Ok, as some of you may have twigged by now, I'm quite partial to getting out on the bike and having a little look around areas, areas that I wouldn't normally go to. A sort of scaled down version of a proper bike tour in a round about way. :)
I've put some pics on this thread of a place I am very fond of, Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. Forget all the controversial stories you have probably heard or read in places like MCN. Snowdonia is a stunningly beautiful location and if you don't take the p*ss in front of the Police down there, they will leave you alone to enjoy your day. I've been loads of times and only ever been stopped once and that was only for a chat.
I know this is going to frustrate some folk, (Lord Rusty) ;D but again this place is virtually on my doorstep. Probably less than two hours of un-interrupted riding and you will have arrived in Mold. Just a short ride down the A494 and you'll find yourself right bang, smack in the centre of the Park. I usually head down to Dolgellau and then work my way back up shadowing the A470 on some of the smaller roads. There are too many places to mention that are worth a visit, because in reality they are all worth dropping in on.
When I set off I tend to make a very early start of it, you can't beat the smell of fresh un-polluted air, here is a quick photo of how early I do set off, just prior to the M606 at Bradford.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_2608.jpg)
That's a horrible picture I know, but that's Bradford for you!
Heading down towards Bala and Bala Lake Railway, especially early on you get a tremendous atmosphere and the views are unspoilt by other vehicles. I last went in August this year with a mate from work, he has a Yamaha TDM 900, but I try not to hold that against him. ;)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_2614.jpg)
Somewhere near the A5, just off the A494 is a decent place to stop and have a breather and a bite to eat.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/TakeawayA5.jpg)
We came across this little beauty of a car, an Aston Martin.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/AstonMartin2.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/AstonMartin.jpg)
It didn't do anything for me, but my mate got a bit giddy! He's a bit of a petrol head.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/TheStig.jpg)
If you get down to Bala Lake when the weather is fine you can see right across the water. It's possible to ride all the way around the lake, it only takes about twenty minutes or so and is well worth it.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/BalaLake.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/BalaLake4.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/BalaLake2.jpg)
Bala railway, for those who have never been is like stepping back fifty years in time. It's very well maintained, but rather strangely when I have been I have never yet seen any customers there on the platform or going for a train ride only ever staff. So I'm not quite sure how it's funded or anything but still worth a visit if you get the chance.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_2618-1.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_0523.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_0524.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/SignalBox.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/OldVendingMachine.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/OldEngine2.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/CloseTheGate.jpg)
Moving on from this part of Snowdonia towards Beddgelert http://www.beddgelerttourism.com/gelert/
I can remember this story about Gelert from school, and trust me that is a long time ago now!
Anyway we had a walk around the village, quite commercialised but still in the heart of the Park in a valley and down some lovely twisty roads which even on their own make the journey worthwhile.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_0552.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_0551.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/VillageChurch.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/BridgeatBeddgelert.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/Beddgelert2.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/Beddgelert1.jpg)
A few touristy shops with some interesting wicker and wood work.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/WoodCarvings3.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/WoodCarvings2.jpg)
All hand carved.
I'm not sure what insurance group this will fall in but I don't fancy your chances in a race.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/Vespa.jpg)
Gelert's grave.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/FinalRestingPlace.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/BurialGround.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/GraveStones.jpg)
From there I headed up towards Betwys- y-Coed which is an extremely popular place for bikers, hikers etc.
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_2625.jpg)
(http://i151.photobucket.com/albums/s139/Jaffa_Cake101/Snowdonia%202nd%20August%202010%20with%20Simon/100_2626.jpg)
The places to visit within the Park are endless and far too numerous for me to mention here. However hopefully these pictures have given you a taster and perhaps whet your appetite. There are many camp sites in the area and as far as I know they are mostly biker friendly, but always best to check first.
Hope you enjoyed the photos.
What I like about you Mr Wolf is the fact that you have not only the decency, but also the common sense to get out to these most beautiful places and TAKE PHOTOS OF THEM TO SHARE with the rest of us !!!!
Once again, lovely pictures and bits of commentry to go with them make it all a bit of a story... I love it ! The lakes, the views, oh... and the Aston Martin where else in the world would you get such a combination ?
Yes of course you make my blood boil... having just ridden home from central London in the dark with only idiots to contend with its a pleasure to log on and look at this thread.
I am sure everyone else will agree that a big pat on the back is owed to you ( and all you others who add their bit !!! )
Well done.
Nice pics there Lonewolf. That's the great thing about living here in the north - the dales, peak district etc are all on your doorstep. That's one of the reasons I moved back from London.
Where are you planning on going next?
I'm off work tomorrow so weather permitting I was thinking of heading down towards The Peak District & Winster. I haven't been there for a couple of years. Video cameras charged and so is the digital camera. :)
But I'll wait until the morning and see how bright it is first.
It's foggy in yorkshire and the sun is out in lancashire. Just spent 40 mins filtering through pennine traffic on m62. Bradford is probably miserable today but the again its miserable most days :)
Quote from: Norman Bates on October 08, 2010, 09:40:30 AM
It's foggy in yorkshire and the sun is out in lancashire. Just spent 40 mins filtering through pennine traffic on m62. Bradford is probably miserable today but then again its miserable most days :)
Yeah I cant argue with you on that one! I cant motivate myself to get out on the bike because of the weather, I think I'll just mooch about at home today. :(
The weather for the weekend is meant to be quite decent for the UK ... I have just come back from walking the dog along the beach and in the 2 hours I was out it has changed a lot .. from foggy/cool to sun/warm ... get out there !
I'm gonna see what it's like this afternoon. I'm sat at home watching videos from Orange County Choppers when I should be out myself...
am only 1 hour from north wales so. am allways there, you dont have any trouble with the police if you dont ride like a numpty! my first stop is the ponderosa on the horse shoe pass for some breakfest, then through the denbigh moors and on to b-y-coed, then on to bala lake and back round to the ponderosa. to talk some bollocks with other fine bikers. excellent roads, this covers approx 200 miles for me round trip, just enough to take all that stress a away!! ;D p.s every bodys welcome!!!!
I'm 5 mins from home to the Welsh border and have ridden in North Wales for 10 years since passing Direct Access.
In all that time I've been stopped once (whilst leading a group of 23 bikes) - this happened a week before the MCN "reclaim north Wales" event the they were stopping bikes to ask if they had already been stopped that day!
P
*makes a mental note to display road tax on bike before going to Wales*
Quote from: Norman Bates on February 12, 2011, 02:39:15 PM
*makes a mental note to display road tax on bike before going to Wales*
;D NB, you'll need to buy one first before you can display it!! ;)
Quote from: Lonewolf on February 12, 2011, 02:49:31 PM
Quote from: Norman Bates on February 12, 2011, 02:39:15 PM
*makes a mental note to display road tax on bike before going to Wales*
;D NB, you'll need to buy one first before you can display it!! ;)
Lol - I wouldn't break the law that much, knowing that a few members on here are PC Plod! :D
Quote from: Norman Bates on February 12, 2011, 03:19:06 PM
Quote from: Lonewolf on February 12, 2011, 02:49:31 PM
Quote from: Norman Bates on February 12, 2011, 02:39:15 PM
*makes a mental note to display road tax on bike before going to Wales*
;D NB, you'll need to buy one first before you can display it!! ;)
Shhhh!! Dont tell everyone!
Lol - I wouldn't break the law that much, knowing that a few members on here are PC Plod! :D