The Applecross Trip July 2005

It is always a good idea to visit Applecross as often as you can in a year. The roads are brilliant, the Bealach always a challenge, the scenery marvellous, the food at both the pub and the walled garden excellent, the company good and the midges always ravenous. My fellow Norton friends Martin & Agnes from Cork and Julian & Connie from Norfolk had expressed an interest in a Summer trip so that was good enough for me.

Martin was making it an extended holiday and I arranged for him and Agnes to stay with me on the Thursday night. We started the weekend as it was to go on, nice meal (in the Almondbank Inn) followed by a few (quite a few) drinks. I woke up in the morning and finished packing the Triumph, I did intend taking the Norton but it had popped the crank seal again (through my laziness not draining the sump after it had been sitting a while).

The others arrived shortly after and after a lot of pissing about we left, the run soon split into two groups with Martin on his Mega Road King FLXRETNYTRGG 12 million cc 14 Ton Harley and George on his rather excellent Guzzi Breva taking the slightly slower approach the rest of us trying to wear out the sidewalls on the tyres. It was wet in bits but we were having so much fun we never noticed, Julian fell by the wayside and we waited at the Five Sisters (where else?) for him. He still hadn’t arrived after several pots of tea and a 15 zillion calorie big breakfast so after a few phone calls he answered, he was at the Cluanie Inn just a few miles behind having a scoff. George & Martin caught up surprisingly quickly reinforcing my belief that its not how fast you go that gets you there but how consistent you are minimising stops for arse breaks, petrol or fags.

We rode up over to Loch Carron to-gether and over the Bealach, interesting following Martin whose Harley had all the grace of a 44 ton truck negotiating the rather tight hairpins, but it kept a smile on my face.

Into Applecross round the bypass to the Campsite (joke) and before we knew it we were in the pub, drinking eating and being Merry (except Julian who was complaining about not enough ice in the ice bucket!) The next day arrived (as it often does if your lucky) and I was reminded that I had put my name down for an afternoon of Sea Kayaking, ah well I’ve seen the scenery around there from the road several times so why not from the sea. Julian went off to explore the breathtaking scenery whilst a couple of us went to meet a watery grave. I’d like to thank George who came down to spectate as if he knew I would make a twat of myself and I’d like to thank him for laughing loudly when I fell in trying to mount the bloody thing. Once I’d got the hang of it, it was OK and we spent a pleasant afternoon sailing down to the next wee village and back. It really was a nice experience and although I wouldn’t take it up as a hobby it’s worth trying, not expensive at £25 for about 4 hours, details from the pub if your interested next time

I did fall in again getting out just to prove I am a twat.

By this time the Saturday contingent were arriving including Dave, Anne, Abi, Dave and Andy. After a shower to get the salt and sand out of my arse we walked down to the walled garden for what I thought was a superb meal. Back to the pub, more drink, more nonsense talked and then it was Sunday and time for farewells as everyone made their way back to their respective homes. I had a good (and sometimes too fast) run down the road, stopped at Dalwhinnie to drink tea and release the weekend’s food (apologies if any of you visited the toilet after me)

A weekend of mostly good fun, good laughs & good company, brilliant!

International Rally 2005

We will all be away to the International next Thursday and with the exception of Bob & Kate McCracken who left on Monday from Rosyth the rest of our contingent will be going from Newcastle to Ijmuiden. Superfast are in danger of pricing themselves out of the motorcycling market if they’re not careful. We were half the price leaving from Newcastle, another 200 miles on the journey but then the journey is the holiday and the adventure and the destination is wherever the journey takes you accidentally or otherwise. To put it in another less philosophical way 200 miles = 4 gallons of petrol on the Commando which = at the most £20. The Superfast boat was around £300 each, the Newcastle boat £155 saving £125 which is around 190 Euro, Rally entry around 40 Euro, meals another say 60 Euro and that leaves enough for (going by last years prices) 90 glasses of beer which means that if you go from Newcastle you get the Rally free, food free and have enough to get pissed Friday and Saturday (at 45 glasses of beer each night) the only costs are for Sunday and the hangover tablets! How's that for logic.

Nuts

When was the last time you checked your Nuts? OK after you’ve done that go out to the Garage and take a spanner around your beloved Norton Crankcase, I last built my engine in 86 when I was but a very young boy (4 actually) and I can’t remember checking crankcase bolts. I was preparing MVD 944 L for its annual International Rally trip and must admit was getting concerned about the rattles and oil leaks which seem to multiply with age (just like humans really) so as part of my strict maintenance regime (aye right) I checked the crankcase bolts and found at least a quarter turn in most and more in others. I started it up afterwards and it seemed to purr like a contented cat, now I’m not sure if it’s my imagination but I think it feels much better after its testicular overhaul. I’ll let you know after the International.

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

August 2005