We were very lucky to get a sunny day for our touring, because we woke to rain again. This did put a bit of a damper on the 153 mile ride north and west to Edinburgh.
We did stop for a short walk to see Hadrian’s Wall. It was started by the Romans in 110 Ad and was a 117 km long defensive fortification.
Continuing north we made for the “border” of Scotland. We were pleasantly surprised that there was some actual signage and some monuments. We had run into a lot of guys going to a scooter rally.
We were headed to the home of our friends Gino and Fiona (Gino on Tour) whom we had met in 2013 in Panama. We had actually first met on line in 2011 and have been corresponding since then. They welcomed us into their home and then took us out for dinner with a view of the Fourth rail bridge and the sunset.
http://ginoontour.blogspot.co.uk/
Gino and Fi had just bought a bike with a sidecar to go to two winter rallies next year including the Elephant in the Bavarian Forrest in January. For the weekend we were off to the sidecar rally in Moniave.
Highlights were the camping next to the Pub and the Ska/Punk bands.
Back in the city we had traditional Haggis dinner with Fi’s family. Gino did the address to the Haggis by Robert Burns. It starts out like…
Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o’ the puddin’-race!
Aboon them a’ ye tak yer place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm:
Weel are ye wordy o’ a grace
As lang’s my airm.
Nice seeing your honest, chubby face,
Great chieftain of the sausage race!
Above them all you take your place,
Belly, tripe, or links:
Well are you worthy of a grace
As long as my arm.
The next day we had a chauffeured tour of the city including a short walk up Arthur’s Seat, a drive by the castle, and some fresh oysters at the Café Royale.
An excerpt from Gino’s Blog
Canadian Club
After a bleak week at work I decided to call a holiday on Friday to welcome our friends Dan and Sara (www.worldwideride.ca) to our humble abode on Friday. I must say it was weird, here are two fellow travellers (still travelling unlike us!) who we first met for a beer in Panama rolling up to Casa Rondelli on the same bikes. We met them again in Vancouver when Sara was back working for a short while and Dan was…..enjoying himself. Really great to have them in our home for a few days, Friday we took them to Queensferry to see the famous Forth rail bridge which of course they hadn’t heard of. My god, what passes for education in the colonies these days? Neither had they heard of Moniaive so we headed to this bustling metropolis to the sidecar rally, Fiona bravely sitting in the chair whist a complete lunatic piloted it (me). Great time at the rally, worth a mention was the punk / ska bands whose average age was higher than mines, great crack and excessive drinking.
As we took off on Sunday, I tried the crash ability of the outfit by driving directly into some dustbin’s at the side of the road, unknown to me Dan had been up early in the morning and put a huge magnet in one of them to attract the chair to it, minor adjustments alter we were on our way having brightened up everybody’s Sunday morning (except Fiona as she was still in the chair)
Another party night Sunday with Fi’s family visiting, and then a high speed chauffeured tour of Edinburgh on Monday with Fi in the driving seat looking after us. I have to say I reluctantly climbed a mountain as well, I survived without oxygen or a Sherpa to help me and now I can claim to have climbed a small part of Arthurs seat.
Lunch in the town and then a superb dinner at Bert and Laurenne’s house topped off a great weekend. A struggle to keep focused at work today but luckily tomorrow we are off to Ireland for the Norton International Rally, life can be hard.
If you spot a couple of homeless Canadians this week on their BMW’s (the giveaway is the British Colombia numberplates) say hi, the tall blokey one is Dan and the petite girly one is Sara, they’ll be visiting a monument near you soon.
The Pedersen’s arrive, both with nice new Bumot panniers
Dan’s first ever Irn Bru
It seemed to affect his riding style somewhat
Fi was sitting backwards in the sidecar taking these, very brave
The team do Dinner (very good it was too)
Fi just checking Norrie’s properly dressed
A panorama of sidecars
The ladies after climbing the mountain
Edinburgh and its not raining …superb
Every time I read your posts I get so envious hahaha. I have wanted to ride through England and Scotland for a very long time. Being the only born Canadian in my immediate family, I have so many relatives in Britain that would welcome me in. Hopefully sooner than later I can experience Britain as well. Thanks again you two for always keeping me dreaming.
You will love it rain or shine! It is just so picturesque. There are nice people, great beers, and fantastic scenery! A MUST!! sp