August 5th 2016
The Prologue
A trip planned to Scotland with the boys was a good chance to try out a few modifications and repairs to the bike before our planned holiday to Spain and Portugal. Since March this year I`d been plagued with a NAV unit that kept going flat when in the cradle and was a right pain in the ****, I needed new tyres, and this time I took advice from an Aussy guy to go back to Metzeler and bin the Michelin Anakee`s, and a 6000 mile service.....a hundred pound notes should cover it, should n`t it? With a bank loan in hand and a promise to work far beyond my retirement age I set off for the dealer to part with my cash. A visit to the dealer needed a loan bike, and oh what a bike.
BMW XR 1000
Like a rocket propelled grenade, not my sort of bike, but, baby with 160 bhp could it go!
With loan bike given back and a few tears, I jumped back on the old GSA and rode it home like I`d never ridden before...missing gear changes, apex of corners missed, stabbing the brakes and my other half nutting my helmet etc. We`ve all been there I`m sure, so, just glad to get home.
The good news.....for anyone out there complaining of Michelin Anakee tyre noise, the Metzeler`s have cured it.
Modifications to bike - solar panel
I bought a Lidl solar panel (£11) and put it on a ram mount on the top box, don`t ask it to jump start the bike, but for charging your phone and head set on the move...job done.
It`s amazing what double sided sticky velcro will do.
Additional water bottles for warmer climes
The Trip over the Scottish Border
A trip to border country or Scottish lowlands started on Friday from Clitheroe in Lancashire, our destination was Denholm, a short way from the town of Hawick. Four bikes...Honda Deauville, Triumph 800, BMW GS & GSA headed off for Settle in the Yorkshire Dales on the A65 and then heading west for our first stop at Kirkby Lonsdale.
Ride Leader - Robin (BMW GS)
An experienced hand at country roads meant that any google map times and routes would be thrown out of the window, sorry, off the bike in this case. The route to Scotland would involve no motorways, a small amount of major A road at the start (A65 Settle - Kirkby Lonsdale) and the rest would be B roads.
Why is Robin the master of B road Britain? Delivering animal feed to farms gets you round places and roads most of us never see, although it could be said, that, all the animal crap you see on the roads could be a direct result of him feeding the damn things.
Scania 8x4 bulk tipper
If you see this vehicle in North Yorkshire, keep to the left.
Google Maps.....no way are we doing that route
From the depths of Lancashire you can get to the border easily in less than 2 hrs, but our route was designed to take the scenic route and miss all the holiday traffic heading north to the lake district and beyond.
Kirkby Lonsdale - Devil`s Bridge
Yorkshire...Bandit Country!
A favourite spot for bikers and a chance to have breakfast and a brew for some. I had a hearty breakfast before the start, but, for Roy & Ian the temptation was to great.
Roy - Triumph 800 XRx
I was a little suprised at Roy with a bacon and sausage butty, he usually dines elsewhere.....SATNAV loaded with every STARBUCKS & McDonalds in the UK.
Ian.....Honda Deauville
Ian should know better; being a top man in the Ambulance Service obviously taught him nothing about early coronary heart disease and an early exit from the planet.
Roy...telling us some story about STARBUCKS and Robin (BMW GS) .....I`ve heard this one before.
Back on the bike we made tracks for the town of Sedburgh in Cumbria, this road at the weekend is known for the sport and naked bike brigade doing the fast stuff.....a bit nuts when farm tractors and city folk driving 4x4`s are all over the road, not to mention animal crap with a smidge of wet stuff a possibility.
Heading north for Tebay, Langwathby, Lazonby and Brampton for lunch.
Great North Air Ambulance at Paul Bird`s
Spotted at Paul Bird`s depot in Cumbria....Paul Bird Motorsport is competing in the British Superbike Championship using Ducati in 2016.
The air ambulance is a reminder of just how precious it can be when things go wrong in remote places. Our next ride out from Clitheroe will contribute to the Yorkshire and North West service.
Brampton.....lunch stop.
Denholm - Scottish Border Country.
A quiet village between Hawick and Jedburgh was the only place available in the area, don`t think for one minute this place was our last chance saloon, it was spot on. "The Auld Cross Keys Inn" was run by folk originally from Yorkshire and the place was full on Friday afternoon with drinkers and people wanting food, the food and service was great and worth a recommendation.
The Auld Cross Keys Inn
Facilities.......parking at the rear with good hard standing, even if it was on large stone.
Priority 1.....Beer and Food
I`m starting to worry with Ian`s tee shirt thing, he`s got a bike, supports Burnley Football Club and the hammer and spanner must be the odd one out.
Map reading and enlightenment.....yep I`ve got it!
I`m not so sure now, where`s Burnley on this map.
