BikeShare Member News Story

Much of my motivation for my BikeShare to Scotland came from the Scottish folk singer Dougie MacLean. I had heard him several years ago on public radio and soon found myself tinkering on the BMW motorcycle in the garage for hours while I listened to him sing of his homeland. One of my primary goals on my BikeShare was to hear Dougie MacLean. With a couple of quick faxes to Dunkeld Records, his record company, I was able to secure a schedule of appearances before leaving. I was literally on my way to the airport and stopped at the mailbox and there it was. "Thank you very much Jennifer MacLean!" I rode through two days of rain and slept in a wet tent to hear him in Greenock. If the rest of the trip was a disaster it would have been fine by me. Several members have expressed an interest in seeing Scotland. I wholeheartedly recommend it. If you want to expand your Scottish experience, put Dougie MacLean on your list. Pick up a CD or a schedule of performances here or in the U.K. You will not regret it.

Or, contact me at Trans-Atlantic BikeShare, North America and I'll send you any information you would like.

So what does this have to do with BikeSharing and touring by motorcycle? For most of us an integral part of a trip is getting a feel for the place we are riding, whether it be the land or the people. This is not always an easy task. This is where a TourShare member can be a big help.

As I mentioned earlier, I had a couple of basic goals when I was in Scotland. One was to hear Dougie MacLean and the other was to visit the Isle of Skye. Other than that, I would follow where the R80RT took me. This is all well and good, but it does not insure a good trip.

After a night's rest Tony got out a U.K. atlas and begin to point out sights and roads worth seeing, along with a few worth missing. I integrated these with my basic goals and off I went. One of the roads of interest was the Applecross Road.

On the ferry from Skye to Kyle of Lochalsh I met two young men on holiday from Aberdeen. I mentioned Tony's recommendation to take the road to Applecross. Not that I didn't trust him or anything, but it was a little out of the way... They rolled their eyes back and began to describe it with classic Scottish style. They detailed its formation by glaciers millions of years ago and ended their geological dissertation by adding that it, "looked like it had just had anor' roof' goin' or' las' wek." As I left the palm trees of Plockton behind, I was still undecided as to whether or not I would take Tony's advice and take the road across Applecross Gap. As I approached the turn off sign my question was answered.

ROAD TO APPLECROSS
(BEALACH NA BA)
THIS ROAD RISES TO A HT. OF 2053 FT.
WITH GRADIENTS OF 1 in 5 AND HAIRPIN BENDS
NOT ADVISED FOR LEARNER DRIVERS
VERY LARGE VEHICLES OR CARAVANS
AFTER FIRST MILE

Well you don't have to ask me twice!

The Road to Applecross is literally a cow trail. The Gaelic name, "Bealach na Ba" means Pass of the Cattle. From what I remember of my visit on the ferry, the gap has been used for hundreds of years to take cattle over the mountain to the town of Applecross which sits on the Inner Sound of Raasay. Somebody got the wise idea to pave it and call it a road. The road is probably the highest public road in the UK. The scenery is rugged and not the type you'll ever forget. On a map it is a small red line to, what appears as, nowhere. The road winds and twists along the valley headwall, but it is very rideable. From the higher points of the road you can see Skye as it sits majestically in the distance.

After you reach Applecross you can head north along the coast which is a wonderful ride. It follows the coast along to the small town of Shielddaig, which is Norse for: sild-vik or Herring bay. Heading farther north I passed Loch Torridon which revealed several spectacular views as the sun was setting. I rode on to Kinlochewe and stayed the night in the Kinlochewe motel.