Sat 19th May 2018
Set out fully loaded on my XJR from Northallerton, N.Yorks and rode up to Edinburgh via the A68
IMG_7082 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7081 by John Taylor, on Flickrwhere I stayed for 3 days in the most glorious sunshine and chilled with Carolyn while my XJR hid from site
IMG_7084 by John Taylor, on FlickrWe had a ride to Saltire Motorcycles in Edinburgh and they had 4 lovely old bikes for sale
IMG_7093 by John Taylor, on FlickrTues 22nd May
We headed to Oban to catch the ferry to Lochboisdale on South Uist where we would stay in the #Uiststormpods The weather was mild and perfect for riding cross country in Scotland. Fairly clear roads with no hold ups and made good time. Met a couple we know for some lunch before buying some food, wine and whisky for tonight.
IMG_7114 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7115 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7116 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7121 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7124 by John Taylor, on FlickrWe were the only bike on the 15:15 ferry and we landed at 20:30. Literally 3 mins from the ferry and we were at our pod
We met our hosts Graham and Catriona, unloaded the bike and ate our Paella with a lovely bottle of Chateauneuf de Pap outside on the decking 
We lit a fire in the fire pit after eating and sat up till midnight drinking our Oban whisky, perfect. It was still light enough to take photos without a flash at 23:30, amazing
IMG_5770 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_5769 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_5771 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7126 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7127 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7129 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7131 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7134 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7137 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7143 by John Taylor, on FlickrWed 23rd May
I was up early #forachange-not and went for a little wander down to the port
IMG_7155 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7156 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7157 by John Taylor, on Flickrand then went for a dip in the sea, which was bloody freezing I'm gonna tell ya, I didn't stay in long lol
IMG_7162 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7163 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7168 by John Taylor, on FlickrCarolyn and I then donned our walking shoes and went for a walk to Ben Kenneth
IMG_7172 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7173 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7175 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7176 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7177 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7178 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_5776 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7179 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7181 by John Taylor, on FlickrAfter a couple of hours we were back at Lochboisdale and had second breakfast sat outside in the sun at the cafe/post office/shop.
We went back to our pod and went for a ride on the bike heading up and through Benbecula to North Uist. We stopped off at a smokehouse and enjoyed some smoked salmon for lunch sat on the edge of a loch
IMG_5791 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_5792 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_5793 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7184 by John Taylor, on FlickrWe stopped at a war memorial and payed our respects to the islanders who had lost their lives in both wars
IMG_7185 by John Taylor, on FlickrBack in Lochboisdale we went for a refreshing pint at the hotel and booked a table for tonights evening meal
IMG_7188 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7193 by John Taylor, on FlickrThere is a causeway with a very unusual sign on it
IMG_7195 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7196 by John Taylor, on FlickrThurs 24th May
The sun shone on us yet again this morning for our ferry trip back to the main land and Mallaig
IMG_7214 by John Taylor, on Flickrand we were joined this time by Gerard on is GS from Glenshee
IMG_7216 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7217 by John Taylor, on FlickrWe passed beautiful Skye on the way to Mallaig
IMG_7218 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7219 by John Taylor, on Flickrand arrived in Mallaig for 10:30
IMG_7220 by John Taylor, on FlickrA smart looking Manta was on the ferry too
IMG_7221 by John Taylor, on FlickrI stopped at Fort William for petrol and was about on fumes lol
IMG_7222 by John Taylor, on FlickrNext stop was Cluanie Inn for lunch on our way to Ullapool
IMG_7223 by John Taylor, on Flickrthis guy on a scooter pulled up and he was from Austria
IMG_7225 by John Taylor, on Flickrand we arrived in Ullapool by 4pm after a fantastic days riding some of the greatest open mountain roads you can imagine bereft of traffic
IMG_7226 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7227 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7228 by John Taylor, on Flickrafter sunset
IMG_7229 by John Taylor, on FlickrFri 25th May
Chuck Berry - Sweet Little Sixteen, 'Up in the morning and out on the bike', well, use your imagination lol We headed north from Ullapool and had arranged to meet friends who were travelling in the opposite direction this week at Durness for a coffee. We had to stop and get some photo's of the spectacular scenery on the way
IMG_7234 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7235 by John Taylor, on Flickrand found this lovely cafe to have lunch in Durness where we met up with Keith and Julie
IMG_7237 by John Taylor, on Flickrmore beautiful white sandy bays appeared all the way to John 'o' Groats where we were staying tonight
IMG_7238 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7239 by John Taylor, on FlickrThe view from our hotel at John 'o' Groats
IMG_7240 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7241 by John Taylor, on Flickr
IMG_7244 by John Taylor, on FlickrThere was evidence of spirited riding yesterday
IMG_7246 by John Taylor, on Flickrtbc............
Great to meet you both (and Dave the Kawasaki KH500 riding and Mamola Rep owning geezer) ....... we had a great day out and stonking ride home through Glenshee.
He had some awesome toys in the drive and garage, one car was No. 9 of only 20 ever made and it has 253 miles on the clock and he keeps it in a air conditioned bag 
