Snowdonia, 27th to 29th July.
Day one.
The Group is back up to ten after a last minute interested party joined in.
We started from Aust services at 1030, we set out on a gentle ride to Chepstow, took the B4293 and cut across to Raglan, on we went, to Abergavenny on the A40, using the bypass we rejoin the A40 and follow up to the A479. This is where we meet our first annoying car, she was doing 30 and hitting her brakes on every corner, yes it was slow. I and a few others got past her, but by the time we got to Talgarth we were all spread out, we hit the A470 roundabout and pulled over to gather up again, sadly as we gather misses annoying is still in front of the others, we set off turning back on to A479, yes she going that way too, I groan no, then a I see a farm entrance it's time to have a breather, and give time to check bikes over for load adjustment as all loaded up and give her time to disappear. We also employ corner markers as with ten bikes, it was hard for the rear riders to see where we went at roundabouts and some junctions where they could be held up. Ten minutes later were off again, putting a good bit of pace on again, heading up to Builth Wells, our first planned stop as we wanted to cover as much ground on first leg of journey. Builth wells was busy as there was events going on, we had a decent break and some food and drink, fuel up, (for those with smaller tanks) and move on, A470 up to Raglan where we break off to get off the main roads, onto the B4518, time to take in some views, the lower part of that road is windy and fun but covered in gravel, definitely a challenge, and to throw in my sat nav had its first head fit, and it started taking us back on our selves, grr moment, I was following a fixed route why was it changing it? Who knows? Eventually after a reset we get back on track. Second half of the B4518 was a better ride, apart from the rain that had started, but it was on the forecast, a quick stop to waterproof up, we continue, hit the A470 and follow it all the way up to betws - y-coed, taking breaks about every hour at this point, as we were doing well time and issue wise apart from the sat nav moment that sent us off route. We had arrived at hotel, I was dreading tomorrows run, as my sat nav had the route on it and I was totally frustrated with it, will have to wait see what happens. But for now, food, beer, whiskey and chilling time,
Compared to last year all good so far.
The Group is back up to ten after a last minute interested party joined in.
We started from Aust services at 1030, we set out on a gentle ride to Chepstow, took the B4293 and cut across to Raglan, on we went, to Abergavenny on the A40, using the bypass we rejoin the A40 and follow up to the A479. This is where we meet our first annoying car, she was doing 30 and hitting her brakes on every corner, yes it was slow. I and a few others got past her, but by the time we got to Talgarth we were all spread out, we hit the A470 roundabout and pulled over to gather up again, sadly as we gather misses annoying is still in front of the others, we set off turning back on to A479, yes she going that way too, I groan no, then a I see a farm entrance it's time to have a breather, and give time to check bikes over for load adjustment as all loaded up and give her time to disappear. We also employ corner markers as with ten bikes, it was hard for the rear riders to see where we went at roundabouts and some junctions where they could be held up. Ten minutes later were off again, putting a good bit of pace on again, heading up to Builth Wells, our first planned stop as we wanted to cover as much ground on first leg of journey. Builth wells was busy as there was events going on, we had a decent break and some food and drink, fuel up, (for those with smaller tanks) and move on, A470 up to Raglan where we break off to get off the main roads, onto the B4518, time to take in some views, the lower part of that road is windy and fun but covered in gravel, definitely a challenge, and to throw in my sat nav had its first head fit, and it started taking us back on our selves, grr moment, I was following a fixed route why was it changing it? Who knows? Eventually after a reset we get back on track. Second half of the B4518 was a better ride, apart from the rain that had started, but it was on the forecast, a quick stop to waterproof up, we continue, hit the A470 and follow it all the way up to betws - y-coed, taking breaks about every hour at this point, as we were doing well time and issue wise apart from the sat nav moment that sent us off route. We had arrived at hotel, I was dreading tomorrows run, as my sat nav had the route on it and I was totally frustrated with it, will have to wait see what happens. But for now, food, beer, whiskey and chilling time,
Compared to last year all good so far.
Day two - After a night in the bar.
