Bye Bye Winter

Hopefully we have seen the last of the winter, what winter I hear you ask. It has been quite mild this year and despite a couple of freezing camping trips so far I’ve been particularly pleased with the lack of white stuff and resulting cold. The heated jacket has once again proved its weight in gold through the winter, I can’t recommend these garments highly enough.

I’ve had a few runs out of late and indeed the run on the Triumph the weekend the clocks changed could have been my last for a while. I was down in the Lothians and had just had a good fast run through Pentcaitland, past the Jock Taylor memorial and as I waited to exit back onto the main A68 I could smell petrol, a very strong smell of petrol, thinking it was down to the old Mondeo in front of me I accelerated out of the junction only to find the back end coming round to meet the front, much skilful riding (wobbling) ensued before I brought the Triumph to a halt . Then I noticed I seemed to be losing petrol at an alarming rate and it was all over the engine and the (very) hot exhaust. Panic, side panel off to reveal the quickly detachable union for the fuel pipe was in fact half detached! A press back on and all was well, apart from the by now necessary change of underwear. So a word of warning to all you (Hinckley) Triumph owners, double check your fuel unions after disturbing them, petrol over the back tyre cuts down wear but does not provide much grip.

April the first apart from being April fools day and my two younger kids birthdays was sunny and the Commando was pressed into action for another nice run down South on Border roads, many roads I have never been on before and deserted, superb!. I stopped at Peebles for a cup of tea (but it was too busy) and spied another Commando parked in the main street, obviously I set off to try and find the other intelligent motorcyclist who owned this 750 Interstate but to no avail, I did notice the tax disc was from Oban and I suspect this was the ex Jim Kirkham Commando in it’s new environment as I had seen it advertised in Roadholder recently.

I can recommend though that if your in the area and Peebles is over run with tourists the small café just as you leave the village of Eddleston on the A703 Peebles to Edinburgh road is worth a visit.

Easter Weekend saw a trip up to Applecross, on the Triumph but all weekend wishing I had been on the Commando. We stopped at Bridge of Orchy to rough camp on the Friday night, just near the Inveronann Hotel which is around four miles from Bridge of Orchy on the single track road. A bit of home cooking in the tent then off for some beer to the hotel.

Slept in on Saturday and were late on the road, the road through Glencoe spoiled by the tourists in their cars, it really was our fault though as I suspect that an earlier start would have provided us with a better run. From Invergarry onwards though we made “good progress” and had a brilliant run up towards the Kyle, over by Loch Carron and finally the Bealach to the campsite. Dave Templeman’s Ducati greeted us there as did Gill from Edinburgh on her Z650. Tents up and off to seek the elusive David, we found him quite unexpectedly in the pub! The rest of the evening passed in a whirl of alcohol and talk of all things motorcycling (I think!)

Sunday arrived and Dave and Gill had decided to make their respective ways home. I got the breakfast on but only after a major petrol spillage from my Coleman stove and a resultant fireball and panic in the porch of my tent!

I must have provided some entertainment for the rest of my fellow campers as they saw first the tent mouth engulfed in flames then the stove being kicked out, a fireball, into the middle of the camp!

The sausages were good anyway! The rain gods obviously weren’t happy with this so they decided to rain on us for the remainder of the visit. An entertaining afternoon at the café in the walled garden where they had a singer on, followed off by a night in the Applecross Inn rounded off the weekend. Monday started off raining and it didn’t get better. The run over the Bealach was one of the interesting ones where visibility was around 50 yards. The section down from Laggan was the heaviest rain I’ve ridden in this year, not so nice. Then as we approached Perth, sunshine! Everybody told us what great weather they had over Easter, We had a great weekend despite the rain thank you very much!.

Perth Autojumble

Last weekend saw the annual autojumble at Perth Mart, the usual collection of other peoples rubbish / some people’s treasure. I always enjoy it though and well worth a visit to catch up on the gossip & news and of course tales of how well / badly the winter rebuild has gone.

Forthcoming Events

Applecross seafood festival 9^th – 10^th June Book up now if you want a pitch at the campsite, there were only a few spaces left when I booked 2 weeks ago.

Applecross 23^rd June My Birthday, come along and help my hangover develop

National Rally 20th -22^nd July

Isle of Wight

The NOC National Rally for 2007 will be organised by the Solent Branch at Atherfield Bay in the south-west of the Isle of Wight.
All the facilities at Atherfield are included in the rally price: swimming pool, private beach, clubhouse with bars and music, tennis courts and games room. The whole place has an old world charm; like stepping back into the 1960s!
A large area will be available for camping with fabulous views across the south coast of the Island. Showers and washing facilities are included. Alternatively, chalet accommodation is available.
The rally will run from Friday to Sunday and will include all the usual features

And

National Rally 2008 at Stirling Rugby club, being run by ourselves on the 25^th -26^th & 27^th July. Get the date in your Diary now!!!

The Small Print

The views and opinions contained within this publication are not necessarily those of the NOC or of the branch but are probably mine as I wrote it.

No one accepts any responsibility for anything, if you have a good time don't say I didn't warn you.

Gino Rondelli

April 2007