TT IOM

Point of Ayre tea stop

Bushys bar.

Creg ny Baa

Laxey 

 

The island begins to buzz with thousands of bikes pouring off the ferries. It's time for the biggest motorcycling festival in the world and it all happens on a small island in the Irish sea.

My nephew came to the island for the first time on his Yamaha Tracer , we enjoyed a few rides and an occasional beer together.

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.