Featured Touring Cheeky Little Overnight Run Into Wales For Kit Check

Well, l've bought a variety of things in recent months for biking and camping. So l sort of combined the two to see if l've dropped a bollock or backed a winner. New wax jacket, armoured cargo pants and boots for the bike, bigger tent not for backpacking, warmer sleeping bag to extend the season.
I rode into mid Wales, near the coast at Tywyn. Came up via Llanidloes which l believe has been a venue for GMUs in the past. Might ride on to Barmouth and Bala tomorrow, not made my mind up. Very peaceful campsite

 

So, jacket and trousers ok, bit cool this morning mind. Rode as far as Welshpool non stop so not that bad clearly. Stopped for fuel and there was a Greggs....

Nice road out of Llanidloes but very difficult to do photo stops.





Quick stop in Aberdyfi but too busy to park up and get a Mr Whippy

 

And set up for the night. This tent is mahoosive, should have a disco tonight
Oops too big to post

 

Anyway very nice. Moon is up

 

There we are. Cropped it a bit

 

@MightyBoosh:
Your impressions look great!!!
The tent is huge!

 

A porch tent certainly makes life easier when you arrive with everything wet and it's still raining.

 

You'll have to give us a rundown of kit and review

 

By Jove, last night was freezing. Sleeping bag was good but l clearly need a better sleep pad. I could actually feel the cold underneath me....it went down a bit too so l discovered how hard ground can be. Breakfast just arrived, bit more later

 

Had a steady cruise into Barmouth, breakfast at the Lobster Pot. Recommended. Can see out to the harbour and that funky bridge across the estuary in the background

 

If you ever find yourself near Barmouth, be sure to go over the toll bridge. A pound each way but the guy in the little shed let me off my return fare as l literally just turned around, took a pic and buzzed off. Very bumpy mind.

 

It's a long time since I've been on there, thanks for the memory and now noted for a return trip.

Probably last on there 1994

 

Aye, it’s also very, very slippery when wet. My brothers didn’t even attempt to stop. I had to stop and pay for all of us.

 

You were blessed with great weather too. Great pictures by the way.

 

So, epilogue. Did 360 miles over the two days in glorious sunshine but some very cold bits. I will try and post a kit list later, but l realised also this is the first decent trip since l fitted Hagon shocks. They were great. Front end is poor though. I also noticed a distinct difference in overall road condition between England and Wales. You don't realise how utterly shit our roads are until you go somewhere else.
My biggest takeaway, sadly, is that this little Bonneville is not a good tourer. Riding position is terrible. Footpegs way too far forward, my thighs and groins ache like l've played a game of football. Something l have to cogitate on if l want to do this kind of trip....

 

I really enjoyed your ride report, @MightyBoosh. I loved your word “mahoosive”. I think I may need to start using that. I love, disco, by the way, I would be happy to help you organize a dance party as long as you can hang a disco ball from the tent ceiling. It’s too bad the Bonnie doesn’t seem to work well for you for touring. Any thoughts about looking at a different bike? Or maybe just not touring? No, that doesn’t seem like a good solution at all…

 

Got it in hand Sandi. I will be taking this to Spain next month...



...the shortcomings on my Triumph were not a complete surprise. No chance of replacing it but l can adjust the way l use it to accommodate my old body. Less distance, more stops. Scotland looks a bit of a stretch but l could manage the Peak District, Yorkshire Dales etc so all is not lost.