Monster hunting

[Buckster]

So Sunday afternoon I decided to ride north, I had a notion of possibly getting to Loch Ness although it wasn't definite.

I headed up to Perth and rode the A9 up into the Cairngorms and the start of the highlands via Pitlochry.

 

I hit the twisties on the A889 from Dalwhinnie where I enjoyed my improved handling, didn't see any Indians but if I had then I would have easily passed the aluminium framed pieces of crap.

I then joined the A86. There are all sorts of little houses of different shapes and sizes tucked away up here.

I made my way all the way to Fort Augustus and the start of Loch Ness, the roads are in a lot better condition than I was expecting, they are clearly maintaining them for the tourist traffic, quite a lot of bikes out and the temperature was running at about 25c.

I decided to go to Castle Urquhart as I had never been there before, the entry fee was £17 but I am a Historic Scotland member so I got in free.

I was able to have a walk through the ruined castle grounds and down to the shore of Loch Ness, no sign of Nessie unfortunately (or was there?).

After this I headed up to Inverness but it was getting late so I jumped back onto the A9 to head back home, I had already done more than 200 miles at this point, I called into Aviemore to get fuel on the way back. 

Bizarrely after the high heat in the Highlands the weather started to cool as I headed back south and the Queensferry bridge was completely hidden in fog when I crossed it before heading home where the sun was shining again.

In the end I did 380 miles, it was a good day out, getting home just before 9pm.

There are definitely some roads up there that I need to explore sometime but I will need to stay up there for a few days.

 

 

[Marcel]

Nice one Buckwheat....passing Indians...calm your horses mister 74 hp on a good day...lol. 

[Pedro]

25°, that’s quite something! What are the mosquitoes like with heat like that?

The scenery is just great, even with Nessie not making an appearance.

[Buckster]

4 minutes ago, Pedro said:

25°, that’s quite something! What are the mosquitoes like with heat like that?

The scenery is just great, even with Nessie not making an appearance.

Mossies are pretty much a west coast thing, very few in the middle of the country, Loch Ness is huge, it’s like an inland sea.

[Pedro]

9 minutes ago, Buckster said:

Mossies are pretty much a west coast thing, very few in the middle of the country, Loch Ness is huge, it’s like an inland sea.

An inland sea inside an island inside a sea?

[boboneleg]

Nice one Sir Barge Master , that looks like a damned fine ride and a cool castle to boot