Steam-trains, Castles and an old Harley

[2wheels]

The main goal today was to visit the famous Cavern Club in Liverpool; where the seeds were sown for what was to become The Beatles' phenomenon.

So after the incredible Conwy castle it was onto the boring but rapid M6 to Liverpool. Managed to find the Cavern Club without too much trouble.

















http://www.cavernclub.org/1960s



This is the reason why I couldn't dwell in Mathew Street too long as this was the only place I could find to park Tim's bike!
As it was, the Benz in the background was probably stolen and dumped there as the driver's door and rear passenger door were both ajar!

The ever-lasting impression I got from visiting the area was how bleak it is.
To ponder how those Four Lads made of life what they did from such a humble, depressed beginning is truly impressive.



I met Monique and her little 2CV. She was driving to Ireland and tours Europe in her little car, cruising the highways at 60mph. She adores her little car and paid 2000 quid for it.

OK, off the carriage-ways and onto the minor roads towards The Moors.

I took A683 from Denny Beck via Hornsby then A687 to Settle where there were many enthusiasts waiting for the famous train. Then through busy Hawes on A684 where there was a biker gathering via Ayrsgarth then A6108 via Middleham and I stopped at the 'Vale of York Inn' at Firsk where I am writing this.



Entering Hornsby.





And across The Moors.









The viaduct at Settle.





Into this ...



... from this.
Cold, windy, wet but spectacular area.



Seen at Hawes.





The friendly 'Vale of York Inn' at Firsk.



Time to research the local product.





Apparently lots of fisherman stay here on their way to carp in the nearby lakes.

Now to Whitby Abbey!

 

[KTMphil]

I remember this was high on your to-do check list!

 

[Loop]

Isn`t there a Beatles museum around the corner from there? use to be.

 

[bsacbob]

Very lucky the bike was still where you left it Ron, the only good thing about Liverpool these days is the road out. Good to see your across the moors and sampling yet another local brew, Copper Dragon one of my favorites. You should try a drop of Theakstons "Old Peculier" a great dark beer.

 

[KTMphil]

Liverpool airport has been shut for the past 8 hours due to a "Suspicious car".

Apparently it had tax and insurance and the radio was still in it.

Very lucky the bike was still where you left it Ron, the only good thing about Liverpool these days is the road out. Good to see your across the moors and sampling yet another local brew, Copper Dragon one of my favorites. You should try a drop of Theakstons "Old Peculier" a great dark beer.

 

[2wheels]

Dunno Loop; was too worried about Tim's bike!
Next time I take a bus.

 

[2wheels]

Just shared Whitby Abbey with a million tourists.
Freezing rain, so camped at 'The Grapes County Inn' with Dean and Jos who also sought shelter
from the 'orrible wevah. Big BMWs.

More later.

3 (is this the Smiley for 'tenticles frozen off'?)

 

[Captain_Slash]

That's expensive for unleaded there Ron, was it on a motorway?

 

[2wheels]

Very!
Beside the M6 Colin.

 

[2wheels]

Along the A170 through Pickering to Scarborough, which was inundated with holiday-makers.




http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dau2_Lt8pbM


The A171 into the delightful Robin Hood Bay.







Quite a few nice homes for sale in RH Bay ...





... even the old railway station!

One of the anticipated highlights of this tour was to see Whitby Abbey.
And it was, despite the hordes of people.



I walked and rode around the perimeter of the Abby.











From some angles and in darkness it's easy to appreciate how Bram Stoker was inspired here to come up with his 'Dracula' idea.

http://www.ucs.mun.ca/~emiller/whitby.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Whitby

"A monastery was founded at Streonshal in AD 65 .... "




The car park at the Abbey!





View from the Abbey.

Then it poured with freezing rain as I was riding A171 out from Whitby.



But ...



(terrible WiFi, more soon)

So I sought shelter here at another 'The Grapes Inn'.



And continued my research into the local product.





Next, Scotland.

