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Wales Tour By Motorbike
May 30th - June 2nd
2023
 Day 1 - Tuesday - May 30th
Left home around 9am as I needed to be at Joyce and Jeff's by 1pm. Very pleasant journey, mainly along the A4, passing through or close to Newbury, Marlborough and Chippenham. Had planned two stops but in the end only had one. Turned off just short of Bristol and travelled the country route over the old Severn bridge and then through Chepstow, Newport and along the A48 into Cardiff. Had a lovely curry for lunch and then as it was Tuesday, joined Jeff for beers with his friends at the Flute and Tankard. Really enjoyed it. Back to theirs for Fish and Chips bought from a chippy on Wentloog Road. |
D ay 2 - Wednesday - Ma y 31st
Set off from Joyce and Jeff's after a 'Full English' - what else in Wales and from Jeff! Joined the A470 heading north and stayed on it most of the day. Started off as dual carraigeway as far as Merthyr Tydfil but then lovely roads through Brecon and up to Buith Wells where I had coffee and cake and hopefully didn't get a ticket in the car park! After Buith I continued north through brilliant countryside stopping for one more coffee before arriving at my lodgings at Plas Tan Y Blwch just after 2. Check in wasn't 'till 4 so popped 3 miles up the road to my cousin Jo and her husband Nick. Loved their cottage. Dinner at the nearby pub. |
 Day 3 - Thursd ay - June 1st
A good night at my lodgings - basic but perfectly adequate. Breakfast was a buffet with a slight feel of a Youth Hostel but it was perfect for me. I set off and headed into Porthmaddoc, trying to call in on Port Meirion, but I missed it. No worries, the rest of the morning was exceptional. Heading north through Snowdonia, a view of Snowdon itself, and then based on Nick's advice 5 miles north on the A5 through the mountains. Breathtaking. Then a U Turn and south along the A5 before turning right towards Bala. A coffee and a call home at Bala, a brief trip along the lake and then south towards England passing through wonderful shrublands. Skirting Shrewbury and Ludbury before arriving at my pub lodgings in Leominster. Only bad location in the tour - an absolute dive - and whilst I could have easily coped with the room itself but the car park was literally a dump with signs of drug taking. I decided to move on and travelled East to stay at the farm - calling in on Jane and getting a Chinese. Nonetheless - a wonderful day. |
 Day 4 - Friday - June 2nd
It was the right decision to head straight to the farm. I lost the £70 I spent on the pub room but at least still had my bike! Had the normal modest breakfast - I was cooking remember - then headed off south. First to see my mum who was in hospital in Redditch - but seeming pretty bright ... and then Lynette's mum in Pershore. I arrived at lunchtime, which you shouldn't do, but the lovely care assistant let me in and then stood there giggling as I tried to talk to Barbara whilst she was eating her fish finger and chips (it was Friday!) - she totally blanked me!! But was clearly enjoying herself. Lovely to see. It was then down south through the cotswolds, a coke and crisps at the Rose Revived and then home. 600 miles done. Really enjoyed myself. |
 Postscript
I was actually surprised at just how much I loved the tour. My trusty little Honda 650 had been fine but on long days it is 'buzzy' and the seat's not that comfortable, So a week after getting back saw me at the BMW Maidenhead dealer talking about the BMW 1250GS and on the Saturday I was off on a test ride. It was good but on the day I didn't find it as much better than my Honda as I thought I would ... and it's a tall bike - I was on the balls of my feet. Plus, it's 3x the price of my bike. So for now ... I'm staying with my lovely Honda. |
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