A Grand day out

[duke63]

Well what with me missing all the Tankslap rides and work looking as though it will start piling up now until the end of the month, i decided this morning to escape for the day on the bike. the sun was shining so it was too good an opportunity to miss.

I wanted to visit Llyn Brianne again where i went last summer, though i planned a slightly better route this time and I have to say there was not one boring road i chose.

Started off at 10.15 this morning and rode into Bridgnorth via Shifnal.

Then took the B4364, a slapper favourite. Ironically i nearly came to grief on one corner when the bike stepped sideways and what appeared to be grey mud on the apex. Back must have gone 6 inches sideways. Thank heaven for traction control.

Anyway from there i rode into Ludlow and then took the A49 out of Ludlow and then turned left towards Knighton on the A4113. A great road if you have not ridden it, it has it all included stunning scenery.

When i got to Knighton i turned left toward Llandrindod Wells and through the Radnor Forest. Again a lovley piece of tarmac, though you have to wtach the sheep beside the road on the last stretch.

I then stopped for lunch at Crossgates.

Rest to follow soon i need some food...........................................

[duke63]

Whilst at Crossgates a Honda Blackbird turned up. The rider went in to get some lunch and then brought it outside and asked if it was OK to sit at my table.

We chatted a for a few minutes and then he said he was out for just 3 hours in the only opportunity he gets each week. I asked him why and then he said his wife ( who is 51) had Alzheimer's and this was the only time he got some respite care. I felt really bad for asking. Having to cope with that at any age is horrendous but at 51???

Anyway after we chatted for a while longer, I left and headed down to Llyn Brianne which is to the west of Llandovery.

Next time any of you ride the A483, don't stop at Crossgates and head back. The road continues to be a grea ride all the way down to Llandovery. in fact the bit from Builth wells to Llandovery is great, with plenty of sweeping corners and big undulations. Very fast piece of road.

Once i got to Llandovery i turned off the main road and headed down the lanes to the Reservoir. Was very quiet up there again with very few people about but the vastness of the water there is just amazing. Sadly the water level was below the slipway lip, so there was no water flowing down the slipway again.

I rode round the reservoir and back up the Devil's staircase. When i got back on the main road after having dodged all the sheep i headed back to Builth Wells but then turned off onto the A481, a road which was recommended to me before as this meets up with the A44 again not far from Crossgates. Another epic road so Kwacky/Blade/Bratty et al, you need to try this one next time.

Once back on the A44, i rode back to Crossgates, had a quick tea and headed back home the same way i rode down, through Knighton, Ludlow and Bridgnorth arriving home just before 6pm.

I did 250 miles in total and was out for 7.5 hours.

It was one of those days where I was just so glad to have a bike to ride on a day like that. All that expense makes it all worthwhile on days like today.

I didn't take many photos but did take best part of 2 hours of video, riding round the reservoir and back to Crossgates. I will see how easy it is to edit down and hopefully post some up.

[duke63]

[duke63]

[rocket]

Nice photos duke and sounds like a smashing ride.

[Blade]

Nice write up Duke. Funnily enough I planned to take some of this roads on 6th August.

[Kwacky]

that sounds like a fantastic day out.

[duke63]

I will put the journey up in the 'routes' section in the next couple of days, just in case anyone wants to try parts of it.

[C00kiemonster]

Sometimes a ride on your own with some headspace cannot be underestimated. Lovely mate.

[Bratty]

Sometimes a ride on your own with some headspace cannot be underestimated. Lovely mate.

I may try it myself this morning.