As fatherT works there during the week on an on-going government project, I get to stay in the Apartment he has for free

So booked ferry again (had a few troubles this year most of it was sold out!) £200 later, I had my ticket...
Weather reports for ride up looked bad, and looking at BBC weather online night before, the spot I planned to camp at in Yorkshire on way up had heavy rain, so urgent google for new site in dry forcast area and I was away...

I had a couple of showers on the way up, one really big heavy one, but my Dainese Gortex stuff, a few years old now, kept me dry

Arrived at the campsite, and a bit of disaster, barrier down at campsite & they had a barrier and a stupid intercom which was very quite, but I could hear they were fully booked

I don't usually book when camping, d'oh! Gets the iPhone out, next 5 i ring locally are fully booked too

Quick Googling on the phone, for once Vodafone had signal! Found on 20 mins away with space, Sat Nav set, I blasted over and setup camp:

Dinner was served:

Following morning packed up and ready to go, had rain during night, but was dry in the morning.

Arrived at a wet & windy Heysham

Loooads of bikers, this is just practice week!

Weather was glorious on the Island:

After a few blasts over the mountain section, I went exploring around the Island:



On Thursday did more runs over the mountain (doing filmed runs with my new bullet camera, I'll post video once i've edited the various angles and uploaded)
I stopped off after a run...

Then spotted something interesting go by, decided to leave and saw them again 3 corners down the road. Got off to investigate....


It was the new McLaren (still a prototype, and Ferrari)
It was for what i thought 5th Gear, but turns out it was Top Gear Magazine:

After having a chat with Tom & his team, they drove off to come back down having some shots taken. When they did, they asked if us (around 20 bikers) would mind following them up and back again for a shot for the magazine? So we all got on our bikes teared off up to the closed section, did a 3 pointer, then followed them back.
I tucked up behind the Ferrari, as we came down had loads of photos taken of the cars surrounded by bikes. Apparently it will be in the mag in a couple of weeks!


Leaving the Island in perfect weather, the sea was like a millpond, Steam Packets new Super Sea cat (ex US Navy) got the hammer down...

Had an amazing run back through Yorkshire Dales & Peak District in 25c+ weather....

Video of the un-restricted & one way mountain section to follow
