Anyone fancy a weekend rideout to North Wales in early Sept?

[Richie B]

Just got back from a weekend in Snowdonia and, despite dodgy weather, had a cracking time. Some good roads & amazing scenery. So good I wanna do it again. The end of the season is drawing near!

Let me know if anyone is up for it. Camping or bunkhouse.

http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=803

[jvaughan]

there might be a few takers after this weekends Skye trip. :wink:

[xrv_jim]

Yep, I'd be up for a weekend in N. Wales.

Let's have a date and the cost of camping vs hiring a bunkhouse?

[Darkenbad]

I would be up for this, I know most of the cafes in the area.


PK

[Richie B]

It's looking good then. May have to slip to mid September though if thats OK. Will dig out some dates/prices and let you know.

[fewtrees]

I'd be up for it! Timing needs to be right though, the later the better for me as I'm scooting off to Hungary shortly and not sure how long I'll be!

[Richie B]

How does 16-18 Sept sound? I could do with a rough idea where people will be coming from so I can think of a place to meet up. We can do a two-nighter (incl Friday) or a one-nighter leaving Saturday morning. Let me know your thoughts. Personally, I will probably do the two nights but those who can't haggle the time off work/get a pass from 'er indoors may want to meet up along the way.

First Ideas are: Meet up Fri night at Craig-Y-Nos (near Brecon) - Stay at Craig-Y-Nos Castle (they have budget accomodation out back!). Leave early Sat morning for Betws-y-Coed taking in the Elan Valley. Maybe meet up with those joining us Saturday (Abergavenny Bus Station / Shrewsbury/or wherever's suitable). Lunch at Eric Jones's Cafe (Tremadog) admiring jealously the other bikes. Afternoon riding around the mountains. Evening drinking in the Royal Oak/wherever. Bunkhouse overnight (TBC). Then put it to the group for ideas for the following morning. Afternoon ride home.

Please let me know any ideas you may have. I am away in Turkey tomorrow for a week, back on 14 August.

All the best, Richie

[ROYMACNIC]

Hi,
Sounds interesting,we might come down and meet up with you guy's on the saturday(17th ?)will see how much time I can skive off work!
Roy.

[Roy]

sounds like fun...would have to do Band B as "the red setter" does not fancy bunkhouse...

all around my old stomping grounds.....being a shrewsbury boy, good idea.



Roy

[francis_geoff]

Sounds like a good trip - am away to Munich for beer festival at end of Sept, but if date is ok I would like to go. Are the sheep as pretty as the ones we met in Scotland?

[jvaughan]

Cannot make this ... All available cash has just been ploughed into getting the Nursery ready. I have one tank of fuel in the bike for fun ... been told when its out, its out ! :cry:

[Richie B]

Now back from Turkey - nightmare week of locals trying to rip you off at every opportunity. Anyway.......

........... have been on the phone to tourist information and the bunkhouses are all full in Betws for the 17th Sept. I'm not sure that booking a bunkhouse out in the sticks is a good idea (Pub/walking distance). It may have to be tents or B&B.

If you let me know your thoughts I can crack on and book something.

How much interest is there for the Friday night? I understand that it's probably not such a good idea for the guys from up north.

Here's a quick overview of what I was thinking:

Fri 16th (evening) - Meet up at Crig-y-Nos. Beer. Crash at the Castle Bunkhouse.

Sat 17th (A.M.) - Drive up through Elan Valley. Meet up with others in mid Wales somewhere (suggestions?).

Sat 17th (P.M.) - Drive around cooing at the scenery. Richie drops his bike (again). Finish up at Betws. Beer. More beer. Sleep.

Sun 18th. Morning do some more driving around. Group decision on where to go. PM head home.

If you can give me a definate yay or nay I can go firm.

On another subject - Is there supposed to be a tiny hole in the bottom of my (standard) exhaust? It looks as if it is supposed to be there (precision drilled about 2 or 3 mm in diameter. Fumes are coming out and are quite choking when pulling up at lights, etc....

[JB1]

Hi
Am interested in the trip to wales. Is it a lads only thing or do you take your partners?

[Sohoeasy]

Yep It's spose'ta be there,although there should not be enough to notice in the way of fumes coming out! If you stick your finger up the inside you will find a little deflector over the hole, the oppsite side of the deflector is the main pipe,check that it's not partially blocked causing gases to be routed through what should only be a water residue hole.Or get a gas mask!

On another subject - Is there supposed to be a tiny hole in the bottom of my (standard) exhaust? It looks as if it is supposed to be there (precision drilled about 2 or 3 mm in diameter. Fumes are coming out and are quite choking when pulling up at lights, etc....[/quote]

[DaveS]

Did you mean to post this here.... probably not.
Probably best if you cut and paste your text in to the proper thread.

[Sohoeasy]

Did you mean to post this here.... probably not.
Probably best if you cut and paste your text in to the proper thread.

Sorry this was an answer to "Richie B's " question on this page, maybe I should have Pm'd him !

[UKRob]

Aaahhhhhhh, my old stomping ground :D Im originally from the Newtown, Welshpool area. I'd be buggered if i was gonna pay though, i'd stay at me parents :lol:
Now if i could just get rid of this bloody KLR :roll: :lol:

[Richie B]

Thanks for the advice Sohoeasy - apologies for using this thread for the comment. Ref wales trip, I certainly don't mind partners coming - the more the merrier. I have been asked whether a couple of my colleagues can come along - they don't run Honda trailies though. Anyone mind if I ask them along?

