We set off in light rain on Wednesday morning. After 2 days of preparation, paring the luggage down to the minimum to allow for proper airbeds and pump etc. The Triumph was still well loaded down but we were on our way! The rain was coming on and around Preston on the M6 it was really heavy. When the rain eased a bit the wind started! After coffee and a re-fuel at Gretna the rain stopped and we arrived at Phillip’s house in Innerleithen for our overnight stop.
No rain on day 2 and we skirt Edinburgh and over the Forth Bridge. The new bridge alongside (The Queensferry Crossing opens 2016) is looking very impressive. After a coffee and re-fuelling at Pitlochry we reach the Denley House Hotel near Invergordon north of the Black Isle.
Another fine day as we re-join the A9 we see Nancy and Bob go past towing a BSA. Bob has had a nasty accident in Germany on his CSR and his bike still hasn’t been recovered. At the next fuel station we meet Harry and Ruud from Holland on modern bikes. We leave the A9 and head for Wick along the East coast, amazing views and lovely little fishing villages but we have no time to stop! We can’t resist a slight detour to John O Groats for the obligatory picture in front of ‘that’ signpost. We then meet the others at the ferry at Gills Bay for the 1 hour crossing. No Orcas sighted but some great views of the islands and Scapa Flow. Following the others off the boat we ride around Scapa Flow over several Chuchill Barriers (some still have sunken ships alongside). We arrive at St Mary’s Holm Football Club where we camped with great views over Scapa Flow and across Churchill Barrier No3 to the Itallian church. Great facilities in the clubhouse including kitchen with free coffee/tea etc.
We drank the local Orkney beer and ate at the Commodore restaurant next door.
On Saturday Rob Bassett led 17 bikes on the run which stopped at the Itallian chapel built by Italian prisoners of war. A very moving experience and well worth the visit. Then on to a couple of Neo-lithic sites , ring of stone which are amazing but Rose didn’t fancy dancing around naked at midnight on the Solstice! The run then went along lovely sea bays towards the top of the mainland past Skara Brae to Birsay Bay at Brough Head. The island (Birsay Brough) can be walked to at low tide along a narrow causeway in good weather. In bad weather you can’t see it at all! We had great views and sightings of Skuas,Terns, Fulmers, and Ider ducks (no Orca though). Then onto the serious stuff, the visit to Orkney Brewery! After the tour we were given a bottle each and we returned to camp after coffee and cakes. The evening meal was again at the Commodore where the size of the portions had to be seen to be believed.
The forecast for Sunday was for heavy rain so Rose and I decided to go for the ferry. It rained all night and we packed up in pouring rain. Luckily the Triumph started and we made it to the ferry. Well it rained all the way to Kingussey where we stayed at The Star Inn. We arrived soaked to the skin and spent all night drying out our gear. A dry day on Monday for our run to Innerleithen for our last stop at Phillip’s. Tuesday was a lovely sunny day for the trip home. Altogether 1105 miles were covered.
So to sum up, what did we think of Orkney? It’s a unique place with a dramatic, rugged landscape. Full of history, both ancient and more recently from the 2 World Wars. We both really enjoyed our trip and I’m sure we’ll be back one day. Many thanks to the Scottish Section and Rob Bassett for organising everything and making us welcome.