RNLI Fundraising trip
Round the Coastline of Britain

Day 8 - 19th May 2005
Glen Nevis to Loch Lomond via Campbeltown (294 miles)
Visited 4 RNLI Stations

We had another early start today and were greeted by a very overcast sky which looked full of rainfilled clouds, The top of Ben Nevis was covered in cloud and it seemed to be moving down to meet us.

The journey started with the run down to Oban on the A82 and A828 which followed the western shores of Loch Linnie and Loch Creran.

The rain had set in at a steady rate and then we were off down the A816 towards the Mull of Kintyre for a very wet and diesel strewn ride. By the time we reached Tarbert, my shoulders were seized up solid from the tension of keeping the bike off the slippery bits as my now well worn rear tyre protested at every corner and roundabout. My feet were also starting to feel very wet and cold. Sidi Black Rain boots were not living up to their name.

Once we were on the Mull, the road straightened out and we were able to make reasonable progress despite the conditions. After a while we caught up with a small 4x4 which obviously new the road and was making good progress, so we just followed it on down, watching its brake lights to warn us of impending hazards. As we approached Campbeltown, we could see a group of policemen standing on the side of the road. They did not stop the 4x4 making a 70mph overtake directly in front of them.

Just as we reached Campbeltown the cloud lifted moving east a bit and rain broke. Hurray.

At Campbeltown, we looked around for a cafe and were directed to a nice place on the waterfront where we filled up on the all day breakfast and loads of tea. As we left the cafe, I could see my boots bubbling water with every step I took. There was no way that I was going to finish the journey getting soaking wet feet every time it rained. After a couple of texts, Reggie the Camerman sent us the address of Motorrad Central, Glasgow and we decided to make a detour to them before the end of the day.

We ran up the east side of the Mull on the way back which was a more 650 friendly road. Narrow, twisty and full of hidden dangers. Sheep and cows tried to knock us into the ditches and Chris took to the left ditch at speed as he crested a rise to find a transit filling the road and bearing down on him at some speed. I watched in amazement as he belted past it and jumped back onto the road with hardly a wiggle. I know I would have lost it if I had tried the same manouver.

Back at Tarbert, we caught the ferry to Portavadie and then diverted north to make a sentimental run (for me) up to Otter Ferry on the east side of Loch Fyne.

This was where Pondgirl and I honeymooned 25 years ago. We stayed in a wooden chalet in the grounds of a grand but derelict house set in lovely woods right on the shore of the loch. It was nice to see the house was now being lived in and the chalets were still there as well. It was just as I remembered and it was great to see it again after so many years.

After that interlude, we rode round to Dunoon where another ferry took us across to Gourock and we programmed in the address for Motorrad Central, then hightailed it through the late afternoon traffic, getting there just before they closed.

After stripping off my boots and soaking socks I dried my feet and tried on a selection of boots before settling on a pair of Goretex lined Contour Plus. They felt a much nicer than the Sidi's which I promptly deposited in the bin. Many thanks to Blair, their Aftersales Manager for his help and time.

Finally we made the run up to Helensburgh RNLI before heading east to the Loch Lomond YHA. Not so much a hostel as a baronial hall.