Road Trip Report - 4 Men & Their Bikes. Wales & IRE

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Well here it goes. Myself, UnspeedySam and two of his fellow biker mates (Alex & James) went on a great road trip this last week. They had arranged it a month or two ago and I asked if I could tag along on the Pan, now I have a bike that can do the distance.

Alex is from Belgium and is still compleating his mamouth UK tour, I came home Sat night, and Sam came home Friday, as I think James did.

Pan Loaded up, I made my way to Sams to meet him, and get on our way. Sam had serviced his trusty bros and was just loading it up, after 30mins or so, we were all loaded and ready.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0579_zpswuemjn4d.jpg~original
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We were off! Well Sam was. For some reason the Pan would not start. It was like I had a flat battery, it would barely turn over. all these months, no issues like this and now of all times. So I beeped at Sam and waved my arms at him like a mad man, and he made his way back.

Two minutes later I was bump started and we left the sunny Romsey town.

We had a route planned out, so we headed via Salisbury, however my sat nav decided it new better and wanted to take us A303 - M3 and M4. We told that to sod off, and after a few missed turns we found our way.

The Sun was shining and all was warm until we hit the M4 and got into Wales. The heavens then opened. We found a little town, and pulled over and tried to chat to all the other bikers that had taken refuge in a bus shelter. However their acent was so Welsh we had trouble understanding them.

After another hour or two, we made it to base camp one. This was in the town of Rayder. Sam had booked a tent pitch at a bunk house, which was in the middle of nowhere. The other two guys where staying in a B&B at the only pub in town. We set up camp and walked 30mins into town. Luck would have it, there was a beer festival that night. So food and berverage was drunk!

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A great view, and some friends in the form of 2 cats, 2 chickens and two Geese joined us this eve.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/IMG_5331_zps13vzxixo.jpg~original
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Day 2 arrived and we met the guys at the pub just after breaky where we headed up into the Elan Valley and took in the sceanary. We were recomened a route by the landlady and followed up on her advice.

Our 1st stop was the Dam. This was built by flooding a villiage, which is still in there somewhere! Shocked

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

So day 2. We made it to our campsite, again somewhere in nowhere, the road upto it was long, narrow and gravelly. James decided that the Fazer and he had enough and he headed off to the B&B to check in.

Alex decided the Triumph Could make it and shortly arrived at our site a few minutes later to see where Sam and I would be tonight.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/IMG_5419_zpszx6nilai.jpg~original

Again a sheep fest!

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/IMG_5439_zpsefpuir56.jpg~original

These sheep were loud! BAAAHHHING all over the place. and decided to try and take over camp bike 2 lol.

We possed for the obligitory selfie,

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/camp2_zps9cihuy4y.jpg~original

After a while Alex headed off while we set up camp and settled in. Later that night Sam and I headed into town and we met the guys, and walked into get some food. We settled on Indian, and on the way came across this window.

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Later that night we tried to find the camp site and settled into sleep.

Day 3.

Was a wash out. Looked like it would be ok, the morning was nice, some cloud mixed with blue skies, but this soon changed. It RAINED! and it RAINED!

We headed up the mountians towards Snowdonia. Stopping to look at PorthMerrian but decided that is was too wet, and we didnt want to pay £11 for the privilage as well. So we headed to the Hostel where the two guys where staying.

At this point Myself and Sam decided we would get a room there too, as the weather was awful. Alas they were fully booked by 2 school trips Sad

Lucky for me the rain stopped, and the sun came out. I loaded up and headed down the mountian pass, all the way to Hollyhead.

I stopped at a shop to get a new charger, as I had left mine in my pocket, which was open and it got wet and died.

The sun was hot. and it looked great out now.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0619_zpsuajdyfgy.jpg~original

I was on my way to Dublin!
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

A small Video of Snowdon.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9s1ASgeAak4&feature=youtu.be

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNBXPdBy3w&feature=youtu.be
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Great pics, writeup and trip! Shame about the company, but you can't have everything Very Happy

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Will get onto the Ireland part tomorrow. Company wasn't. Too bad lol.
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

faffergotgunz · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 Feb 2016 Karma :

Lovely photo near the end, looking down on the pass.
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R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

To Conclude.

I rode from Kilarney too Tarbert and doned the ferry to Killmer. This only took about 30mins, but the wind had brewed up some nice waves, and the deck was getting a tad wet, but we made it across safe.

I decided to head to the campsite at Clifden, as acording to their website, it was not far from Galway. How wrong was I!

I rode over an hour to Galway and stopped to warm up at Maccers, and to get some WiFi and see if there was any hostels around. There were one or two, however I had just brought a new tent, and really wanted to try it out, and the views at the campsite were amazing. So I headed onwards.

I was tired and drained and the site was another 90minutes away It was around 500km I rode that day, as you can see from the picture.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/irelandmap_zps2wfhyuil.jpg~original

The roads were amazing with their sceanery, however I did not stop. The clouds opened and rain hit them hard, and then the sun shone down, and clear then became an issue. It was during this time I had a moment. I was going around a shallow left hand bend when I hit some bad surface and a bump caused the back end to kick out sideways. I was doing around 100kph at the time and this woke me up rather fast! I managed to keep her upright, but it just confirmed I was fatigued, and riding beyond my limits for the day.

I made it to camp just after 9pm. The reception closed at 8pm, however they lived onsite and were happy to assist me and I found a patch to call home for my final night.

I opened my new tent, and looked at the poles, and thought man these are weedy, only to have this confirmed when I tried to errect my dome and all of a sudden the wind came and snapped the poles, so alas I had to drag the leaky tent out. Lucky for me I had dried it out the eve of arrival and it was ok now, so I pitched it up for the night. At least it didnt rain, the wind was high but it was a dry night.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0640_zpszfjne9up.jpg~original

The final camp.