Story starts with the hotel. It was noisy, the walkers get up early at 6 in morning, slamming doors waking everyone who can't sleep through it, 6:30 I’m wide awake and decide to go get a cuppa, and there are no staff and nowhere to get a cuppa, not impressed. So of I go for a walk and everything is closed. I head back to the hotel, wait for others to wake and eventually people start surfacing and sit In hotel lobby. Mike D asks if we can get a coffee to the member of staff that had turned up, the answer wasn't what we wanted to hear, after a lot of loud moaning between ourselves suddenly there was free coffee for everyone, do it right to get a result We went for breakfast but not in the hotel, we had a wander up the road, That done we hit the bikes, I'm nervous about the sat nav, but hey I'm lead they can moan at me later. Sat nav confused me before I even left hotel, as it was a loop run it didn't tell which way to go, Mike D points left were off, A5, all good so far, we are riding through cloud where we are so high, we turn right onto the A4086 up to llanberis pass, not a fast ride, just taking in what we can through the cloud. Being lead I was mirror watching and I realised something was wrong behind, we had lost riders, it took a while to find somewhere to pull over, a car park with a grumpy attendant, he ran up shouting at me straight away, I just said not staying just regrouping as 4 missing which seemed OK with him. Minutes later 3 turned up, Mike H had decided to call it quits and return to the hotel, he didn't want ride through the cloud, so, we were down to nine, car park attendant shouts we need to go now as a coach is on way, we leave, ride a while more then pull up later to discuss what happened, we are now heading out of the cloud and the sun is on its way out. We continued up to Caernarfon, dropping down the other side on the A4085, a wonderfully twisty road, but! It was about to get better, as we turned onto the B4410 an even more wonderful road, super twisty, and! A pub at the end to have a break. Break over, sat nav behaving, we hit the A470, dropping down to the A4212, we followed it to Bala, headed on to the A494, picked up the A5, we followed A5 to Llangollen, and then the A542 to Horse Shoe Pass, a fantastic ride so far, another pit stop was taken at the Ponderosa cafe at the top. We continue from there following the A525 all the way up to Denbigh, onto the A543, then on to the A554 and up to Llansannan. Here the sat nav failed big time, it took us up a road that was unfit for us, the road was steep with a t-junction at top, we had our first bike issue at this point, one got dropped, breaking its foot rest peg mount, we also all got separated, Sat nav wouldn't reset so followed Mike D’s, Mike was first away from the road, we regrouped down the Road. Mike took off not realizing all weren’t there, so Mike, Dave and Alex got separated from Malcolm and myself. We sat waiting for the others for a while but eventually turned around and went back looking for them, as we rounded a corner there they were, going in the opposite direction, we turned around but they were gone, So it's down to just Malcolm and me trying to find our way home, we turn down the Road Mike went and found Alex sat there waiting but no Mike or Dave. A phone call came from Mike and it's confirmed, we all finding our way home separately so reset sat nav and we’re off. It turns us round and takes us across country on the smallest roads ever, but we arrive back first, then Mike and Dave, then the rest of group. We look at the broken bike, something needs to be done to get him home, we got it usable but not brilliant looked on eBay, he got the part and was going to have it delivered to home, we asked him were it was coming from? It was Warrington/Liverpool, we were an hour and half from it, plans were drawn, Mike D and myself would get up early and collect it, seller agreed so beers and whiskeys followed and at 11:30 we hit the beds.
Story starts with the hotel. It was noisy, the walkers get up early at 6 in morning, slamming doors waking everyone who can't sleep through it, 6:30 I’m wide awake and decide to go get a cuppa, and there are no staff and nowhere to get a cuppa, not impressed. So of I go for a walk and everything is closed. I head back to the hotel, wait for others to wake and eventually people start surfacing and sit In hotel lobby. Mike D asks if we can get a coffee to the member of staff that had turned up, the answer wasn't what we wanted to hear, after a lot of loud moaning between ourselves suddenly there was free coffee for everyone, do it right to get a result We went for breakfast but not in the hotel, we had a wander up the road, That done we hit the bikes, I'm nervous about the sat nav, but hey I'm lead they can moan at me later. Sat nav confused me before I even left hotel, as it was a loop run it didn't tell which way to go, Mike D points left were off, A5, all good so far, we are riding through cloud where we are so high, we turn right onto the A4086 up to llanberis pass, not a fast ride, just taking in what we can through the cloud. Being lead I was mirror watching and I realised something was wrong behind, we had lost riders, it took a while to find somewhere to pull over, a car park with a grumpy attendant, he ran up shouting at me straight away, I just said not staying just regrouping as 4 missing which seemed OK with him. Minutes later 3 turned up, Mike H had decided to call it quits and return to the hotel, he didn't want ride through the cloud, so, we were down to nine, car park attendant shouts we need to go now as a coach is on way, we leave, ride a while more then pull up later to discuss what happened, we are now heading out of the cloud and the sun is on its way out. We continued up to Caernarfon, dropping down the other side on the A4085, a wonderfully twisty road, but! It was about to get better, as we turned onto the B4410 an even more wonderful road, super twisty, and! A pub at the end to have a break. Break over, sat nav behaving, we hit the A470, dropping down to the A4212, we followed it to Bala, headed on to the A494, picked up the A5, we followed A5 to Llangollen, and then the A542 to Horse Shoe Pass, a fantastic ride so far, another pit stop was taken at the Ponderosa cafe at the top. We continue from there following the A525 all the way up to Denbigh, onto the A543, then on to the A554 and up to Llansannan. Here the sat nav failed big time, it took us up a road that was unfit for us, the road was steep with a t-junction at top, we had our first bike issue at this point, one got dropped, breaking its foot rest peg mount, we also all got separated, Sat nav wouldn't reset so followed Mike D’s, Mike was first away from the road, we regrouped down the Road. Mike took off not realizing all weren’t there, so Mike, Dave and Alex got separated from Malcolm and myself. We sat waiting for the others for a while but eventually turned around and went back looking for them, as we rounded a corner there they were, going in the opposite direction, we turned around but they were gone, So it's down to just Malcolm and me trying to find our way home, we turn down the Road Mike went and found Alex sat there waiting but no Mike or Dave. A phone call came from Mike and it's confirmed, we all finding our way home separately so reset sat nav and we’re off. It turns us round and takes us across country on the smallest roads ever, but we arrive back first, then Mike and Dave, then the rest of group. We look at the broken bike, something needs to be done to get him home, we got it usable but not brilliant looked on eBay, he got the part and was going to have it delivered to home, we asked him were it was coming from? It was Warrington/Liverpool, we were an hour and half from it, plans were drawn, Mike D and myself would get up early and collect it, seller agreed so beers and whiskeys followed and at 11:30 we hit the beds.
