Boxing Day Blast

A good time to get the bike out on a sunny but quite mild Boxing Day. Myself and Lindsay out for a great run down to Ledbury via Martley, then around the back of the Malverns via Cradley and a stop at at Upton on Severn. Then out past Croome Park and the Castle before heading home for another mince pie.

Christmas bloat, and plenty of layers!

Warm up with a cuppa at the Swan on the river..

Dunstall castle ... A capability brown job ...

The Malvern Hills in the distance..

Good to be out on my GS, usually under wraps this time of year but the relatively mild weather this December gives me a great reason to keep riding. 

2016 has been a great year, Scotland with Lindsay, the GS Challenge with Andy, and then the Mountains Alps trip with Steve. A lot of fun. Looking forward to 2017 and some more adventures, 

Happy New Year!

Montgomery Ride Out

Nice ride through Shropshire last Sunday across Long Mynd to Stipersones and Snailbeach and then down to Montgomery with Lindsay and Ed. Me following behind for a nice change, admiring the scenery watching the 'Blackpool illuminations' as the two Jap bikes brake in synchronous harmony leaving me to just roll on roll off (wax on wax off LOL).

Great Cafe stop - The Ivy House. Recommended !

 A bit chilly nowadays though, glad I had heated grips. A Sunny day out with a sunny disposition, so here's the basic route waypoints:

 

Three counties ride and a famous Scotsman

Yesterday, (Sunday) myself and Lindsay opted for a local ride. My first ride since returning from the Alps and Lindsay's since his family holiday away, so we were both itching for a decent ride out, trying to avoid Shobden Cafe for a change.

Some of the best rides can often be spontaneous - the ones made up en-route so without a GPS I filled up with fuel and we headed out into Shropshire and took a right at Much Wenlock and onto Ironbridge. Not wishing to stop just yet we passed through Broseley and Jackfield and curled back toward Bridgnorth. Good, twisty road we rarely ride, sun shining and my GS feeling a lot lighter without panniers and luggage.

Flying Scotsman - Victoria Bridge nr Trimpley

On Saturday I had been out with my family to nearby Trimpley Reservoir to see the Flying Scotsman on the Severn Valley Railway line. This Great Steam Engine was visiting our heritage railway, and the last and only time I had ever seen it it was at the National Railway Museum in York with William when he was about ten years old. Unfortunately, back then it was in the engine shed being stripped for renovation and refurbishment. A bit disappointed back then (2006) so it was great seeing it steaming along between Arley, Bewdley stations and later on Victoria Bridge in all of it's splendour after it's £4.2 million refit.

 So, It just so happened on our ride we passed-by Bridgnorth station as steam was billowing above the platform, and it just so happened I had my camera with me and a copy of the timetable still stuffed inside my camera case. We couldn't resist stopping, parking the bikes on some wasteland and 'legging' up the station hill, paid the £2.00 each platform access fee to find the Scotsman surrounded by a mass of people taking photos. How great to see all of these people fascinated by this marvel of engineering. A living breathing icon from days gone by.

Surrounded Scotsman!

Queues for photos

Looks wonderful. £4.2 million well spent !!

'Magic !'

After our 'Scotsman' experience, dodging rain showers we headed up to Cleobury Mortimer for a small breakfast out the superb cafe there:

Cleobury Cafe

.. followed by a ride up Clee Hill, with a left turn down to Tenbury Wells and into Herefordshire and Bromyard, back into Worcestershire past Stanford Bridge and home via the Bewdley switchbacks. 

Excellent Sunday ride, back in time for Sunday lunch and a chance to see the Scotsman arrive back at Kidderminster station with Dad and William too. 

Back from the Alps ..

Arrived back 4pm on Sunday after a 429 mile ride from Sedan, mostly motorway all the way. Exhausted but with a huge smile on my face. Most enjoyable trip a good decision to go with a tour company for a ride around the Alps. Just uploading photos and videos over the next few days - see the 2016-Mountains:Alps tab to view them all along with the blog reports for each day..

Almost ready ...

My 'Cost a Fortune Mandatory Swiss Vignette'.
For the very few motorway miles I will be doing !! 

