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Orkney WSBK 2012

How I wiash


 


how I wisj I was there


 


I'm just two lost soulsd swimming in a fish bowl


 


without any hair 


 


 


Running over the same old ground


 


And how I found


 


I couldnt walk up the astairs


 


Wish I was thewre
 
Andy Roo
3445981362227619

How I wiash


 


how I wisj I was there


 


I'm just two lost soulsd swimming in a fish bowl


 


without any hair 


 


 


Running over the same old ground


 


And how I found


 


I couldnt walk up the astairs


 


Wish I was thewre


 


Andy in spirit you couldn't have been nearer the truth. ;)


All will be revealed after these ruddy vid's upload jeez they take a long time :(
 
Sunday!


I'm first to rise, shower, make a coffee and into the garden to soak up some more beautiful surroundings.


Back in, fresh cup and try to put the tv on,


3 Remotes and not one does it, however the surround sound lets me here what I cannea see!


Search the front of the tv, not one single button!


I give up! turn the lot off again and grabs my laptop,


Do some work, might as well be constructive and pass an hour, finish up, make another brew and pack whats not needed ready for the trip home.


Huzzar! Pete get's up.


And put's the fcuking tv on before I join him in the living room.


WTF how did you do that?


On top o the telly ;)


was the reply.


Doh! anyhow Pete aint looking too healthy and explains how he tried to do the diehard and watch the full program!


However Kerbs had a different idea and after mucho whatever he was drinking passed out and is now in need of the hair of the mutt!


Do you mind driving today mate? I was asked.


No mate was my reply.


Pete promptly went to the fridge and re appeared with a beer!


I was so glad he was enjoying the time as much as I.


We watched the wss race and race two and Mrs Bass was up, and gone!?


She soon re-appeared with her friend and explained it was me and Pete today whilst she cooked sunday dinner and have me try her yorkshire puds 


Suit's me sir ;)


So me n Pete set off and I'm driving a petrol for the first time in years. But it's ok.


First stop The Standing Stones of Stromness.


Now only a few of the stones are still in situ but I'm led to believe this circle was associated with the living!


Pics at at the end ;)


Back in the car and just a short journey up the road to the Ring of Brodgar.


Another set of standing stones dating back to the neolithic/bronze age.


Allow me to explain.


On all four axis, not sure if they are co-ordinated by the compass but here are burial mounds.


Now in 3 there are multiple neolithic burials but in the fourth just a single bronze age burial.


So depicting stature developing between the end of the neolithic and the beginning of the bronze age.


I found this fascinating and just had to share.


Also this ring is exactly the same size as Stonehenge, Built around the same time!?


Anyone better than me want to try explain this? got me flummaxed!


Back to the car and on to Skara Brae! 


 


Standing Stones of Stromness


 


http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Orkney%20Islands%20Feb%202013/Stone%20of%20Stromness


 


Ring of Brodgar


 


http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Orkney%20Islands%20Feb%202013/Ring%20of%20Brodgar


 


My Highlight of the weekend tomorrow. Skara Brae;)
 
Skara Brea!!!


 


This is the oldest know evidence of a constructed neolithic settlement I think world wide,


Uncovered after a huge storm blew all the sand dunes away to reveal the settlement.


Carbon dating has proved that this site was in occupancy 3100bc


 


And here we are at the visitors centre.


Nice and sunny but a cold breeze still.


As we go in I suggest to Pete a coffee to warm us up, 


It's filtered, bonus, the young lass behind the counter says she will run a fresh pot and bring them over.


The brews come and we chat and I think this is where Pete asked the most stupidest question in the world!


Something like "So phill would you come up again" Like I said daft question this thread surly answers ;)


Now whist we were chatting I happened to notice the lass behind the counter kept on looking our way,


It turns out she was, Pete had given her lessons on how to ride year scooter the year previous,


So bless her she let us in on her staff pass, bonus!


2nd bonus!!! We had been struggling to find any Scapa whiskey all weekend, in fact we had a total bottle count of 0


And right there in the gift shop were 3 boxed bottles of golden nectar!


