Reflection

Posted on December 30, 2018December 30, 2018 Posted in General, motorcycling, Motorcycling travelTagged 2019, blessings, Blogging, for a new beginning, happy new year, Highlands, John O'Donohue, New Year, reflection, Scotland, Thoughts, Touring Scotland, travel, verse6 Comments

I guess it’s that time of the year where some look back over the outgoing year. Plans for the new year, a new you. I hope your dreams and hopes rise in the dawning of the new year.

The photo here was taken on my Scottish coast and highland tour last year. I spotted the sun breaking through to light up the mountain behind me. So using the motorcycle mirror to frame the shot also showing the road I had just came down.

Thank you all that visit and support this blog. Your likes and comments, so all that’s left is to wish you all a Happy new year.

(For Cherie)

For a new beginning.

In the out-of-the-way places of the heart,

Where your thoughts never think to wander,

This beginning has been quietly forming,

waiting until you were ready to emerge.

For a long time it has watched your desire,

Feeling the emptiness growing inside you,

noticing how you willed yourself on,

Still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

It watched you play with the seduction of safety

And the grey promises that sameness whispered,

Heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,

Wondered would you always live like this.

Then the delight, when your courage kindled,

And out you stepped onto new ground,

Your eyes young again with energy and dream,

A path of plenitude opening before you.

Though your destination is not yet clear

You can trust the promise of this opening;

Unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning

That is at one with your life desires.

Awaken your spirit to adventure;

Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;

soon you will be home in a new rhythm,

For your soul senses the world that awaits you.

John O’Donohue , from the book ‘ To Bless the Space Between Us’.

A book of Blessings.

Scotland part 5

Posted on October 13, 2017October 13, 2017 Posted in Motorcycling travelTagged BMW Motorcycles, BMW R1200 GS, Camping, Highlands, Loch, motorcycle touring, motorcycling, Nikon D7200, Scotland, Scottish Loch's, Tongue, touring, Touring Scotland, Ullapool, wild camping4 Comments

Scotland Map_LI (5).jpg

So on leaving Tongue I continued west across the north coast with the rain closing in fast. not much chance of any photos this morning. Had the roads to myself except for the sheep. Following the road around through Hope and around the shore of Loch Eriboll a small window in the rain. With the sun showing it’s face I got a couple of shots.

The dry spell didn’t last long and it was back to the liquid sunshine. The road around the loch brings me to Durness. Its from this point I turn more to the south west and leave the north coast behind, hid from view in the low cloud and rain. Following the roads through the Highlands was pure joy even in the wet. pulling into a small parking spot overlooking a valley with a fast flowing river. I sat and watched the river slow has it widen in the valley floor. With the rain and wind I was looking at what helped shape the landscape around me. Sitting there the weather felt just right. It was part of this landscape. I realised I was looking at the real highlands and they are beautiful.

Continuing on south to Unapool I turned of onto a small single track road that follows the coast around to Lochinver. It was along this stretch the weather showed signs of improvement. Getting into Lochinver it had dried up and a much needed coffee was enjoyed. The bike topped up with fuel, time for a few more miles. Again sticking to the single track roads around the coast and dry roads for a change, the camera came out from hiding. Here’s a few more shots not in any order from this leg.

Then it was down into Ullapool and a B&B. Bags unloaded and it was into town for a meal. It was when I had parked up and about to get off the bike a voice to my left asked it I was part of the BMW club that was meeting there. I replied I wasn’t . The voice belong to a female from the Shetland Islands. Sorry I can’t remember your name for it was a German name. We chatted for a while and then she left to find the BMW club riders and has normal we exchanged email address in case her and hubby are every in Ireland or me in the Shetlands. A hot shower and it’s where I leave you on this leg of the trip for a comfy bed and a night sleep. Catch you on the next leg.

Thank you for visiting and have a lovely weekend.

ATB George

Scotland part 3

Posted on September 27, 2017September 27, 2017 Posted in Motorcycling travelTagged B&B, Blogging, Camping, east coast, Highlands, landscape photography, moors, motorcycle touring, motorcycling, motorcycling Scotland, Mountains, nikon, Nikon D7200, road trip, Scotland east coast, touring, wild camping4 Comments

At this point I’m back home in Ireland, sorry for the delay in posting. There’s no internet connection in the tent. Right lets travel a little more up the east coast of Scotland. This was a long day in the saddle. With shower’s and some bright spells, it was a day for the road. I travelled away from the coast on a route that took me into the highlands moors and mountains. These roads where all single track and covered around 60 mile before I returned to the coast. And turned south for 20 mile to my bed for the night.

