31st March 2024
The blog is now ready including the intended routes, stop overs and some hotels/airbnb's.
As we all know these may change but we like to plan ahead - this year we may not book all the hotels, but when we get to a destination we may just log on to www.booking.com and take our chances.
As we stand today, Toby doesn't have a bike and is waiting for his new BMW 1300GS to be delivered around the 18th April.
The Bagger Manhattan will probably need a big service and a possible tyre change, although the Michelin Pilot 6's have been brilliant and will most likely last. Need to keep an eye on this as the tyres have only got 4,000 miles on them, but the tour is another 4,000 so we may have to change them en-route.
Pre-tour rideouts and shannanikins...
30th March - Easter run to see Grandsprog with his Easter Egg....
6th April Another little run before Toby gets the bike...
This time to Warrington and having fish & chips at the Cantilever chippy - very classy me thinks!!!
This was very close to where PC grew up in Stockton Heath and remembers 50 years ago going to this chippy. It looks small and a bit run down, but the food is excellent. Located under a disused railway bridge and close to the Manchester Ship Canal Cantilever bridge in Latchford.
10th April - Bagger booked in for a big service on the 13th May - actually only £401, but there is a big software, hose reel, floor plates clip recall, so getting the all done too!!14th April - ride out to see Dani & Steff and Grandsprog....
15th April - Some purchases....
Gorgeous sunshine, excellent roads so decided to make the most of it and ended up doing a very large looping circle starting with Whitchurch, Shrewsbury, Welshpool and the great road over the top towards Dolgellau. That's when we decided to ride up to Ffestiniog and Betws, before heading home via LLanrwst and Denbigh.
What a great day out - just missing our riding buddy who will hopefully get his bike this week!!
This was one of our 1st coffee shops' we ever stopped at 13 years ago! located on the A458 from Welshpool to Dolgellau - https://www.dyffrynrestaurant.co.uk/
It has arrived..........Collecting on the 29th April and then putting 600 miles on very quickly before the 1st service is required. No panniers, but a roll bag will have to do!
Twitchy nose can stop now...and breath........
Ma Bakers in Prees for a nice little breakfast - turns out it wasn't very little after all....
We were planning a much bigger day out, but forgot we had the 3 dogs for the weekend, so have had to cut it down considerably. Anyhow, we managed a good couple of hours going down to Shrewsbury, breakfast and picking up a new bag from Motorrad Shrewsbury for a our up and coming Tuscany tour next month.😂😂
Inaugural ride out with Toby on his new bike - getting ready for the tour....
There and back to Bala in the rain for the 1st ride, but not disappointing at all...
65 Miles
4th May
Big day out to get the miles up for the 1st service.
224 Miles
Excellent ride out with dry roads, clear traffic and riding buddy back with his new bike. Decided after the Mach Loop that we'd ride the coast road through Barmouth and up to Harlech - added and extra hour, but well worth it.
Found this beauty of a coffee shop south of Newtown - probably the best coffee we've had for some time, especially in the UK. Will deffo be coming here agin and the breakfast looked excellent!
No big lunch out today, we stopped at the Texaco Garage in Machynlleth and had a wrap and crisps, then next stop was coffee in Betws, after riding up through Barmouth, Harlech, Beddgelert and over the tops near the Pen-y-pass
81 Miles
Working day at Garden Vets, but Steff and Peter road down on a beautiful day, Toby Joined later in the afternoon to ride back and put more miles on the bike before next weeks' 1st service.
285 miles
13th May
16th May
May 18th & 19th
New tyres for the Bagger and off to Anglesey of the weekend
Probably the last ride before the tour begins........
11th May
132 miles
Top ride out with Toby and Steff, doing a large loop from Bewts to Pwllheli around Llyn Peninsular - little stop over in Caernarfon for a cheeky beer by the marina.
Bagger in for service, software upgrade and a couple of other adjustments. Got this message on my way in, so let's hope that gets sorted before the tour...
Got loaned this little bone shanking Beauty, that just seemed to want to wheelie all the time, probably due to an 18-stone old git sitting on the back wheel!!!. Not sure I could tour on this thing!!
Back to pick the Bagger up, only to find the Water Coolant is buggered! they said 10 days for the parts delivery, but thankfully they have pulled out all the stops to get the bagger back on the road. New loan vehicle for the night! Even Stanley looking at it wondering where his Dad's bike is!
16th May
Back from service and new coolant thingy-bobby - the bagger feels like a new bike after the software update! Noddy comparison photo's LOL!!!!!!
Last weekend before we head off on tour.
