RBR: Wales, the long version.

Fitted the spare (original) front wheel with the Avon Venom onto the
Wing on Saturday morning. Ah, so that's what front end grip feels
like? More on this later.

Set off for Platyfest mid-afternoon, and had a simple run down the M4.

It started raining as I peeled off the M4 and carried on all night,
despite the assurances of mine host.

Sunday morning dawned bright and sunny - unlike most of the
partygoers.

After a few cups of coffee, I set off over the Severn in search of
landmarks. Gyp has suggested the front looked a bit flat - which might
have accounted for the slightly heavy steering. A petrol stop was
combined with an airpump frenzy - as the 18psi seemed a bit lower than
ideal. The transformation was instant, and for the better.

First landmark was a water trough with an inscription. The journey
there was quite interesting, given the amount of running water on the
roads, but all went well - except hat the trough isn't in the village
on the landmark list - it's in the next one along the road. Grr.

Next landmark was the ironworks at Blaenavon - easy enough to find,
you'd think. The Zumo decided this was the opportunity to show up its
one major flaw that I've discovered so far: just because an
unclassified "road" has the same speed limit as a single carriageway
'A' road, it does not follow that one can maintain the same speed
along it - especially when it is seven feet wide, with a strip of
grass, gravel and sheepshit up the middle. Not to mention the 1 in 6
gradient. It was an "interesting" journey.

I'll stick the track up tomorrow - you can see for yourself.

Still, it was a lovely day, so no harm done.

Next stop: the Erwood Gun. Oh, what fun. It's a gun - on top of a
hill. A big hill, with no road up it. Half an hour's sweaty climb
later, and I'm sat next to it. Good view from up here - when my vision
clears sufficiently. On the way back down I half stagger, half slide.
Very dignified. Carreg Cennen castle was next, but that's on top of a
hill, too. So I take the photo from the carpark.

From there, into Swansea, to get a memorial to a dog that saved folk
from drowning, or something. Easy parking, and no climbing. There's
lovely, isn't it?

Next landmark was a memorial to some chap out at the arse-end of
Pembrokeshire, up a dead end road. Of course, by the time I arrive,
the sun's setting directly behind it, and it's on a cliff edge. manage
a passable photo, though.

As time is pressing on, I head north up Cardigan Bay in search of
lodgings. No joy, and I end up almost on top of the next landmark: a
bridge made to look like a snail. From there I head into Machynnleth,
and get the last room at the hotel in the town square. too late for a
meal, I have a pint and collapse exhausted on my bed.

Monday is just as wonderful, weatherwise, as Sunday. From Mchynnleth,
I head around Cder Idris, through Porthmadog, and onto the Lleyn
Peninsula. At Nefyn, I park up next to the well house, and Steve,
another RBRist pulls up. Whilst nattering, a traffic enforcement lady
shows up, and we set off before she gets shirty. Steve passes me on
the road, and I head out to Anglesey to visit another well. Just as
I'm packing up to leave, Steve pitches up on his immaculate ST1100.
HE's a little perplexed by this. We were both using Zumos, too, so
it shouldn't be a GPS problem.

Back on the mainland, and along the Conwy coast before cutting inland
to some place with a name like something from a "Countdown" out-take.
2 medieval stones in the churchyard are quickly found, and off I go.

Then ext landmark is in Flintshire - the Alleluia monument. It's in a
cowfield. The cows are nervous. I now have brown boots. Sticky, brown
boots.

Back into England (well, sort of) for the next three landmarks. All of
which are lighthouses on the Wirral coast. Except that one isn't: it's
a pretend one. On the same road as the real one. Simple. At Perch Rock
light, a young scally complements me on the Wing. When told it has a
CD player, in the pannier - he asks if that's to stop it getting
nicked. I tell him that it's to keep the rain off, which confuses him
a bit. After setting off, I pull over after a short while, and check
that I still have my wallet, camera, etc.

Through the Mersey Tunnel, and along the coast to Crosby, to get a
piccie of one of those iron men stuck in the sand. A quite impressive
sight, I must say. Then back through M's 57 thru' 62 to Little Lever
to get a picture of bridge. Here, I'm directed down a track which
degenerates into a path, which then resembles a stream bed. park at
the bottom, at a gate, determined to think of a way to turn round
whilst walking to the bridge. As I walk through the woods, five
bridges appear before me. Of course, I don't know which one I want, so
I snap them all.

A 97-point turn later, and the Wing climbs back up the hill with ease.

I decide to find lodging on my way to Nantwich, and succeed when I
stumble across a Premier Inn at Crewe. Booked in, I charge of to
Nantwich, and get the picture of the wooden horse at the marina in the
soft evening light.

Dinner tonight consists of three pints of Wifebeater and a bag of
crisps.

Up very early this morning, and straight back into Wales. First
landmark is the old bridge at Bangor-on-Dee, the off to Llangollen to
get the big harp sculpture at the Eisteddfod showground. The last
welsh landmark is the Welshpool and Llanfair Lt Rlwy station at
Llanfair Caerinion. At this point I wonder if Wessie has tried
Bridgestone Welshpools on his GS yet.

Twice I was held up at roadworks for resurfacing. Convoy system in
operation: each time I was able to smoke a ciggie whilst stationary.

Back into England! Well, Shropshire.

The church of St Peter at Melverley is a delightful little tudor
building - all timber and white plaster, set on a river bank. Very
pictureskew.

I was making great time - four down, and not yet noon.

Ho hum. The next landmark was Flounder's Folly, near Lower Dinchope.

A great sod-off gate blocked the access road, so I set off on foot.
Forty-five minutes later, sweating like a galley-slave, I arrive at
the summit. It's a climb of some 120m. The journey down, by the direct
route, was eventful, but no harm ensued. It took ten minutes to get
back down.

