Day 6 Downhill from here

The day starts as usual with a good breakfast at the Braemar Hotel, plenty to eat and loads of coffee. Say goodbye to Ronnie and his wife and set off.  But from here I`m afraid it starts to go downhill. The road down Glenshee is being resurfaced, and about time too to be honest as it`s pretty dire in some places with potholes a plenty. A few miles down the road there is a long stretch of closed road and the traffic is diverted onto a compacted dirt track with traffic lights at each end. Nige stops at the red light and Steve pulls in behind, from about 4 cars behind Steve some prick in a white van ( Why are they always white ? ) decides that waiting behind a red light isn`t for him so he pulls out, drives towards the oncoming cars, over the new section of road and then up onto a grass hill and disappears over the top! Part of me wishes there will be a few hundred feet drop over the other side but I know there isn`t, pity.

We then head for Arbroath but to cut a very long story short we lose each other as our sat nav`s must have different preferences set. An hour later we meet up in a Tesco`s/Asda car park.

Anyway the more we head South the more the roads become busier, traffic lights, speed camera warnings and such. After 5 days of carefree riding in peace & quiet the built up areas and traffic congestion are a real pain.

We eventually arrive in Moffat and the Buccleuch Arms, the place has had several good reviews on the net and as it`s the most expensive accommodation so far on this trip were expecting some decent quality gaff.

The initial welcome from Clint at the rear of the hotel is promising, secure lockup for the bikes, jetwash, cleaning products etc, Steve is drawn to them and before I have chance to remove my helmet the jetwash is doing it`s stuff on the big 1200gs. Once booked in however the room we are shown to is much less impressive. Dirty and loose wallpaper, a hole in the plaster above the radiator, and the ceiling paper hanging off. The onsuite bathroom is dark and dingy with tacky fittings. The whole place looks as though it`s not seen a decorators brush since the seventies.

After all the quality and very good value for money spots we have stayed at this last week this is by far the worst, did I also say the most expensive? Because of the faulty towers appearance we decide to eat elsewhere so over the road to the Balmoral. Now Al & Nige have eaten here before so we know the food is very good, we both settle for chicken in ginger & chili sauce with chips, tasty. A few pints later we amble up the road to errr, the pub at the top of the road......4 yes 4 games to nil of pool later Nige leaves smiling whilst Hurricane Steve  says it`s all a fix!

Back to the Balmoral for a couple more then off to kip.

Breakfast next morning is no better, as despite there being plenty of free tables in the main dining hall we are ushered into a corner facing a dumb waiter lift and some stuff left by the cleaners. The cereal bowls are empty as are the fruit juice jugs. By now your getting the picture, this isn`t the best service wev`e received this last week or for a long time and we cant wait to leave. I`d come to Moffat again but not here..

Incidentally while in the Balmoral the night before the barman told us that all the rooms there have just had a fortune spent on them and all the fittings and beds are brand new. Maybe next time.

We say our goodbyes for now and both agree that we have had a brilliant week, enjoyed each others company, eaten well, met some nice people, seen some fantastic scenery and had a bloody great laugh into the bargain. We can`t wait to do it all again. Roll on the summer trip.

Nige has 1,464 miles door to door and Steve at least another 150 on top of that.

Happy Days.