[bennyandthejets]

Bob. I really fancy this one. Trouble is, it is 720 miles from where I am in Cornwall :doh: . It is almost an 'end-to-end'. I could do 500 miles on the Thursday, to Glasgow/Stirling area. Overnight there, then 200+ Friday morning to Robart. Back to Glasgow Monday pm then 500 miles home on Tuesday. I have done several 500 + days in the past, on various machines, Kawasaki, Aprilia, Fazer thou' etc. 650 miles was the longest in one day, but it was in sunny Spain, fabulous roads, warm, soforth . Not exactly the M5, M6.... Alternatively, I have a lwb high top Mercedes Sprinter, so if there were a couple more 'southern softies' who wanted to go, I could pick them up on the way and share expenses. Don't fancy leaving the van for a few days in Glasgow, so it would have to go all the way. This would be a shame, as the ride over the Highlands would be one not to miss. Anyone got an obliging relative with a large, secure garden between Carlisle and Stirling - reasonable parking charges paid?
Any thoughts, words of encouragement etc greatly appreciated :clap:

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Guys.

Thanks for ideas, offers of parking etc. Much appreciated :bow: . I am warming to the idea of riding up, though. The evening before I leave, I would ride to Land's End; 60 miles; and back, and if we ride to John 0 Groats on the Sunday I will have ridden an 'End-to-End' :ele: ! That would be one for the scrapbook . So, put me down for a bed in the Sleeperzzz, Bob - I'm in . Just let us know what deposit you need...

As already mentioned, the details can be sorted later, and if a few Benellis want a lift en-route, I can switch to plan 'B' and take the van, and look to taking up an offer of van parking. The important thing is to get plenty of riding in, and the Kyle of Lochalsh looks unmissable....see you there :jig:

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Just book the whole lot and split the cost for unused bunks and draw straws to see who gets to bunk on their own (as its 2 to a cabin in bunkbeds) there is also another carriage that sleeps around 3/4 people right next with double bed I dunno if this is included with the 20 or not, but any how it'd be better if we had exclusive usage as that way we dont have to tiptoe around trying not to upset other guests

That seems like good idea. It would only cost a couple of quid more each to book the whole thing.
And if there are any spare - well - nobody would want to share with me anyway - snoring, sleepwalking, farting, Tourettes syndrome etc. :rolling: :rolling: ! It's up to you guys - I'm happy to share, of course

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Ian, I also want to do that on the Sunday. Ride to John O'Groats, round trip via Wick and Thurso (about 150 miles)

Bob. Sounds good to me ! I was hoping we would have 2 runs; that one, and the Kyle of Lochalsh / Skye tour. As the K of L is a longer trip, maybe that would be better done on the Sunday, and John O'Groats on the Saturday pm ? Not that everybody needs to do the same, obviously, but the bigger the group of Benelli's, the more impressive it would be..:ele:

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Scotland is huge! Kyle of Lochalsh and Skye then Mallaig and Ft William to/from Rogart could easily be 350+ miles.
IMHO if you needed to fit in KoL then would be best as a detour en route which would only add about 100-150 miles or so. You could do that on the Friday with a stopover in that part of the highlands Friday night, to arrive Rogart on Saturday.

:doh: - didn't look very big on the map ! Must admit, I wasn't thinking of the Mallaig and Fort William bit, but I see what you mean; K of L must be 240 miles round trip from Rogart on its own - whatever !

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Bloody Hell!!!....I go away to the bike show for a few days and this Scottish trip thing has really taken off in my absence.

Better put me down for one of the remaining places, if there are any left Bob (wouldn't like to think that Ian might not have someone to share with as I reckon I could give him a run for his money in the farting stakes) :fart:

Oh my god, it started off as a bike trip and now its ending up as a farting contest :fart: :rolling:

Cheers!

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

:bow:Hey Bob any chance of getting me in to the accomodation in Sleeperzzz would be appreciated.....I've managed to wangle my way out of attending a wedding on that weekend:clap: . Would also like to travel from Lands End so could meet up with Ian.

