in the foreground viewing the last Castle he figures he will probably visit….and not at all distressed about that..…just when I was thinking I could incorporate a ‘Where’s Normie’ as opposed to a ‘Where’s Wally’ spot in my photos….ah well I guess you get that. Cawdor Castle is considered ‘The most romantic castle in the Highlands’ with fine paintings, tapestries, furniture, gardens, nature trails and golf courses to explore and we enjoyed the open space and particularly the massive leafy trees we walked through to get to the drawbridge entrance where tree boughs drooped to the ground and extended beyond that. Very quirky.
In the Cawdor Castle Walled garden …and yes it takes the regular garden stuff to make sure it is great to view.
A dramatic Viaduct on a railway which continues on to the great Viaduct we recorded in our 2010 trip which is the one immortalised in the Harry Potter films but this one still looks pretty impressive.
Inverness Castle which has been rebuilt many times over the time Inverness has been settled. Inverness is a very strategic place re trade routes between north and south and east and west so it was always going to be an issue with people / factions seeking supremacy / ultimate rule so over time it was apparently pretty regular for the local population to check out what banner / flag was flying from the top of the castle to know who actually held power today.
Bits and Bobs:
Yesterday we spotted a quad axle low-loader with some sort of big machine on it and as we passed it I was shocked to see an incredible bow towards the road in the drop deck table. If it didn’t bottom out when it hit a decent bump I’d be very surprised and Norm said it was an extendable unit so I wonder if it was able to be retracted when it was empty.
Saw quite a bit of truck traffic yesterday but we were on main roads for a fair while though it did seem more prevalent than in Ireland…any part of Ireland.
• We had a quiet day today doing a bit of exploring but not much riding and this old body appreciated that.
• I have spent a lot of time thinking about my heritage over the time of our trip. I am of English, Irish and Scottish stock and I think seeing the state of things here in time gone by my ancestors believed their descendants would be better off having a chance to make a new start as they did.
• I believe the greatest legacy they have passed on to me is that I am grateful for that new start and do not carry a legacy of hatred for what had been visited on my ancestors so they were obviously strong people and I am grateful for that. I’d like to think any other immigrants to my country would carry that same legacy rather than one of hatred and persecution because it doesn’t help them or anyone else to have a healthy life.
The Memorial on the Culloden Battlefield on Culloden Moor which is the site of defeat in 1746 of Bonnie Prince Charlie and his hastily gathered troops and the end of the 1745 Jacobite Rising. 1,500 of his men died that day compared to only 50 of the English Army (which consisted of English Army and Scottish supporters). There was no mention of how many died from injury after that but 200 of the English soldiers didn’t return to active duty (and they received medical care…..such as it was whereas the Scots didn’t so I guess you can multiply that number by many).
Part of the Culloden Battlefield from the Cairn on the left (with memorial stones for the clans) and the cottage used as the hospital for English troops on the right. I tend to think it would have been a more merciful death on the battlefield after seeing the rudimentary instruments they had. In front of the memorial are a number of cairns erected above the burial pits of the various clans who fought. These were erected in 1881 by the landholder by the name of Forbes as people were coming from all over the land to pay their respects to their ancestors and ask where they were. He may have had the last laugh after all as a Scot as he erected one to the English who died….except it has been identified by X-Ray that this is in the wrong place and it wasn’t just English but Scottish sympathisers. To quote Norm, "this was a mine field not a burial field!”
Cawdor Castle and Norm in the foreground viewing the last Castle he figures he will probably visit….and not at all distressed about that..…just when I was thinking I could incorporate a ‘Where’s Normie’ as opposed to a ‘Where’s Wally’ spot in my photos….ah well I guess you get that. Cawdor Castle is considered ‘The most romantic castle in the Highlands’ with fine paintings, tapestries, furniture, gardens, nature trails and golf courses to explore and we enjoyed the open space and particularly the massive leafy trees we walked through to get to the drawbridge entrance where tree boughs drooped to the ground and extended beyond that. Very quirky.
