“Raiders of the Glentrool Loop picnic run”

I’ve been promising myself all year that I’d get up really early and go do a full days ride somewhere up north. Well yesterday was as close as it’s got so far. Not quite the crack of dawn (7am on a Sunday still feels like the middle of the night to me) nor was it up north (I suppose Dumfries and Galloway could be if you were starting from England) or a full all dayer (back indoors to the surprise of my wife at 5.15pm. Didn’t get in to trouble for being late for once).
A quick stop for fuel at Muthill and was on my way to the start point 75miles away at Abington Service Station. Traffic was light being early on a Sunday morning and I could have sworn I could smell spring in the air. Turns out it was the freshness of my ‘only just washed’ helmet liner and pads….
Arriving at Abingdon I saw Tim parked up just outside the petrol station and pulled in behind him where we had a fair old chat about all things biking. There was a fairly steady flow of bikers pulling in to fill up (clearly minted if buying petrol from a motorway service station) but none of the others from our crew. After some time I saw Alex arrive but not come round to our side of the garage. Hmmmmm. I suggested to Tim that I go check out the services carpark. Sure enough not only Alex but the rest of our crew for the day – Rudy, Frank and Kenny. So, rounding them up, we all headed back to meet Tim for a quick brief of our run.
And we were off – Kenny and Alex both on Triumph Tigers, Frank on his Honda NT1100, Rudy on his Suzuki SV650 V-Strom, Tim leading on his BMW 1250GSA and me, TEC on my R1250RT (Triple black in colour I’ll mention at this point!).
We weren’t too far out the other side of Abington before I was already in unfamiliar territory so I won’t attempt to do a step by step, blow by blow account of the various places we passed through on our route but I will say that it took us along some excellent roads through beautiful scenery. A very nicely paced run throughout the day too which was very enjoyable. Being at the back is always fun, both playing catchup (though there was little traffic that required despatching or to split us up), or just sitting watching five other bikes snaking through the countryside up front. When you could see them that is……more to follow.
Our first leg of the run took us in the direction of Castle Douglas and the cutely named town of St John’s Town of Dairy 🙂 A typo in the run invite it turns out – St John’s Town of Dalry! Nice wee place. Not long after we were riding alongside Loch Ken where there quite a few vans parked up no doubt belonging to all the anglers stationed along the banks of the loch. Shortly afterwards we arrived at a fairly unique bit of public road, Raiders Road Forest Drive. I could still hear Alex’s earlier comment to me ringing in my ears “Oh I see you’ve come on your most appropriate bike for the off road section.” 🙂 Having ridden The Three Lochs drive last year which, again, is supposedly suitable for any vehicle, I was more interested in covering the 150 motorway miles I had to cover yesterday in comfort. Hence the choice of bike. And to be fair to the bike, it covered the 10 or so miles as well as anything else. However……..as we know, the weather this summer has been very good – warm and dry for what feels like weeks on end. This meant that the gravel road too was extremely dry and, at the back of a pack of five other bikes, incredibly dusty!! At some points those in front pretty much disappeared. About half way round we pulled into a little car parking area for our picnic lunch, the cracking spot that’s called Otters Pool. Most of us looked like we’d just emerged from a concrete making factory, well, apart from Tim who, having been at the front, seemed oblivious to the choking dust being kicked up 🙂 Needless to say my Triple Black was now Triple Grey.
We spent a little while around the pool having our sandwiches and rolls (sausage rolls in my case with indigestion to follow) along with many families and their kids enjoying the water. Recommended spot to visit.
We headed back out onto the Raiders Road and another dust cloud. I did wonder if maybe damper conditions would have been better but maybe that would have just plastered the bikes in thick, grey sludge. Oh, word of warning if you do venture along it – it’s not one way! I’d somehow thought, narrow as it was, that you entered at one end and came out the other but no, it’s two way traffic. I found that out when, riding offside to Rudy to avoid any flying stones, I was met by a white Mercedes emerging from the dust cloud. Slowly fortunately 🙂
The next part of the run would see us go through a part of the Galloway Forest, one of the great ‘dark sky’ places to visit in the UK. I’d also say it’s one of the best motorcycling roads to visit too. Assuming I’ve got my bearings right this was the stretch that twisted and turned for mile after mile through the hills and trees. It was clear from the back that everyone was enjoying this particular section. Spirited sums it up.
Next up was a quick fuel stop for those who needed it including myself as that would see me home and more. Then we were off to a cafe in Straiton that, in my head, I was sure I knew and had visited before. Turns out, when we arrived, it wasn’t where I was thinking which was Broughton. Only about fifty miles away on the other side of the M74! Still, what a nice wee place. Quite small and fairly busy so I asked if they did takeaway cups as there were six of us. “I can fit you in” said the owner. She quickly shuffled a couple of tables and chairs around in the smallest of spaces and suddenly there was room for all of us. “You’ve done this before” I said. “No” she said, “I only opened on Monday!” Another spot of luck and good result for us.
Last leg of the run saw us go through Wanlockhead, highest village in Scotland, and a trip down memory lane for me, through the old mining village of Leadhills where my Gran and Grandpa used to have a tiny miners cottage as a sort of ‘but n’ ben’ to get a break from Glasgow when I was wee in the ’60s. In the village graveyard there is the grave of John Taylor, reputedly the oldest man to have lived, dying at 137 if I remember correctly. Leaving Leadhills we rode through the Mennock Pass which opened up nicely, in the direction we were headed, for a final blast back to Abingdon Services and our finish.
What a great ride! I said to Tim that we would collar him for more runs in the area as it makes for great motorcycling. I think he is up for it 😉 Seriously big thanks for putting it together and to the others for supporting his first club run.
So with that, for me it was off up the M74 for another 75 leisurely motorway miles and finish off to a great day in the usual fine company. Have to mention Frank at this point who casually mentioned to me earlier in the day that he had left Wales to drive for home at midnight on Saturday night!! Home at 5.30 am he was with us for the 10am kick off. Now that’s dedication!
Cheers all. Just going to check if my riding jeans and jacket are dry yet after their gentle wash cycle this morning……………………..