Leaving the café at Ballinluig, a dark cloud of foreboding (or could it be a large snow cloud?) appeared over us like an omen. Still, we were in good spirits looking forward to yet another cracking rally up in Orkney, and so carried merrily north on the A9. The next omen appeared in the form of a snowplough heading south with the driver pointing at us and laughing his socks off! HINT!!! If you see a snowplough going the other way…….follow it, he knows something you don’t! Now , it was blustery going through Perth, but from Ballinluig up the way I developed a saucy 45-degree riding style. There was more wind than in the Houses of Parliament! Throw in an instant blizzard and an interesting ride developed. Met a couple of fellow nutcases who were heading to the rally (Aileen fae Whitburn and Steve fae Arrochar) pre-Perth who we played leapfrog with all the way to Helmsdale.

Poor Aileen dropped her bike just after Stirling due to loose gravel and road works causing one dodgy knee. By the time we got to Slochd Summit, it seemed that the movie ‘The Day After Tomorrow’ was really quite tame.

One or two bracing cups of coffee at Inverness and off we set. Couldn’t get any worse could it? Errr, yes it could.

The Black Isle Bridge with crazy side wind, the constant snow flurries, the low bridge over Cromarty Firth with me yelling “we’re all going to die” and the Missus closing her eyes and saying that “every thing will be alright” over and over like a mantra, the low bridge over the Dornoch Firth (or at least I think it was from the little I could see of it) were all fair brown trouser moments. Finally got as far as Helmsdale with the wonderful thought of the Berriedale Braes looming when me bike said “feck right off”, and promptly refused to go any further. At this point we met Puker (fae Feltam) coming the other way. Informed that the way was too wild and windy just round the corner and a small accident had occurred to a lass called Mary from the Saints & Sinners; we decided that we would stop over in Helmsdale and set off Friday morning

Helmsdale is a small but friendly place with about eight of us that were heading to the rally congregating in one of the three pubs. If you should stop there check out the restaurant, La Mirage. Serves a great ‘The Mixed Grill For The Mighty Eater’, which does what is says on the menu! Next day…….. …….met up with a couple of pals, Neil and Iain, that stopped over in Inverness at a very biker friendly B&B called Wimberley House (that serves Salmon for breakfast!), and swapped travel horror stories. Aileen and Steve headed back due to injury as did Mary and her pal due to snapped levers. The weather was very unpredictable, snowing for five minutes, then blue sky and sunshine. But on we plod. The A895 was unbelievable! Never thought I would be riding a bike in a blizzard that you couldn’t see on coming traffic until it was nigh-on level with you, let alone seeing the road. Passed quite a few bikes heading the other way latter to find out that the first ferry was cancelled and couldn’t get on a later ferry. Started to wonder if the rally was still on? At last Thurso but was 13:30. The ferry should have gone. Booo. But due to bad weather was delayed. Hooray!!!

Ferry ride was quiet rough, to which Lianne said the quote of the weekend, “Yes, I like it rough” in a loud voice to the amusement of all those on the aft deck! The atmosphere in the bar was high with relief and cheer at actually making it. Some green faces but hey.

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