Gordon H
23-08-2012, 01:19 PM
Three of us headed off to Peel (IofM) for a few days of Manx flavoured larks.
Saturday -
Calum, Stuart and my good self headed up to Liverpool last Saturday for the afternoon ferry over to Douglas. We arrived on the island around 9:30ish, got the bikes off of the ferry and headed off for the short trip over to Peel.
You know you are someplace special once you start to notice crash protection along the roadside and the orange signs with names of places you've heard of time and time again - then just as you are starting to get a feel for the place, the first section of unrestricted road rolls into view - then just as rapidly, Stuart and Calum disappeared off into the darkness.... (kind of set the theme for the following few days...) Ah well, deep breath and go for it.....
Before long we were in Peel, unloaded the bags and off to The Creek for some (ok, lots of) beers. That took care of Saturday - back to the room for some kip then ready for Sunday.
Sunday -
Woke to a sunny morning, full breakfast then off for a ride around the course.... the names on the sign posts are familiar despite never having been here before - though knowing which are right or left handers would have helped!! Needless to say despite being on the supposedly fastest bike I soon found myself bringing up the rear....
Stopped in Ramsey for the obligatory cuppa before heading up May Hill to the Hairpin, through Waterworks and on to the Gooseneck - that's where the fun started...
Wobbled my way around (in wrong gear) and finally got some momentum up - rounded the next left hander just in time to see Calum and Stuart disappearing out of view over the next crest. Another deep breat - everything between there and Creg ny Baa was a blur... Stuart was off the leash by this stage - with Calum following at speeds which shouldn't be possible on a restricted SV650...
I was beginning to enjoy myself by this stage having brushed off the apprehension which was growing on the climb up out of Ramsey....
All too soon we were in Douglas - cream teas all round.
Once that was taken care of, Stuart led us off for a few laps of the Billown course - Church bends are scary at 30 mph - how they get bikes (and sidecars) through there at race speeds is beyond me...
Once this was all taken care of (and I'd gathered my wits) we headed back to Peel for some grub and much needed refreshment of the Okells variety at The Creek.
Monday -
More fun and games on the Mountain before heading into Douglas to sign up for some marshal duties - once we'd watched the brief DVD and were issued with marshals packs we headed back up on to the Mountain for a taste of each others bikes - Cal on my 748, me on Stu's 796 with Stu on the SV... Cal had agreed to behave himself which he did - well, at least until he was out on the unrestricted section...
Monday evening we settled into a previously recce'd spot ready for the evenings practice session - very windy, chilly but nice light for piccies - trouble is after the first practice lap, nothing but silence - not a sound. Over an hour later the next group came round and that was it... turns out everyone was held up in Ramsey due to fog on the Mountain. Fog?? What fog?? We soon found out!!
By that time it was well past 9 and it was getting dark - we hit the fog somewhere around Guthries and it was thick... very thick. Headlights on a 748 are pretty lousy but in those conditions they were useless - I can honestly say I have never been so freaked out on a bike - I got totally disoriented, passed the Bungalow after what seemed like an age and the relief I felt as I dropped out of the fog past Creg ny baa was huge... I caught up with the other two at the top of the pit lane in Douglas.... drink was required!!
More to follow....
Saturday -
Calum, Stuart and my good self headed up to Liverpool last Saturday for the afternoon ferry over to Douglas. We arrived on the island around 9:30ish, got the bikes off of the ferry and headed off for the short trip over to Peel.
You know you are someplace special once you start to notice crash protection along the roadside and the orange signs with names of places you've heard of time and time again - then just as you are starting to get a feel for the place, the first section of unrestricted road rolls into view - then just as rapidly, Stuart and Calum disappeared off into the darkness.... (kind of set the theme for the following few days...) Ah well, deep breath and go for it.....
Before long we were in Peel, unloaded the bags and off to The Creek for some (ok, lots of) beers. That took care of Saturday - back to the room for some kip then ready for Sunday.
Sunday -
Woke to a sunny morning, full breakfast then off for a ride around the course.... the names on the sign posts are familiar despite never having been here before - though knowing which are right or left handers would have helped!! Needless to say despite being on the supposedly fastest bike I soon found myself bringing up the rear....
Stopped in Ramsey for the obligatory cuppa before heading up May Hill to the Hairpin, through Waterworks and on to the Gooseneck - that's where the fun started...
Wobbled my way around (in wrong gear) and finally got some momentum up - rounded the next left hander just in time to see Calum and Stuart disappearing out of view over the next crest. Another deep breat - everything between there and Creg ny Baa was a blur... Stuart was off the leash by this stage - with Calum following at speeds which shouldn't be possible on a restricted SV650...
I was beginning to enjoy myself by this stage having brushed off the apprehension which was growing on the climb up out of Ramsey....
All too soon we were in Douglas - cream teas all round.
Once that was taken care of, Stuart led us off for a few laps of the Billown course - Church bends are scary at 30 mph - how they get bikes (and sidecars) through there at race speeds is beyond me...
Once this was all taken care of (and I'd gathered my wits) we headed back to Peel for some grub and much needed refreshment of the Okells variety at The Creek.
Monday -
More fun and games on the Mountain before heading into Douglas to sign up for some marshal duties - once we'd watched the brief DVD and were issued with marshals packs we headed back up on to the Mountain for a taste of each others bikes - Cal on my 748, me on Stu's 796 with Stu on the SV... Cal had agreed to behave himself which he did - well, at least until he was out on the unrestricted section...
Monday evening we settled into a previously recce'd spot ready for the evenings practice session - very windy, chilly but nice light for piccies - trouble is after the first practice lap, nothing but silence - not a sound. Over an hour later the next group came round and that was it... turns out everyone was held up in Ramsey due to fog on the Mountain. Fog?? What fog?? We soon found out!!
By that time it was well past 9 and it was getting dark - we hit the fog somewhere around Guthries and it was thick... very thick. Headlights on a 748 are pretty lousy but in those conditions they were useless - I can honestly say I have never been so freaked out on a bike - I got totally disoriented, passed the Bungalow after what seemed like an age and the relief I felt as I dropped out of the fog past Creg ny baa was huge... I caught up with the other two at the top of the pit lane in Douglas.... drink was required!!
More to follow....