 

[2wheels]

I've just added a bit of additional info to the post above.

 

[Lone Rider]

OK, here is the map with the approximate route taken by Ron up to Whitby Abbey

 

[Ally]

Bloody fantastic Ron

Well done on capturing the journey for us.

Ally

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Ally.
Really enjoying this tour; need some sunshine though!

 

[2wheels]

13th August

Because I spent a lot of time socialising at the previous stop-over, today was to be 'moving day'.

So it was along A171 past Middlesborough and through the Tyne Tunnel past Newcastle and Sunderland then onto the A19 and A1 to Fenwick and Holy Island
then cross country along A698, A697, A68 to Dalkeith where I pitched the tent.





At 'The Grapes' Jos, Dean and I shared many hours chatting about riding in the UK.
Good and interesting company.



Great the hear the Jordie accent at the Newcastle Toll Gate; even better to be waved on free of charge!



Approaching Holy Island.
A surprising number of visitors ignore the tide alerts and become marooned on the island.



Oh crap; the car park at Lindisfarne castle.



Morrie arrived on his massive Triump and showed me around the packed village on the island.



First view of this incredible and historic castle.



Massive tides here.





Way across the bay is this structure, which I don't know anything about just now so will research it tonight.





http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindisfarne

"Lindisfarne became the base for Christian evangelising in the North of England .... "

(Post-trip insert)
'Steaminjungle' sent me this excellent 'Time Team' episode re their archaeological digs on Holy Island, with Lindisfarnre Castle as a relevant feature.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4v4E8zUWA1A





The island is now a real tourist park, with shops, B&Bs and concession stands everywhere.



Then, having spent a couple of hours at the castle and trying to understand what Horrie was talking about, I headed inland towards Edinburgh.



Heading towards Coldstream.









Nice little farm house.



Stayed here at the excellent Ivory House near Dalkeith.



Meet Jack, the owner.
190cms tall, former amateur boxing champion and rugby player with an impressive knowledge of Scottish history.

However, he didn't know why I planned to visit little Broadford.
So when I informed his that, as legend says, Broadford is where Prince Charlie handed over the recipe of what became the 'nectar of the Gods'
Drambuie, Jack asked we to wait a while and he returned with a Waterford crystal glass and a bottle of the golden nectar.
What a host!

He told about a couple of Swedish guests who had who signed the guests book and wrote a comment in Swedish that didn't mean anything to Jack.
That night the two Swedes went down to the local karaoke on the motorbike they were touring on and entertained the crowd there with many well known tunes.
Then they departed for other areas.
It wasn't until another Swedish guest had a closer look at the signature and comments in the guest book that it was realised that the singing guest was Bjorn from Abba!
So Jack went down and told the karaoke owner that he'd had a singing legend performing free of charge in the karaoke.

Sun shine now, so time to 'hit the road' towards Kilmarnock.

- - - Updated - - -

 

[2wheels]

Thanks Auke.
Excellent map you put into my Garmin.

 

[KTMphil]

Really enjoying this Ron, I forgot how nice it can be back there.

 

[bsacbob]

Think your looking at bamborugh, sorry wrong spelling away in the distance Ron

Sent from my iPhone using Forum Runner

 

[2wheels]

Yes Bob, that's it.
More on that later.

 

[2wheels]

14th August

Now in Kilmarnoch and it started to rain as I arrived!

An easy ride today with not much in between last stop and here; wanted to cover some ground becuase it gets better from here north.

Took the A702 through Juniper Green, onto the A71 via Livingston then A705, A706 the M8 and A8 and A74 through Carmyle then M77 and A77, B751 into Kilmarnock. (mainly for Auke)

Back at Ivory House Big Jack was keen to show me his garden and because I behaved myself he showed me this highlight.



It's the original horse and cart track running into Dalkeith, right in his back-yard.



