The Ninja's had recommended the Sulby Glen Hotel which was superb. Great atmosphere/beer/accommodation/breakfast etc. Can't fault it, and wonderful hosts Eddie and Rosie. Located on Sulby Straight its handy for stopping for a pee and a shandy after a couple of laps before going out and doing it again.
The ferry couldn't easier to find, right behind the Liver building.
I got up Thursday morning to mid 20's C and sort of blue skies. After a huge cooked breakfast I struggled into my leathers and headed around the TT course. On the third lap I thought I'd stop and take some pictures. Each bend of the course is roadmarked with it's name and the direction of the bend(s).
Up by Bungalow I stopped for a picky with a statue of the wee man hiself.
And opposite the grandstand.
As the weather was so good I just rode the course all day, so when I met up with Slider, Bradders and Woody from the Ninja forum just after 7pm I was on the beers as I needed the refreshment. Cheers for meeting up with me guys.
Friday morning I woke up to rain and a massive hangover. The craic in the bar was so much fun I got hammered, so much so that I could only face some toast. So a good opportunity to blow away the cobwebs with a sedate ride around the coast. I rode up to Bride, not quite the most northerly point but the start of the coast road and rode down to Peel. Peel Castle was a nice stop, with a little quayside cafe that did a great cup of tea and seafood salad.
Then down to the bottom of the isle to see the Calf of Man. There's an 'architectural' cafe there, all glass and cedar. The road from Port St Mary to Douglas is great, if short, and by the time I got to Douglas the roads had dried out so got another lap of the course in.
Back at Douglas to resume my coast route and up to the Laxey Wheel, a waterwheel used to drain the zinc mine.
The coast road from Laxey to Ramsey is very good too.
My last night I decided just to have a meal and go to bed, so I was ready for my Manx kippers for breakfast. Set me up for another two laps of the course with luggage on.
Then decided to take the coast road back from Ramsey to Douglas; this way round the views are even better.
I managed to get to Douglas 20 minutes before I had to board. Rosie had recommended parking outside Jack's bar (or Jak's) on the front. On the street behind I had my vacuum packed kippers, a TT t'towel for the missus and sticks of rock for the kids and a few other bits sorted in quick time and onto the ferry.
I had a great time and glad I did it when I did. Thursday and Friday I practically had the roads to myself. Saturday was very noticeably busier. I can only imagine what it's like on TT week, even if the buzz is great.
All in I did 10 laps of the TT course, 2 circuits around the coast and about 800 miles door to door.