Day three - the journey home.
The plan was to leave at 7:30 to pick up the part, but as hotel comes alive at 6 both Mike and me were ready to go at 6:30, my side boxes were packed but left at hotel ready for picking up on return. Mike's bike was packed so we leave; roads are empty, up the A470 we go straight along to the A55. After 1.5 hrs we're in Warrington but earlier than arranged, it's Sunday and nothing is open early to allow us to eat, we take a chance and text the seller then and go to his address, a light is on, so we knock, all good he's in bed but good about it, it was raining too to add to the fun in Warrington
Outside Warrington we stop for food, and retrace our steps A55 to A470 back to hotel. A lot slower than the journey up. Back at hotel ten minutes and parts are fitted, we are good to go, but first a cuppa tea for us both, three of group had left already as one of them had further to travel than Bristol, So the remaining seven of us set out for home. The A5 was slow, we were covering some of the same ground as yesterday but at about half the speed, a couple of breaks later we reach the A483, half term had started, how many caravans? it was like a switch, none to endless amounts of them, it was slow, filtering at some points when it allowed, towns were the slowest point, the sun got hotter the further south we travelled, In Newtown we stopped at a Gregg's to get out of the sun and take on fluids. We hit the second part of the A483, it was full of caravans and it was a slow haul, we hit Builth Wells which was still busy from its shows, we left it behind hitting the A470, turning into the A479 where the roads cleared and had a good run down to Abergavenny. Stopping for fuel and more tea, just catching the tea room as it was about to close, perfect timing. Leaving there we came home past the Steel Horse Cafe down to Chepstow, seeing the only speed camera of the whole weekend. Everyone went their separate ways on the bridge, ending a fabulous weekend.
The plan was to leave at 7:30 to pick up the part, but as hotel comes alive at 6 both Mike and me were ready to go at 6:30, my side boxes were packed but left at hotel ready for picking up on return. Mike's bike was packed so we leave; roads are empty, up the A470 we go straight along to the A55. After 1.5 hrs we're in Warrington but earlier than arranged, it's Sunday and nothing is open early to allow us to eat, we take a chance and text the seller then and go to his address, a light is on, so we knock, all good he's in bed but good about it, it was raining too to add to the fun in Warrington
Outside Warrington we stop for food, and retrace our steps A55 to A470 back to hotel. A lot slower than the journey up. Back at hotel ten minutes and parts are fitted, we are good to go, but first a cuppa tea for us both, three of group had left already as one of them had further to travel than Bristol, So the remaining seven of us set out for home. The A5 was slow, we were covering some of the same ground as yesterday but at about half the speed, a couple of breaks later we reach the A483, half term had started, how many caravans? it was like a switch, none to endless amounts of them, it was slow, filtering at some points when it allowed, towns were the slowest point, the sun got hotter the further south we travelled, In Newtown we stopped at a Gregg's to get out of the sun and take on fluids. We hit the second part of the A483, it was full of caravans and it was a slow haul, we hit Builth Wells which was still busy from its shows, we left it behind hitting the A470, turning into the A479 where the roads cleared and had a good run down to Abergavenny. Stopping for fuel and more tea, just catching the tea room as it was about to close, perfect timing. Leaving there we came home past the Steel Horse Cafe down to Chepstow, seeing the only speed camera of the whole weekend. Everyone went their separate ways on the bridge, ending a fabulous weekend.