In the Cawdor Castle Walled garden …and yes it takes the regular garden stuff to make sure it is great to view.
A dramatic Viaduct on a railway which continues on to the great Viaduct we recorded in our 2010 trip which is the one immortalised in the Harry Potter films but this one still looks pretty impressive.
Inverness Castle which has been rebuilt many times over the time Inverness has been settled. Inverness is a very strategic place re trade routes between north and south and east and west so it was always going to be an issue with people / factions seeking supremacy / ultimate rule so over time it was apparently pretty regular for the local population to check out what banner / flag was flying from the top of the castle to know who actually held power today.
Bits and Bobs:
Yesterday we spotted a quad axle low-loader with some sort of big machine on it and as we passed it I was shocked to see an incredible bow towards the road in the drop deck table. If it didn’t bottom out when it hit a decent bump I’d be very surprised and Norm said it was an extendable unit so I wonder if it was able to be retracted when it was empty.
Saw quite a bit of truck traffic yesterday but we were on main roads for a fair while though it did seem more prevalent than in Ireland…any part of Ireland.
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Aug
15
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• Spectacular riding today through the highlands of Scotland.
• Loved being back here. Felt at home again.
• We had ferocious wind for most of the day so we were well aware when we got in that we had been hanging on hard to stay pointed in the right direction all day.
• Came across the most forestry work today than all the combined time we have been here.
Morning coffee at the Blackford Hotel and a chance to don the waterproofs to combat a heavy mist and in anticipation of the computer roadside sign on the motorway saying heavy rain forecast (only needed them for about an hour as it turned out).
The House of Bruar where we had lunch. An incredible commercial enterprise by a Scottish Family / Clan. We found massive commercial spaces (really classy) with menswear, ladies wear, home goods furniture, artworks, antiques, delicatessen, butcher, textiles, massive food hall….and then for good measure a huge building for their sale and mail-order centre. There were heaps of people there and if there had been several coach loads of people there they wouldn’t have been all that noticeable. Interesting to see the sign which said ‘Coaches by appointment only’. Everything we saw was magnificent quality and heaps of beautiful lamb’s wool and cashmere in evidence locally sourced but also from Ireland and other locations.
A quirky train bridge we discovered after heading off the main road.
In the midst of a beautiful meandering road through magnificent farmland reaching up to forests Norm stopped to take this shot of beautiful waving grasses and the view to the forest and to mountains disappearing in the mist beyond.
In a patch of forest near the top of a dramatic hill climb we found a lovely little mossy wall we couldn’t pass by without recording.
We just loved winding through mountain roads surrounded by heather on all sides so had to get a shot.
And a final one before we get back onto the A9 and headed for Inverness.
Bits and Bobs:
Newspaper headline we saw yesterday: CHOCOLATE STOPS DEMENTIA! I kid you not. Didn’t get to read the article (someone else’s paper) but it confirmed what we already knew….chocolate is good for whatever ails you and that’s all we need to know.
Just loved these dear little chimneys on the Blackford Hotel.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Hilton Garden Inn, Glasgow (Scotland) UK
A quirky little hotel. Functional rooms though not large. Nicely fitted out and impressed with the iMac TV and Computer. Lots of young things here when we first got in so I felt thoroughly archaic but didn’t let that worry me and the demographic increased over dinner. The bed was comfy and the food in the restaurant very nice. They even had separate shampoo and conditioner instead of the useless ‘conditioning shampoo’ so happy all round. There were two conferences running at the time ‘Active Ageing’ (suspect we could have taught them a thing or two), and ‘Pain Management Symposium’ (would have been interested in hearing a bit of that!
The Hilton Garden Inn, Glasgow accompanied by a remaining portion of a crane and the mini Sydney Opera House in the distance.
• Spectacular riding today through the highlands of Scotland.
• Loved being back here. Felt at home again.
