Wales trip

[cadno]

Well the original plan was to go over to Irelands West coast.
But as the date got closer and the weather was dubious we decided to go around Wales.
I had always hoped to go down to Portugal or even Morocco with my two brothers all mounted on XT600Z Tenere's.
This time I had my 34L and my youngest brother was on the 1st blue 1VJ I'd built. He lives over in Nottingham and came over to North Wales on the Thursday evening.


Friday morning came and we'd sort of fashioned a plan to go down the Llyn peninsula, get a breakfast in Aberdaron and follow the coast until Aberystwyth . The plan was then to go inland and find the Devils staircase.
Start mileage.

The two Tenere's reunited

[cadno]

So off we went, had our breakfast in the thatched bakery in Aberdaron which is excellent if you ever get the chance.
When we got back out the blue 1VJ wouldn't start and the front brake caliper had seized on.
We checked the wiring and found the main light was causing a large voltage drop, easily found as this bike has a digital dash with voltage reading. We checked for anything obvious on the caliper but eventually took it off and didn't really find anything. When we put it back together it seemed ok so carried on.
By Pwllheli it was back causing issues and we nearly went back to get another bike, but decided to carry on.
Aberyswyth on the front.

Aberyswyth is bike friendly and has a great free parking area on the front.
We then turned inland for Tregaron and went up and over the devils staircase, what a road, absolutely perfect for the Tenere's.
No photos sorry we were enjoying it too much.
But on the way down the 1VJ front caliper problem reappeared and was basically seized by Llandovery. We stripped the pads out on the side of the road and turned up at JE Rees agricultural machinery dealers in Llandovery right at closing time. We stripped the caliper and blew the piston out using the air line. We couldn't remove the master cylinder screws so Geraint put us in touch with a Quad bike dealer who had a master cylinder off a Honda quad we could use.
A fairly steady run over to Llandeilo without a front brake, found us outside the dealership. An extremely helpful man drilled the master cylinder screws out with a left hand drill. One broke and one came out perfectly, we'd cleaned the piston and caliper with brake cleaner having found some grit in the caliper which was probably enough to stop the piston travelling freely.
We then removed the stub left in master cylinder and bled the system, extremely thankful to the quad bike man.
We then travelled straight down to Tenby on dual carriageway as we were late for check in. Brake working perfectly.
End mileage Friday

406 miles on the first day, fair peddling on 40 year old bikes.

[cadno]

I'll post some more details later but the second day started in Tenby(obvs) and ended up in Cinderford.

[cadno]

We stayed at the golf club in Tenby, chosen because it was out on its own and would offer best security for the bikes.
So the day started with a great breakfast and we had a run around the coast.
First stop at Stack rock down the military road near Castlemartin ranges.

We kept going westward around the coast

Ending up with Chapel bay fort in the distance

We then turned east to head along the top road running back to Pembroke but heading for Lawrenny Quay as my brother said the cafe there served excellent coffee and cake.

I have to say his recommendation proved excellent.
Being an engineer and interested in history I've always been fascinated by early motorcycles we'd been told to make sure we visited Lamo's motorcycles in Clynderwen, we weren't disappointed. Lamo is highly knowledgeable on early Triumphs, and we spent an hour learning about the marque. I've now got an itch to scratch for a model N
We went west again to go over the mountain road, and then north up to Lampeter and turned east through the back roads, ending up for lunch at the West End cafe in Llandovery.
Meandering east again we eventually ended up in Cinderford.
Saturday evening mileage.

A much smaller 330.

[Scumfrog]

Was that you I saw on your red & white 34L on the Evo triangle a few weeks ago, then? I was on a black KTM enduro.

[cadno]

Sunday had been planned to go to Baffle Haus cafe as the place we stayed didn't do breakfast.
Sunday morning start.

Being a little naïve we thought we'd have a run around and aim to get to the cafe sometime after opening. So we ran basically south down the river until Chepstow then back roads via Usk to Baffle Haus which is between Pontypool and Abergavenny.
The place was packed out and we had to queue to get in. Lots of excellent bikes with all genres represented, but there were also some serious motors there, Lambo Countach 25th anniversary, 911 RSR, 360 Modena, full house modified M2, Nissan GTR, RS Turbo.
Food was good and there was a clothes shop. There were also some very nice bikes as wall art. I was particularly taken by the BMW R80GS.





And a nice R9T


We then headed up the gospel pass and down to Hay where my brother turned for home.
I meandered north taking in the back road from Brecon to Builth which is epic, then out the back of Rhayader through Pant Y Dwr to Llanidloes, then turn up over and past llyn Clywedog, at Dinas Mawddwy over the top and through the quarries coming out in Corris. By then I'd had enough and took the easier roads home.
End miles

So 372 for he day, and 1108 for the three days.

[cadno]

Was that you I saw on your red & white 34L on the Evo triangle a few weeks ago, then? I was on a black KTM enduro.

Quite probably, its a route I'll go on, and there aren't many 34L variants about.

[donnybach]

Great trip. Just one thing. Don’t go telling everyone about Lawrenny.

[Scumfrog]

I've done rides / drives in Africa, Asia, the USA, and all over Europe, but one of the best drives ever was North to South Wales and back on a Friday with very little traffic. (If you choose the right A roads, and the right vehicle).

Haven't done Scotland yet , it's always been raining when I was planning to go.

[cadno]

Great trip. Just one thing. Don’t go telling everyone about Lawrenny.

I've never been before, but my brother knows the area well and the cafe on the quay was quite special. Certainly make a beeline for it when I'm down there again.