Random rides

[Rynglieder]

Another owners site that I frequent has a continuous thread under this title for contributors to throw up a quick word or two and a picture of any short runs they have done on one of thier bikes rather than bigger trips that may be more deserving of thier own topic.

It would be nice to do something similar on here to keep up traffic and interest on the site; I'll post up a couple to get it started, it would be good to see others pitching in.

Pete.

[Rynglieder]

08/09/2019

Having a couple of hours to spare I dug out the Z1300 from the back of the garage and it seemed surprisingly willing to start.

Not much of a ride really, but I did a small local loop taking in a cup of tea athe cafe in Quatford. Even at 36 years old the old girl still gets the odd look and comment from the regualrs.

[Rynglieder]

07/07/2019

A long run on the Z1000 is a rarity, it is no touring bike and after 80 miles my backside complains like hell.

But it's a fun little thing to ride out on and sometimes you can't resisit pushing on even though you konow you are going to regret the journey back.

This time it took me to Raglan Castle via the Malvern Hills, Ledbury and Ross on Wye.

[Rynglieder]

18/08/2019

The GSX got a turn out today.

A little bit of motorway to clear the urban areas and then through the Staffordshire Moorlands up to Macclesfield.

A cautious run through the Cat & Fiddle pass and then dropping in to Buxton where I took a break by the Grade II listed fan window at the end of the station.

Return was via Ashbourne and Blithfield reservoir before finding my way back on to the motorway near Cannock.

717 Cat & Fiddle pass
720 Buxton
723 Blithfield

A good day, shame there aren't more weekends in a year.

[Lonewolf]

Why not just use the normal adventures, tours and ride out section and then start a thread entitled with your destination?

[Rusty]

Good idea on both counts me thinks .... I am sure we are all guilty of going out for a couple of hours and thinking it is NOT enough to put on a thread .. so lets change that and get some short rides on here too .. good thinking Mr Ringlieder... especially in this fine September heat we have down here in The Souffff  ... reckon 26 degrees at the weekend !

[Rusty]

Ps ... having said that I had a choice this afternoon of A. Going out for such a described "short ride" or B. Stay at home and finish painting the side of the house ........
( I have admit the bike didn't move  )

[Lonewolf]

Shame on you, I would have expected that menial task to have been delegated to one of your servants. 

[Rusty]

  They are all too busy in the Orangery.

[Rynglieder]

Thursday 14/05/20 - Wigmore Castle & Ludlow

I've been itching to get some use out of the bike and although the lock-down was partially lifted on Wednesday it was looking like Thursday was going to be warmer, sunnier and altogether better for a run out with the camera.

The GTR was chosen from the garage and before I had even pulled it out I knew that the first job would be to check the tyre pressures as it had been laid up pretty much since its MOT in December. Sure enough, as soon as the monitoring system got out of bed it started warning me about the front tyre but I was already headed for a supermarket in Kidderminster to get it sorted out and fill up with some fuel (which seems amazingly cheap at the moment).

From Kidderminster I took a familiar road that passed Tenbury Wells and beyond to the junction with the A49. At this point though I crossed the A49 and continued west into some uncharted territory. Now, you probably know by now that I like a good ruin and the destination for today was Wigmore Castle which I had selected from the English Heritage site as being unattended and accessible at all times. Wigmore was reached by a series of minor roads which were enjoyable enough to ride although I did seem to get more than my fair share of horse boxes, tractors and quarry wagons which dulled the speed a bit. On parking up in the village I found myself outside the small village shop which served up a fairly decent coffee from its machine which was a bit of an unexpected bonus.
The bike was re-parked in a less busy location and I took the 15 minute walk through the village, churchyard and up the hill to the remains of Wigmore Castle. The castle is not what you would call the most impressive of those in The Marches and has been largely reclaimed by nature but nevertheless it was nice to wander around to take my obligatory exercise (which is why the government were releasing me from house arrest after all).  I pretty much had the place to myself and after a quick smoke it was back down the hill to the bike.

The return route was via the outskirts of Ludlow where I parked up at the top of Whitcliffe Common to take a couple of pictures of the view over Ludlow's castle and town before heading back for home. My intention to ride back over Clee Hill was thwarted by a rod closure so in the end I returned pretty much by the road that I had taken my outward journey on which was a slight disappointment but did not really take anything away from the fact that I had been back out on two wheels again.

It looks like I am not going to be back at work until the end of June, so hopefully this will be the first of many opportunities to go exploring again.

[O.C.]

Thanks for sharing... lovely pics too 

[PRD]

Very nice

[Lonewolf]

I once had a holiday in Ludlow, very nice it was too.


Glad you managed to get out and stretch your legs.   

[pross]

Lovely write up again .
I quite often Used to do the Ludlow/ Cleese’s hills Bewdley loop stop in Ludlow for a coffee.
Lovely trip

[Rynglieder]

16/05/2020 White Ladies Priory, Shropshire

I was only going to take the Z1000 out for an hour but was enjoying myself so much I strung it out a bit.

A run through some local minor roads that I don't usually touch took me around and to the north of Wolverhampton where I parked the bike up at the start of the footpath to White Ladies Priory.

Like Wigmore Castle which I visited a couple of days ago this English Heritage site is unstaffed with free admission anytime during daylight hours so there were no social distancing issues to worry about; a lady playing with her dog and a couple of lads sat passing the time were easily avoided even though it is a tiny site.

After half an hour with the camera I was back on the bike and this time I chose a series of "A" roads to complete the circuit. When I reached Bridgnorth I found myself reluctant to take the direct road home (remember those days when you were a kid and your mom was calling you in for your tea but you just didn't want to stop what you were doing?) Instead I followed the Severn valley southwards for a while until felt the obligation to return to domestic life.

This is just about the right length of run for the Z1000 and the little Zed is great fun on minor roads -as long as you are not too far from home so that you can hear your mom calling