 


So we start our journey back in time,


I was quite chuffed the time line stones started with my year of birth.


Also because I have been working from 3 memory cards some pic image no's are duplicated hence the flick from stone to view etc.


Look out for Charlie and Mary, noisy pair lol.


Correction go to last and view backwards ;)


 


Pics of and around Skara Brea.


 


http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Orkney%20Islands%20Feb%202013


 


 


What a special place,


The starlings flying I was gutted, just as we were leaving the site I looked up to see a huge murmeration break into 4 groups, they are just one of the groups.


We head beck to the centre,


And I wipe out their stock of Scapa ;)


Back to the car and back to Bass HQ via the offy for a restock of tinnies.


Where Mrs Bass has a splendid roast beef and yorky pud, tatties and neeps and veg dinner ready for us.


My one regret! I have a small stomach and no matter how much I tried I couldn't eat more. It was Scrumdiddlyumptious.


Cooked to perfection!


We retire to the living room and chill and chat till whatever time it was when I said I'd better crash, to be up at 5.30am for the ferry.


So I say my good nights and indeed my good bye's to Mrs Bass thanking her again for everything and head to bed with my head still swimming with standing stones and Skara Brea.
 
More amazing pictures of a beautiful area and great detail about what sounds like a brilliant weekend. Thanks for sharing that with us all :)




Heard on the news this morning a walrus has shown up in the Orkneys, he must have read this thread, seen the pictures and thought I'll have some of that ;) Who could blame him?
 
Lyria
3446711362397337

More amazing pictures of a beautiful area and great detail about what sounds like a brilliant weekend. Thanks for sharing that with us all :)




Heard on the news this morning a walrus has shown up in the Orkneys, he must have read this thread, seen the pictures and thought I'll have some of that ;) Who could blame him?


 


Thanks :D


Yeah I heard that on the news too, a young bull.


It was north Ronaldsay not far from where I was I believe.


Now that would be a picture for the album, talk about rarest of rare sightings.


The newscaster made me laugh, 


Experts think he's just having a rest!


Well yeah that's bleeding obvious he is laying on the beach ;)
 
lil red rocket pilot
3446731362398430

Thanks :D


Yeah I heard that on the news too, a young bull.


It was north Ronaldsay not far from where I was I believe.


Now that would be a picture for the album, talk about rarest of rare sightings.


The newscaster made me laugh, 


Experts think he's just having a rest!


Well yeah that's bleeding obvious he is laying on the beach ;)


 


See, I bet you never knew a Walrus was reading this thread and planning his holiday thanks to your pictures and descriptions did you? ;)
 
Red, this is awesome mate, it's like reliving the weekend on here!


 


As anyone whose met  Red will confirm, the man is a gent of the highest order, but he exelled himself with 2 simple gestures at the weekend. He is a .... hot photographer, as you can see by his work, and on Saturday morning he presented me with a signed photo of Sic. Holy crap I was choked, me and Red have talked long about Marco before and after his death, and I know what a big thing that was to both of us. He told me the story of how he took it to Marco to get signed and they had a bit of banter about his coming together with Pedrosa. On Sunday night, after eating Mrs Bass's awesome Sunday lunch, we were crashed out drinking and having a craic, after Debs (Mrs Bass) had spoken about how she was a Cal Crutchlow fan, Phil presented her with a signed picture. Again, one that Red had taken, then got signed by Cal at a later date.


 


We had an awesome time, taking in the sights of this beautiful bit of rock in the Atlantic, and chatting about racing, PS meet ups and when can we do it again. I'll be gutted if they cancel WSBK at Silvo, it's our only chance for a PS meet up, I work in a school, and Debs is an officer on the ferry, so, if it doesn't fall in with our time off we are goosed. I would be gutted not to meet up with the PS crew again this year, I'm already pissed at missing Jum  and co at Guna this year as it is!


 


Look forward to the next PS meet anyway, as Geonerd would say, Like This. :)


 


Peace oot ya southern puffs!
 
basspete
3447231362494417

Red, this is awesome mate, it's like reliving the weekend on here!


