West to East Trip cont...

[Trinity765]

After a great trip to Wales and and a great day yesterday, I'm having a chill. I will pop into Llandovery later and spend a couple of hours at the cafe and grab some milk before coming back for more chilling.

Everyone was out yesterday. The main Welsh roads were buzzing with both local and foreign bikers. It seemed like every other bike was a Duke. On the last stretch back to base, on the A40 (Brecon to Llandovery) I was thinking how nice it was that there were so many bikes out, all having fun and yet I hadn't seen any dick riding or wreckage . Two minutes later an oncoming biker decided to overtake a car and we crossed paths in my lane. I thought maybe he hadn't seen me but I'm wearing a red hoodie, so he probably did

I could hardly move when I got back. Moving any muscle was hard work so took some ibuprofen and hoped for the best. I have woken up feeling just fine. I've had a couple of coffees and rinsed out some clothes. I spotted a Barn Sparrow in the garden - very pretty.

I saw a big, fuck off, what the fuck is that, shit, that's big, hornet yesterday. Not the two wheeled kind but the winged, orange kind. Googled it and it came up with Asian Hornet. They haven't arrived in this part of our island yet, apparently. So maybe I'm mistaken. I hope I'm mistaken or that Barn Sparrows eat them.

Pictures of donkeys to follow. Bike is really dirty - it's on my conscience.

[Dodgy69]

I found a hornets nest in my lads garden yesterday, he gave them a powder coating last night, I'll find out later how it went.

[Trinity765]

The West End Cafe in Llandovery has new owners and it's a 100% improvement on the food and coffee. Check out the poached egg skills and the coffee is delish. Best of luck to them!

[Trinity765]

Wow. Wales was never meant to be this hot and it's getting worse as it's now humid.

Went for a ride south, over the Black Mountains. It's started off very pleasant, almost cool and very quiet compared to the weekend traffic.

I rolled into a " big" coop carpark and found a bit of shade. Sweating from every pour, eyes stinging from salt, leathers glued on and only thinking about survival strategies when a friendly muggle says "Lovely weather for it". No, not really

[Trinity765]

The neighbours.

[Rockburner]

Wow. Wales was never meant to be this hot and it's getting worse as it's now humid.

Went for a ride south, over the Black Mountains. It's started off very pleasant, almost cool and very quiet compared to the weekend traffic.

I rolled into a " big" coop carpark and found a bit of shade. Sweating from every pour, eyes stinging from salt, leathers glued on and only thinking about survival strategies when a friendly muggle says "Lovely weather for it". No, not really

There's your mistake. Light coloured Textiles (vented even better) for the win in this weather.

[Trinity765]

Wow. Wales was never meant to be this hot and it's getting worse as it's now humid.

Went for a ride south, over the Black Mountains. It's started off very pleasant, almost cool and very quiet compared to the weekend traffic.

I rolled into a " big" coop carpark and found a bit of shade. Sweating from every pour, eyes stinging from salt, leathers glued on and only thinking about survival strategies when a friendly muggle says "Lovely weather for it". No, not really

There's your mistake. Light coloured Textiles (vented even better) for the win in this weather.

Do they offer the same level of protection, though? I agree that textiles are more versatile - waterproof and cool.

[Rockburner]

Wow. Wales was never meant to be this hot and it's getting worse as it's now humid.

Went for a ride south, over the Black Mountains. It's started off very pleasant, almost cool and very quiet compared to the weekend traffic.

I rolled into a " big" coop carpark and found a bit of shade. Sweating from every pour, eyes stinging from salt, leathers glued on and only thinking about survival strategies when a friendly muggle says "Lovely weather for it". No, not really

There's your mistake. Light coloured Textiles (vented even better) for the win in this weather.

Do they offer the same level of protection, though? I agree that textiles are more versatile - waterproof and cool.

I've crashed in both, didn't really notice much of a difference.

Good armour is the key.

[Trinity765]

There's your mistake. Light coloured Textiles (vented even better) for the win in this weather.

Do they offer the same level of protection, though? I agree that textiles are more versatile - waterproof and cool.

I've crashed in both, didn't really notice much of a difference.

Good armour is the key.

I do need a set of textiles. I used to wear textiles in the winter and leathers in the summer.

[Trinity765]

The heatwave continues. Thunderstorms are looming just west of me - I can hear the odd rumble but the heat hasn't broken yet.

Decided to get some oil because I'm, maybe or maybe not, paranoid about the oil consumption issue with the Hornets. Couldn't find any fully synthetic in any of the local garages so headed to Halfords in Aberystwyth. Checked the oil once I got there, as per the manual, put a litre in and bought another litre I phoned my dealer and told them - for the record.

Then headed to The Hafod Hotel, Devils Bridge. It used to be a great petrol head pit stop with a lovely veranda where you could sit in the shade and watch the classic cars and bikes roll in but it's been taken over, upgraded and has lost it's old ambience. Picture of the view from The Hafod and my bike belligerently parked where all the bikes used to park despite their cones.

I'm leaving tomorrow. I've decided that Llandovery is a fantastic base for a motorcycle trip to Wales as it is surrounded by great roads. Yes, there are great roads all over Wales but the ones round here are well maintained, super twistiy and they take you to other nice places - north, south, east and west.

