Merry Christmas to all 2018!

Just a quick belated Merry Christmas post.
I did have this post ready to go but due to a bit of reluctance/ lacking motivation to post anything on social media or the blog I just never got it finished. Hence why there are three posts  done tonight.
Here are a couple of photos to show that even the bikes were included at Christmas.
I myself have had a lovely Christmas period and  am very thankful to spend it with those I love and hope that anyone reading this has had the same opportunities to have the same.

Jamie

Sunday 23rd December 2018 - John O'Groats with Brian - Big Dummy and sidecar

Well after a rather rubbish month on the personal level it was good to be out riding with my riding buddy Brian.
I had spent the best part of 3 weeks during November/December back home in Australia for a family funeral. A lot of that travelling between times so not much riding during the last short while.
 So it was good to get back to normality with riding in the wet and cold ;)  back here at home in Scotland. Genuinely nice to be back home with family and friends, lovely as it was to see my family  in OZ, the circumstances made it not a holiday.
Anyway, I needed to put a few more longer miles in on the sidecar before doing any long rides with the dog or touring gear though with being off the bike for a few weeks I knew it was going to be interesting. Brian was happy to head up this way and thanks for that as I was more than happy to be hanging closer to home. We were going to head out to Altnabreac but the weather turned slightly this morning and while the rain stopped before we headed out towards 'Groats the roads remained very wet with some sections quite icy, so had to be careful.

Brian was on his Rudge rod braked roadster which was his closest match to weight and performance of the Big Dummy, he was right as anything else from his stable and I would have been struggling a lot more to keep up. 

Due to the weather never getting much better we knew we made the right decision as on one section we were riding along wondering if it was water or slush we were on and soon realised it was turning slushy so had to remember to watch this on the way back. I think being on the sidecar I may have a few moments more at staying upright than Brian if we caught some ice unexpectedly. We had a quick catch up stop at the memorial at Cannisbay and then on to John O'Groats and a photo of Brian and his old Roadster at the northern most sign post on the mainland. he gets one with all his bikes when up, though we didn't do the usual miles to get there ;)   

A stop at Groats for coffee and a scone to refuel and warm up for the ride home seen us hitting the road and making a bit more of an effort as we soon realised we had a fair way to go with not that much daylight, or the poor excuse for daylight, left.
Brian had his lights on the roadster, which worked as they probably did 70 odd years ago when it was made but I don't think they would have given a lot of depth once the Caithness darkness descended. I had rear lights, reflectors etc on the Dummy but no front light, which meant we would be seen by anyone else on the road so we were fine in the end. We made it back before dark, just. This is where we have been caught out before around the solstice. I think the solstice was Thursday and the sun rose at 8.39am and set at 3.25pm and the light is not brilliant even when it's up. I certainly noticed the light being muted on my return from Oz.
Hope everyone else where ever you are has had a good weekend and also hope everyone has a lovely Christmas/Festive break.
Jamie