• We had ferocious wind for most of the day so we were well aware when we got in that we had been hanging on hard to stay pointed in the right direction all day.
• Came across the most forestry work today than all the combined time we have been here.
Morning coffee at the Blackford Hotel and a chance to don the waterproofs to combat a heavy mist and in anticipation of the computer roadside sign on the motorway saying heavy rain forecast (only needed them for about an hour as it turned out).
The House of Bruar where we had lunch. An incredible commercial enterprise by a Scottish Family / Clan. We found massive commercial spaces (really classy) with menswear, ladies wear, home goods furniture, artworks, antiques, delicatessen, butcher, textiles, massive food hall….and then for good measure a huge building for their sale and mail-order centre. There were heaps of people there and if there had been several coach loads of people there they wouldn’t have been all that noticeable. Interesting to see the sign which said ‘Coaches by appointment only’. Everything we saw was magnificent quality and heaps of beautiful lamb’s wool and cashmere in evidence locally sourced but also from Ireland and other locations.
A quirky train bridge we discovered after heading off the main road.
In the midst of a beautiful meandering road through magnificent farmland reaching up to forests Norm stopped to take this shot of beautiful waving grasses and the view to the forest and to mountains disappearing in the mist beyond.
In a patch of forest near the top of a dramatic hill climb we found a lovely little mossy wall we couldn’t pass by without recording.
We just loved winding through mountain roads surrounded by heather on all sides so had to get a shot.
And a final one before we get back onto the A9 and headed for Inverness.
Bits and Bobs:
Newspaper headline we saw yesterday: CHOCOLATE STOPS DEMENTIA! I kid you not. Didn’t get to read the article (someone else’s paper) but it confirmed what we already knew….chocolate is good for whatever ails you and that’s all we need to know.
Just loved these dear little chimneys on the Blackford Hotel.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
Hilton Garden Inn, Glasgow (Scotland) UK
A quirky little hotel. Functional rooms though not large. Nicely fitted out and impressed with the iMac TV and Computer. Lots of young things here when we first got in so I felt thoroughly archaic but didn’t let that worry me and the demographic increased over dinner. The bed was comfy and the food in the restaurant very nice. They even had separate shampoo and conditioner instead of the useless ‘conditioning shampoo’ so happy all round. There were two conferences running at the time ‘Active Ageing’ (suspect we could have taught them a thing or two), and ‘Pain Management Symposium’ (would have been interested in hearing a bit of that!
The Hilton Garden Inn, Glasgow accompanied by a remaining portion of a crane and the mini Sydney Opera House in the distance.
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Aug
14
Snippets / Memories / Photos of the day:
• I appreciated the day off the bike yesterday and have enjoyed being back on it today.
• We had a nice ride from the hotel to get to the ferry shortly after 6.30am with little to no traffic and no rain.
• We berthed about 30 minutes late due to a clutch failure but once we did we enjoyed a lovely ride for the rest of the day.
• Got a bit lost getting off the Motorway in Glasgow (seeing some bits of the road several times but finally got here).
• Murphy true to form provided a quick shower of rain a few minutes before we got in but we were fortunately fuelling up at the time and didn’t get wet. Yay had a win there!
• Our hotel is in an old dock type area undergoing refurbishment. There are a number of hotels and apartments and part of a massive crane towers over the car park here and close by a stadium (I think) is being constructed as well as something which looks a bit like a mini Sydney Opera House.
Lining up to catch the ferry beside a quad axle low loader (very short to what we are used to). The truck has fluffy bobbles at the top of his windscreen would you believe!
Gearing up to get off the ferry in Glasgow. As we were getting ready to get off the other 3 riders (Scots) asked where we were headed today, Norm told them Glasgow in his best Australian then said ‘doesn’t sound the same when an Aussie says it does it!’ they all agreed and had a good laugh.