Cheers,

Andy

Andy. Do you fancy the 'End to End' trip as well? Either that, or we could shove them in the van and be nice and warm and dry all the way up the M5 and M6 :rolling: :rolling:

Cheers.

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Hi Ian. Traveling from Lands End sounds good to me although the back-up plan of warm and dry van is a good option to have

Cheers,

Andy

Andy. My thoughts entirely . Plan 'A' then is 'End to End', Plan 'B' van to Glasgow area (ish); final decisions to be made nearer the time. It may be that another Nelli owner may request the van option - 3-4 is enough, in which case we can review it as we go - agreed? We will have to have a meet sometime. PM me if you like.
Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

After my conversation with Sleeperzz they are concerned re: large bike meet's that fade away with cancellations before the event leaving them high and dry with places they can't fill.

In response to that I choose to voluntarily increase the deposit to the £10/head. But also amongst ourselves I am proposing to make it a non-refundable deposit
However if anyone were to pull-out. If another person takes their place then refund via the 3rd party is in everyone's interest.
I will therefore keep a short-list of reserves should others wish to attend.

I don't want this to be an authoritarian move and would welcome a debate. Furthermore, if anyone who has already agreed to a deposit not agree with this then please let me know so the place can be released.

I would go so far as to suggest we pay now, in full. It is only 28 quid, after all, so not a major loss if anyone cannot go for some reason, with the possibility of a refund anyway if a reserve steps in. Thoughts?

On another note, it looks as though Laurence and I are sleeping together, does it ? And we haven't even been formally introduced - I get it, stick the 2 old farts (in more ways than one ) in the old folks home end of the carriage- charming :rolling: ! Do they supply a couple of nurses to look after us, in the price :clap: ?

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Ian, I'm not sure that we've been 'paired off' already, so to speak but if we have, do you know if we are sharing a double bed

By the way, I've found this great biking web site that you may be interested in :rolling:

HOW VERY DARE YOU - who me sir? - oh no sir :rolling: :rolling:

 

[bennyandthejets]

Bob. I'm sending you the full £28 today. Thanks once again for your efforts so far.

I agree with the one off payment of 28 quid and also scantily clad nurses makes complete sense:rolling:

Absolutely, but just to make it clear, Laurence, we are talking FEMALE nurses here..:rolling: :rolling: :rolling:

Cheers

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

seriously though...anyone know if there are places available...spoke to the father in law last night and he's right up for it. As his wife and sister in law are also coming up that week we're both needing an excuse to get out of the house for a least a couple of days!!!

Ian, Bobw is organising it, and booking the accommodation with Sleeperzzz, so he will know the numbers. I thought he said they were all spoken for, but that could change, and, anyway, I believe from what was said early on in the thread that other accommodation may be available nearby, as well as camping .
He is da man :clap:

cheers,
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Yikes! Just done google maps and realised its 500 miles and 9 hrs from door to door Thats assuming speed limits are adhered to of course, but even so I reckon 7 - 8 hrs.
Is anyone else going from the midlands or further south... if so what are your plans? Not sure my arse can take 9 hrs in the saddle of a Tornado in one day!

Col

Yup, Beero and I, living in Devon and Cornwall respectively, are planning to make a run of it, , and start from Lands End. While we are in Scotland, a wee run to John O'Groats is planned, so we will have done an 'end-to-end'.....and then back again :doh: . Google reckons 780 miles to Rogart. Gel pads for the seats may be a good investment:clap: . Of course, if the weather is sh#te, we may just sling them in the back of the van, and drive up in the warm and dry .

cheers,
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Farting round the campfire

....more concerned as to who will be eating the beans and farting :doh:

Er, well that'll be me, then, as I'm a vegetarian :rolling: :rolling: ! Oops, maybe I forgot to mention it ....who's sharing with me, by the way:fart: ?
It's going to be such fun:rolling:
cheers,
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Just testing the water here guys but would T shirts saying " Benelli Forum Scottish Gathering 2009 " be ok for the scottish meet ? . This would be screenprinted on the back with possibly just the wording " Benelli " Embroidered on front left breast. The embroidery is ready to be done and i've got someone looking at the screen print. Going to do maybe a run of 40 or 50 . If anyone had any thoughts on what it should say ("were the mad bunch that have lost our marbles ! " ). got hundreds of T's so thought they should get a use and then when our Administrators are done that'll be cool too .

