A Transalp in the snow!

[africajim]

Hi all, it's that time of the year again, to go looking for snow!

Well, I headed for one of my local ski resorts to see if I could find some of the white stuff! I left Elgin heading for Aberlour, I saw Steve T's silver Transalp sitting at Craigellachie beside the bridge so I presume he'll have a post up with a few pics as well. I then headed up the A95 to the Dalnashaugh and turned off for Glenlivet and onwards to Tomintoul A quick stop for a photo of the Packhorse bridge at Glenlivet and to clean my visor with clean snow, then on to Tomintoul. The road from the Dalnashaugh hotel to Tomintoul was prett poor really, hard packed ice and ruts made it hard going in bits.
I decided I would give the Lecht road a try, worst case I'd turn round! Well, I got up to the ski resort and it was pretty busy! .skiing looked good, even the low runs were running so the season's off to a good start.
I headed back down the mountain and decided to try some deeper snow with the Transalp! Well, I couldn't stick it today! Not deep enough!
I must admit, it was brilliant to get out into the fresh air today, I love winter riding, the skills learnt on greasy damp roads is invaluable for all year round, but I think just getting out keeps me sane!
Here's a few photo's, hope you enjoy!

Packhorsebridge.jpg (231.55 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

Lecht_2014-12-13.jpg (177.92 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

minus1.jpg (122.04 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

Snow01_2014-12-13.jpg (248.89 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

Snow02.jpg (250.46 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

Snow03.jpg (245.15 KiB) Viewed 1003 times

[jackdaw]

Very seasonal. Thanks

[AustinW]

Jim, you are a nutter.

[Steve T]

Saw you whizz past Jim as I was walking back from the bridge

Feck me it was cold out there this afternoon as the sun started to dissappear.

Just a couple of pictures, as some of my extremeties were starting to change colour and I thought it best to head home:-

Twas on this track at the beginning of the year that my F8GS had a lie down - managed to avoid a repetition with the Alp (thumbs)

Thats Ben Rinnes in the back ground, solidly covered with the white stuff


As Jims said, some of the roads were "iffy" at best, with compressed and frozen snow under powdery stuff. Needed to heat the bikes seat up when I got home, to allow me to press back the wedgy that had been formed on it by my bummocks gripping the seat :woohoo:

Suppose I really should think about fitting those heated grips

Steve T

B)

[PaulG]

Nice photos and well done both of you.

As a Southern 'Softie' you wouldn't get me out on that stuff without studded tyres or skis! :laugh:

Paul

[africajim]

Aye Steve, wasn't sure whether you were on your way back from a run as it was late, after 2.00.
Heated grips on from around 10mins in until I got home!
It was chilly, 2degC best all day, as in my pic, -1c ws coldest I saw.
Still a damned good ride out mate!

[Steve T]

Was sort of on my way back Jim, having been on the Buckie-Keith-Craig loop.

Even with the muffs fitted and sking gloves on, the digits were getting very cold as the sun dipped behind the hills.

As well as heated grips & knobblies, I feel the need for crash bars on the Alp, having seen how the plastics disintergrate on impact with the ground during the Galloway trip in September :S .

Catch up soon,

Steve T

B)

[Nicoli]

Hardcore....I binned it yesterday on the tiniest patch of the slippery stuff!

[africajim]

Thats always the case though, if there's plenty there to warn you chances are you will take more care! So easy to hit a small patch and land on the deck! Been there,,, several times! LOL!

[scooby]

Looks like you both had fun there but we don't get much snow like that in the midlands to even consider trying it!