When the Irish and Scots get together the
ingredients are set for a good old shindig. Mix in Bikes and
great Scottish roads and the stage was set for a superb weekend.
A phone call in February from Ireland
saying “we want to come to Scotland” was all it took and the
planning took off. After numerous E mails and phone calls the
scene was set.
The welcoming party left Larkhall at 7.30am
to meet our new friends at the ferry port at Stranraer early on
Friday 11th June. The weather was mixed as we headed
for Lochinch for lunch where the remainder of the Scottish
contingent joined them. A photograph shows one of the group,
Willie McLeod; in the car park lovingly making sure his 23 year
old Triumph Bonneville was happy with the spot he’d picked for
it . It was and it proudly saw him to Skye and back in true
biking fashion. Lunch, provided by Campbell McAuley, was
appreciatively ‘downed’ and following a quick briefing it was
off to Fort William. The route took the group up the A82 and
through a rainy Glencoe and into the Highland Hotel overlooking
Loch Linnhe and Loch Eil.
“Never had so much f…… fun in the wet”
someone was heard to say.
Saturday – and it was an early start {Well,
it felt early for some who got in to the spirit of things ‘early
doors’ the night before}. It was to be the road to Skye. First
stop was the ‘Commando Memorial’ at Spean Bridge and then on to
Eilean Donan Castle just outside Kyle of Lochalsh. Both places
of memorable scenery but for most of the lads from over the sea
all they could remember were the roads – “must have been built
by a biker”. A re-group at the toll gate to the Skye Bridge
and
some neat negotiating got the group over the bridge for a good
price and onto Portree where we stopped for a pre booked lunch
at the Aros Experience. The way back saw some of the lads and
lassies taking the Skye ferry to Mallaig and the A830 back to
base. Others took the opportunity to see more of Skye whilst the
remainder wanted another crack at the A87 through Glen Shiel,
past Loch Cluanie and onto the A82, Loch Lochy and ‘home’.
{There’s a ‘Birds eye view from the bridge if you search the
photos}
That evening a group photo was taken – a
wide angled lens was needed to get the huge smiles in.
More of the same next year we
believe.
Update - Next Year,
Friday 3rd June 2005 to Monday 6th June 2005
for Highland Fling 2005 at this
Aviemore. Rooms have been booked for 90 people, 30 twins and 15
doubles. More news when it arrives here.
