Saturday 30 August 2014

No Way Out

There seems no way to legally exit this lay-by on the A77 north of Ballantrae.





Tuesday 26 August 2014

Two Highland Bridges


On a run yesterday to Oban yesterday I stopped at two interesting bridges in scenic locations.

Clachan Bridge carries traffic between the mainland and the Isle of Seil. It stretches things but it's known as the "Bridge across the Atlantic". It was completed in 1793.






Connel Bridge crosses Loch Etive at the Falls of Lora, 5 miles east of Oban. It was constructed in 1903 as a railway bridge. In 1914 a roadway was added (with road traffic using it between trains) The line closed in 1966 and the bridge then carried road traffic only. A walk onto the bridge gives great views up & down the loch. 



Tuesday 19 August 2014

Featured Bike - Suzuki GS1000



While at Kirkcaldy for the beach races I spotted this immaculate and original Suzuki GS1000.

Suzuki were the last Japanese factory to introduce a litre bike. The GS1000 appeared in 1978 and was based on the GS750 of 1976, surprisingly Suzuki's first four stroke. The 1000 had a very short production run because Suzuki came up with the 16 valve GSX1100 in 1979.

Suzuki raced the GS1000 and Wes Cooley won the AMA Superbike Championship in 1979 & 80 on a Yoshimura prepared bike. A replica bike, the GS1000S, was sold in 1979 with its blue & white paint scheme and distinctive handlebar fairing. 

Excellent Suzuki site - http://www.suzukicycles.org/
GS1000 at Kirkcaldy
Wes Cooley
GS1000S

Wednesday 13 August 2014

Run to the East Neuk


A run today to the Kingdom of Fife. Very pleasant once you get to the fishing villages of the East Neuk.  

The FJ at Ellie....

...and St Monans
Dramatic skies over St Monans
Pittemween
 

Saturday 9 August 2014

Bikes at Blairgowrie

VMCC Rally at Blairgowrie today

 A pair of Triumph twins

 Scott two stroke


 OHC Velo

 A pair of Ariels

 A classy couple - Brough Superior & Morgan three wheeler

 Indian

 BMW outfit

 Alvis with aluminium bodywork

 The visitors had some nice bikes - a Norton Dominator and a Laverda Jota with an unusual fairing

Wednesday 6 August 2014

Plums



I getting excited by the thought of plums. I have a plum tree in the garden that provides a huge crop of sweet juicy purple plums. Trouble is that it's not reliable. I've only had two good crops in 13 years. But things are looking good this year.

 My worry is that there's so much fruit the branches might snap

 Good tomato crop from the greehouse....

 ...and basil to make...

 .. gnocchi with pesto & tomatoes (washed down with Irn Bru)
 
Fritz (the horse) will eat most of the apples