So, tomorrows the day I set off on my  next adventure. The Mountains:Alps tour with World of BMW Motorrad - riding through French and Swiss Alps for a week. I'm really looking forward to meeting Steve and the others on the tour in Folkestone and getting up high on the mountain passes next week.

I'm just trying to decide if I should go for the route to Folkestone Lindsay used on his Black Forest trip (looks good mate, thanks). It avoids the M25 race track and the windy M20 (as in windy miller not twisty !). I want to avoid any dodgy foot bridges too ! There's no rush to Folkestone so why not avoid that madness on the way down? Now I'm a National Trust member (thanks Dad), so maybe I will take a look around Bateman's (Rudyard Kiplings home) or even take in Bodiam Castle for lunch. Hmm, decisions, decisions - all depends on the weather I guess.

As is usual, with free wifi I will be blogging progress with pictures when I am able, See the 2016 - Mountains : Alps blog (tab above).

Stiperstones

Yesterday I went for a ride to visit Ian at Church Stretton Motorcycles in Shropshire. I'd heard good reports from Carl who works in our machine shop that Ian was the man when it comes to servicing and tuning BMW Boxers (and K's).

Nice chap he is too, I wanted a bit of advice on tuning now she's over 21k and has a bit more vibration through 3.5 to 4.5 rev range. I was concerned that since I modified the exhaust (see previous post) there was something not quite right, and phoned him earlier in the week where he suggested he take her for a short ride to investigate. I'm particularly keen to iron out any issues before the up-coming Mountains:Alps tour. Thankfully, nothing too much to worry about, apparently the vibes are more pronounced when the engine is cold, and might need a bit of throttle body/valve clearance adjust at the next service. His experience and knowledge of the flat twin has put my mind at rest, and I will definitely take her there for a service come the 24k interval where he described the comprehensive package he provides for servicing, and has the full BMW diagnostic equipment too. 

Afterwards, given that I had my field glasses and camera in my top box, I punched in 'Stiperstones' into my Garmin and headed up and over Long Mynd to the nature reserve. I parked up at one of the car parks and walked out along the excellent footpath. 

Great for wildlife, I could spend hours up here there is so much to look at.

Purple heather is abundant this time of year. Swallows darting about everywhere.

 The rocky outcrop known as 'The Devils Chair'. Stiperstones is one of the six Shropshire summits is mostly Quartzite stone.

Superb views across Shropshire and the Welsh Marches.

On my return to the car park I saw a brief flash of a bird with red underbelly and breast and thought it was a robin. However the reddish tail and longer tail length made me take a closer look through the field glasses. After looking up in my pocket bird guide realised it was a 'Redstart' I think in it's Autumn/Winter guise as they lose their black face and have a duller red tail.

This was about as close as I could get before it flew off into the trees behind.

Must return to Stiperstones Nature reserve again soon with walking boots and panniers to lock up my bike gear. Lots of people walking dogs on a Saturday, but I guess a quiet day in the week would be better. Maybe in the future I could identify the Raptors circling above the Devils Chair too !!  

Paul

This week while at work an unusual number came up on my phone. Normally, I disregard these and don't answer, but something told me to take this call. I'm pleased I did. It was an old mate Phil AKA 'Taffy' who I haven't spoken to in about twelve months. Really great to hear from him, made my day and he's still as mad as ever, what a laugh. Pleased he's happily married now and settled down with Carol over in Builth Wells.  

Taff as we all refer to him (even my kids do too) explained he had been out with Dave over the weekend to pay respects up at the road where our good friend Paul (Dave's younger brother) had his fateful accident on the road just outside Rahayder 8 years ago while they were out for a Sunday ride. How could I ever forget that awful news? So it was, Taff and Dave ended up in the pub afterwards to reminisce old times with Paul. 

Over the past 8 years my own memories with Paul have come flooding back on many occasions,  often while driving I'll have a Paul moment, or something comes on TV that sends me right back in time to another Paul moment, Oasis on the radio and I hear him singing Wonderwall on a night out after the racing in the Isle of Man. Mad nights in the Fountain pub, Squash games at the Glades and of course Dismantlers paintball team tournaments. So many great memories. 

             Paul, how I best remember him. A pint, some wit, wisdom, and 'Bond Cool'.

Paul, my old mucka, my best friend for so many years, I have so many memories of those great days and wild nights together (often involved slamming Tequilas). We shared the good of times, and the bad of times too. A true mate to all who knew you !!

