Scotland – Stirling to Loch Earn (A9, A85)

What a great day to be out and about, overcast, warm, dry and in Scotland. We have been good doing our weekly motorcycle trips, the route we took in Scotland this time is one Ann and I discovered with friends of ours a couple of years back. We always said we would go back up to Loch Earn to have a braai (BBQ) for lunch. Unfortunately we never made the time to do this, fortunately we remembered it and decided this weekend would be perfect for it.

The trip started extremely eventful, I drove 10 miles before I noticed I didn’t have by specs on, I stopped next to the road to look in the rucksack, as I got up, guess what, YES they fell from under my big fat arse onto the scorching exhaust. I was absolutely fuming and annoyed with myself, unfortunately Ann asked me a question at the exact time and I might have snapped at her. Apologising didn’t help, bribing with chocolates didn’t help, meeting up at Stirling with Jamie finally cheered Ann up again. Anyway the specs are in one piece, a couple of pulls and pushes on the frame got it roughly to it’s original shape.

Enough of the specs. We met up at Stirling services for a run up on A9, Crieff, A85, Loch Earn for lunch and back down to Stirling on the A85, A84 via Callander. Roundtrip roughly 75 miles, a short run with annoying traffic but great roads.

I wont mention the fact that Jamie nearly drove into me, blaming the engine braking on the V-twin, nor the fact that Ann nearly threw her helmet at some arsehole (put politely) and that her personal mechanic didn’t check her tyres as he usually does before we headed off.

The Route:

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Stops:

Not as many as last time:

Loch Earn for a BBQ: Absolutely gorgeous, tranquillity is not a term to be used lightly here, some people fishing, some people camping some people having a braai (BBQ) and others are just there.

Hamish: Ann and I try to visit Hamish once a year, we met him for the 1st time about 5 years ago when he was actually a different bull, anyway we are both glad to see he now has his own hoose with an ensuite.

Toilet for the gorilla pet we take along on the runs

Verdict:

The A85 and A84 in Scotland are just exceptional roads, you run through long sweeping corners with no surprises in what feels like a tunnel through a forest. Occasionally when there is a gap in the forest you see the spectacular lochs and hills for split seconds, however that is enough to make an impression that will stay with you for a lifetime. I would strongly recommend that everyone should do this route by foot, car, bicycle, motorcycle or even skateboard if it is only for the surroundings and natural beauty of Scotland.

Photos:

Some dude’s tackle

Triumph, Sportster, Bandit (400) or at least their headlights

Ann with our porta-braai

 

Jamie having coffee

Jamie & Ann chilling out next the massive fire

Lawrence going caveman on the porta-braai

Loch Earn

Scotland - Linwood to Electric Brae route

Our 3rd run, and I have to admit a fantastic day out, we were quite lazy and did short runs and stopped way too often, saying that it was such a nice day we had to soak up some of the August sun. I have personally never been around this part of Scotland, at least not on these roads, it was an absolutely fantastic experience. We met up at ASDA in Linwood from where we headed for petrol 1st.

Ann and I was late due the the fact that Rangers decided to schedule a football match around the same time our run was meant to start, it took us an additional 30 min to get to Linwood, filtering through traffic on the M8 from J10 onwards.

The Route:

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Stops:

Irvine - We stopped all over the place, our first official stop was in Irvine for lunch at the The Ship Inn, again an exceptional lunch, I had the Lamb shank, Ann and Mauro had Steak Pie and Jamie had Haggis, desert was sticky toffee pudding with ice cream all round.

A719 - Our 2nd stop was just outside Ayr on the A719, a fantastic view, we had great weather and probably spent 30 min faffing about next to the road.

Electric Brae - Our 3rd stop was at the Electric Brae, unfortunately I didn’t experience the effect, I put it down to the new specs and maybe the fact that i was concentrating on not falling off.

 

Wind farm - Our 4th stop was at the wind farm just off the A77, very impressive indeed, I have to say the road markings on the way up there confused the shit out of me and Jamie, if traffic decided to use them all over the country nobody would even consider speeding, eventually we figured out it was actually markings to indicate bicycle lanes and the middle part was for traffic going both ways, very interesting indeed, especially when cars are coming towards you.

Glasgow BP - Our final stop was back in Glasgow at the BP garage (helping them recover from the oil spill) for a quick refuel so Ann and I could get home.

Verdict:

Mauro suggested the route, it was absolutely fantastic, we did do a lot of town driving through Prestwick and Ayr which put some strain on the 2 hooligans in the group, Mauro and I on our sensible motorcycles were more than happy doing low speed stop and start activity, no fans blowing constantly, no wrists pains from silly handlebars, no sore shoulders from leaning forward all the time.

The fun really started when we left Ayr and took the A719 to the Electric Brae, fantastic scenery and views as you ride on a road with decent surface and corners to keep us all entertained. The wind farm was a really nice place to stop, it is very impressive to see those gigantic wannabe helicopters turn over making virtually no noise.

Photos:

 

Alternative transport

What are you smiling at, you …. so and so!

Happy as a pig in shit

A719

The bikes

Mauro

Ann