Moto Guzzi Owners Club - Red Kite Rally

I had been hoping to have my Moto Guzzi 500 restoration finished  in 2024 and thought it would be fun to go to one of the Owner's Club rallies. Obviously, life intervened and the restoration wasn't finished, but I was assured that I wouldn't be barred if I turned up on an "inferior marque"! (As it happened, there were probably a dozen or more "inferior marques" there, so I felt ok.)

So packed with camping gear, off I headed on the sturdy GPZ.

I took the less straightforward but infinitely more picturesque route through Snowdonia and across the Llanberris Pass; surely one of my favourite roads  I have ridden. Paul and I did it on the Snowdonia 360 last year and I was eager to do it again. It didn't disappoint.

Coming into Aberaeron after a few hours, the weather was perfect, with clear skies and no wind.

The rally was based at Aberaeron Rugby Club, with all of the tents arranged around the perimeter of the pitch and use of all the clubhouse facilities, which were great. 

I pitched in one of the quieter areas, because I am very anti-social! I soon had a beer cracked open and tea on - my standard spaghetti carbonara.

In the evening, there was an interesting talk by a guy that runs guided tours through Spain and Portugal. Not a bad job. Then there was a band on, which I stayed to listen to for a bit but then hit the sack.

Next morning there were some organised rides on, but I'm not really a great fan of riding in a group, so I headed off to explore by myself. I went down the coast to New Quay (not Newquay in Cornwall!) and had a coffee, then headed off to a museum that had been recommended, grandly called the Internal Fire Museum of Power. Apparently, the largest collection of working engines in Wales. 

They also had a small display of classic motorbikes, including quite a few unusual and interesting bikes there and a lovely guy curating it, with whom I spent a very pleasant half hour discussing bikes we'd owned! It sounds very geeky, and was, but proved to be an interesting way to spend a couple of hours. I also stopped there for a bite to eat to try and support them a bit. I love places like that which are run by really keen volunteers; completely unpretentious. 

I got back mid-afternoon and then took a walk down into Aberaeron, which was fairly lively as the weather was so nice.

I went up to the clubhouse for a bite to eat and a couple of pints before retiring to the tent to watch the most beautiful sunset over the bay. A lovely way to end things.

Next morning I had a leisurely breakfast before packing my stuff away and heading for home. I took the more direct route this time, which was still a lovely ride, just without the spectacular Snowdonia scenery.

What a lovely weekend! I have it pencilled in again for next year - hopefully this time I'll be on the Guzzi!

Wild Atlantic Way

Time for the 2024 tour with riding/cycling/drinking and all things life related buddy Paul! 

After the success of the Snowdonia 360 last year, we had decided to try a longer tour exploring the South Western corner of Ireland. Fortuitously, my new house is but a stone's throw (well, half an hour) from Holyhead with it's regular ferry service to Dublin. I always love taking in a ferry journey on the bike - it adds a certain excitement to the adventure. 

Bikes were packed and tucked up ready for an early start the following morning to catch the 9am ferry.

Day 1: Noel’s Party Pad to Holyhead; ferry to Dublin, then an afternoon ride down to the south. Stayed at Blackstairs Eco-Centre in Blackstairs Mountains.

 

Total miles 96

Day 2 / Friday: we have travelled down to the South West and actually joined the Wild Atlantic Way, which gives an initial impression of stunning scenery. The roads have been stupendous - lots of lovely twisty bits and hairpins, apart from a bit of boring motorway around Cork.

Total miles 163.

Camping just outside Rosscarbery tonight.

Day 3:Astounding Ireland! Today I had by far the best day’s motorcycling in my 46 + years on 2 wheels 🤩

Sublime scenery and perfect roads.

Day 4: Ring of Kerry today. A bit overcast and drizzly so we probably didn’t see it at its best, but good all the same.

Both knackered after 4/5 days riding, so glad to pull up and set up camp for the night just outside Killarney.

Day 5: Tonight’s campsite at Portlaoise. Another cracking day’s riding and we just have a couple of hours ride to the ferry at Dublin in the morning.

Day 6: and before we knew it, we were back in the hurly burly of Dublin. We bedded down in a cafe for a couple of hours before heading down to the ferry for an uneventful journey home. Safely back from 800 miles around Southern Ireland. 

New Bike Time (again!)

I had reluctantly come to the conclusion that there was no practical way of adapting the handlebars of my Classic 350, to allow it to be brought down my exceedingly narrow passageway leading to my shed in the back garden. 

So I hunted around for a replacement bike with narrow enough bars and settled on a 2000 Kawasaki GPZ500s. It's in very good condition for its age and has been very carefully maintained and upgraded by the last owner. It also came with a rack and large top box so was ideal for a tour. Most importantly, it (just) fitted down the entry, albeit with the bar end weights removed!

I bought the bike sight unseen and had it couriered across from Manchester to my new home in Anglesey. All was good, and with the insurance in place (although I had forgotten to tax it!) and some Spring sunshine, it was time to take her out for a spin. 

I had a lovely few hours, taking the lanes across to the A55 and then seeing how she performed on dual carriageway, before taking to the lanes again across to Menai Bridge, Beaumaris, Benllech Beach and finally back home. I have to say that it was lovely to be back on a bike with a bit of power again! Not exactly a superbike but much more powerful than my recent steeds.

A Ride to my New Home

I had moved to Anglesey at the end of April, but my 1961 Royal Enfield was still stored at my temporary abode in Whitchurch, Shropshire. Now that my bike shed was complete, it was time to bring her to her new home in Anglesey.

It was 4 hours of relaxed riding, taking the scenic route along the A5 Old Coach Road through Snowdonia, with a coffee stop halfway at Betws y Coed.

It rained for most of the journey but that didn’t spoil it and the bike behaved impeccably the whole way.

She’s now been shoehorned down the very narrow entry and taken up residence in the Amlwch motorcycle museum! (aka Noel’s shed.)