The Long Way Down - UK Style part 1

[alanjennings]

Hi all
So here by popular request (well at least one) is a brief account , with photos, of our trips this year covering the most northern and southern parts of the UK.
We managed to attend our only rally of the year (not AJS unfortunately) which was the the Far, Far North Rally held this year in Shetland.
The most southerly point on Shetland is Sumburgh Head home to Shetland's main airport and the islands most important archaeological remains at Jarlshof where a storm uncovered houses built 1600 years ago.

Jarlshof.jpg

We then explored the most northern inhabited island in the UK, Unst, and travelled as far north as is possible by road. It was deserted.

Unst north.jpg

The campsites we stayed at were mostly small marinas. If you look at the roof of the toilet block here on Yell you'll see it is actually an upturned lifeboat from the SS Canberra. it was apparently brought here by a Scottish popstar who abandoned it after the engine failed too many times!

lifeboat Loo.jpg

[alanjennings]

After our northern trip we set off south a few weeks later to check out the most southerly point of the UK.
Stonehenge was our first stop (but you all know what that looks like) then on to Tintagel and the new bridge.
This was financed by a German petro-chemical magnate to the tune of £2.5 million. As it's currently a one-way system we had to cross the bridge but then go down the steps to return. The Land-rover lift to return was £2 each well spent.

P1000858a.jpg

Cornwall, like Shetland has a lot of bronze age and neolithic remains. This one (an early version of the wheel perhaps, or a POLO mint!) is found near St Ives. Tradition has it that a young woman who crawls through the hole will soon become pregnant. Someone actually did so while we were there. The way the stones are set gives a very explicit image - in stone!

Men-An-Tol.jpg

Our most southerly point, the Lizard was slightly more crowded but we kept away from the ice-cream queue.

P1000890a.jpg

Just to add that we had no adverse experiences travelling in these areas. People were helpful. One fisherman in Shetland did refuse to sell us a fish, he gave it to us instead. Our bike mileage was 680 miles in Shetland on the Morini, and 168 in the SW on the 125 AJS. No problems.

[G15 Roy]

Many thanks Alan looks like you had a good trip.

[alanjennings]

The " beloved" and I would like to thank all who helped us through the complicated maze to upload the photos!

[Mick D]

Hi

Did you pop into the Sumburgh Hotel, (Fawlty Towers), while you were at Jarlshof?

Regards Mick

[56G80S]

Great pics Alan. The "houses" remind me of the chambered cairn(s) on the north side of the A75 on the way through to Stranraer.

I won't bore everyone else but will see if I can send to Alan via PM, he needs a bit of something to send him to sleep.

Johnny B

[Plugsnpoints]

Hi all
So here by popular request (well at least one) is a brief account , with photos, of our trips this year covering the most northern and southern parts of the UK.
We managed to attend our only rally of the year (not AJS unfortunately) which was the the Far, Far North Rally held this year in Shetland.
The most southerly point on Shetland is Sumburgh Head home to Shetland's main airport and the islands most important archaeological remains at Jarlshof where a storm uncovered houses built 1600 years ago.

Jarlshof.jpg

We then explored the most northern inhabited island in the UK, Unst, and travelled as far north as is possible by road. It was deserted.

Unst north.jpg

The campsites we stayed at were mostly small marinas. If you look at the roof of the toilet block here on Yell you'll see it is actually an upturned lifeboat from the SS Canberra. it was apparently brought here by a Scottish popstar who abandoned it after the engine failed too many times!

lifeboat Loo.jpg

What a fantastic trip! I loved looking at those photos

[alanjennings]

It was shut Mick,probably because Basil is long past retirement age!

[39speedtwin]

Just noticed the Reg you have been splashing the cash again Alan!

[alanjennings]

"the beloved" made me buy it instead of spending it on booze and dancing girls, Dudley!