You take the high road and I'll take the low road

[stinkwheel]

Now he's on the fun roads. Invergarry to Kyle of Lochalsh is a peach.

Tell him not to catch the ferry tomorrow even if there is one. They have a bad case of religion on Lewis and literally nothing will be open on a Sunday. I even know some guys who came back to their B&B in Stornoway on a Sunday after working all day installing fish farming equipment to find the door locked and their luggage packed on the doorstep. Stornoway on a drizzly Sunday is one of the grimmest places in Scotland, far better to stay on Skye.

Not been for a while but there's a good chance he wont even be able to get fuel.

We used to stay at Camus More campsite at Kilvaxter the night before a Lewis ferry. Cheap and cheerful and about 10 minutes ride from Uig. Nothing there but peace and quiet and a world class sunset.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

Thanks, I've passed that info on to him.
I'm glad he got this far as being on the west coast with all the lochs hills and scenery does give you a feeling you're in a different country.
I know he's impressed already.

I doubt he's going to be lucky with the weather but you dont go to Scotland for the weather do you?

It only sunk home last night that he's using a bivvy bag
Sod that for a lark they're tiny!!

I gave him tips on diesel gloves on hands , plastic shopping bags on feet and a bin bag waist coat under jacket in foul weather
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[WD Forte]

He's in Uig and booked on the 6:30pm ferry to Tarbert
The ride up took about 3 hours as expected.
Pissing with rain at times and I sent him a link to backpackers stop
in Tarbert as it sounds a cheap and cheerful option.
Hopefully he can dry out and base himself there for a couple of days.
Says he hates the feckin bivvy bag and should have taken a tent.

He was wondering why the ferry took 4 hours and looking at timetables.
Apparently he's booked on one that goes to Lochmaddy on Uist first so that'll be a Caledonian cruise he can tick off the list.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[slowasyoulike]

[stinkwheel]

Bivvy bag is ok if you have a decent size tarp so you have something to sit under... And if you don't mind midges.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

I bet Tarbert at 10:30 on a Sunday night is one big party........
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[A100man]

[A100man]

[WD Forte]

Not sure where/how he spent last night getting to Tarbert so late but
he phoned me from the ferry.
He couldn't get through to the backpacker joint in Tarbert so booked two nights in what looks like
a garden shed in Portvoller with beach and resident seals nearby for £70 he says.
(on a peninsula 10 miles NE of Stornoway)
He'll be able to base himself there and be dry & warm and have couple of good nights kip at least before heading south again.
I see Stornoway has a Tesco so its not utterly uncivilised

I told him pics or it didn't happen

I couldn't help wondering if he might turn back at Caldbeck due to the time it was taking and crap weather but impressed he didn't.
He hasn't voiced any regrets or complaints about the time its taken and the weather so far and has learnt lessons for the next long ride.
"Amazing" was his reply to how he liked western Scotland.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[woo]

I am so happy for him as his trip is epic and I know the beautiful sights he has seen.

Next year im heading up to Scotland again but this time as a semi homeless nomad moving from one place to the next instead of being located at one place as I have always done.
Throwing in a mix of wild camping and campsites.
Still deciding on whether to drive or ride, but I think id rather drive this time.

Sitting in a tent or car whilst its raining is one of the most relaxing things ever.
The pitter patter of the rain, the sound of the wind is soo soothing..........so long as your dry and warm that it is!
____________________
Elen sila lummen omentielvo!

[WD Forte]

BTW this 'lad' is well in his 40's
I may have given the impression he's a yoof but he aint.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[WD Forte]

As suspected due to his late arrival, he had to wild camp just outside of Tarbert and it was a very wet, windy and uncomfortable night in the bivvy bag.
He survived and got to his digs in Portvoller the next day to dry out his kit and phone which he thought may have drowned and rest.

The weather is very wet and windy and it looks like that's what it will be like for him on the way home too.

Tomorrow he's off to the ferry and heading South again.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[Bhud]

FFS that's a grown man. What are you doing

[slowasyoulike]

[stinkwheel]

Crossing Rannoch Moor in high winds and rain on a 125 will be a life affirming experience. Definately type 2 fun.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

Thinking about it.
I'm not sure if he's using any kind of tarp/flysheet over that bivvy bag !
.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[WD Forte]

He just texted me to say he's staying another day then getting the
Stornoway to Ullapool ferry Thursday
I suspect his phone/nav will send him down the A9
That's 320 odd miles to his mate in Caldbeck.

Edit: I see 40+ mph winds are forecast for Stornoway on Wednesday
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[stinkwheel]

[megaross]

[jimster]

I can sympathise with this chap.

As a student I once rode Exeter to Oxford on a £200 50cc moped that I had just bought the day before, and that overstated my true speed by about double and without any maps (in the pre-smart phone days).

I did some short stints on dual carriages which were slightly alarming considering my indicated 35mph was well under 20mph and I had a few lorries honking after they almost rear ended me.

My overall average speed was about 12mph (indicated 25mph...). I set off at 7am and arrived well after midnight deeply confused why it had taken so long (as I hadn't realised speedos could lie). I was cold and tired but happy. Good times.

The scooter was then stolen a few weeks later. Sob.
____________________
Current: Yamaha Diversion XJ900
Previous: Yamaha Diversion 600cc, Piaggio Zip 50cc, Honda CG125-W, Siamoto Caddy 50cc moped

[WD Forte]

Yesterday evening I got a text to say he was on the A82 Southbound heading for a campsite near Fort William.
Thats about 110 miles
As it was 7pm ish I'll assume he got the 2pm ferry which got in to Ullapool around 16:30.
He said he was going to head for Blackpool today
thats about 300 miles, but just got another text to say he's got an airbnb booked at Whitehaven tonight. A mere 230 ish miles

Not sure why he's not staying with his mate in Caldbeck tonight but tomorrow, if he's heading home,
he'll have another 300 to go or if he stops at his folks place in Hereford, 250 and a comparably easy 50 mile ride on Sunday.

I reckon he'll have clocked up the best part of 1500 miles
and 40+ hours of riding when he gets home.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[WD Forte]

He booked into the AirBNB at 8pm..
A long old day that.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[MCN]

TLDRA

Plastic Gloves do not work to keep your hands dry for very long.
Gortex or Sheltex membranes are the easiest barrier to wet.
Hands sweat.
Gortex can get overloaded too.
We hands won't dry if it wet outside.
A dry pair of gloves in a dry bag works as a bit of respite.

Seasoned Weatherist here.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[WD Forte]

Righty ho then, ta very much for that top tip.
I'll make sure to pick up some Gortex ones next time I fill up.
____________________
bikers smell of wee

[MCN]