A few of us toddled up (toddled being the operative word) from Gloucestershire on Thursday with the intention of riding up to Llandudno, then using it as a base to explore North Wales for a few days. My fellow riders were pensioners, one chap at 73 years young riding a 1990's Z1000R and the other a mere youngster in his mid 60's riding a W800. I was the baby of the group riding my GSA. I thought that I'd have to ride slower but honestly, I wasn't prepared to have to ride at 45mph the whole way up! It would have been unfair to leave them to find their own way so I made it as much fun as I could by riding to the next junction having a bit of fun on the odd twisty bit of road and waiting for them. There was a LOT of waiting over the 185 miles trip up. Never mind as the weather was glorious and the big boxer purred up and astonished me by sipping petrol at a miserly 63mpg according to the gauge, later verified at the pumps as having used 3 gallons to cover a total of about 190 miles, so the gauge was pretty much spot on.
This is something I don't often do (ie big distances at a snails pace) but I learned a few things such as how to switch off and relax more taking in more of the scenery and also just how frugal the GSA can be.
Whilst in Llandudno, we explored the Great Orme, a beautiful spot and highly recommended by foot or cable car with a stroll and lunch at the hill top cafe, then perhaps a gentle tram ride back into town. Views are stunning. You can also ride around the 4.5 mile circular one way toll road which is equally as stunning.
We set off early this morning to beat the crowds but alas, they beat us. We took the road to Betws-y-Coed, and from there to Capel Curig which in the glorious sunshine this morning rewarded with some stunning scenery. From there, we took the A498 road ("A" road....really?) past the stunning Llyn Gwynant to Beddgelert and was rewarded with hundreds upon hundreds of day trippers in cars which had that whole length of road almost at a standstill for miles. I know it was a sunny day in September but there must have been hundreds if not thousands of people along there today making progress little more than a 15,mph average. Probably one to avoid in the summer months! It's a real shame as it's one of my favourite scenic roads in Snowdonia.
I waved my companions goodbye at Dolgellau as I had to make progress to get home mid to late afternoon and it wasn't going to happen at 40mph! They were content to spend the rest of the day wandering back to Cinderford anyway and who can blame them.
I must admit that I also love Shropshire and picked a route which was only lightly trafficked, heading first on the A road to Welshpool then cutting cross-country via Church Stoke and Winstanstow before rejoining the A49 past Ludlow and then via Leominster, Ledbury and Gloucester back home.
I must have met or passed half of UKGSER on the orads today as I've never seen so many GS and GSA bikes on the roads! If any of you came across a reg GSA with the rider in a high vis topped jacket on his tod it may have been me. If you were one of the miserable so-and so's who didn't return the nod or wave, shame on you!
It was a stunning 205 mile ride in one of the warmest September days I can remember and those splendid views of Snowdonia will stay with me for a long time. The bike didn't miss a beat and despite some very spirited riding on the way back still returned 58mpg fully loaded. Must admit I preferred riding on my own rather than constantly fretting about losing much slower riders which spoilt the trip up for me. No harm to the guys but I really can't recommend riding with bikers who ride so slowly if like me, you like to make smooth, safe progress at a steady lick. Still, it was great to get one of them out as he's been through a lot and at 73, to see such a smile on his face being back in the saddle of his beloved big Zed and exploring North Wales for (him) the first time made it worth-while. It's rides like this that remind me of just how good the GSA is as an all rounder. It tackles tiny twisty unclassified tracks, sweeping A roads, traffic and scratching on twisty B roads all with confidence and competence and I haven't managed to wipe the smile off my face for the stunning ride back. Shropshire on empty B roads is a complete joy, as was Snowdonia.
If in doubt, just get out and take a few days away. We have some stunning scenic roads in the UK and it's great to get out and remind yourself of how rewarding it can be discovering them.
This is something I don't often do (ie big distances at a snails pace) but I learned a few things such as how to switch off and relax more taking in more of the scenery and also just how frugal the GSA can be.
Whilst in Llandudno, we explored the Great Orme, a beautiful spot and highly recommended by foot or cable car with a stroll and lunch at the hill top cafe, then perhaps a gentle tram ride back into town. Views are stunning. You can also ride around the 4.5 mile circular one way toll road which is equally as stunning.
We set off early this morning to beat the crowds but alas, they beat us. We took the road to Betws-y-Coed, and from there to Capel Curig which in the glorious sunshine this morning rewarded with some stunning scenery. From there, we took the A498 road ("A" road....really?) past the stunning Llyn Gwynant to Beddgelert and was rewarded with hundreds upon hundreds of day trippers in cars which had that whole length of road almost at a standstill for miles. I know it was a sunny day in September but there must have been hundreds if not thousands of people along there today making progress little more than a 15,mph average. Probably one to avoid in the summer months! It's a real shame as it's one of my favourite scenic roads in Snowdonia.
I waved my companions goodbye at Dolgellau as I had to make progress to get home mid to late afternoon and it wasn't going to happen at 40mph! They were content to spend the rest of the day wandering back to Cinderford anyway and who can blame them.
I must admit that I also love Shropshire and picked a route which was only lightly trafficked, heading first on the A road to Welshpool then cutting cross-country via Church Stoke and Winstanstow before rejoining the A49 past Ludlow and then via Leominster, Ledbury and Gloucester back home.
I must have met or passed half of UKGSER on the orads today as I've never seen so many GS and GSA bikes on the roads! If any of you came across a reg GSA with the rider in a high vis topped jacket on his tod it may have been me. If you were one of the miserable so-and so's who didn't return the nod or wave, shame on you!
It was a stunning 205 mile ride in one of the warmest September days I can remember and those splendid views of Snowdonia will stay with me for a long time. The bike didn't miss a beat and despite some very spirited riding on the way back still returned 58mpg fully loaded. Must admit I preferred riding on my own rather than constantly fretting about losing much slower riders which spoilt the trip up for me. No harm to the guys but I really can't recommend riding with bikers who ride so slowly if like me, you like to make smooth, safe progress at a steady lick. Still, it was great to get one of them out as he's been through a lot and at 73, to see such a smile on his face being back in the saddle of his beloved big Zed and exploring North Wales for (him) the first time made it worth-while. It's rides like this that remind me of just how good the GSA is as an all rounder. It tackles tiny twisty unclassified tracks, sweeping A roads, traffic and scratching on twisty B roads all with confidence and competence and I haven't managed to wipe the smile off my face for the stunning ride back. Shropshire on empty B roads is a complete joy, as was Snowdonia.
If in doubt, just get out and take a few days away. We have some stunning scenic roads in the UK and it's great to get out and remind yourself of how rewarding it can be discovering them.