Tom Morton's Other Beatcroft

Hugh Kerr, who joined us just yesterday in Fortrose on his BMW F650, ran into a bit of technical trouble between Wick and Scrabster. Turned out to be nothing worse than the engine kill switch fitted to the side stand, but alas, diagnosis came too late for Hugh to make the ferry to Stromness.

The two Triumphs are now safely parked in Kirkwall, some 800 miles from their home in Hinckley and maybe 950 from  Dereham. But tomorrow, the Barnard Challenge proper starts at Highland Park (though Hugh and Rob visited Pulteney today, while I was broadcasting from the BBC studio in Wick – thanks to Malcolm and all at Pulteney for their great donation to the BC auction).

We had a splendid night (truly fantastic crab soup) at The Anderson in Fortrose – great to meet up with D and W on the trusty Triumph Daytona – and will be back there on Friday, which will be a really hectic day, ending up at Strathpeffer for a performance (by me and Rob) of the Malt and Barley Revue, or as much as my numb fingers and befuddled mind can remember. Hugh is overnighting in Wick and then heading back to The Anderson tomorrow for some extra r&r, before Saturday’s 276 mile run to Bladnoch in Wigtownshire.

Meanwhile, great news from David Hayman’s trip around a huge swathe of distilleries last weekend. We now have over 40 rare (some very rare)bottles for Bonhams to auction in November, raising cahs for Spirit Aid. I’m just hoping that the 19-year-old used Bourbon cask Pulteney in my pack survives…