 


As anyone whose met  Red will confirm, the man is a gent of the highest order, but he exelled himself with 2 simple gestures at the weekend. He is a .... hot photographer, as you can see by his work, and on Saturday morning he presented me with a signed photo of Sic. Holy crap I was choked, me and Red have talked long about Marco before and after his death, and I know what a big thing that was to both of us. He told me the story of how he took it to Marco to get signed and they had a bit of banter about his coming together with Pedrosa. On Sunday night, after eating Mrs Bass's awesome Sunday lunch, we were crashed out drinking and having a craic, after Debs (Mrs Bass) had spoken about how she was a Cal Crutchlow fan, Phil presented her with a signed picture. Again, one that Red had taken, then got signed by Cal at a later date.


 


We had an awesome time, taking in the sights of this beautiful bit of rock in the Atlantic, and chatting about racing, PS meet ups and when can we do it again. I'll be gutted if they cancel WSBK at Silvo, it's our only chance for a PS meet up, I work in a school, and Debs is an officer on the ferry, so, if it doesn't fall in with our time off we are goosed. I would be gutted not to meet up with the PS crew again this year, I'm already pissed at missing Jum  and co at Guna this year as it is!


 


Look forward to the next PS meet anyway, as Geonerd would say, Like This. :)


 


Peace oot ya southern puffs!


 


Cheers mate!


I've been grinning the whole time writing it and re-living the whole thing.


It was an awesome weekend and I thank you both from the heart.


I was pondering how to thank you and the pic's was the most obvious thing,


Besides I know you will treasure them as did I ;)


 


I have in my possesion the first ever motogp photo Cal signed, 


One day that will belong to another off this forum, they know who they are ;)


 


I can't wait to come back Brother.


Summer holidays sound like a plan ;)
 
@pete : how bout donny wsbk? 99% sure i'll be there, sorting my stay and tickets right now.


 
 As anyone whose met  Red will confirm, the man is a gent of the highest order


never a truer word spoken on this board
 
The Journey Home.


 


5.30am mt alarm goes off, rise, make a brew and finalise packing,


15mins later Pete's up and 5 after that heading to the car.


We drive down in to Stromness ferry terminal and Pete shows me where I need to be.


I thank him again for the weekend handshake, manhug and Petes back off to bed.


So Board the ferry get a brew and wait for us to get underway.


It's still quite dark and I'm wondering if any pic's of the old man are going to be forthcoming.


After a while we move and I head for the rear deck, the forward one was closed.


It brightened up a little so I'vs selected some of the clearer ones of the old man.


The Old Man of Hoy is a natural stone pillar riseing on the south west of the Isle of Hoy ;)


Some good red angry looking skies and a pair of Gulls skimming just over the sea by inches.


We land at Scrabster and I stroll down to the car park to the motor.


As I approach Joy of joys on the hills just above was a buzard.


I've tried on many occasions to get a recognisable shot and failed every single time.


I admit to been excited as I got the camera up and focused.


Popped a couple of shots, it was a juvenile, 


Then it dropped out of view.


I was felling quite chuffed with that and then another older bird came in and landed in nearly the same spot.


Bonus two for the price of one, So I snapped a few of that one too.


The elder bird dropped where the first had gone and the younger one took off, I managed to get two pic's of it in flight before it disappeared.


 


The last set of pic's


again view in reverse for correct order ;)


 


http://s1120.beta.photobucket.com/user/PhillGB69/library/Orkney%20Islands%20Feb%202013/Old%20Man%20of%20Hoy


 


So I tootle out of Scrabster and it's time for a little challenge.


The night before I'd said to Pete I should be able to do Inverness in under 2 hours from Thurso and the A9.


He said not, 114miles, Game on.


Steady cruise to the A9 to let the car warm nicely and the lead boot is on.


Hit a couple of bits of traffic but good straights and no speed camera's soon dispensed of them.


40mins in and 60 miles done then disaster. come to a streach where overtaking safe was impossible and a truck full of tree trunks doing 40 mph.


Stuck behind this for 20mins took away most hope I had but then he peeled of and I was off again!


For about 5 miles!!!