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A nice view,

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0635_zps6kf9wevc.jpg~original
Something to go with dinner.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0634_zpsosiszedz.jpg~original
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https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0642_zpsa2w3ivbf.jpg~original

We even had our own private beach, which bottlenosed dolphins often visit. Just a pod of 30 have been seen recently.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/DSC_0644_zpspu9kghfj.jpg~original

I cooked some food, and settled in. It was 11:30pm but it seemed I was so far west, that it was still light. I read some of my book, and found out that I was further away from Dublin than I thought I was, and it was going to take 4hrs to get there. Shocked

There goes my lie in I thought!

Alarm set for 6am I packed my stuff and loaded the bike. I spent some time trying to find my gloves to no avail. I was so tired last night I must have forgot to put them away, and the blew away somewhere. Lucky for me I packed spares, so I fitted them and off I rode.

The weather was great, warm and dry and I headed back to Mullingar to return the tent I never used. Along the way I stopped off along the road that tried to kill me and took some images.

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I made it to my Auncles house around 10:30am in Multyfarnham, after having an argument with my satnav, which didnt inform me I was on the N4 Toll, I did not have the 1euro charge as I had spent all my euros at the garage on fuel, so I didnt have to take them back. I explained this to the lady, and gave her 50c and 5p and she let me pass. Embarassed

I had some food and a chat, and headed back and go my refund. My ferry was at 3pm so I headed to Dublin for 1pm so I had time to go and relax with a pint of Guniess. However I parked my bike and headed to a pub, which only took card for 10euros or more, so I went to find a cash machine. For the size of the city of Dublin, there is bugger all cash machines. I found 1, and this only wanted to give me 20euros, so this was no good. After another 30mins I gave up and tried to remember where I parked the bike.

I found the beast and headed to the terminal, stopping off to take a picture of the three teddy bear type statues.

https://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r232/stuartkeith/Wales%20and%20Ireland%20Road%20Trip/dublin_zpsxlwhbflt.jpg~original

I embarked the ferry and arrived around 7pm back in holyhead, ready (or not) for the trip home.
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Back on Welsh soil, I headed along the north coast. The views here are amazing. Holyhead to Bangor, followed by Llanfairchen then Colwyn bay. I didnt stop, as I needed to get home, I was hoping to drive 2hrs to a friend in Yorkshire, however I could not get hold of him, so home it was.

Through the tunnels then onto the A55 all the way to Chester. My sat nav wanted me to goto Manchester but I wanted to go chester to Gloucestershire, then along Bristol, Bath and Salisbury. However as I didnt know very well I followed the Sat nav which took me via Birmingham and the M6.

It was getting late and I decided to take the Toll road. Just me on my own for miles, so I opened her up and hit maximum warp, I slowed down when I caught up with the only two other cars in front were traffic cops. £2.80 later I was through the toll and hitting the M42 and A34. Some stops later I arrived home at just after midnight.

I unloaded the bike, and went into the shed, into my fishing bed and fell asleep. I awoke the Sunday around 1pm and wished I was still out enjoying the roads.

The next trips are being planned, and I hoped you enjoyed this tale of woe and joy! Laughing

____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Karma :

Awesome write up cheers Stu. Nobody has mocked me for my terrible choice of motorcycle yet either!

Avoiding major A roads and all motorways for more or less the whole trip actually made it one of the most enjoyable tours I've ever done. I think my body is used to cramming onto the tiny bike as well so I didn't get any aches and pains.

Still kind of looking forward to finishing my VFR though...
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Riding: Does an Audi estate count?
Fixing: Honda VFR750 RC36 '94 and MZ ETZ 251 '90
Gone: ZZR600 '00, TRX850 '97, RXS100 '93, JS125-6B '07, BMW R1100RS '93, Kawasaki ZX-6R-J2 '01,Honda Bros NT400 NC25 '88

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

Your bike rocked, only minor issue with the lose battery that's it. Need to stick some of your pics up.
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

faffergotgunz · Nova Slayer Joined: 10 Feb 2016 Karma :

Great write up! Love it.

More pics if you've got them Wink

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R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

I will rob some from Sam later Smile

____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)

UnspeedySam · World Chat Champion Joined: 26 Nov 2009 Karma :

Pigeon · World Chat Champion Joined: 27 Sep 2012 Karma :

Enjoyed reading this, fantastic photo's too.

Eventful trip to say the least! Shocked

Snowdonia Rider · World Chat Champion Joined: 17 Oct 2014 Karma :

You were right on my doorstep! I could have offered you tea and bacon butties Very Happy

Ireland looked nice Thumbs Up

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I want your clothes, your boots and your motorcycle.
~~Suzuki GP125~~ ~~Suzuki GSX600F~~ ~~Suzuki SV650S~~ KTM EXC250F SkyTeam Bongo 125
My YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/SnowdoniaRider

Moxey · World Chat Champion Joined: 11 May 2011 Karma :

Excellent write up, looks to have been a decent little tour, jealous of you guys wish I had people up here willing to go exploring!

Gone but not forgotten · Banned Joined: 28 Jul 2016 Karma :

Great write up & photos.

I like your 'enhanced" photos & the one up towards the top with the sunset through the hills is excellent!!!
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Mick

R1stu · Shrek! Joined: 12 Mar 2003 Karma :

I have now fixed the links.
____________________
Carbon closet tart! https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/02r6/
Stolen bike. 2000 R1: https://www.bikepics.com/members/r6stuk/00r1/
Current bike 1991 Honda ST1100 Pan European, 1986 Honda cb350sg (Finished)