I've been going to the Isle of Man since 1998, always on a motorbike. This was for Manx Grand Prix week - basically a toned down version of the TT with classic racing as well as modern stuff. For this reason it always attracts the classic crowd and the place gets packed with a huge range of old machinery, most of it being well ridden. We went pretty much every year, me on a variety of old nails with an ever changing group of people. 2012 was my last year on a motorbike, actually the BMW, and it was a wash out seeing the worst weather I've ever had to deal with in a tent. This soured things somewhat, as well as the ever increasing cost of the ferry fare. When we first went the return ticket with a motorbike was about £125. By 2012 is was over £150. The next year I gave it a miss, and then I was out of the habit.
As Summer progressed I was wondering what to do with a fortnights holiday I'd booked at the end of August into September. The solution came as I was speaking to my mate Rick on the phone. Him and his partner Judy were going to the Manx, paid for by Classic Bike magazine, which he writes for. I'd noted that it would be good to go and catch up with them and revisit my old Isle of Man haunts. Of course the ferry was booked solid for any kind of vehicle so this was looking like a no go. Various combinations of sailings drew a blank and it would be £200 in any case. Then I noted that a pedestrian fare was only £47 and better yet, bikes (as in pedal) went for free. A plan was hatched. I'd train it down to Lancaster, get the overnight sailing, camp at Peel as we had done in the last few years we'd been there and catch up with Rick and Judy whilst checking out the old bikes. A bit of research indicated a fair few mountainbike trails in the various bits of woodland, as well as the various byways and greenways I'd ridden on old trials bikes on my previous visits. Perfect. Not only that the weather was looking good!
The train run went OK (although my back was playing up a bit, yet again) and I pedaled from Lancaster to Heysham on cycleways and back road. It was dark of course and so a bit dubious on some of the cycleways, but it was a Sunday evening so very quiet. I got to the terminal a couple of hours before sailing so spent some time snoozing and reading until boarding time.
Ha! this was brilliant. As soon as boarding was announced I got sent down the ramp first, in front of several hundred motorbikes. Every time we have taken motorbikes on this boat, it's been complete chaos. The Isle of Mann Steam Packet has been carrying motorbikes to the Island since 1902 and yet they seem to make such a meal of it. Hours of sitting in a queue of other bikes, people revving engines, move a bit, wait again, repeat. Even on the boat it was mayhem as the deck hands tried to tie up several hundred bikes with bits of rope. Not today, onto the deck, bungy bike to a pillar, stroll up to the lounge and grab my seat I'd booked, then relax with a few beers as chaos took place below. Soon enough we were off and I actually slept pretty well. I've used the overnight boat before and it's actually quite nice. A cafe opens on the harbour front early enough for passengers so you can get a breakfast on arrival. I then pedaled into the lightening morning, via an old railway line which actually took me all the way from Douglas to Peel. It was a bit damp in places but I had the place to myself.
I got to the campsite and the chap running it was around so I pitched up in a space recently vacated by people departing for the boat I'd just got off, then crashed out for a few hours.
There then followed three days of great bike riding on a mix of the forestry stuff, byways and the odd bridleway. I caught up with Rick and Judy, had plenty of pints in the various ace pubs around the island, in particular the Creek Inn at Peel, and even watched a bit of the racing. One of the best things of being able to go off road is that you can access various parts of the (closed obviously) TT course by various trails that others can't. It was sunny too!
Finally it was home time but this was easy too - no stressing about whether some recaltriant machine was going to start, just my usual pack up of tent, into bags, jump on bike and ride to Douglas, also on the old railway line. The crossing back was fine and Rick and Judy were also on it so we could chat. I was first off at the other end and soon away from the road and re-tracing my route back to Lancaster. I was in plenty of time for the train so sat around in the sun eating food, before being whisked effortlessly back up to Fife.
I'd kind of missed being on the motorbike, particularly an old one, but the cheapness, the lack of hassle and the good riding meant that I think I'll do this again!
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