Round Wales trip update

[John Hopkins]

Well my round wales trip is planned for May this year..If anyone wants to ride along for any part of it, or can advise me of places that I shouldn't miss, or wants me to call in for a cuppa, please put your two pennyworth in...Here's the map and itinerary

http://i55.photobucket.com/albums/g150/Hopkins_photos/walestrip-1.jpg

Tredegar, Newport, Swansea, Llanelli, Carmarthen, Laugharne, Red Roses, Saundersfoot, Tenby, Pembroke, Haverfordwest, St Davids Cathedral, Fishguard, Cardigan, Aberaeron, Devils Bridge, Dyffryn-castell, Aberystwyth, Borth, Ynyslas, Tre’ddol, Machynlleth, Tywyn, Minffordd, Cross Foxes, Bala, Ffestiniog, Trawsfynydd, Barmouth, Portmeirion, Maentwrog, Rhiwbryfdir, Betws-y-coed, Capel Curig, Pont Pen-y-benglog, Pentir, Pen-y-Gwryd, Beddgelert, Garreg, Tremadoc, Llanbedrog, Aberdaron, Pontllyfni, Caernarfon, Llanfairpwllgwyngyll, Bangor, near Conwy, Colwyn Bay, Rhyl, Prestatyn, Mold, Wrexham, Ruthin, Gwyddelwern, Maerdy, Cerrigydrudion, Clawdde-newydd, Denbigh, Bylchau, Bryneglwys, A452 Horseshoe pass, Llangollen, Oswestry, Welshpool, Four Crosses, Mallwyd, Plas Llysyn, Newtown, Felindre, Evenjob, Rhayader, Elan Village, Llanwrthwl, Llandrindod Wells, Builth Wells, Brecon, Abergavenny, Monmouth, Chepstow, Newport, Tredegar.

should be fun... :D John

[Yambabe]

Where are you going to be stopping for your overnights John, and what dates?

May well pop along to say hello and share a couple of beers while you are up in the North if we're free cos we're not a million miles away...........

[John Hopkins]

My first night should find me somewhere near Aberystwyth, my second somewhere around Caernarfon, and my third night around Oswestry..then home to bed...but as I shall be taking photographs of everything that will stand still long enough I will need good weather and may stay an extra night somewhere if I have to...and because I am relying on the weather I dont have a firm departure date yet.. :D John

[pyro]

Good luck John :D

You might find This (http://www.ucarewecare.com/wales-care-homes.php) useful...

[Yambabe]

Cool. Will look out for updates then!

Are you doing this on the 'max? have you taken out another mortgage for the petrol? :D

[John Hopkins]

Cool. Will look out for updates then!

Are you doing this on the 'max? have you taken out another mortgage for the petrol? :D

I don't know..I'm going to sell the GT but I can't decide whether to do this trip on it first, I would like to use the Vmax but if it got stolen it would break my heart, I would be able to shrug off the loss of the GT and it will do much better milage...It's over 1000 miles of lone riding through wild and unexplored territory under constant threat from speed cameras and wild pigs... :D John

[Borg]

Spare bed and tools at mine mate.

[John Hopkins]

Spare bed and tools at mine mate.

Thank you Borg..very decent of you... :D John

[titusni]

I would like to use the Vmax but if it got stolen it would break my heart

Hi John

I see you're passing the Brecon area. You do know that the annual Vmaxchat meet at Baskerville Hall, outside Hay-on-Wye, is on in 20th June? I'm hoping to get to it this year.

[chinster]

Looks like a good run that John, when u get to carmarthen if i can be of any help jst let me know, there is a lovely coastal run from carmarthen to pembrokshire via pendine, saundersfoot, tenby, solva , st davids which will bring u back onto ur original route well worth the detour will only add about 25m to ur trip.

[gollum]

Out of interest John, why Wales, living there thought you would know it pretty well.
How long you planning to do the 1000miles in?

