Thunder in the Glens

Five of us set off to Thunder in the Glens, which 4,000 people and 3,500 bikes were expected to attend.  The weather didn't promise to be good for the occasion and that turned out to be so, although it didn't prevent our enjoyment, well mostly!  The rally now claims to be the largest nationally organised one by a Chapter (excludes the European) in Europe.  The folk from Dunedin Chapter certainly commit themselves to the duties that are necessary to make it work, from registration to traffic marshalling and so on.

We made three stops on the way up and one on the way back, making the journey as much of the experience as the destination.  First, it was the Westmoreland Hotel, which is very conveniently located by the M6 and has great views of the hills of the Lake District.  Next was the small town of Sorn, near Kilmarnock, where we stayed in the Inn, a small and friendly pub with excellent food.  Then, it was onward to Fort William, where we met with some other Rolling Hills Chapter members for a photograph at the Commando Memorial nearby before riding together to Aviemore.

The rally seemed less well attended because of the weather, but the number of people watching the mass ride out on Saturday seemed to be much more than before and the column of bikes took 45 mins to pass by, with photographers, professional and amateur, in great abundance all along the route.  It was as well organised as in previous years and took us 40 miles into the highlands, round a loch, through woodland and into Grantown-on-Spey, where the townspeople had once again laid on stalls and attractions and closed the town centre to only bike parking.  Here, it seemed that there were more bikes than before. so maybe the weather hadn't had such an effect on numbers.

It's an expensive display of Milwaukee's finest artwork in steel and chrome:

I did spot this rather unusual character wandering through Aviemore:

On Sunday the weather was good and we started with a ride up to Cairngorm Mountain to enjoy a great view over the surrounding area:

Afterwards, we headed south through Newtonmore to the Dalwhinnie Distillery, where we had an enjoyable tour and a wee taster afterwards!  It was very interesting and we even got a free tot glass as well!

The first leg of the ride home was in dire weather conditions, very wet and very windy.  Fortunately, the wind wasn't so bad as to close the Forth Road Bridge.  We had intended to head down the east coast of England to cross and stop in the Pennines, but the weather dictated a more direct and shorter route.  It took us across the Scottish Borders after skirting Edinburgh and we followed the River Tweed for some miles, eventually to its source, but in low cloud and heavy rain.  By the time we reach Moffat, Sue had had enough riding in the foul conditions and she and John stopped there. Wayne & Julie and I carried on and the weather did ease slightly for us to get to Alston.  The following day, we were rewarded with a sunny and scenic ride down from there and back onto the M6 for the last leg home, which was dry apart from a few light showers.

It was a bit of a rush to get ready for Thunder in the Glens with just two days between returning from the US and it, but it was worth the effort despite the weather!