Buzzing up the Applecross mountains out of Inverness on the back of my trusty Triumph makes this the first leg of the NC 500 around Scotland.
I had ridden to Chester to stay a couple of days previously to break up the long journey, with the sun shining gold in my mirrors, and my eyes itching with tiredness. It has been a tough start to the year, but I was ready and prepared for this challenge.
Afrer waking up in Chester, I headed to meet Frank, Phil, Nick, Dave and James at Charnock Richard Services, with a meet with Snelly further North at the excellent Teebay Services. We spent the night at Moffat, before heading on to Inverness to start the NC500 escapade.
Back on the Applecross mountains and my heart skipped as a campervan swung out too far and nearly took Frank out on a steep hairpin. We get to the top and stop, giving us time to regroup, reflect and take in the view. Frank is ok, but I really didn’t like seeing that near miss on the steep incline. Some people really need to think a little more around motorbikes. We are vulnerable out there.
If you ever find yourself on the NC500 with time to spare, take an afternoon and spin down to Plockton to see one of the most idyllic places that Scotland has to offer. It really is worth the journey. A beautiful ride with an unspoilt estuary to view with a collection of cottages and houses scattered in a pretty village on the shore. A breathtaking stop on this great trip.
Our destination tonight is Gairloch and I am so looking forward to the stop as its my birthday. We zoom through the beautiful country with a stop at the magnificent Eilean Donan Castle, before we finally arrive at our destination. We have toy plane flying competitions and plan a race of clockwork grannies in wheelchair which someone has brought. The race goes incredibly badly when we start downing whisky and we end up late into the night admiring a fantastic display of aurora borealis in the peaceful skies above the lawn of the lovely hotel we were staying at.
Today will take us up through Ullapool and fast roads will take us on a detour inland to the Altanaharra Hotel. Magnificent coastal views, Highland vistas and forgiving roads leave us with tiredness and smiles. We sit in the evening sunshine, watching a couple of deer, confiden as they march through the car park, twenty feet or so from where we sit, before we slip inside for supper.
A bit more campervan misery this morning makes slow going, before the road opens up for us. We head up to Farr, Thurso and John O’Groats before a stop at Dunnet Head, which is the most Northern point in Britain. We are so lucky to see a Golden Eagle today, and an Osprey amongst many other wildlife. We end todays journey with a stop for the night at Helmsdale, our final night on this great adventure.
Hemsdale is a lovely place to stop on the NC500, and it is refreshing to have a beer and a meal with some of the locals. The gist of the conversation is this. Support the hotels, cafes and restaurants along the NC500 or there will be far less of them. Don’t just stock up in a multi national supermarket and live on picnics and BBQs.
The NC500 needs your trade.
We break the final part of the journey up with a stop in Sheffield for a farewell curry and a final few beers.
This is a great crowd to go motorcycling with. We just kinda fit into each others lives and plan these great adventures together and the farewells emphasise that.
Early start next day and it is a quick bolt home to support at a family event. Thanks to my mates for another great time. I cannot wait until the next one.
