Next summer I was supposed to be leading a ride in North Wales. That won't be happening now for reasons I won't go into but I felt it was a waste to bin a potentially nice route, so Wednesday, after lunch I headed up to a campsite I have used before at the far end of Lake Bala.
The weather up was great until I got within about 25 miles of the site.
The ride up was straight up the centre of Wales. Motorway and dual carriageways to Raglan, then A roads to Crickhowell and up to Builth Wells, Rhayader and on up to Llanidloes, all on the A470. At this point I turned onto the B4518, which is an outstanding little twisty road past Llyn Clywedeg that just cuts the corner of the A470 which I stayed on until the Cross Foxes Inn, where I took the tiny B4416 in order to get to the A494
All the roads were bone dry and pretty much deserted until I got to the Foxes Inn, at which point I started to run in and out of showers, most light but occasionally very heavy. My gear is all waterproof, so I rode on and when I got to the valley Bala is in all the roads were completely dry.
There was a shower in prospect, so I threw the tent up ASAP and got all my gear inside before any rain started. I was already cooking when it finally did, and I remained dry, albeit with a very wet jacket and a soggy pair of gloves to deal with.
Thursday morning I was up early to find a bit of a misty morning and by around 8.00am I was rolling out of the campsite, heading for the petrol station at the far end of the village (£1.35 a litre.... what's that all about).
The ride I had planned was around 130 miles and four hours to ride. It was a loop and there was a decent cafe around three hours in.
Anyone who has done the Mac Loop will have done many of the same road. My modifications were to ride in the opposite direction, and just outside Tywyn chop a section of coast road out and instead head down the B4405 towards the Cross Foxes Inn. By the time I was at the top of the first proper climb, the sun was doing it's thing although it was a little chilly and very breezy.
Again, bone dry deserted roads, just shows what going to North Wales mid week, out of season is all about.
The ride was fantastic fun and breakfast was heartening, to say the least.
Once back at Bala, I loaded up my return route home, but with the dire warning of terrible weather close to home in Weston-s-Mare.
Forewarned, I put on my massive Frank Thomas one piece rain suit. Nodding at the occasional other biker (not all nodded back), I felt a bit of a plonker and highly overdressed in the sunny, breezy conditions..... more later.
I took a completely different route home to the one coming up, although over a couple of the same roads I had covered in the morning. This time my four hours were going to be over about 170 miles.
A494 from Bala to Dolgellau, then A470 / A489 towards Machynlleth then turning left with the 470 / 489 until turning right towards Newton. Here I headed down the magnificantly twisty A483 and just like this morning, all the roads were dry and very lightly used until just outside Crossgates where I came across a line of local traffic and a ...... camper van.
To be fair to the van, they did eventually pull in, but I knew from the Sat Nav I was only a couple of miles from Llandrindod Wells, so there was no point stressing.
Next town was Builth Wells, but instead of taking the 'new' A470 I used the old road, the B4567. I was in company with a local in a mini bus on his way home from the school run, but overtook him to enjoy the deserted twisties all by myself.
From there it was a rerun of the day before, Talgarth, Crickhowell, round Abergavenny, down to Raglan where I would hop back on the fast roads and motorways all the way home. And it was at Raglan that the rain started... and did it rain!
It was that was pretty much all the way home, with the heavy traffic either being sensible, or more likely scared by the conditions. Either way it made life easier for me with all the car drivers behaving themselves. Door to door.... well lake to door pretty much four hours exactly including a couple of stops.
Total miles for the trip was 480 and my trusty 650 never missed a beat, damn! I do love this bike.
Next job, sort out the washing, dry off and clean the riding gear, get the tent on the washing line... when it stops raining, and get ready for the Adventure Overlanders show at the end of next week, where I will be going with a handful of mates.
