Welcome to XJ900 2008
Or why I have not written anything this year
Welcome to September 2008! I know Iknow, where have I been?? You've all given up watching :))
To tell the truth I have been hugely distracted by a current disagreement between myself and my employers which, is still rumbling on but which I am now trying to ignore while I am not working.
So, what's been happening on the bike front?...the truth is, not much. Obviously I've had the MOT to prepare for and attend but this went as well as before requiring yet another tyre! I read with intrest in Jeroens Weblog that he gets 15,000Km from a rear tyre. I make that between 9 and 10,000 miles! I'm struggling to get 3,000 miles from a rear tyre :(( Is this a reflection on the road quality or simply the riding styles? A bit disappointing though. I also had to replace the front tyre on which more later.
All has not stood still though
IN early winter I woke to a fantastic day, one of those that should only happen in Spring or Summer, total lack of clouds, bright sunshine and blue blue blue. So what else can a biker do do do but take a coast trip. So I did. The follwing snaps show why I live where I do and don't want to move move move.
So , since I was off, and the bike was fully operational, I grabbed a camera and off we went.
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| Ok, so here we are, 3 miles up the coast road from home. Lovely | And looking North! |
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| On the High ground between Stoer and Drumber looking North West..ish | And a slightly higher aspect! |
There is not much to be said here so, if you don't mind, (and even if you do) I'll keep posting the pictures and short comments about them. Nothing new there I hear you think!
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| Looking over to the islands outside of Ardvar Fish Farm | And a little further North..ish |
I then concentrated on enjoying the remainder of the Coast road (and the more tricky sections of it) and then turned for home at the junction between the single track coastal route and the A895. If I turn left I go North through Kylesku and if I turn right I head back to Lochinver and also with the possiblity to leave Assynt altogether and join the world :))
Had to stop at this bit though!!
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| This is "Quinag" (pronounced Coon-Yag) and one of my favourite views of it. That steep slope on the right is at odds with the rest of the mountain which is actually quite accessible (should one want to try!) | And just look at all that blue!!! and that bike ;) |
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| Yet another view of the above mentioned mountain | And then I move a mere 1/2 mile up the road to...The Bends (Previous location in the yellow circle...ish) Note the helmet stupidly perched on the wing mirror!! Idiot. |
To talk about "The Bends" I work, as you may or may not be aware, as a Paramedic in the Scottish Ambulance Service and these "bends" have claimed many victims over the years. Some bikers and some Car drivers. No one has yet been seriously hurt (To my knowledge) but many beautiful machines have been seriously disfigured. Trouble is, are they not superb from a biking point of view? :)) I can understand the problem but...you have been warned!
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| So, here's the problem. The first bend, on the far right top of picture, is a 90 deg bend which opens out onto a parking place and a steep slope. Yup, they do! Straight over...! This is followed by a 180 deg switchback and, yup they end up under the barriers. All in all a tricky little section | The exit from the 180 |
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| Ok, there's Quinag again :) | View from my bike while taking the 180 (Ok perhaps not!!) but you can see the problem?? |
Incidentally, if anyone is reding this who has actuall come to grief on these bends then apologies for bringing back bad memories and my condolences for nay trauma suffered. These are very tricky roads.
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| Do you see that streak on the corner? Tha's me that is...Or was it Photoshop? | And suddenly we've moved on. This is taken at Ardvreck Castle the ancient seat of the Macleods of Assynt, but that's another story! Bike is now pointing back to Lochinver following this short detour |