Story time at the bar
Ian bemused by Roy`s story of just how good STARBUCK`s are at providing quality cheap refreshment for needy travellers, or, is that nerdy travellers.....take your choice.
Sod it, I`ll try and record it for prosperity.
Friday night.....party night in Denholm
Not the one I was thinking of, but, cake and fireworks for the old boy....well done, 80 today!
Saturday Morning - Village Green & Memorial
After a restless night I thought an early rise and walk around the village was in order.
Motor Engineers in Denholm
Ring the bell push for petrol pump assistance....where do you get that these days.
A bike shop in a village selling scooters and all those little bits and bobs, what`s going on.
For all those in the know, Denholm was the home of Steve "Hizzy" Hislop and the garage above prepared is first winning Isle of Man TT bikes.
Wiki link: Home of bike racer - Steve Hislop
Hislop v Fogarty at IOM TT.
Denholm - walking the back lanes
Barley...for Scottish whiskey or breakfast consumption?
Me and the horse had a meaningful conversation and put the BREXIT vote to bed.
The grass is always greener.....now I know what it means.
I suppose walking around a graveyard early morning seems a bit mournful, but on a sunny morning with everyone else in bed, it was great to get the sun and a bit of quiet time.
Saturday Rideout
Saturday started with a soft tyre on the GS, with 50 pence spent on the air line we were ready to rock and roll....destination: Lochs, Moffat and Kielder Forest.
Headed out of Denholm towards Hawick and then south on the A7 looking for the B711 towards Roberton.
Great quiet roads with good views.
Alemoor Loch
Continue on the B711 over narrow roads and great views towards Cacrabank before a T junction on the B709, turn right & then left to continue on the B709 towards the T junction of the A708. Turn right and head down the A 708 towards Moffat and on towards St Mary`s Loch. Look out for a turning on your right for Cappercleuch and narrow unclassified road towards Megget & Talla Reservoirs.
St Mary`s Loch to Talla Reservoir
Talla Reservoir
OK....where did you drop the bike keys?
Highly commended - she never got off the bike once up the big hill from Talla Linfoots
Just proving that my solar panel will work in cloudy Scotland
Talla Reservoir to main road
A701...run towards Moffat past the "Devil`s Beef Tub"
Moffat
Brew time in Moffat
It`s wrong at all levels
Looked good, but I could n`t finish it....unbelievable.
The Scots are sweety eaters
The narrowest and longest hotel on the planet...maybe.
Leaving Moffat and heading back to complete a circular route towards St Mary`s Loch on the A708.
Brew cafe and meeting point for all on St Mary`s Loch.
Never spotted James Bond 007, just the bike.
"Men in Black"
End of the circular route but not the day`s event. The next part of the journey was to the southern end of Kielder Reservoir back in England.
Leaving St Mary`s Lock we retraced part of the route back to Mountbenger and Cacrabank on the B709 before turning south again towards Eskdalemuir and Langholm.
We took a short break for ice cream and a fuel top up for my GSA. Headed out of Langholm northbound on the A7 we took an unclassified road (Tennis Hill) over towards Newcastleton.
Over Tennis Hill....another great road and wild. with plenty of sheep in the road.
Over Tennis Hill
From Newcastleton we took the B6357 towards Saughtree and turned right to take us in to Keilder Forest Park and over the border back in to England.
Saughtree to Kielder Village
Kielder Reservoir - England
You can ride over the dam head at the southern end towards a car park and walking area.
Rob & myself got a little adventurous with our riding at one stage and lost Ian & Roy in the process.
Back at the south end visitor centre and time for a brew.
Ian showing us how to polish off a piece of cake and a brew
Tired, thirsty and a chance to take in views of Kielder reservoir
Kielder reservoir and forest are a playground for folks from the north east.
Kielder Dam Head
After a late afternoon at Kielder we headed back north to Saughtree on the B6357 and then to Denholm which was probably a 40 minute ride.
Back at base camp...pub.
Time for rest, a pint and some reflection on the day`s events.
Time for Home
Appleby Cumbria
What, no phone signal in Cumbria......great!
Ian again munching his way through more food.
The travellers use the river at Appleby to wash their horses before the sale, it`s like the wild west when they come to town.
Appleby Church
Return to Kirkby Lonsdale
Sunday was a great day weather wise for biking and the mass of bikes at Devil`s Bridge proved it.
Bikers in pink....charity run for breast cancer.
Must be mad....this guy rode a Triumph 1200 Explorer semi naked.
After the madding crowd at the bridge we made back over the fell road towards Bentham, Slaidburn and Clitheroe.
No major mishaps on the trip, only a soft rear tyre on the GS, we concluded our three day adventure in mid afternoon with thoughts of next week`s charity run in the Yorkshire Dales.
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