IoM TT
Thursday, June 9, 2011 @ 2:42 AM
We have had over 10 days of a great biking experience and it's not over yet! Today was the first day of rain and delays, but otherwise it has been sunny and sometimes hot. This microcosm of the British Isles is a joy, with lovely fishing harbours, sandy beaches, high hills and leafy glens. And there are about 30,000 bikers roving around on all kinds of vehicles, from ancient Velocettes and BSAs to exquisite modern Ducati's and superbikes. Anyone with a motorbike or an interest in motorbikes should go at least once to the TT, and stay for the full 2 weeks. Practice week is quiet but with intense activity in 'the paddock'; then and in the main week, we saw and spoke with the incomparable John McGuinness, courageous Conor Cummins and the great 'Hutch', as well as Cumbria sidecar racers the Bakers (father and daughter) and many other terrific people from many nations. Lots of French, Australian and German but also Italians and Spanish. An Argentinian almost wept with joy to find some Spanish speakers after 5 days of silence!
We have watched racing on the Mountain and down on the levels, with bikes doing 190mph on normal island roads and averaging over 130mph over a 37 mile course! We have seen the TT3D film (oh my god!) and watched timed street races (1/8th mile), the Red Arrows, various side events and even an Italian bike owners meet in the lovely little town of Port Erin.
Our friends the Andrew and Nicky Pattinson have given us superlative accommodation in their house (and briefly tenting in the garden) and we cannot recommend them too highly (go to www.carhonnag.im). Real luxury, 4 stars ++. Everyone has been kind and helpful and one hears amazing stories of roadside assistance and bike repairs. Sadly there have been deaths too, and some visiting riders seem to lose their good sense once they get on the roads here. Idiotic behaviour resulting in serious accidents. But we have taken care and so far stayed safe.
What else can I say? Food is either instant (breakfast bacon baps) or of the holiday type (Davisons ice cream) or the usual supermarket fare. It's hard to eat healthily but we are trying. We should have brought a thermos because black tea (water & a tea bag) at prices ranging from 80p to £1.60 is just too much!!
More next time, perhaps as we head south again towards Spain...but book yourself in for TT 2012 NOW!!