Castle Spotting on a Run Round Loch Awe

It was bright sunny spring day today, so I went for a run on the FJ.

Loch Awe is about 75 miles, by road, north west of Glasgow and like many lochs it is long & narrow (23 miles long x about 1/2 a mile across)

At the north end of the loch are the ruins of Kilchurn Castle. There are good views of the castle on the road from Inveraray to Oban. The castle was built in about 1450 and extended in the 16th & 17th centuries. The castle was abandoned after suffering damage by a lightening strike in 1760.

 Giant Lego at a quarry on the west side of the loch.

Looking north from the west side

The loch contains a number of crannogs. These are small islands just offshore. They are man-made and would have had a house built on them. Some are as much as 5,000 years old and were inhabited until the 17th century. A home on a crannog would have been a easy defendable stronghold, but evidence suggest that they actually used for hunting & fishing and as an ancient holiday home!   

 Looking up the loch from the south end.

 The ruins of Fincharn Castle. Not much info on it - "probably 13th century"

 Barnacle Geese grazing the field beside the castle - visitors from Greenland

Innis Chonnel Castle - a favourite of mine. Early 13th & 15th century - a stronghold of the clan Campbell

 The north end of the loch.

The road round the loch is mostly single track - so you've got to look out for oncoming traffic...... 

Featured Bike - Triumph TRW

I spotted this bike this bike yesterday at an autojumble in Penrith. It's a Triumph TRW 500cc side valve twin. These were manufactured between 1948 & 64 as an army bike. It seems that most were exported for use by the militaries of Canada, Australia and other Commonwealth countries. In Britain they mostly served with the RAF. The bikes were not available to the public when new but were sold as surplus later.    

 

Good Timing

I just about managed to get back from visiting an elderly friend today when a sudden shower of hail turned things white.

 

Old Photograph

I was clearing out a drawer when I found this old photograph. It shows my good lady, Gwen, and her Kawasaki GT550 wrapped up well against the elements in a bleak looking location. On the back it said "Islay, Sept '86".

The road sign "Kentraw 3, B8018" allowed me to locate the position exactly. It is in the west of the island of Islay, the southmost of the Hebribes. In the distance (although hard to see) is Loch Gorm.

On Google Maps - and it's sunny!

Unlike most of the Hebrides, Islay has many flat areas and is pretty desolate especially in dull weather which is a lot of the time. I'd say the only reason to visit is if you're interested in malt whisky. The island is a major producing area with many famous distilleries. These are flavoured with the peat that most of the island is made of.

I remember a couple of things about the trip. I forgot to pack a pair of shoes. I though "I'll buy a cheap pair when I get there". But the lack of shoe shops (and just about any other kind of shop) meant that I spent the weekend clumping about in boots. Also Saturday night in the hotel in Port Ellen was like a Wild West saloon. Not only do they produce booze, the locals like to consume it.

In the photograph Gwen is wearing her Rukka jacket. From Finland these were the best wet weather gear you could get at the time. Her bike is the touring version of the GPz550 with the same 4 cylinder engine but with shaft drive.   

Winter Wear

Here's the gear I worn through this winter.

Jacket

Hein Gericke textile jacket. It has a Cordura outer with a Gore Tex membrane. It is reasonably warm, waterpoof & windproof. It is comfortable and has a removable liner that I don't use. Its best feature is a detachable neck & chin protector.   

Trousers

Bib & braces fabric trousers with a warm fleece lining by Hein Gericke. These are baggy enough to wear trousers under so were handy when I commuted to work.

Boots

I seldom wear motorcycling boots. I usually wear a pair of "Cripsi" leather walking boots or "V12" leather work boots. If its particularly cold & wet I wear rigger boots

Gloves

I mostly wear a pair of leather "Duchinni" gloves. These are pretty warm when used with heated grips. If it's wet I wear a pair of fabric mitts with pair of thermal inners if it's cold. The mitts are made by "Extremities" for hikers.    

Getting Out & About

Over the weekend I did about 300 miles on the FJ. The weather was bright(ish), dry and just about warm enough for riding for a couple of hours (8C/45F) I wrapped up well and had the heated grips on. This isn't spring, of course, but the days are getting longer. The back roads were pretty mucky and, surprisingly for Scotland, could do with some rain to clear things up. Winter here can have a nasty sting in its tail but the end is in sight.  

Out in the wilds near Moniaive, Dumfries & Galloway

Loch Achray

Snowdrops are a sign winter is nearly over

Oops!

I visit the city centre by bike most Fridays to have lunch with former colleagues. Today, while leaving my usual parking place on the FJ, there was a loud bang and the FJ was on its side and I was rolling about on the ground. What the f….? A helpful citizen helped me get the FJ back on its wheels and I discovered I'd taken off with the U lock still attached to the front wheel.

My excuse is that I don't generally use the lock unless I'm up the town…. but I go most Fridays for the last three years so….maybe the onset of senility?

Anyway no damage done to me or the bike. The FJ has a plastic cover to protect the fairing against such an event and this can be restored using sandpaper. My take off was brisk enough to bend the U lock - but it bent back ok. 

after a little rub & some satin paint