Highland motorbike tour :P
Something different on today's blog, went on a trip out on my bike on Sunday with a couple of guys from my work after missing last weeks one to St Andrews due to work (was the last Sunday i work this year too Dx) the morning didn't look too good, despite the forecast being sun it was overcast and had been raining, still wasn't to bad so i left to meet the others on the a96 just outside blackburn (small village outside Aberdeen) where we were meeting at at 9.00.
Before we left we had planned to stop at the Baxters factory and shop at Fochabers for breakfast, we were a bit early though as they dont start untill 10.30 so we passed it by and continued up to to Nairn where we stopped at a cafe on the harbor front, sadly it was too busy as its only a small place, so after a few minuites we were back on the road, with the plan of stopping at the first place we saw, which happened to be "the highland food stop" was really quiet, as we were the only three people there apart from the staff, did a pretty good all day breakfast, good service and reasonably priced too, although the tea and coffee were a little expensive imho,
Was just as well we stopped when we did as the rain which was light when we were on the way got really heavy, luckily it had stopped by the time we left though, and was sunny in the direction we were going.
After that we rode on up to Chanonory point near Fortrose, across the bay from fort george, was pretty sunny here, sadly i didn't take my camera (mainly because I'm still waiting for my topbox to arrive from Honda) as it was a nice place for that, saw some dolphins too though they stayed pretty much underwater so thankfully i didn't miss any real photos opportunities,
Having stayed there for a few hours we decided to move on to Aviemoor, sadly we made a bit of a cock up as we took the wrong turn in Inverness and landed up on the Lochness tour road, we could have just gone round but the roads on the other side aren't brilliant being mainly single track, so we decided to turn back and head to Aviemoor.
however after riding a bit George (one of the other guys) noticed the time was getting on (after 4), so caught me and Steve at the lights and said he'd have to head home (i wasn't worried about time but his wife would be annoyed if he was home late) so we headed back towards Aberdeen, after an hour or so we stopped at the Baxters factory again, with the aim of getting coffee and something to eat, however they were just away to close in the main cafe, and only had high teas on in the small tea room so we didnt bother going in, we were just about leave when one of the waitresses came out and asked us what we were after, meantioned we were just after coffee and somethign to eat, they were just serving high teas but she said she would fix us with coffee and some cakes which was nice of her, coffee was very good, plus some nice pankaces etc (i didn't see the price as George paid) very good service too
Following that we headed back to Aberdeen, making one last stop in the Glens of Foudland (mainly so Steve could have a smoke) should have changed to my untinted visor then as it was getting dark but i didn't so was getting hard to see by the time i got to Aberdeen :[
Was a real good day of riding and a nice day out, probably go on the last one of the year which may be at the end of the month, watch this space....
Before we left we had planned to stop at the Baxters factory and shop at Fochabers for breakfast, we were a bit early though as they dont start untill 10.30 so we passed it by and continued up to to Nairn where we stopped at a cafe on the harbor front, sadly it was too busy as its only a small place, so after a few minuites we were back on the road, with the plan of stopping at the first place we saw, which happened to be "the highland food stop" was really quiet, as we were the only three people there apart from the staff, did a pretty good all day breakfast, good service and reasonably priced too, although the tea and coffee were a little expensive imho,
Was just as well we stopped when we did as the rain which was light when we were on the way got really heavy, luckily it had stopped by the time we left though, and was sunny in the direction we were going.
After that we rode on up to Chanonory point near Fortrose, across the bay from fort george, was pretty sunny here, sadly i didn't take my camera (mainly because I'm still waiting for my topbox to arrive from Honda) as it was a nice place for that, saw some dolphins too though they stayed pretty much underwater so thankfully i didn't miss any real photos opportunities,
Having stayed there for a few hours we decided to move on to Aviemoor, sadly we made a bit of a cock up as we took the wrong turn in Inverness and landed up on the Lochness tour road, we could have just gone round but the roads on the other side aren't brilliant being mainly single track, so we decided to turn back and head to Aviemoor.
however after riding a bit George (one of the other guys) noticed the time was getting on (after 4), so caught me and Steve at the lights and said he'd have to head home (i wasn't worried about time but his wife would be annoyed if he was home late) so we headed back towards Aberdeen, after an hour or so we stopped at the Baxters factory again, with the aim of getting coffee and something to eat, however they were just away to close in the main cafe, and only had high teas on in the small tea room so we didnt bother going in, we were just about leave when one of the waitresses came out and asked us what we were after, meantioned we were just after coffee and somethign to eat, they were just serving high teas but she said she would fix us with coffee and some cakes which was nice of her, coffee was very good, plus some nice pankaces etc (i didn't see the price as George paid) very good service too
Following that we headed back to Aberdeen, making one last stop in the Glens of Foudland (mainly so Steve could have a smoke) should have changed to my untinted visor then as it was getting dark but i didn't so was getting hard to see by the time i got to Aberdeen :[
Was a real good day of riding and a nice day out, probably go on the last one of the year which may be at the end of the month, watch this space....