Scotland Map_LI (3).jpg

The route in red is the roads covered. I finished the day at a Bed & Breakfast in the town of Dornock. A word about my B & B, Amalfi B&B in Dornoch. The greeting when I arrived was one of the warmest I have ever received. Marelle and Edward helping with my luggage , supplying a metal plate so the motorcycle was supported on the gravel parking area. Great advice on where to eat in the town, beautiful rooms and large en suite meant I was well catered for. If you are ever in this part of Scotland here is the link. Amalfi.

Thank you Marelle and Edward.

I’m going to leave you with a few Photograph’s from this leg of the trim. Thank you for visiting.

Thank you for your support.

George.

Scotland part 2

Posted on September 15, 2017 Posted in Motorcycling travelTagged basking seals, BMW R1200 GS, Firth bridge, Highlands, Inverness, motorcycle touring, Motorcycles, Nikon D7200, Scotland, Sea loch's, sea lough, seals, touring by motorcycle, Touring Scotland, travel Scotland2 Comments

With the rain has my travelling company I continued north , With a stop for coffee in Aberdeen and a little sunshine starting to show I was on my way. It was just after Newburgh that I pull into a road side parking to get a photo while the sun was shining. Looking around I spotted and world war two pillar box.

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With grass and shrub trees growing around it it was hard to get a good photograph of it. Would have had a look inside only it was full of rubbish. Sitting on the River Ythan it had a good view of anything moving on the river.

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Has you can see for this photo the sky way just hanging on to the next shower of rain and I didn’t have to wait long. I follow the coast through small town and villages. They are all worth a photo but when on a motorcycle with all the wet gear on plus your camera in a tank bag inside its own waterproof bag. It’s not just a quick stop and grab a shot. So my next stop was the city of Elgin where I grabbed a soon food for to cook for my evening meal. with the tent up and the sound of waves breaking I started cooking has the rain drummed on the tent. There’s something very relaxing about the sound of rain on a tent. Yea I know weird guy. Well it relax’s me. Yes next morning the rain is still drumming only this time it’s got bigger drum sticks. Now packing up camp is no fun in the wet. but I’m getting to be an expert.

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One of my stop overs.

It’s of to Inverness and over the new Firth bridge. Road works and heavy traffic make for slow progress. The next bridge was over the Cromarty Firth and more roadworks to make me stop and admire the view.

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These were taken after I crossed the bridge. Seals basking in the foreground and traffic hold ups in the background.

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And looking the other way oil or gas platforms being worked at.

And at this point I will thank you for visiting and part 3 will follow soon.

Scotland my trip. part 1

Posted on September 14, 2017September 14, 2017 Posted in Motorcycling travelTagged Dundee, Dunnet Head, Edinburgh, Highlands, Inverness, John O'Groat's, motorcycle touring, Motorcycle touring Scotland, motorcycling, nikon, photography, Scotland, touring, travelLeave a comment

So on leaving the Peak district and heading north, destination Scotland. I travelled up through the middle of England and called at friends, the things you do for a free cuppa. With heavy showers of rain and a few bright sunny spells I stopped of in a town on the east coast. Seahouses is the name of the town on the Sunderland coast. The B&B I stayed in was the…

Scotland & Peak-8.jpg

Modern well decorated rooms with ensuite has advertised. Nice place but I think was over priced. Leaving Seahouses it was up the coast to the town of Bamburgh. I stop and walking through the sand dune’s I saw Bamburgh castle.

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It was shortly after this the weather closed in and the heavy rain returns. This you will find been a pattern during this trip, There are days where I got no photographs taken. So let’s get back on the road. I continued north that day travelling has close to the coast at all times . Through Edinburgh which was slow going due to road works and restricted speed limits. Through Dundee and my final town for the day was Arbroath. It was another few mile to my camp site for the night at Foresterseat Caravan Park.

It was the cleanest site I have ever stayed on, had a lovely spot for the tent well sheltered from the wind. I awoke the next morning with a rising sun slowly creeping up the tent wall.

During the night I answered a few questions for a friend and put my phone away. the next morning it had died. It passed away during the night. It was a case of drinking to much water over the last few days and it had drown. The best part of a day was sorting out a new phone and getting a new sim card with my number etc moved over.

Another wet day and I got a pitch right beside the sea shore, I went to sleep with the sound of the waves washing up the shore. And the sound of rain drumming softly on the tent.

Part 2 will get here some time, depending on where I am and the availability of wifi to access the internet.

Thank you for visiting.

George

George McNeill Photography

Tag: Highlands