                                        Paul Vale, In the Land of the Lounge Lizards. RIP.

... thanks again Phil :-)

Skinning knuckles on summer days

I

Busy time at the moment getting my Panzer ready for the up-coming Mountains:Alps tour around the Swiss Alps and Mont Blanc in early September. After the Scotland trip last month I noticed a slight fork seal leak developing so thought it best to get it looked at. New tyres are needed anyway since I want the best profile for all of those upcoming twisties and with a favourable 7000 miles out of the current set of Metzeler Tourance 'Next', decided to go for the same again ( that's the 3rd set now the OEM Tourance EXPs were good but only managed 4K). Last week thanks to Lindsay's loan of his professional tool kit I grabbed an oil filter from a Nippy Norman's and bought some 15/50 Semi synthetic Castrol through Amazon and did my first oil change at 21K - proving I can at least follow a Haynes Manual ! Also 'wipped' the front brake pads out to find two thirds of the pad left on all four, despite 21K, just goes to show how the GS Boxer braking helps, The number of times I follow Lindsay on his 650 and his rear brake light flickers on every bend !! I also removed the flappy valve from the exhaust (see earlier post) as it finally seized up and costs £200 to replace. The valve is for EU noise emission law only and not tested in the MOT, so managed to get an off cut of exhaust pipe from those nice chaps at A44 exhausts in Worcester to fill the space left behind and using some exhaust seal I now have a straight through section. I removed the Bowden cables completely too. Seems much smoother and less popping on the overrun now.

So, in for new tyres and fork seal at a Benhams Motorrad  in Wolvo' today, they lent me this F800GT after I asked for a bike I'm least likely to fall in love with. A few weeks ago I test rode the new LC GS standard from Blade Motorrad with that quick shift pro and did enjoy riding it for many reasons, great power delivery, zero buffeting from the stock screen and narrower profile seat. A few things I didn't like not least the £15k price tag and the tinny sound - I'd have to have an Akropovich fitted to make it sound like a Boxer,  but at least I know what my next bike is going to be if ever I get tired of riding 'Lupin Lou'. I didn't want to risk falling in love with a new bike before I ride the Alps, so wise decision to get a loan bike I'm not going to want to own. As for the F800GT? Well, nice machine. A bit cramped for my gangly legs though and doesn't quite have that punch I love from the 1200, but quite smooth with the belt drive and the inline twin, and goes round corners well too !

Just a quick note on a great book I'm reading in the garden on these hot sunny days where full on bike gear makes hard work of a ride out. The Mrs bought me another Neil Peart book (Rock drummer from Rush). Been a big fan of the professor since I was about 15, seen them live many times over the years and read many of his books ( he rides a GS too you know ha ha), this one is more of an autobiography, interspersed with his music influences while on a winter road trip in his Z8. Great to read how his idol was Keith 'the loon' Moon, but when he tried to follow his chaotic yet incredible drumming style didn't like drumming like that at all and forced him to create an original style of his own. If anyone has ever watched and listened to a live drum solo by the 'professor on a drum kit' you will know what he means. Good read!

Scotland - Applecross and Ullapool

Myself and Lindsay just back from a great weekend in Scotland. Up to the West coast to Applecross, Ullapool and back down via Braemar. Thanks Andy !!

See the Blog from the tab above for photos etc.

2016 BMW Motorrad UK GS Challenge

Last weekend (Spring Bank Holiday) I took part in this years UK GS Challenge as a team member alongside Andy, Mike and Ron (members of the GSClubUK). The was held in and around the Brecons, using BMW's own off-road  skills school at the off-road venue - Walters Arena in South Wales.

What a great experience. The event is managed like a small rally stage, where we are given a start time (09:33) and a list of challenges in the form of a 3 page road book of navigation instructions. The idea was to complete all of the challenges by following the route precisely to way-points and stopping at various locations on the way. There were various challenges ranging from packing bike luggage in under 3 minutes, fault diagnosis on a bike to avoid injury, orienteering exercises and at the off-road centre a range of bike riding challenges using their range of GS's e.g. F700, F800 and R1200 LC boxers all kitted with Enduro tyres a trials session, road book, Le Mans style start on gravel with sudden stop. So much fun, and come Saturday evening at 6PM we were still banging away at it riding some of South Wales amazing roads - real green lane stuff less than a cars width.

