Thanks to some excellent assistance from Sybil at Hillview we soon had accommodation for over 20. Dorothy at the Plockton Hotel provided us with an excellent meal in the Snug Room.

It was the first time we had ever organised such and event and it was even more challenging as Dave Galloway had decided to join the trip.

Still we must have done most of it right, either that or it is the beauty of Plockton but we now have a regular booking at the Plockton Hotel and every January news travels quickly round the landladies of Plockton that "the bikers" are block booking accommodation for May again.

After the first trip the others have been much easier to organise.

The format has been pretty fixed, heading up via Callander to a coffee stop at the excellent cafe at Crianlarich railway station. Then on through Glen Coe and Fort William to lunch at Spean Bridge.

Then a run through some of the best roads in Britain, stopping for coffee at Eilean Donan castle before reaching Kyle of Lochalsh and down the single track road to Plockton.

Sunday is a "free day" with parties heading for the Isle of Skye, a run north to Ullapool, a trip over the "Pass of the Cattle" to Applecross or simply chilling out in Plockton, possibly with a seal trip.

Monday sees us heading back via Spean Bridge then over the hills to Dalwhinnie and south on the A9 to Blair Atholl for lunch at the Atholl Arms.

Then its off via Aberfeldy and the "Sma Glen" past Gleneagles and into Crieff for an afternoon coffee and farewells.

We have (believe it or not) enjoyed organising the trips over the years. We have had some excellent company and along the way made several good friends through these trips.

Plockton 2008 is in the planning and as we always say "we guarantee excellent biking roads, friendly company and excellent food but this being the West of Scotland in May we cannot guarantee the weather."

To see some pictures from the 2005 trip click here .

Ronnie had turned up minus his usual glasses and spent the weekend convincing people that he was actually using a prescription visor.   Naturally we couldn't let this wind-up go un-noted and a suitable article appeared in the next issue of Twistgrip. To enjoy it click here.

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