Chepstow and Welsh extension
Great weekend organised by Martin and Huw
The route was fantastic but made more challenging than necessary by occasionally heavy rain!
The extension: -
Thanks to Huw, Martin, Chris and the other leaders for an excellent QQ weekend and a great run out, in spite of the weather.
For those of you who came on the extension, I need say no more than “fantastic!”, for the rest of you, I’m sure it will become apparent over the next few days as folk get to posting their reports and pictures, what you missed.
Sunday was brilliant, apart from the presence of too many traffic cops on the A40 near Llandovery – I gather a couple of our number suffered their attentions. Robbie, Jeanne and I elected to take the short route after lunch and having visited Pendine museum of speed, wound our way across Pembrokeshire on wee roads in the sunshine and up and across the Preselli mountains, to Cardigan and thence the Cliff hotel at Gwbert.
I think 18 of us convened for dinner that night and very good it was too.
Monday saw most of the group riding the same route up through Aberystwyth, Maccynlleth, Dolgellau, Barmouth, Harlech and then via devious but fabulous A road in the rain to Beddgelert for lunch. Just North of Cardigan, Robbie furnished me with the Jota and I spent a very happy 40+ miles chasing up the road to the coffee stop. Surprisingly few problems with the right hand change and very happy to have had the chance to ride one of the dream bikes of my youth. A massive contrast to the 748, but a magical bike nonetheless.
Stuart junior (Peter) had been bemoaning the lack of horse power on his restricted CB500; I for one was grateful for that lack of bhp as he led the run after lunch NE to and then NW over the Llanberis pass. Suffice to say he made good progress through all of the bends in the wet and I needed most of my bhp to keep in touch with the ride!
We then enjoyed sunshine for the run up to the Menai bridge for a photo stop, then more photos at Llanfair PG before 10 of us went North to RAF Valley for a guided tour of the Hawk trainer by Jeanne’s brother Dave who is training there. I think there were 17 of us for dinner at the Bulkeley Hotel in Beaumaris – a very civilised venue with a great view across the straits to the mainland.
The best was saved to last though. Alas most of the party departed for home North and East on Tuesday morning, leaving the select few to tackle the run back through Wales. Pete went Castle touring and took an alternate route. Huw led Jeanne, Jane, Andy and I on an inspired compromise route mixing fast A roads with some magic mountain B roads. He is a mountain goat on that triple....
We had an inauspicious start weather wise, hail turned to sleet and then snow as we rode down the A5 and with a bit of altitude it was damned cold and appalling visibility. Perseverance paid off and as we trundled south, we were in the sunshine by the time we reached Betwsycoed. Further south we took the first cut over the hills to get down to Bala for coffee. Thro the hills and past Llyn Clywedog then more A roads before lunch at a pub. We then headed on to Newtown in the sun. We blitzed the A483. No other way to put it. Awesome. Builth Wells, then more mountain road to get to Brecon, before A40 to Crickhowel and the Dragon Hotel.
Fab place, Robbie would have loved the waiting staff (he’d never have resisted some kind of pervy comment!) and the best meal of the trip.
An hour back to Gloucester in the sun this morning, taking in the Forest of Dean road from Monmouth to get the most bends in. Bikes now scrubbed down and locked away for the night.
Seems much longer than 4 days riding because we have packed so much in, it has been a great trip. Thanks to all for your company and to Huw, Martin, Nick and Peter for route guidance and leading.
Vive the Quick Quacks!