A damp rideout to Wales - 17th July 2011

I chose one of the wettest weekends of the summer for my first decent rideout of the year! However despite some wet periods, I was able to enjoy a long and satisfying ride around Wales with my friend Carla. I was riding my new 848, and Carla was on her Monster 796.

We met at Lutterworth at 0630 and decided the weather wasnt so bad, so set off down the M1, M6 and M54 to Shrewsbury, where we stopped for breakfast and fuel. Then it was down into mid Wales to Brecon via Newton, Llandridnod Wells and Builth Wells, and we were enjoying coffee in Brecon by 11. So far the weather held off and we were in a good mood.

The next leg took us to Llandovry, where we filled up again, and over the hills to Aberaeron via Lampeter, where we stopped for a seaside photo call! A short hop to Aberystwyth and it was time for a late lunch.

Aberaeron beach in Mid July!!

After lunch and some shopping for extra layers it started some serious raining! So the route to Newton was very wet, but we made it and stopped for fuel in good spirits. By now the weather was clearing up.

We then headed for Shropshire by way of Craven Arms, Bridgenorth and Ironbridge for the final coffee stop. Then it was back home through Cannock, Lichfield and the A38 and A50 to Zouch, where we filled up for the final time and went our seperate ways. I got home at about 9, and had clocked just over 450 miles since leaving some 15 hours earlier.

We both agreed it had been a great day out. A real silk purse out a sows ear kind of day, as the forecasts had been so unpromising. But then fortune tends to support the brave, or is it the foolhardy?!