NC500 PLUS in 32 days in July/August 2018
Posted: Tue May 07, 2019 10:39 pm
I would like to share with you some photos I took on my second 32-day solo camping trip to Scotland on my Honda C90T in July 2018.
(My first trip to Scotland in 2017 was also 32 days long. I went to Edinburgh and then as far as Loch Tay from Kent and back. As I am a learner rider, the trip on A and B roads only was 1627 miles long.)
On this occasion (2018) I couriered the bike to Edinburgh from Kent and then went to Inverness to see the Highland games via Stirling, Callander, Glencoe and Fort William. I camped in Glencoe and Drumnadrochit. From Inverness I went to Black Isle (a dolphin-watching boat trip in Cromarty) and did NC500 anti-clockwise. I was attacked in Strathpeffer, so had to relocate for the night to a holiday park in Beauly. Then I camped in Dornoch, Dunbeath, where someone took dislike to my Poppy; Melvich, where I attended a beach wedding; and Durness, where I survived a huge storm as well as went on a boat in the Smoo Cave. In Bettyhill I visited an Anglo-Nubian goat farm. I included the Assynt loop in my trip; this was where I came off the bike (and crashed on the rocks with my fully loaded Poppy on top of me) while trying to avoid a head-on collision on a single-file road. Two English and two German guys took half an hour to get poor Poppy back on the road. I revved up to a standing ovation from tourists trapped in ten car traffic jam. I camped in Achmelvich, Ardmair, Big Sands and Torridon. Having conquered the Applecross Pass I went to Plockton on a seal-watching expedition; then to Dornie (porpoise watching), where I stayed for a few nights. I made several day trips, one of them to the Isle of Skye. I got there in style via the stunning Ratagan Pass and then from Glenelg (white-tailed eagles and seal-watching trip) by ferry which is the only working turn-table ferry in Scotland. I returned to Inverness via Achnasheen and Garve.
Again, I went to Fort William from Inverness and then I popped in to Cairngorms National Park and stayed overnight in Rothiemurchus Forest (wild camping). I visited Blair Castle in Blair Athol, where I camped for 3 nights; some wonderful distilleries, where the nectar comes from, and then decided to pop in to the Trossachs for a few days. I got there via Aviemore, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Killin. The idea was to see Loch Lomond again and ride up and down Dukes Pass. I stayed in Callander and returned to Edinburgh via Stirling. Poppy went home by courier and I took the train from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross.
My trip lasted 32 days. I did 1596 miles. The cost of fuel was £93.73p.
The bike was fitted with TomTom Rider 450, LED lights and a double USB port. I had one 55 litres roll bag, 2 small sports Oxford panniers and a small basket at the front. I carried 2 litres of spare fuel, oil, inner tubes, first aid kit, an electric hook up, a stove and cook set, a table and chair, Banshee 200 tent and tarp, emergency food rations and water. All equipment was ‘super light, extra light, aero light’, three stone in total plus tools.
The bike needed no repairs during the trip. Sorry, this is not quite true. I had every conceivable tool in my tool box (top box) except for a big hammer which I had to borrow to straighten the foot pegs as the bike fell in the wind on several occasions.
Well, that is about it. I hope you will enjoy the photos!
https://client.karolinakrasuska.com/gue ... and2019%2F
(My first trip to Scotland in 2017 was also 32 days long. I went to Edinburgh and then as far as Loch Tay from Kent and back. As I am a learner rider, the trip on A and B roads only was 1627 miles long.)
On this occasion (2018) I couriered the bike to Edinburgh from Kent and then went to Inverness to see the Highland games via Stirling, Callander, Glencoe and Fort William. I camped in Glencoe and Drumnadrochit. From Inverness I went to Black Isle (a dolphin-watching boat trip in Cromarty) and did NC500 anti-clockwise. I was attacked in Strathpeffer, so had to relocate for the night to a holiday park in Beauly. Then I camped in Dornoch, Dunbeath, where someone took dislike to my Poppy; Melvich, where I attended a beach wedding; and Durness, where I survived a huge storm as well as went on a boat in the Smoo Cave. In Bettyhill I visited an Anglo-Nubian goat farm. I included the Assynt loop in my trip; this was where I came off the bike (and crashed on the rocks with my fully loaded Poppy on top of me) while trying to avoid a head-on collision on a single-file road. Two English and two German guys took half an hour to get poor Poppy back on the road. I revved up to a standing ovation from tourists trapped in ten car traffic jam. I camped in Achmelvich, Ardmair, Big Sands and Torridon. Having conquered the Applecross Pass I went to Plockton on a seal-watching expedition; then to Dornie (porpoise watching), where I stayed for a few nights. I made several day trips, one of them to the Isle of Skye. I got there in style via the stunning Ratagan Pass and then from Glenelg (white-tailed eagles and seal-watching trip) by ferry which is the only working turn-table ferry in Scotland. I returned to Inverness via Achnasheen and Garve.
Again, I went to Fort William from Inverness and then I popped in to Cairngorms National Park and stayed overnight in Rothiemurchus Forest (wild camping). I visited Blair Castle in Blair Athol, where I camped for 3 nights; some wonderful distilleries, where the nectar comes from, and then decided to pop in to the Trossachs for a few days. I got there via Aviemore, Pitlochry, Aberfeldy and Killin. The idea was to see Loch Lomond again and ride up and down Dukes Pass. I stayed in Callander and returned to Edinburgh via Stirling. Poppy went home by courier and I took the train from Edinburgh Waverley to London Kings Cross.
My trip lasted 32 days. I did 1596 miles. The cost of fuel was £93.73p.
The bike was fitted with TomTom Rider 450, LED lights and a double USB port. I had one 55 litres roll bag, 2 small sports Oxford panniers and a small basket at the front. I carried 2 litres of spare fuel, oil, inner tubes, first aid kit, an electric hook up, a stove and cook set, a table and chair, Banshee 200 tent and tarp, emergency food rations and water. All equipment was ‘super light, extra light, aero light’, three stone in total plus tools.
The bike needed no repairs during the trip. Sorry, this is not quite true. I had every conceivable tool in my tool box (top box) except for a big hammer which I had to borrow to straighten the foot pegs as the bike fell in the wind on several occasions.
Well, that is about it. I hope you will enjoy the photos!
https://client.karolinakrasuska.com/gue ... and2019%2F