Farking road resurfacing, ah well Epic fail!!! Was sat there for a good 20 mins and then crawl at 10mph behind the escort vehicle for a good couple of miles nailed it's coffin shut.


Nothing much more to tell really except for a god knows how many mile race back to England on the A68 with a mazda RX8.


I was just below Edinburgh and just on the A68 clear roads and conditions so cruise along at about 70-80mph


And from nowhere really a mazda  rx8 comes up quick and sits on my bumper.


I speed up a little, so does he,


So I speed up some more, so does he.


So thinking he is local and know's the road better than I next straight back off and let him pass.


He gets in  front and slows down WTF!!


We get on straights and he speeds up.


He knows exactly the same about this road as I. Fcuk all!!!


Eventually we get to a straight where I get past him and I give it some beans, Let's play ;)


We are really going for it, 120mph in places on straights and not much less through 1 and 2 corners (think rally)


Although in the bends I had the advantage albeit slight I pulled away here.


Then he came back on the straights.


We hit the Boarderlands and the twisties, going over the Scotland /England boarder is a series of hairpin bends raising and dropping twice.


I hit them full on to the limit of my capability, I could feel the tyres on the very edge of giving in to understeer as fast as I dare.


It was awesome I loved it and the rx8 was nowhere to be seen.


Well that's not completely true, 50miles down the road I refueled, as I went to pay after filling the tank he came through the village  :lol:


I got home at about 6pm that eve.


 


I can honestly say this was one hell of a fantastic weekend, to be repeated for sure.


Thanks to those who took time to join me on my adventure in this thread and of course for your kind comments.


 


Most of all thanks to Pete and his lovely wife who made it possible


 


The End ;)
 
I enjoyed all the stories and pictures.  Some awesome history up there I was not aware of Pete.  Red, do you mind if I use some of these pics for educational purposes?  I'd like to use the "Stones of Stromness" standing stones.  Good stuff man.  Thanks for taking the time to share your travels.
 
Jumkie
3447991362595507

I enjoyed all the stories and pictures.  Some awesome history up there I was not aware of Pete.  Red, do you mind if I use some of these pics for educational purposes?  I'd like to use the "Stones of Stromness" standing stones.  Good stuff man.  Thanks for taking the time to share your travels.


 


Hey be my guest mate!


I thought you would have an interest in them after Stonehenge with Chops and Willski.


 


A recent known discovery,


Did you know Stonehenge is associated with the dead, a place to take ones relatives usually cremated during the solstaces.


A recent dig has uncovered an identical ring down stream on the avon with a similar causeway marked at the river edge by 2 blue stones.


However this was made of wood with masses of evidence of occupation.


This was the ring of the living ;)


It is the same with the stones of Stromness, they are the ring of the living. note the hearth in the centre ;)


Whilst the ring of Brodgar is the ring/place of the dead.


The change in status was an eye opener also ;)
 
Why dont you two .... get a room. :)

I havnt read anything this ... since the Arabb/ Willski shagfest meetup.

Before coming on PS I had never heard of the Orkney Islands. What a beautifull place Thanks for the great writeup and pics. You tell a nice tale Red. Those little details most people wouldnt think to include really made the story. Thanks to Cliche for interjecting his typical,random, irrelevant stream of conciousness into the middle of the story and disrupting the flow. Other then that im pretty sure everyone enjoyed the thread, even Geonerd liked it


If your going to Austin Red, please do a writeup as well
 
JohnnyKnockdown
3448671362676726

Why dont you two .... get a room. :)

I havnt read anything this ... since the Arabb/ Willski shagfest meetup.

Before coming on PS I had never heard of the Orkney Islands. What a beautifull place Thanks for the great writeup and pics. You tell a nice tale Red. Those little details most people wouldnt think to include really made the story. Thanks to Cliche for interjecting his typical,random, irrelevant stream of conciousness into the middle of the story and disrupting the flow. Other then that im pretty sure everyone enjoyed the thread, even Geonerd liked it


If your going to Austin Red, please do a writeup as well


Fark you knob head. Go and play with your duck
 

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