Betws Y Coed

Pont Y Pair Bridge.

Betws Y Coed Station.

 

Ellan Valley 2

 

Bike test

 I rode up to Colwyn Bay on the north coast to have a test ride on a Honda NC750.

 

It was the automatic gearbox version of the bike. After riding for 40mins on a mixture of fast dual carriageways and bendy B-roads I soon found it was not the bike for me. 

 

I found a bit of lag between throttle and uptake of drive and I prefer to be in control of the engine braking. Plus it lacked power for a 750cc machine.

The following day I rode up to Deeside another 4 hour round trip from Machnlleth to try out a Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro.

I was really looking forward to this test  as its a bike I have admired for sometime but it wasn't to be, the dealers insurance didn't recognise my IOM driving license.

Riding to Llyn Clywedog Reservoir

A beautiful day to be out on the bike.

The reservoir is only a 20mile ride from Machynlleth.  

Taking Forge road over the hills to turn right onto the B4518  (signposted scenic route) a mainly single track route with passing places. Great views of the water and the dam.

The reservoir was built in the sixties to supplement the flow on the river Severn and help with alleviating flooding in the upper Severn valley.

Wales

 Holidaying in Machynlleth for a few weeks so will be out and about on the bike, below is a few pictures of my ride in Ellan Valley.

Home via Heysham

 I had decided to do the ride back to the ferry in one hit rather than stay another night in Falkirk. Its a 6.5 hour ride so I had to be up for a 5am start. 

Cheryl my lovely host offered to make me bacon rolls before I set off but I declined.

I had loaded the bike up the night before, so as to hopefully not disturb other patrons too much.

It was just  before 5am  and dark when I set off, I was glad to see the sun-rising an hour later  as this is the first time i had ridden in the darkness for years

 I've learnt the bikes lights are not the best, if I keep the bike I'll invest in some spot lamps.

The Manxman

It was another boring ride , the same as the way up once I hit the motorway, I was glad to reach the terminal with only  50 mins before departure.

Sun setting over the IOM as we approach.

Applecross Pass

After a cooked breakfast at the hotel, I took the cover off  the bike and set of on what turned out to be an 8 hour long ride in the saddle. 

This was my last day in the highlands, my intention was to get a big chunk of the west coast ridden.

Applecross Pass is a mecca for touring motorcyclist, the pass is 20 miles long, it connects Shiedaig with Applecross. Its winding, narrow, with steep gradients and tight hairpin bends, the scenery is stunning (my photos do not do it justice).

Applecross Pass

Applecross Pass

Applecross pass

 

Good name for a Highland cafe

Funny man

I stopped for lunch at the Old Hall in Kinlochewe as well as a good pizza the owner insisted on giving me a free desert

After a long day in the saddle on the CB500X I was glad of a couple of beers in the bar with some other bikers who arrived to set up base.