[John Hopkins]

Looks like a good run that John, when u get to carmarthen if i can be of any help jst let me know, there is a lovely coastal run from carmarthen to pembrokshire via pendine, saundersfoot, tenby, solva , st davids which will bring u back onto ur original route well worth the detour will only add about 25m to ur trip.

Thanks I've added that to the route and as you can see I've edited the itinerary... :D John

[John Hopkins]

Out of interest John, why Wales, living there thought you would know it pretty well.
How long you planning to do the 1000miles in?

I've lived in Scotland, England, Germany, Africa, Aden, India, New Zealand, Australia, and Wales, and travelled to or through most of the rest of the world, but in my experience as soon as I leave a place they change it, Tredegar has changed from a thriving mining town with black tips and hills as far as the eye could see to little more than a bus station and a few shops with green hills and forest in the past 20 years..but as to why Wales? because it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and whichever part you live, there is another pretty bit just around the next corner..and the people of the valleys are the best anywhere in the world... :D John

[slob]

john,

When you have the days/dates against the locations can you let us know? I'd like to catch up with you in Rhayder and the horseshoe time prmitting. .. i've just sarted a new job closer to home so it may be tricky. :)

[Bosun]

..but as to why Wales? because it is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and whichever part you live, there is another pretty bit just around the next corner..and the people of the valleys are the best anywhere in the world... :D John

im sure most of us could see that
theres large chunks of the south have yet to explore

[John Hopkins]

john,

When you have the days/dates against the locations can you let us know? I'd like to catch up with you in Rhayder and the horseshoe time prmitting. .. i've just sarted a new job closer to home so it may be tricky. :)

As I'm not employed the only important days to me are the days that my family need me for something, so I will probably be able to meet you almost any time but I will be coming down from the horseshoe and through Oswestry where I want to take a photo of one of my old army camps and then down to Rhayader which is a 142 miles journey..where would you be riding from..John

[John Hopkins]

im sure most of us could see that
theres large chunks of the south have yet to explore

Well if you want to spend a bit of time exploring we can find you somewhere to sleep for a couple of nights...Mind you there are 42 stairs to the spare bedrooms... :D John

[slob]

As I'm not employed the only important days to me are the days that my family need me for something, so I will probably be able to meet you almost any time but I will be coming down from the horseshoe and through Oswestry where I want to take a photo of one of my old army camps and then down to Rhayader which is a 142 miles journey..where would you be riding from..John


If you are going North to South then I would join you at the horseshoe pass and ride down with you as far as Rhayder, I'd pay my respects to my taid's grave. John are you a retiree? :eek:

[John Hopkins]

If you are going North to South then I would join you at the horseshoe pass and ride down with you as far as Rhayder, I'd pay my respects to my taid's grave. John are you a retiree? :eek:

Well I'm 64 and I don't have a job, but I signed on the dole four years ago and never got a job or claimed a penny, by signing on I should get my stamp paid for my pension but I'll believe that if and when it happens..so I suppose I'm a retiree..too old to work to young to stop riding..Well to be honest I find riding easier than walking...and I'll join you as you pay your respects... :) John

[tr11981]

the black mountains in the south and the lanberris pass in the north are my two favourite rides in wales ,not sure wether they are on your route or not ,just got in from a 2000 mile trip from ipswich to lands end to john o groats and back to ipswich over 5 days ,bloody cold it was ,must be mad

[John Hopkins]

the black mountains in the south and the lanberris pass in the north are my two favourite rides in wales ,not sure wether they are on your route or not ,just got in from a 2000 mile trip from ipswich to lands end to john o groats and back to ipswich over 5 days ,bloody cold it was ,must be mad

The Black mountains is part of the Brecon Beacons...not much in the way of roads, but I will be skirting the Beacons and Llanberis is on my route between 35 and 36 on the map or Pentir and Pen-y-Gwryd..altogether 1020 so far but as said I will be taking dozens of photos so four to five days... :D John