Which, once he cleared the property after purchasing it, he found this Greco-Roman pillar buried into the ground.
The previous owner, a nautical fellow, brought over a few ancient pillars from Rome and planted them throughout the garden.
This one is about 3000 years old.

The actual house was built in 1880.

I asked Jack where I could buy some tartan-wear for a Thai friend.
Had to laugh when Jack's reply was, "It's just down the road for 30 quid and it comes from Thailand!"

I happened to be in town when the Edinburgh Music Festival was on and this attracted a huge number of international visitors.
According to Jack amongst the annual visitors are a contingent of 'Ladyboys' from Thailand, bless them.
The locals love having them in town too.



Stumbled upon the soccer club.



There's a liquid prize for anyone who can tell me the significance of this building.

Meanwhile, terrible WiFi, battery low and recharge not recharging so .....



Tenant; very nice drop too.
One of the best so far in fact.

 

[2wheels]

Here 'tis Bob.

Bamburgh Castle - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia


So good I will go back and have a look at it.
It's not publicised anywhere near as well as Lindisfarne castle, so may be private.

"Built on a basalt outcrop, the location was previously home to a fort of the native Britons known as Din Guarie and may have been the capital of the British kingdom of the region (see Gododdin, Bryneich and Hen Ogledd)[SUP][2][/SUP] from the realm's foundation in c.420 until 547, the year of the first written reference to the castle."

 

[Captain_Slash]

Thanks Ally.
Really enjoying this tour; need some sunshine though!

You picked the wrong country for that Ron

 

[2wheels]

No takers then?




OK, here's the story.

Johnnie Walker's: History of the striding man - Kilmarnock Standard

"When he was 15 his father died and trustees acting on his behalf bought a small grocery shop in King Street, Kilmarnock."​

This is the location of the origins of Johnnie Walker!
King Street, Kilmarnock.

 

[steaminjungle]

That beer looks good Ron , but Liverpool looks as sad as it did when I was last there on my way to the TT races on the I.O.M. in '67 on my Norton ES2. I knew for many years a chap from Liverpool who said that Delivery drivers work in pairs in Liverpool . One stays with the vehicle and one delivers . But I thought that the place had one an award a couple of years ago for being a centre of culture ! No really !!

 

[steaminjungle]

Another good one isn't it Ally. Pity about all the cold and rain but it is summer .

 

[bigalmorris]

What a ride

The report is very impressive Ron and nowhere have I seen rain. You have been truly blessed

 

[steaminjungle]

Don't forget Ron, when you get home you can look up some of the castles and Lindisfarne on Time Team. Not only will Tony Robinson tell you some of the history but why they are digging that particular site.

 

[2wheels]

OK 'Steam', I'll definitely look at TT's Lindisfarne episode.
Rgs

- - - Updated - - -

Read on Al :eek1 !!!

 

[2wheels]

Friday 16th August

After two domestic days, some more research and lots of socialising in Kilmarnock I was keen to 'hit the road' again.



So the aim was to head as far as possible to Duart Castle on Mull.

Just out of Kilmarnock via Gatehead on A71 and A759 I found Dundonald Castle.



http://www.dundonaldcastle.org.uk/the-castle/castle-through-the-ages/

"The place name Dundonald means "Donald's Fort". We don't know who Donald was but he may have been one of three kings of that name who ruled in Strathclyde in the 10th century."

​

Then I wanted to see what Royal Troon looked like.
'Bleak' sums it up.
But some exceptional golf tournaments have been played here.





See, it is a dangerous game; more people die playing golf than in any other sport.

Along the A737 and A78 to Ardrossan.

(So many names that are well established throughout the UK have found their way to Australia, including this one, which is also a seaside resort but in South Oz).



Mull of Arran.

I followed the coast on A78 via Largs (also found in South Oz) and Firth of Clyde then the wonderful A770 to Greenock.



Then onto the A8 and M8 and over the Erskine Bridge.

The A814 through Milton and the A82 to and along the shore of beautiful Loch Lomond.









