ISLE of MAN and the TT
About halfway between Belfast on the east coast of Northern Ireland and Liverpool on the west coast of England, in the Irish Sea, sits the Isle of Man. A short 3 hour ferry ride brings us to Douglas, the islands capital. Although the island is quite picturesque, the main reason we are here is for Brian to get to see the TT motorcycle course, something he has wanted to see for more than 30 years. This particular race has been running here for more than 100 years, and is the world’s last motor sport event to be run on a long circuit of public roads. It’s 37.75 mile mountain circuit is regarded as the ultimate test of rider skill and machine durability. We have come to see it for ourselves, and we’re not disappointed. It is a truly beautiful and spectacular ride around the circuit. Ranging from suburban streets, to winding country lanes between hedgerows and trees. Over stone bridges, down stone wall lined roads, past country pubs and farmland. To high speed hillclimbs and no speed limit sections across the heather covered hills. We take Josephine around this course in more than a 1 hour, it takes the racers on average 18 minutes. We averaged 30 mph, they average 130 mph. Up the mountain across the top and then down past the famous Greg Na Baa Hotel. The best view of the circuit from the balcony at the front. Just feet away from the speeding bikes. With the ghosts of the famous riders like Hailwood and Dunlop for company. You climb 1400 ft above sea level, and the two days we cruised the circuit, the mountain top was shrouded in cloud. There are more than 220 corners, a couple of serious hairpins, a level railway crossing or two, and through villages with their white washed houses only feet from the passing traffic. A truly memorable experience. They run this annual race in June, and with any luck in 2009 Brian and I will be standing on the side of the road watching the best or craziest riders in the world pit their skills against this demanding circuit.
posted by Brian and Julie @ 7:11:00 AM
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