“When I come home cold and tired, it’s good to warm my bones besides the fire”…. It’s a great feeling sometimes, coming home, isn’t it..? It is when you are tired or you are coming home from work, but when you come home from doing something you enjoy, it can be a bit of a downer…
I kind of felt like that when I got back earlier in the year, and after having an excellent few days away I felt a down getting back home. I would have liked to stay out, but I had to come back because I have a few day’s work booked. Hopefully, I’ll get away again soon…
Leaving the campsite at Salen I headed to Duart Castle. I love castles and I was particularly interested in this as it does hold a long history, also, you get a cracking view from the top over the Firth. There has been a fortification here since the 1300’s and the castle in its present form from around the mid 1600’s, but from the late 1700’s it fell into ruin – until about 1903 when the it was taken back into family hands and the renovation started. I enjoyed the visit and it filled my morning before I caught the mid-day ferry to Oban.
From Oban back to my home it’s a pretty straightforward ride so I made sure to stop at Inveraray for a coffee and a sausage roll – where I got talking to Bobby Divers – and his immaculate Yamaha TRX 850 – which he’s had for many years and probably dotes on more than his missus – just joking Carol…. It was good to chat, Bobby – especially as he’s watched my YouTube video’s. It’s a small world…
Getting home again it will be back to the ‘same-old-same-old’, but it’s been a very positive few days. I went away because the weather was beautiful, but also to see how the bike was after giving her a service and to try some of the new kit I have acquired.
V-STROM: Besides all the oil and fluids, I’ve also fitted three new disk-brakes, stripped all the brake calipers and fitted new seals, fitted my original handlebars, replaced all the light bulbs, fitted a new chain-guard and number plate, fitted a new rear wheel (used off EBAY) and fitted new bearings to the rear wheel. The mighty V-Strom is running lovely, as usual. I’ve had an F1 warning light since February. My feeling is that it’s the air-valve on the exhaust, but as the bike runs fine I’m going to leave it alone for the monment.
TENT: I am really liking my Minipeak XL tent. I bought it last year but only used a few times as the sleeping compartment was only half the size of the tent – leaving it free to sit or store kit. The new inner I’ve bought is the whole size of the tent and I’m really liking it. There is so much space and I’m still trying to work out where to put things.
PANNIERS: One word: superb. I really wish I’d bought these Adventure Spec Madigan 3’s last year for my big trip. I love them. They’re roomy, easy to pack and unpack, and easy to attach or take off. Best of all, they’re so easy to buckle-up. They’re definitely keepers.
MATTRESS. A fail. I was on a bit of an incline and my sleeping bag kept sliding off the mattress. The search for another mattress continues…
CARDO FREECOM X2. I bought a cheap intercom when I was in Agadir after my previous cardo disappeared on the Banjul Ferry. The one I bought was good, but the sound quality less so so I’ve bought a new intercom for my helmet – which is excellent. It even works with Siri, so I can start having conversations with her again.
It’s been a successful small trip into Argyll. I’ve got a small trip coming up next month and then a bigger trip in August. Next year, hopefully there will be an even bigger trip – so I now have my intercom, tent and panniers sorted. Watch this space for more trips…
