Easter trip to Wales

Ruby took Rory and i to the edge of the Brecon beacons this Easter. The trip was not far but all avoiding motorways and outing for back roads as much as we could. We did use the motorway briefly​ to ride the old Severn bridge to Chepstow because it's epic. Then B roads up to Monmouth. Really beautiful in early spring.

We enjoyed a couple of days camping, and walking up Skirrid Fawr and Sugar Loaf mountain.

Approaching Sugar Loaf peak

Spectacular views from Sugar Loaf

It felt as though we could see right over to the lost lands

Ruby has 68300 miles under her belt now. Still going strong, giving the lie to her 26 years. She coped with us six-footers and camping gear with relish.

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A Run for the Wintry Sun

I've Probably written this before but I do remember wondering what had happened to bloggers I'd followed for their rebuilds and then  gone quiet. 

Ruby is still used most week days and for the odd big trip.  This weekend was just such an occasion.  I departed in fog, heading down to the deepest south west, via Glastonbury through the Black Down Hills to Taunton,  skirting past Exeter in Devon. 

December sunset, jurassic  coast 

The days are damp and short now we are towards the end of December. I ride with many jumpers, thermal ,  scarf.  So much gear, it is hard to breath at times :-)

Ruby runs very well,  smooth and creamy power delivery in this weather.  I'm using high octane fuel the whole time now to make starting as easy as possible.  that's maybe contributing to the way she is running when up to temperature.

Ride safe,  all who read this,  and may 2017  be a great year for you and all our fellow travellers on planet Earth

Day seven: final stretch, Cheshire to Somerset via Wales

The completion of the story of my journey lead me a meandering route along the borders of Wales.  one place I really wanted to visit was Powys Castle.  It's significant for personal and now rather sad reasons.  My former partner and I had some happy times here and in the county,  decades previously.

The  gates of the castle are super,I think,  for their wonderful Dragon castings.  There is something a little dragonish about Ruby too.  The red emphasizes this for me,  fuel for my imagination at least.

Flexible side panels held back to fix leak

Speaking of fuel,  the biggest problem of my trip came to light aroundCraven Arms. I became aware of a very strong angel of peril as I was peering along in slow traffic. I looked down and could see my right leg looked a but damp on what was a dry day.  Fuel leak!  Fortunately I was right next to a cafe and ready for a break so I pulled in and switched off,  ready to run if things got fiery.  My luggage was pretty easy to get off the seat so I could pull the side panels away and then lift the rear of the tank.  These early polypropylene parts are super flexible so I could hold them out of the way just with bungee straps.  the leak was because one of the peril pipes had softened and partly split where it pushes over the fuel tap spigot. I had not used a clip because it interfered with a screw on the rear of the tap assembly.

So then there I was,  back in sunny Somerset. I had ridden 1660 miles of mostly A roads in England, Scotland and Wales on my adventures. Avoiding motorways had added many hours to my trip. But the roads WERE my trip. My rear end was sore, certainly. The humming of the road had reverberated deep within me, a special kind of fatigue. A special kind of understanding.

Would I do it again?

Yes,  without question.  Motorways are a grind,  necessitating hours of concentration on the manoeuvres of cars and lorries  with a constant wind roar. A roads are always changing, in and out of towns, villages and cities,  winding through vallies and  over moors.  More concentration on junctions and traffic,  including  pedestrians and occasionally crazy parking shenanigans. But more character by far.  And with a big torquey  motor,  is not a slog, it's a  lumbering dance to be mastered and within which much satisfaction may be derived.

Thanks Ruby.

The  End