Hi Angus.

Or maybe 'Benelli Forum Highland Fling 2009', perhaps?
You are a top man for doing it, whatever you put on them :clap: :clap: !

cheers,
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

On a slightly more upbeat note. My party will be departing Friday morning and heading to the Fort William area for the Friday night, then onto Rogart on Saturday. We are also stopping near Edinburgh on Monday night, which will allow us to take our time going homeward, thus enjoying the views on the way.

Any idea where the group ride out/s will be? The reason I ask is because my party and I (posh speak) may take in The Isle of Skye (on Saturday) on the way to Rogart if we are NOT going to Skye on a group ride out.

Borat (Colin), Beero (Andy), n33ly (Niel) gravyVTWIN (Mike) and I are booked in around Fort William on Friday night, with the possibility (weather permitting :doh: ) of riding over to Skye on Saturday morning, as a detour on our way to Rogart, so we could maybe hook up with you. As Colin mentioned, we do have a spare bed already booked for Friday if anyone would like it. Earlier in the thread it was mooted that a Sunday ride out could be to the north, John-o-Groats or w.h.y.
Whatever anyone wants to do, I guess ...I can't wait...:ele: :ele:

Cheers,

Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

A pre-gathering on Friday and a ride to Skye sounds great. Will inform my motley crew and make arrangements. Nice the way things are starting to pull together.

Sunday ride out to John-o-Groats sounds good too. Not sure about "w.h.y." because I don't know what ya talking about. :rolling:

'w.h.y.' - what have you - as in 'whatever' . Don't you know nuffink?:rolling:

 

[bennyandthejets]

hi lads
i see you are thinking of having a ride over to skye on the saturday before going on to rogart , well i live at lochcarron which is between skye and rogart , if you fancy having a pit stop ie brews and burgers or somthing on that line, you are all welcombe to have a stop at our house wife will cook not me . then i would join you for the run over to rogart , can,t stop over there because we have freinds stopping with us that weekend, but would be a good way of getting to meet some of you , let me no if you are intrested.
cheers forby

A pit stop at Locharron sounds great, Forby.:clap: I'd better bring my own veggieburger; I hear you Scots don't like vegetables; a Glasgow salad being a plate of chips, etc... :rolling: :rolling:
I've had a look at the Applecross road on googlemaps, and it looks more suited to a TNT than a Tornado :doh: - what do you reckon?

Cheers
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

Went to Applecross over THE pass last year on the Nelli. Not good with all those hairpins and our generous steering lock :rolling:
Here's a couple of pics:
below is my Nelli above Loch Kishorn at the start of the pass:

below is what it becomes after this stop, note it *is* that narrow
View attachment 1107
(photo by Ian Whitfield on Flickr)

p.s. I definitely want to go to John O'Groats + Thurso

Looks more like a footpath with wheelchair access to me :rolling: :rolling:

p.s. me too

Cheers,
Ian

 

[bennyandthejets]

I've been over the pass a good few times but I really think there are a few turns that would be a bit of a struggle with nellies limited steering lock just at the high point of it, If I'd known that there was a load going on the Friday night I might have been able to arrange coming as well, but whoevers travelling north on the saturday let me know so we can arrange to hook up along the way, otherwise might be a lonely drive for me

There is a spare bed in Fort William on Friday night if you'd like it... .

We will be heading over from Livingston area mid/late Friday afternoon, if you fancy joining us?:ele: We'll be passing right by your door, I reckon

Cheers

Ian