Culzean Castle literally perched on top of a cliff so magnificent sea views even from the servants quarters and kitchens. A really quite beautiful experience. It sits within huge grounds all open to the public and the property is impeccably maintained. This was the former home to the powerful Kennedy family and Scottish masterpiece of architect Robert Adam and now owned by the National Trust.
Part of the Walled Garden at Culzean Castle at the end of a leafy walk from the Castle past the Camellia House which had deliciously fragrant oranges in it.
The birthplace of Poet Robbie Burns at Alloway. We trekked through the house and Poetry walk and down to the museum and back. Beautiful setting for an amble through lovely gardens and then back to the bikes past some very expensive looking real estate.
Robbie Burns Monument in a memorial garden. Quite beautiful
Bits and Bobs:
Since we’ve been in the UK and Ireland we have found that over 90% of bikers (including the Police) all give a wave or nod of the head to other bikers. Feels good.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Radisson Blu, Belfast Northern Ireland (UK)
Another lovely Radisson Hotel. Comfortable public spaces and sensible practical roomy space in our room, staff is helpful and booked the Black Cab tour for us and found a hairdresser for me and the food in the restaurant is characteristically Radisson good. What more could we ask?
Well we tried the laundry service which was a challenging experience, but at the end of the day it all got sorted and finally our long johns were found….phew so the satisfaction guarantee really does work!
The Radisson Blu, Belfast.
• I appreciated the day off the bike yesterday and have enjoyed being back on it today.
• We had a nice ride from the hotel to get to the ferry shortly after 6.30am with little to no traffic and no rain.
• We berthed about 30 minutes late due to a clutch failure but once we did we enjoyed a lovely ride for the rest of the day.
• Got a bit lost getting off the Motorway in Glasgow (seeing some bits of the road several times but finally got here).
• Murphy true to form provided a quick shower of rain a few minutes before we got in but we were fortunately fuelling up at the time and didn’t get wet. Yay had a win there!
• Our hotel is in an old dock type area undergoing refurbishment. There are a number of hotels and apartments and part of a massive crane towers over the car park here and close by a stadium (I think) is being constructed as well as something which looks a bit like a mini Sydney Opera House.
Lining up to catch the ferry beside a quad axle low loader (very short to what we are used to). The truck has fluffy bobbles at the top of his windscreen would you believe!
Gearing up to get off the ferry in Glasgow. As we were getting ready to get off the other 3 riders (Scots) asked where we were headed today, Norm told them Glasgow in his best Australian then said ‘doesn’t sound the same when an Aussie says it does it!’ they all agreed and had a good laugh.
Culzean Castle literally perched on top of a cliff so magnificent sea views even from the servants quarters and kitchens. A really quite beautiful experience. It sits within huge grounds all open to the public and the property is impeccably maintained. This was the former home to the powerful Kennedy family and Scottish masterpiece of architect Robert Adam and now owned by the National Trust.
Part of the Walled Garden at Culzean Castle at the end of a leafy walk from the Castle past the Camellia House which had deliciously fragrant oranges in it.
The birthplace of Poet Robbie Burns at Alloway. We trekked through the house and Poetry walk and down to the museum and back. Beautiful setting for an amble through lovely gardens and then back to the bikes past some very expensive looking real estate.
Robbie Burns Monument in a memorial garden. Quite beautiful
Bits and Bobs:
Since we’ve been in the UK and Ireland we have found that over 90% of bikers (including the Police) all give a wave or nod of the head to other bikers. Feels good.
Last nights’ Accommodation:
The Radisson Blu, Belfast Northern Ireland (UK)
Another lovely Radisson Hotel. Comfortable public spaces and sensible practical roomy space in our room, staff is helpful and booked the Black Cab tour for us and found a hairdresser for me and the food in the restaurant is characteristically Radisson good. What more could we ask?
Well we tried the laundry service which was a challenging experience, but at the end of the day it all got sorted and finally our long johns were found….phew so the satisfaction guarantee really does work!
The Radisson Blu, Belfast.
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