Superb weekend, definitely up for another one. Quite fancy the Off-Road Skills two day training sessions now. That's another one for the bucket list !!

 

 

Met Andy at Ironbridge on his brand new GSA. A hearty breakfast in a nice cafe over the road and on to a route down to Wales via some of the twisties in Shropshire.

Long Mynd

Camp Site at the Ancient Britain. 

Mike, Ron and Andy just before the midge attack.

They were unrelenting !!

Myself and Mike at the first location.

William Williams - the Hymn writer.

me in white Motocross boots !!

Views across the Brecons.

Black Mountain

  Off Road Centre

Ride with Andy Saturday (GS Challenge)

Next Saturday (28th May), Bluemooner (Andy) will be passing through Shropshire riding his new GSA on our way to meet up with other members of GSCLUBUK the  GS Challenge.

Riding the Best of Shropshire and Mid-Wales (Powys).

Meet at Ironbridge, then across to Much Wenlock, over Long Mynd down to Clun, then to the Bikers Cafe, Crossgates, Rhayader, Elan Valley (optional), then past the Red Kite centre before dropping down into the Brecons.

130 Miles. This should get him there for just after 3PM, if not sooner !

Get the GPX here: Ironbridge to Ancient Briton

Meet Address:
Darbys of IronbridgeCafe
10 Tontine Hill, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7AL
View Map

The Wye Valley; in the shadow of the Black Mountains

Today's ride saw myself and Lindsay on a figure eight route through Herefordshire and a brief hop across the border into Powys. We made an early morning start leaving my house at 7:15, a cool eight degrees in bright sunshine meant my choice of summer gloves was way too optimistic, the temperature remained too cool throughout, prompting me to 'flick' the heated grip switch somewhere south of Bromyard.



It was so good to have the roads to ourselves, a lesson taken from the ride in the Cotswolds last weekend meant there was simply nothing else on the road allowing us to 'bat' along at a decent speed through some of the counties best 'B' road twists and turns passing apple orchards and cider farm shops along the way.

The pre-planned route (another late night session hunting for new/different roads of interest) took us just south of Hereford past Stirling Lines at Credenhill (the SAS base I pointed out to Lindsay) and along the edge of those formidable looking 'Black Mountains' just north of the Brecons near Whitney on Wye.  I really enjoy riding that fast A438 as it hugs up near the River Wye and passes by Baskerville Hall up high on the right where Arthur Conan Doyle used to stay as a guest and inspired his Sherlock Holmes story The Hounds of the Baskerville.

Baskerville Hall

We dropped down on to the B4350 having a lot of fun in the sun now as I could simply roll on and off the throttle in an out of bends taking care to avoid the occasional collection of gravel on each apex. Not sure where all of that gravel comes from, it occasionally catches me off guard causing a quick adjust without using the brakes and extra care with the throttle as I come out of the tighter bends. We stopped by a Cafe in Hay on Wye, after a short wait for them to open and a warm in the sun we ordered a couple of ham and cheese Omelettes. 

Moccas Park

From Hay on Wye we cut back east through Bredwardine and passed by Moccas Park - I must stop and take a look next time, the medieval deer park and lake looked like a typical English country estate with what looked like large Oak trees - hundreds of years old. To quote the Government publication of Hereford's Natural Nature Reserves: 

"The land shows evidence of habitation dating back to at least the Bronze Age, with a wealth of well preserved features, including at least 1 Bronze Age round barrow, a Norman motte and bailey and an 18th century park wall and lime kiln."

"The ancient trees host a large variety of epiphytic plants (plants that grow non-parasitically on other plants). More than 200 species of lichen have been recorded and a wide range of fungi grow in the forest and grassland, some of them very rare."

The ride north then took us over Bishops Frome and the Bromyard Downs before taking us up to Tenbury Wells via the sublime B4203. I love that road, a typical 'B' road but well surfaced with fantastic views of the Herefordshire countryside, remembering to also look at the view in the mirrors as we climbed up hills and dropped back down the other side.  From Tenbury we took the usual route home via Bewdley - made it back for just after midday. 130 miles round trip for me and a bit more for Lindsay!