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- Aug 20, 2024, 8:40 AM
- ⛅ 18 °C
- Altitude: 94 m
- EnglandMid Sussex DistrictCuckfield51°0’27” N 0°8’7” W
Day 8 - A Very Long Ride Home
August 20 in England ⋅ ⛅ 18 °C
I was awoken by one of my roommates at 3.50am who having come back from the toilet decided to chat to his girlfriend who was in the top bunk. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to get back to sleep, so I edited my blog from the night before that I hadn’t checked for spelling and grammatical errors.
At 4.15am, I dragged myself out of bed, cleaned my teeth, dressed and packed my bag in the dark. At 4.37am, I fired up the my motorcycle and rumbled out of Drumnadrochit, probably waking half the residents. My ambitious intention was to try and ride home all in one day, assuming my backside and motorcycle engine could cope.
It was still pitch black as I rode alongside Loch Ness on the damp, but thankfully straight A82 to Fort Augustus. The road continued alongside Loch Oich, then Loch Lochy to Spean Bridge and on to Fort William, where daylight was dawning. It was the perfect timing, because I stopped outside the Ben Nevis Distillery for a photo with a cloud covered Ben Nevis behind it.
There was no time to stop any longer so I continued on to Oinch, then the gorgeous looking Glencoe, where I took the opportunity to top up with fuel. The A82 then took me along the most dramatic stretch of road with huge mountains looming up in the gloom all around. The road was wide with shallow sweeping bends which allowed me to get up a good head of speed as I whizzed past camper vans and tents pitched randomly close to the side of the road. I made a mental note to definitely return.
The A82 still continued south through the valley to Clifton, Crianlarich and then alongside Loch Lomond. After passing Dumbarton, I crossed the Erskine Bridge, then picked up the M8 passing Glasgow until I joined the M74 with encouraging signs, (that I was making good progress), to the South and Carlisle.
It was 4 hours into my journey when I finally properly stopped at Cairn Lodge Services where I purchased an overpriced Cumberland Sausage Bap and a coffee, then contacted Jackie to update her on my progress. 25 minutes later I was back on the saddle, having refuelled again, and was speeding down the M74 at a healthy 70 to 80 miles per hour.
It was around 10.30am, that I crossed the border back into England, hurrah, and joined the M6. The wind started to pick up and threatening black storm clouds started to gather in the west dropping a few spots of rain on me. The digital motorway signs illuminated the message ‘YELLOW WARNING - HEAVY RAIN FORECAST’. Hopefully I could outrun the weather!!
I raced past Carlisle, Penrith, Lancaster, Preston and then somewhere before Manchester I stopped again for more fuel. South of Manchester, I inevitably encountered roadworks, heavy traffic AND heavy rain. I was able to make good progress by weaving my way through the stationary and slow moving traffic. Luckily the rain and heavy traffic didn’t last too long and I was soon back to speeding on down the M6 , then the M6 Toll Road (£4.75 for a motorcycle) before picking up the slow moving M42 and on to the M40.
I made a final fuel stop at Warwick Services, which was the most expensive fuel price at £1.70 per litre, compared to Glencoe, which was £1.39!! The final leg took me down the M40, around the M25 and down the M23. I parked my bike up outside my house at 4.35pm. My very long ride was 2 minutes short of 12 hours and was a total distance of 606 miles.
After unloading my bike, I had a much needed cup of tea and a hot shower. Surprisingly my buttocks were not too achy, probably 8 days of constant riding helped, but I can’t say the same for my poor wrists, fingers and blistered palms.
It had been a tough, sometimes uncomfortable, but a most enjoyable trip. I intend to properly reflect on the trip in a couple of days time with a final blog.
Song of the Day - Stormclouds by New Model Army.Read more
Traveler Who knew that a blog could be written about 12 hrs on a bike. I wonder if your final report will include your Xmas wish list….starting with 1. sleeping bag. Glad you enjoyed the trip
Simon and Jackie Annals Thanks Chris. I didn’t have anything else to say. The A82 was such a stunning road. My Xmas list will be starting with a camper van!!
Andy and Teresa Mays That is a fookin long way mate, we did Loch Lomond to home in the van so god knows what it was like on the bike. That west part of Scotland has some of the most stunning scenery I’ve seen. Glad you made it back in one piece.
Simon and Jackie Annals Thank you