A feature of this island during TT week seems to be, that rather than being awoken by birdsong at dawn, it's the sound of bikes, the early morning nutters heading through Parliament Square on their way up to the mountain. Thirty minutes later, it's the emergency services sirens! 3 days I've been on this island and every single day the mountain road has been closed due to one incident or another.
Today, traditionally called Mad Sunday, is the same as Mad Friday, Saturday, etc. Early morning wakeup by bikes and sirens.
My plan was/is to get out and do a few laps of the circuit, with the camera on board. I have two positions for it on the bike and one on my helmet. Best laid plans and all.
After a hearty cooked brekkie and chat with 80 years young Eric, I donned leathers and set off. Just over the road is a petrol station. I fuelled up and set out on the coast road to Douglas, the mountain road, yes you guessed it, closed once again.
Arriving in the Glencrutchery Road, I stopped at the pits and started the camera. I won't bore you with the details of every corner but TV just doesn't do justice to how steep Bray Hill is. The racers go down there at about 170mph!! Since my last time here, 29 years back, lots has changed. The liberal attitude to speed has changed and you are forever going up and down between 30 and 60mph zones. Still doesn't stop the odd tw*t overtaking approaching blind corners though, even at a relatively slow 50.
There is one part of the course, just after Sulby Bridge, a 50 mph zone, that is so bumpy, even at that speed, you are bouncing around in the seat. Multiply that 3 fold and it's a wonder any of the riders or bikes ever makes it around one lap, let alone 6!
I arrived back in Ramsey about 40 minutes after leaving Douglas. That's about 20ish miles, so I'm not breaking any records. I can now appreciate why Simon & Vivien, my US66 chums, took as long as they did when they came over last year. As I said, a lot has changed since I was here in '82. And they will be pleased, if not a little surprised to hear, that a Road King passed me at one point!!!
Back in the digs, I'm offloading the video and having a comfort break. Soon I'll take a walk over to see the electronic sign that indicates whether the mountain road is open or not. Hopefully I'll get in the rest of the lap and the video to prove it.
Fuel stats:
Mileage: 152.3
Fuel: 13.95 ltrs
Cost/ltr: £1.41.9
Total: £19.80
MPG: 49.63
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