I would love to fall asleep listening to a thunderstorm tonight.

East to Essex in the morning.

[Druid]

Llandovery is a great base for exploring Wales. I stopped in a pub about 10 minutes out of the town a couple of years ago and got very happily lost in the roads north up towards Aberyswyth.

There's a nice campsite a few minutes up the road from the pub in Devil's Bridge where my wife and I stopped in our campervan. The weather was awful, raining really hard so we decided to walk down to the pub for tea. It was shut

[Trinity765]

There's a nice campsite a few minutes up the road from the pub in Devil's Bridge where my wife and I stopped in our campervan. The weather was awful, raining really hard so we decided to walk down to the pub for tea. It was shut

I stayed on a campsite near the river in the Elan Valley, near Devil Bridge. It was teaming with midges, it's not just Scotland. My friend and I abandoned the campsite and stayed at The Hafod instead. I had over 200 bites when I got home.

[Supermofo]

I know what you mean about the heat. I find it a bit much to ride in when it's 28 and over, hence I try and go out early doors and be back by 11-11.30, but that doesn't work so well on a biking trip. I've always worn leather jackets in summer but as I got the Rukka in Jan I'll probably wear that when it's hotter as it's a looser fit and has vents so a bit cooler than my leather. Prefer the protection of leather but tend to ride in jeans now anyway and the armour in the Rukka is huge.

My Wales trip is 3 weeks away now and it'll probably be cold and raining! We are staying in Abergavenny so other side of the Brecons but roads, on a map at least, look great anywhere West/North West of there. Can't wait.

Pity about the oil, think that'd bother me too. I watched MCN's review of their long termer and they got it before the oil issue was known and being a press bike it isn't the best maintained and was canned from the off. When they first checked the oil it was 2 litres off the max!!

[Trinity765]

I get a discount on Rukka through the club so no excuses really.

It was a long day. When I got to my next Airbnb in Chelmsford I couldn't open the padlocked gates. Needed my reading glasses. Forgot to take my reading glasses off and was staggering around like a drunk person

At least I can see my bike from the sofa.

[Skub]

I always dress for the ride,not the slide.

[Trinity765]

I always dress for the ride,not the slide.

Same But I didn't want to start a serious debate on this thread Yeah yeah Rukka this Rukka that.

[Supermofo]

I wouldn't have paid the full price for mine (£1100 and without any liner ) and at £600 notes I still think its (overly) salty but thought I'd see what the fuss was about and hopefully it'll last me years. In this weather though a mesh jacket of some sort is the best ticket. When I only owned a bike and nothing else I had leather, textile and full mesh for summer commuting, but seems a bit much for my mileage nowadays. Being overly hot is a consideration though as concentration levels drop I find.

You spending some time Essex way? Some great roads not far from Chelmsford. I go through there on my way to Maldon/Heybridge basin/Abberton etc. Tiptree, Coggeshall, Earls Colne, Sible Hedingham, Clare, then either right towards Hadleigh/Dedham and the coast or left and places between Saffron Waldon/Thaxted and that area are good. The Clare to Saffron Waldon road is a favourite. Franks bike shop and Cafe outside Colchester is decent, the Tiptree tearoom in Heybridge basin is a nice place to sit outside, Finchingfield is nice..despite the bikes, Cafe 33 is an old school cafe on the A143 to Bury (which is a nice road), Krazy Horse I like if you go up as far as Bury.

Enjoy the rest of your trip

[Trinity765]

I wouldn't have paid the full price for mine (£1100 and without any liner ) and at £600 notes I still think its (overly) salty but thought I'd see what the fuss was about and hopefully it'll last me years. In this weather though a mesh jacket of some sort is the best ticket. When I only owned a bike and nothing else I had leather, textile and full mesh for summer commuting, but seems a bit much for my mileage nowadays. Being overly hot is a consideration though as concentration levels drop I find.

You spending some time Essex way? Some great roads not far from Chelmsford. I go through there on my way to Maldon/Heybridge basin/Abberton etc. Tiptree, Coggeshall, Earls Colne, Sible Hedingham, Clare, then either right towards Hadleigh/Dedham and the coast or left and places between Saffron Waldon/Thaxted and that area are good. The Clare to Saffron Waldon road is a favourite. Franks bike shop and Cafe outside Colchester is decent, the Tiptree tearoom in Heybridge basin is a nice place to sit outside, Finchingfield is nice..despite the bikes, Cafe 33 is an old school cafe on the A143 to Bury (which is a nice road), Krazy Horse I like if you go up as far as Bury.

Enjoy the rest of your trip

I am riding with friends tomorrow, some of which are local. I don't know the route (a strategic play by the ride leader) but sure it will be good.

I found a fantastic, new to me, route yesterday from Evesham to Banbury and want to ride it again. I may come home from Wales by it another time and drop down to Oxford/A34.

[Trinity765]

Lets round this one up - it already seems very much in the past

I had a good couple of days on the Chelmsford apple farm, drinking cider, eating from the farm shop and getting bitten by mosquitoes before heading off on Saturday morning to meet the team for a ride and BBQ. We haven't met as a team for a few years and riding with everyone was ace, almost like we were professionals.

Then, at the BBQ, I got proper drunk and turned down rice pudding for dessert It was midday Sunday before it was safe for me to pack up for the last time and head home.