A82 is a good ride as it follows the edge of the lake and there's many viewing stops.





I stayed on the A82 to Inverardran and Tyndrum, passing Loch Tulla, and the A82 into Glencoe.

A wonderful few hours riding.











Old 'Bluey' is still chugging along faithfully.



It is a dramatic part of Scotland riding into Glencoe.

















Into Glencoe and on to Fort William next instalment of same day.

 

[The Bigfella]

Lovely.... but hey, I'm glad I don't have to go through a winter there...

 

[2wheels]

Friday 16th
Glencoe to Fort William

From Glencoe it was along and over Loch Leven and then the A82 alongside Loch Linnhe to the bustling Fort William.





Fort Bill was inundated with visitors and, although I tried for 2 hours, there was absolutely no accommodation.



How was I to know that the Highland Games was being held?
So I took the A830 around another beautiful lake to South Garvan.








I followed the edge of the delightful Loch Linnha through Blaich to Ayrhoulan and on A861 to Loch Sunart.



By now it was around 8-30 pm and I needed somewhere to rest my weary clutch hand.
Luckily I stumbled upon the Strontian Caravan Park and into this cabin.

Saturday morning is wet, windy and cold so I'm staying here another night before the ferry ride to Duart Castle tomorrow, when the weather will be sunny, clear and warm. :RE

 

[2wheels]

I recommend this little park because Tim, the owner, is very knowledgable about this remote part of the world and he goes out of his way to be helpful.
However, he has no control over the weather!

Home

 

[alexuk]

Bonny Scotland
I met someone in a pub nr Tyndrum, I was walking the West Highland Way
He was on his way to open the Highland Games

 

[2wheels]

G'day Ian.

I don't know how they do it!
As it is, in their summer like today when it is drizzly, cold and windy, the locals are walking around in only T-shirts. (well, also trousers. As for kilts in this climate ......

Tough.

 

[KTMphil]

The skies are looking the same as Chiang Mai now Ron, great report!

 

[garethw]

I think that little white house as you go through Glen Coe was at one time owned by Jimmy Saville. Did you stop at the Green Welly in Tyndrum? Have the evil midges made an appearance yet on the West Coast? If they have I recommend Avon skin so soft as a deterrent. I use to dive in the sea lochs on the West Coast and ride a lot up there. Its beautiful when the suns out, and not quite as nice when the weathers not so good. However for scenery in the UK I honestly do not think it can be beaten and I'm English.

 

[alexuk]

thats who I met in the pub. had a foto somewhere

 

[2wheels]

Gareth, I didn't stop at the Green Willy and 'yes' the wretched little midges got me last night.

Around 8-30, in fading light, I decided to erect Tim's tent beside a stream just off the highway.
Perfect. Almost romantic (even though I'm alone).
Within a few minutes a million strong squadron of the little blighters attacked me.
Not knowing what they were or if their bite was problematic, I quickly repacked the tent and found this caravan park.

I have since been told about DEET and a Savlon cream and even smoking a cigarette to combat the little blighters.
And, as you say, others talk about Avon.

No doubt I'll try again some time.

Despite that and the weather here I am really enjoying this part of Scotland and its people.


Thanks Phil.
I've put a few riders onto RideAsia.
Many have a desire to ride Asia.

 

[2wheels]

Speaking of kilts.

Big Jack back at Kilmarnock is a proud Scot who wears his kilt on special occasions.

Because I have a friend in Chiang Mai who asked me to bring back a kilt for him, I asked Jack where i could get one in Kilmarnock.

"They are all made in Thailand now!", was his reply.

I can't quite believe that, so I'll try in Inverness.
Mainly because I want to see a Thai lad wearing a kilt.

Oh, I am finding the accent here quite remarkable and charming.
But most of the time I find they really should speak with subtitles.
(Like some American shows do when they interview an Aussie).

 

[KTMphil]

thats who I met in the pub. had a foto somewhere

Jimmy Saville?