![Thumbup :thumbup:](./images/smilies/icon_thumbup.gif)
Right....morning 2. Pissing wet outside. I mean, raining like it can only rain in Scotland. And blowing a gale to boot. Plus, the world was about to drop outta me butt.
![crazy :crazy:](./images/smilies/crazy.gif)
Two watery dumps later I am stuffing my face on a full Scotch breakfast (well.....ya gotta keep yer strength up!). Back to the room for another dump (great stuff Guinness, puts hairs on your chest and turns yer poo black.....)......I go out in the pissing rain in my leathers to start loading the bike up...not in the best of moods. Back inside, I bust the zip on my rainsuit trying to pull it on over wet leathers
![Taz :Taz:](./images/smilies/Taz.gif)
I headed for Oban...I was toying with the idea of jumping on a ferry to Mull, but TBH, the rain was wombles torrential. The A816 was a fab road...or at least it would have been if there wasn't an inch of water running down it. Honestly...I was miserable. I had decent rain tyres on (Power 2CT) but could not get any confidence going. I know that I had loads and loads of grip (after all....Colin Edwards at the Michelin launch of these tyres was getting his knee down everywhere)...all I had was visions of pulling a bike outta the scenery by myself in the pissing rain. Plus I was sliding all over the saddle in that poxy rainsuit, so every touch of the brakes had me knackers crushed against the tank. Riding in the rain is for the birds.
Anyhoo...40 very soggy miles later I pulled into Oban, feeling very sorry for myself. My gloves were soaked...my boots were literally full of water. Not good at all. The rain stopped for a bit, so after a wee pep talk, I decided to mosey out to Tyndrum. Now the A85 is one of my favourite Scottish roads, but 2 miles outside of Oban the heavens opened again. I had a bit more confidence, and was sorta enjoying the sweeping bends, but also being very mindful 'cos I had a few "moments" with the rear spinning up on the white lines. I finally lost my sense of humour at the "Green Welly" at Tyndrum, so I stopped for a brew. A £35 pair of Sealskinz socks (awesome......even at £35) was purchased....cue me getting some weird looks as I tried to try my wrinkled up, Gollum-like feet under the hand-dryer in the bogs. I will never, ever underestimate the benefits of warm dry feet again.
it had started to dry up a wee bit, so I headed back to Oban (I had a B+B booked there for the night) for a bit of lunch....its always been a bit of a tradition of mine to grab a bite to eat at the wee seafood shack on the pier. The food is superb (for a seafood fan)...fresh crabs, lobster etc etc.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Gadfium/Scotland/th_655a81fc.jpg)
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Gadfium/Scotland/th_6cebaf69.jpg)
Half a dozen crab claws later sorted me out...
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Gadfium/Scotland/th_24008c28.jpg)
I squelched back to the bike and headed for Fort William.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Gadfium/Scotland/th_db8b4a90.jpg)
(a soggy Fireblade. Pissed-off owner not included!)
Again, 2 minutes out of Oban it was pishing down again. I got as far as Onich, and stopped for a pee. The rain was running down the inside of my oversuit. My boots were full again. my gloves were sopping. The Pinlock visor insert had given up the ghost. i honestly felt like peeing in my leathers, as I wouldnt have been any wetter (but at least I would have had warm feet
![Big Grin :biggrin](./images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
In the B+B I hung everything up to dry (leathers wern't too bad, boots and gloves went on the heated towel rail to dry), and went out for a coffee. Amazingly, for 5PM, the sun was shining.
![Image](http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v239/Gadfium/Scotland/th_a560fc4c.jpg)
So I battered back to the B+B, stripped the cover off the bike, unlocked it all, suited up and went out for a proper blast
![Clapping :clap:](./images/smilies/icon_clap.gif)
![Clapping :clap:](./images/smilies/icon_clap.gif)