Yes a Friday ride for a change.
Managed to wrangle out of work and with the forecast semi decent for Friday but looking rubbish for the rest of the weekend it was a good move in hindsight to head out for a nice afternoons riding.
We headed out from Brians at Dingwall along the shore and eventually followed one of our well ridden routes around the back lanes and tracks of Easter Ross.
We stopped and paid respects, as we always do, to the fallen motorcyclist who was killed where the old bridge crossed the line on the stretch of road from Conan Bridge to Muir of Ord. Now the story I have always known was that this young fellow was killed when the old bridge was originally being built back around the 1930's?? but could be wrong on the time, but anyway, the story is he was flying along the road and hit the bridge that was being constructed. It is a dangerous spot as it is a fast road but it is on a bend as it crosses above the tracks on an angle, the old bridge more so. The story goes that the stonemasons who were building the bridge carved a motorcyclist bust with a leather helmet and this was put on the top stones at one end. Brian remembers growing up locally and hearing this story but also hearing it from the bike shop in Muir of Ord especially. While the bust is well faded and worn and was even moved from the old bridge to the modern on in the 1970's it is very hard to tell the last couple of years what it is. I can even remember it in my time looking like a face with a helmet on top. With both Brian and I being motorcyclist as well, we will stop when passing out of respect and also it is a good spot on this long road to stop and regroup, though we always say it is out of respect. ;)
Not far from this point we headed up into the woods where there is an old or ancient Dunn or ground Fort. This time we went past and continued riding along some tiny track wondering where it may bring us out.
It bought us out onto a farm field where we could see a familiar road not far on the other side, though we had to find a place to cross as a few of the field had livestock in them. This proved a blessing as we had a heavy downpour of rain that thankfully the trees in the woods shielded us from.
From here we hit the tarmac and took a more tarmac surfaced route back to Dingwall.
The Long Haul Trucker doesn't always get much mention after owning this bike for about 11 years and many happy miles but it is the go to machine that fits like a glove and can cross any surface and always have me smiling. It's like an old friend. Love it.
Another lovely afternoon out riding local.
Jamie
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