Off again, along more little roads with grass centre lines, and
running water a the edges, and I found the dovecot in the pretty
little Herefordshire village of Eardisland. From there it was back to
Doritwich to get the snap I missed last time (it was on the way home),
and then a turgid trawl down the M5/42/M40 home.

Traffic was clear all the way through to the Paddington slip on the
Westway, which surprised me, but not as surprised as I was by the
freedom with which I then shot down to Lancaster Gate, down Park Lane
and Constitution Hill, and along the embankment. Going down the
Marylebone Road was not an option.

So, loads of pictures, a filthy Wing, shitty boots, and a sunburnt
face.

Top fun.

PS If you ever get the chance to ride the A443, do it.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..92295../..24851.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 49 Pts:0960 Miles:2695

 

Rain, usually.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..92295../..24851.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 49 Pts:0960 Miles:2695

 

I liked this. ^

Well done, mate. Keep the reports coming - it makes me want to do the
RBR but then I realise that I'm not that dedicated. Or stupid, really
)

But it's in Wales isn't it?

 

No. Worcester to Tenbury Wells via Abberley. Runs between the Rivers Severn
& Teme. Pretty villages, nice corners, gets a bit wet.

Nice write up, as ever.

WTF are you on about with Bridgestone Welshpools? Stone encrusted tyres?

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

"Wessie is a lovely man with many wonderful qualities" TM Blaney

 

It's a "pun" on the Taffyese spelling of Welshpool.

"Y Trallwng"

I never said it was funny.

 

Oh. I'm not Welsh enough to understand such bi-linguistics.

Have they missed out Monmouthshire from the RBR this year, only you didn't
come within 30 miles of my place?

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

"Wessie is a lovely man with many wonderful qualities" TM Blaney

 

The Monmouthshire landmark was the first one mentioned.

Near Rockfield, but *not* at Onen, as it says in the landmark sheet.

 

I spent 40 minutes riding round the listed village looking for this before
finding it in the next village

Please do, I want to see this road, think i can guess which way you went up,
and I wouldn't take a bike up there !

Tim S

 

Track's been overwritten.

http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.s...srf&searchp=newsearch.srf&ax=326500&ay=211500

It's the dotted yellow one on the left. Starting just north of the
telephone symbol at the top, then anticlockwise round Gilwern Hill.

On the way back I stayed on the orange B road to Govilon.

Just realised: I passed the only thing that rhymes with orange.
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..92295../..24851.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 49 Pts:0960 Miles:2695

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, SD
<> typed

(Humungo-snip)

Indeed. Thanks for the write-up. I do enjoy RBR-by-proxy.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Champ

Quite so.

I just say I'll do it, then drop out at the last minute.

--
Wicked Uncle Nigel - "He's hopeless, but he's honest"

WS* GHPOTHUF#24 APOSTLE#14 DLC#1 COFF#20 BOTAFOT#150 HYPO#0(KoTL) IbW#41
SBS#39 OMF#6 Enfield 500 Curry House Racer "The Basmati Rice Burner",
Honda GL1000K2 (Fallen apart) Kawasaki ZN1300 Voyager "Oh, Oh, It's so big"
Suzuki TS250 "The Africa Single" Honda ST1100 wiv trailer Norton 850 Commando
Kawasaki GTR1400

 

Ta fer that.
--
Dave
GS850x2 XS650 SE6a

Teach a man to fish and he and his pikey mates will have the
river cleaned out in a day.

 

Ah. You didn't give any place names.

I lived in one of the 2 houses that make up Onen, in 1978. You could
hardly call it a village, although the third building there is a village
hall for Llanfihangel ystern Llewern, just down the hill.

I guess the stone trough was the one in Hendre, by the Rolls golf
course?

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

"Wessie is a lovely man with many wonderful qualities" TM Blaney

 

I couldn't possibly say, cos that might be construed as giving
assistance to the enemy, but yes.

 

I can see the Blorenge from my bedroom window!

BTW, I knew a kid called Gorringe in school, so there are two.

Haha. That road, and the other one just west of it with the black arrows
are seriously steep. Your orange road is on one of my favourite loops
into the Brecon Beacons NP.

--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

"Wessie is a lovely man with many wonderful qualities" TM Blaney

 

Isn't it something to do with mass bending time? My physics is well,
non existent really.

Breathe man breathe.

 

How on earth did your GPS send you up there?
The orange B road is much more fun on the way up though
(that's the way I went up)

Tim S

 

Probably because the A465 is fucked up due to the dualling roadworks. The
Zumo probably told Nick to turn off at the now non-existent turning for
Llanfoist. It wouldn't have known about the temporary roundabout junction
by Waitrose a little further along. When he got to the next junction, a
mile further along the A465, it replotted a shortest route. This took him
up Clydach Gorge rather than back through Govilon village on the B4246.



--
wessie at tesco dot net

BMW R1150GS

"Wessie is a lovely man with many wonderful qualities" TM Blaney

 

Oh yerr, forgot about that lot, you can tell I've moved away and don't get
to play around there very often any more.

 

<coconut flies westwards>
--
| ___ Salad Dodger
|/ \
_/_____\_ GL1500SEV/CBR1100XXX/CBX1000Z
|_\_____/_| ..92295../..24851.../..31928.
(>|_|_|<) TPPFATUICG#7 DIAABTCOD#9 WG*
|__|_|__| BOTAFOT #70 BOTAFOF #09 PM#5
\ |^| / IbW#0 & KotIbW# BotTOS#6 GP#4
\|^|/ ANORAK#17 IbB#4 YTC#4 two#11
'^' RBR Clues: 49 Pts:0960 Miles:2695