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As we embarked on an exhilarating autumn journey to Glencoe, This memorable adventure featured windy but dry weather, breathtaking scenery, and the camaraderie of our riding members. As we neared the end of the riding season, we couldn't have asked for a better day out on the road. Ian McIntosh (BMW) (Organizer),Ian Ness (Truimph), Kenny Anderson (Truimph), David Syme (BMW) and Ben (Prospective Member, riding a KTM) Starting Point: Crieff Visitor Centre,Route Taken: A85 to Lochearnhead, A82 through Tyndrum, Rannoch Moor viewpoint, Ballachulish, Loch Leven loop, Seagull Island, Crafts and Things, Final Stop: Crieff Visitor Centre The day was marked by the unmistakable signs of autumn, with dry conditions and a stiff breeze that added an extra dimension of excitement to our ride. We kicked off our adventure at Crieff…

Chapter 1: The Nightmare A really horrible nightmare, that it was the middle of the night and I needed to be somewhere far away and quickly, woke me out of my slumber. Unfortunately it wasn't a dream - the alarm on my phone was going, it was 06.45 on a Saturday (that really was the midle of the night as I don't usually roll out of bed until Saturday Morning Kitchen finishes at 11.30) and I did have to get myself to the south side of Edinburgh for 09.15! Breakfast, showered, togged up and out the door for just before 8am and a quick fill up at Muthill and I settled in to the A9 / M9 mostly on cruise which was nice and relaxing. Rare to be able to…

Early start for me on a Saturday to get to Bowness Services to join Ian's run. As it happens, not as far as I thought as, even with a diversion in place for road closure through Braco, I ended up being first to arrive and in plenty of time. Soon I was joined first by Alex on his new Tiger. On asking him how he was enjoying it he told me that this was the first bike he's owned to have heated grips!! Not even any retro fitted ones on previous bikes. Top marks Alex for having resisted this long! (I had grips, seat and vest all on low throughout the ride). In no particular order the rest of our gang, rumoured to be 10 or 11, started to turn…

Scheduled to be the hottest day of the year down south, we assembled at Dobbies, Stirling, on a pleasant early-autumn morning. Dry roads and light cloud cover made for perfect motorcycling conditions. A good turn-out, ten of us set out for our lunchtime destination at Rannoch Station: David McWilliam, Frank Dolan, Kenny Anderson, Ian Jones, Peter Johnson, Ian Ness, David Syme, Robin Galloway, Ali Lazizi and self, Ed Mackey. The motorcycle line-up included five BMWs (S1000XR, GS 750 Triple Black, R1200RT, XRS1000, GS Trophy 1250), three Triumph Tigers (850 Sport and two Tiger 900 GT-Pros), a Honda NC750X and my recently repaired Yamaha XJ6. Peter was run leader, Ian Ness took on back-marker TEC, and the rest of us fought for scribe (I lost). Ahead of us was a pretty…

Bow Trees Filling station became busy with 10 hungry bikers on a warm summers evening. Our destination was Burntisland, luckily for us the Road Closed Ahead signs along the north side of the Firth of Forth were only in preparation for the roadworks that were commencing at 19:30. By that time, we were all parked up and consuming our favourite purchase from the local Fish & Chip shop. After a good blether we all headed our separate ways home. Thanks to everyone that attended, Kenny Anderson, Peter Johnson, Marcus Sharp, Ian Ness, Ed Mackey, Marc Elvin, Ewan Ritchie, Robin Galloway, Alex Cowie & Ali Lazizi.

A long-awaited return to the SMC Calendar was the SMC Treasure Hunt, with the weather forecast a little dubious, three keen SMC’ers took up the challenge arriving at McDonalds, Halbeath Leisure Park. We were greeted by Ken & Fiona Eddie and members of their family + dogs, and at the strike of 09:45 the clues were duly handed out. Making myself comfortable at McDonalds with a beverage I set about deciphering the clues. Ian Ness was the first to leave, followed shortly after by Mark Watson. I appeared to take a very long time to work out the clues, plotting the route etc... Even all the Eddie family left before I did. Picked up the first few clues very quickly, all on track time wise, until I came across a…

Where has summer gone. It’s not since June, that we’ve had a decent period of good biking weather, with rain every day it seems. I suppose we should be thankful, it’s so much worse in other parts of the world at the moment. That hasn’t stopped us getting out on the bikes though, the wheels are still turning. The “InverRaring To Go” run, organised by Ian McIntosh, looked like a fun run on some great roads. As the weather looked favourable, I added my name to the small list of two riders, late the night before. The sun was shining bright in the sky, when I arrived first at the start point in Stirling, on my Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro. Even better the temperature was rising, it was looking…

Finally managed to re-schedule the run having cancelled the original due to the rubbish weather. Nice evening but did get a bit chilly later on. I arrived first, with Mark and Ian following shortly behind. Once all seven of us were there (myslef, Mark, Ian, Ewan, Grant, Brian and Antonios) and we had a briefing, we headed off through Dalkeith, that wasn't the best idea at 6pm...and finally onward to Gifford via West Salton. Nice twisty roads but like everywhere just now, road surface was "varied". Some stunning scenery with beuatiful purple heather. As we got down towards Duns, we hung a right onto the A6105 all the way to Earlston. Parked up and we enjoyed some chat and chips. As we started to loose the light we set-off again…

The weather forecast for the day looked reasonable, although disappointing for what was supposed to be the height of summer. When I arrived at the Crieff Visitor Centre carpark I could only see Ian Ness, the Run leader and organiser. Before long, John Cairney and Alex Muir arrived, as well as Ian and Sue McIntosh. Unfortunately, Ian and Sue were unable to Join us on the run, but had kindly come along to have a chat and wish us well as we set off. Our 10:00 hr departure time arrived and we headed off along the A85 Perth Road as far as Methven. At this point, our group took an unplanned detour for a few miles towards Glenalmond. Ian organised a swift about-turn that saw us back on track. Three…

Although overcast it was a fairly warm (22C rising to 24C) and humid start to the day and my ride over to Kinross Services for the start of Ian's run. I filled up before joining the others already gathered in the car park to ensure I'd have enough gas to get around the route. Being a motorway services I purposely chose not to look at the price per litre - I usually go to great lengths to avoid paying their rip-off prices. A quick catch-up with some of the others gathered then Ian began a quick briefing on our run, drop-off system and timings. Robin decided to start his R1100RS for some reason so we could only see Ian's lips moving for the last third of the briefing. Never mind,…