Great ride out to Wales

[Rocket]

Had a great 300 mile round trip to Wales yesterday. My first serious outing on the 1200 R and I 'm impressed.

Will post full report and all photos in Great Rides section in a day or two, but here's a taster.

(Edited 25th May: Ride report and photos now done and in Great Rides section )











Ron

[Daryl.Stamp]

Nice; what's the temp over there now?
My favorite riding is on slightly overcast days around 50-60F.

DLS

[famousperson]

Beautiful bike. Oh, yes, beautiful scenery. Thanks for the pictures. I love your helmet.

[vielzebub]

What's that in your ice cream?
Looks like a chew toy for a dog....

Nice bike btw. It's the prettiest one in the group of parked bikes.

[bobw]

Ahhhh, a twins reunion with ice cream no less! Glad you're having time with your new ride. The photography is great!

Safe travels

Bob

[Rocket]

Nice; what's the temp over there now?
My favorite riding is on slightly overcast days around 50-60F.

DLS

It was between 15 and 18 degrees centigrade on Saturday (60's F). Was riding due west on outbound journey into headwind all the way. Noticed a lot of wind noise around the helmet (the one on the head , that is ).

On the return leg ,the tailwind made a big difference.

Ron

[Rocket]

Beautiful bike. Oh, yes, beautiful scenery. Thanks for the pictures. I love your helmet.

The first photo is the village of Audlem which is approx 1 hours ride west from home, and my first stopping point. Had a full English Breakfast at the village cafe. (need to look after the "inner man").

Audlem is a lovely old village, the oldest bit is the 13th Century church (in the pic). Audlem was granted it's market charter by England's Edward 1st in 1296. The village had a big celebration in 1996 to mark the 700th! anniversary. That's old.

Decided to get a photo of the church and the patriotic flags which give a sense of occasion. Glad you like my colour co-ordinated helmet.

This village is one busy place. The locals leave the flags and bunting out through the summer due to a busy programme of events organised by the village parish council and Amenities Group. There's a Pantomime in January, a weekend Summer Carnival, "proms in the Park" , Funky weekend (for the kids), Festival of Transport, Open Gardens (all July), Arts & Crafts weekend (Sept) , Bonfire night (5th Nov) , Carols in the square at Christmas and Fireworks on New Years Eve.

A few retired professionals living in the community showing they've still "got what it takes"

[Rocket]

What's that in your ice cream?
Looks like a chew toy for a dog....

Nice bike btw. It's the prettiest one in the group of parked bikes.

Presume you have the same tradition to have an ice ceam when at the seaside. If you've not had it with a chocolate Cadbury's flake, you've not lived

Sat on the beach enjoying my ice cream treat in the sunshine whilst taking in the view of the mountains beyond the bay, and contemplating the wonderful 3 hour ride home in the late afternoon sunshine and with a tail wind. Lovely.

I followed the 2 Harley's from Bala Lake (earlier photos). The owners are a 50-something couple on a weekend break. The blue one (forget the model) is owned by the wife. She had the panniers flown in from the States (not available in UK) and colour-matched with the bike. Pretty bike, if you like that sort of thing, but apparently not rated by the Harley purists - cos its not "air-cooled".

Thought the Beema was a "rose between two thorns"

[Rocket]

Ahhhh, a twins reunion with ice cream no less! Glad you're having time with your new ride. The photography is great!

Safe travels

Bob

Cheers Bob. It was a particularly enjoyable ride which had special significance. It was the last ride I had on my old Sprint, a few weeks earlier, and the route which convinced me I needed a different bike.
Having bought the R, I particularly wanted to do that ride again (to check I had made the right decision)
The BM was, as I had hoped, a dream to ride on that road.

Good decision

[vielzebub]

What's that in your ice cream?
Looks like a chew toy for a dog....

Nice bike btw. It's the prettiest one in the group of parked bikes.

Presume you have the same tradition to have an ice ceam when at the seaside. If you've not had it with a chocolate Cadbury's flake, you've not lived

I've had the ice cream, but not the chocolate flake. If it's Cadbury's it has to be good....
I'm jealous.