Isle of Man via Wales - My first long trip

tunnie

Active member
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Aug 25, 2009
Messages
475
Reaction score
9
Location
Camberley, Surrey.
What a fantastic trip looking forwarding to doing more! Was considering selling the bike, as i just bought a flat in London, but think i will keep it now :)

I basically took the long to the Island via Wales, then up to Heysham to catch the Ferry. Stayed with my father as he has use of an apartment while working on a government project, so free accommodation! :)

Did the TT course 4 times in my day there, each time i got better and better as i knew which corners tightened up and the others which could be taken quicker. The mountain road section is one way only during TT so you can really give it some and take the corners right, and with some really good hair pins and sweeping curves it was dam good fun!

Few pictures:

First 1/2 day was terrible, it was the Tuesday this week and it just rained and rained and rained, roundabouts were horrible! No grip, i even considered turning back, but pressed on!

Weather finally broke just after Ludlow when i had a greasy lunch....

DSC00762.JPG


Stopped for some motion lotion for bike in Machynlleth

DSC00768.JPG


Also some fuel for me!

DSC00769.JPG


Stayed in a really nice B&B in Dolgellau, ran by a little old lady, rooms were very modern, she proudly showed me the tiny TV and fact its gone digital, and gave very detailed instructions on how to use it. When she mentioned 'wait for it to snow' then press this button, i was a little confused but let her go on. It was only afterwards when i turned it on, static = snow ::) ;D

DSC00775.JPG


The next day was a complete transformation in weather, i stopped at Bala to Admire the view:

DSC00777.JPG


Further one heading out of Wales:

DSC00786.JPG


First time i took my bike on a ferry...

DSC00804.JPG


Bit of queue to get on! - This is only about 1/4 of the bikes on the ferry, they let all the cars go first when we got to IOM, when all those started up, it was quite a sight/smell/noise! ;D

DSC00810.JPG


Ferry bods strapped the beemer down

DSC00812.JPG


Perfect day arriving in the Island:

DSC00834.JPG


Now this is the view from the Grand Stand, on Douglas high street, its a normal street, with traffic lights, man hole covers, bit where its been dug up and filled in again.... when i was there, fastest someone went through was 171 mph :clap

I went down this road the next day on the GS, and its a standard road, in fact quite bumpy, and i was only doing 40 :eek

DSC00846.JPG


This is half way along the one way mountain section where the railway crosses, had a perfect run through here getting it over nicely, once got stuck behind a van with 2 sports bikes in front, there is a long up-hill drag after this, they gave it the beans and so did i, the beemer kept them honest. Was never going to beat them, but stayed with them from about 40-110mph.

DSC00863.JPG


I stopped to take some pictures and noticed this little road which went off up the mountain, so i left the nutters to it and went for a little explore...

DSC00871.JPG


DSC00878.JPG


DSC00879.JPG


This is the end of the mountain road one way bit, its a good place to watch all the different bikes going through, its not just crouch rockets, CG125's went round, trikes, mopeds, everything!

DSC00893.JPG


Stopped off few times on way back, went through the Peak District, some stunning views there, sadly no pics, as i just spent ages over-taking a queue of cars behind a truck, i did not want to stop and have to do it again!

Picture just few miles from home

DSC00910.JPG


Bike was faultless and kept up with a lot of the sports bikes on the rougher sections, i thought i would be mullered the whole time, but i kept pace and overtook a few myself, but there were some nutters who went flying past me.

Total miles over 4 days

DSC00911.JPG


Average mpg, not bad considering i was not hanging about over the whole trip!

DSC00912.JPG
[/img]
 
:clap:clap:clap

I must go back sometime.

:beerjug:

Whilst watching it on ITV4 over the weekend SWMBO said she'd like to go and watch the racing.....she wont even sit on my bike but wants to go watch......bring it on :JB
 
Whilst watching it on ITV4 over the weekend SWMBO said she'd like to go and watch the racing.....she wont even sit on my bike but wants to go watch......bring it on :JB

Watching them go down the high street at 180mph is an awesome sight & atmosphere
 
I remember watching at Hillberry (I think) as the superbikescame through and were just rolling off the throttle a bit as they came into the dip and corner. They seemed fast and committed until the first of the sidecars came through flat out without even rolling off a bit. :eek: Feck! That was impressive and seriously scary to see.

Did you explore the southern end of the island? It's beautiful too.
 
can't see the pics from work but will look again tonight from home, will be looking forward to seeing them, as I can't get enough of the TT :)

I'm glad you had a good trip, we love the TT and go every year (my thread about it is in beakchat and bollox as I didn't know untill just now that this sub forum was in here :blast)

my pictures are here if you fancy a look
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=230417&page=10
 
nice pictures :) I'd never seen Heysham port in the daylight, we always cross on the overnight ferry


thanks for sharing your trip
 


Back
Top Bottom