[Blues N Twos]

I would be up for this and I will ask my mate and his new 1150 Adv if he fancies it as well.

Jon :D

[Richie B]

I have had a few enquiries as to whether it would be possible to put the date for the trip back by one week. That means it would be Fri 23rd to Sun 25th September.

These dates seem to be more suitable for some people. Does anyone have any great problems with these dates instead of the week before?

By the end of the week I will have an itinery set in stone so that interested parties can plan where/when they want to meet up. I am still working on the accomodation, but it may be down to the individual if I can't sort it out; there seems to be lots of different preferences.

[Blues N Twos]

no problem here. :D

[xrv_jim]

I just need to check the dates don't clash with the work thing, if not I'm in. I'll confirm, one way or the other, early September.

[jabba]

Richie b did you go through the nant y garth pass if you did I saw you.

And I already live here god the rabble are comeing.

Snowdonia is nice though just dont expect a cheap ride up the mountain its dear!!!! Or if your up for it walk up 8)

[Richie B]

I went thru loads of passes/valleys etc; Don't know their names but I covered some serious ground over the two days. Good chance it may have been me.

Worse thing was coming across what looked like two serious accidents - sports bikers surrounded by paramedics. Not pretty. Guess it wasn't a good weekend for wet weather+twisties+gravelly roads. It certainly made me a bit more cautious on the throttle.

Fingers crossed, the weather will be good for the weekend.

[Colin]

seeing as I seem to have a permanent pass from the other half I may as well join you in wales, so you can count me in as well if you still have room.

Any weekend suits me.

[Richie B]

THE PLAN

OK I have booked some accommodation and it looks like we’re on! Here is the grand plan which I have tried to shape to suit the majority of people. A few changes from the previous plan.

Meet up Friday night (23rd Sep) at Severn Caravan Park (8 miles outside Welshpool in a village called Meifod) – Stay in the Bunkhouse accommodation which I have booked (11 places, 7 up for grabs) – cost £10 each, sleeping bag needed. Can book more places if the interest is there.

http://severnbunkhouse.co.uk/bunkhouse.htm

I chose this area as it is in mid-Wales and more suitable/accessible to those coming from up north. Anyone not wishing to crash there overnight we can arrange to meet the following morning if need be.

Saturday we can do the mountains/coast/Lleyn Peninsular, whatever people want to do. I know some routes, but I’m sure some of you know the area better than me. Would be better I reckon to focus on taking it easy and visiting places rather than trying to get as many miles as possible under our belt for the sake of it. Anyway, group decision.

Suggest lunch at Eric Jones’ in Tremadog, but we’ll see how it goes.

Saturday night I have booked into the Coach House Bunkhouse Barn in Bala (provisionally for 10 people, 7 still available- but I can easily increase this if necessary). Really nice family run place, the owner is an ex-biker himself and very on-side. Both Bunkhouses have kitchens so I’ll be getting the bacon butties and egg banjos on in the morning. Will need a brewboy though, my tea tastes like horse p**s. Oh, and there’s some good pubs in Bala too apparently……

http://www.walestouristsonline.co.uk/snowdonia/bunkhouse/coachhouse.html

This will cost £12 each and again, sleeping bag needed unless you want to splash out an extra couple of quid to ‘rent’ sheets and blankets from the establishment.

Sunday morning we can do a few hours before dispersing our separate ways.

I know it’s difficult for people to get time off work/passes from the missus, etc, but a couple of us are whacking in a day off Friday to explore the Elan Valley, probably leaving Abergavenny bus station in the morning. All are MOST welcome to tag along if you can get the time off. Will end up at the Bunkhouse near Welshpool by about 6-ish.

Bring the missus. Type of bike irrelevant (except Honda C90’s……)

What I do really need to know though is who is coming when/where, particularly so that I can confirm the accommodation bookings in order to pay a deposit up front. The sooner the better.

Well, that’s it. Any questions, comments, suggestions please fire away!

[Colin]

OK then put me down for the Friday and Saturday nights,

Cheers.

[Blues N Twos]

Hi Richie B,

I am sorry to say that due to working shifts I am not able to make this weekend. Unforseen circumstances at work. :evil:

Have a great trip all that go and fingers crossed for the weather.

However you are all rufty tufty bikers arn't you? :lol:

Jon :D

[xrv_jim]

I just need to check the dates don't clash with the work thing, if not I'm in. I'll confirm, one way or the other, early September.

Can't make the trip I'm afraid, work is sending me to Warwick University for a weekend training event.

I'll be thinking of you :wink:

[Richie B]

Thanks for the replies so far. Unfortunately it seems like interest has waned a bit!

I can give it to next weekend but may have to cancel the accommodation if no-one else can make it. So far there are just two of us XRV lot as 'definates'.

C'mon, it'll be a good weekend!!

[Colin]

Richie, Is it still on for next weekend or has every one cried off ?.

[Richie B]

I'm afraid everyone else can't make it so it seems. We could either crack on as planned or cancel and perhaps join in with the Lakes weekend at the beginning of October. What d'ya reckon? PM me your number and i'll give you a bell.

Oh yeah, how did the pics turn out from the Salisbury jaunt?

take it easy, speak soon,

Rich