Borders meet 20th-21st Nov

[themoudie]

Tae those going on a wee jaunt, you may find this of interest!

Tibbie Shiel article

I apologies for the quality of reproduction and I am wrestling with the nuances of Flikr. Thought about a pdf but haven't worked out how to attach, send, embed or load onto TC site! Numpty at controls.

Cheery bye, Bill.

[steveD]

Oi, Bill why don't you come down and read it to us? It would be good to meet up again. Last time was at Paterborough if I remember correctly Aye?

[themoudie]

Aye Steve,

Peterborough?? Nah! Not I or us in the pikey camp!  The BMF clone festival never did appeal.

Stafford 'Bike Shed' show winners, was 'when and where' we met and the mirthfull discussion over 'guy ropes' the following day! I shall say nae mair as this lot will probably impersonate canaries! Here's mud in yur eye!

Making no promises as rebuilds, work, 1st holiday of 2009 and Dad visitations could all throw large spanners in the works. If I/we were to come, it would be for a days run, probably. Used to bide down the road near Selkirk for a couple of years, when the Megget was being built. That old road was a sheep track!

All the best and go safe, Bill.

[squirrelciv]

Sadly, the tipex bottle has had to come out! Double booked by wifey for that weekend so I'm a 'no show'.

Boydyboy sorry but plan 'A' is off I'm afraid.

[guest24]

Its too far for me to travel so I can't come. It does, however, inspire me to move much further North as I have been to Scotland and would very much like to return and ride my bike there. 

[guest7]

I'm looking forward to this run. Any of the locals know of a the best route from the south to the site to give me a bit of good riding for the last 30 miles or so?

Cheers
GC

[guest18]

Well I'n not an expert (or indeed a local!) to the south of Tibbie Shiels but I reckon there are two obvious choices:
If the weather is fine, I prefer the A6 to the M6 then just before carlisle drop onto the M6/M74 (forget which it is at that point) and then join the A7 and head up towards Selkirk (lovely, lovely road, and not infested by distracting gatso cameras like the A68 either!) a slight turn back onto yourself and down the A708 to the site.

If however the weather is horrible and you just want to get there... I'd still consider the A6 because it's sometimes not as scary as dicing with reps/artics on the motorway, but I'd go up the motorway stretch to Jct 15 and turn towards Moffat then follow the A708 up towards the site.

There may be better routes, but I'm sure the weather will be glorious and you'll enjoy the A7  in fact in the unlikely event you slope of work early just do the whole A7 to Edinburgh give me a shout and I'll meet up and you can stop here for a night and warm up (and let your tyres cool off lol) 

[guest7]

Cheers for that Smudge. As for getting off work early... hmmm... it's not like I have a boss to ask or anything 

GC

[Mark]

Cheers for that Smudge. As for getting off work early... hmmm... it's not like I have a boss to ask or anything 

GC

Where is Mrs GC?

[guest7]

LOL! Aha! Rumbled!

Yes indeed, I do have a boss and she's a strict 'un! 

GC

[themoudie]

Aye GC,

As per 'The Instructor's' directions.

Just beware of dairy cattle deposits at the southern end of the A7 and in the immediate Moffat area. Also timber lorries, on both roads! Whilst artics are still favoured, the new rigs being preferred are 6 legger units with a 6 legger dual wheeled trailer on the rear! Less wear and tear on the roads and cheaper to run up forest roads.

Wandering sheep on the A708 and standing water after rain, with stane dykes in close proximity, sometimes on the road. Bit like Mid Wales really, as is the geology. The similarity ends there!

The two alternatives off the A7 at Langholm and just afore Hawick are grand if you haven't slogged halfway up the country and need to be somewhere by a set time. They go through an awful lot of timber, single track road and wandering sheep. But if your up for it!

Go canny, Bill.

[niblue]

The B709 from Langholm to the A708 is a long-time favourite of mine so I'd recommend that as long as the weather is reasonably ok.

[guest7]

Thanks for your route tips guys.

Cheers
GC

[BrendanO]

If you up for going West from site, I can also recommend Dalveen Pass (Elvanfoot to Thornhill) or Mennock Pass (next rd North, running E-W ish, thru Wanlockhead). Thornhill has lovely Italian cafe you can park outside on pavement.
Most roads near site are good.
There is a bizarre Buddhist Cafe at Samye Ling, near Eskdalemuir, possibly one of the most surreal places you will find. Drive past giant gold statues etc in middle of nowhere. Cool about bikers (think Borders IAM Bike Group have it on their cafe list)

But I have to say that the chosen Talla road to Tweedsmuir is STUNNING, one of best views in Scotland!!
(Be careful, there has been at least one bike accident on it from folk going fast and not expecting vans etc.)

And after getting all excited about this weekend, I just looked at 'the calendar' (a simple device to prevent divorce!!) and see I'm going to Strontian that weekend. Bugger and double bugger.

Have a lovely weekend folks!

B

[guest18]

That's a good point, I think you'd enjoy a visit to Samye Ling for a brew stop. In fact we could do it as a run out sometime over the weekend probably.... Hmmmmm