Friday 3^rd June

The weekend started off well, Roy had forgotten his life saving pills, so he had to ride back for them, luckily we are only 45 minutes from home, so he made the return trip while I checked in. Ian & Denise, Pete& Hazel, Alan & Deb, Rob ( my boy) & Karen, Rob W and Rodger had already arrived and Ian was busy sorting out PMR and Sat Navs ( nothing new there then?).

Our rooms were miles from the reception, nearer to Bakewell I think, but they were very quiet so we couldn’t complain.

By Dinner time Mark and Pam had also joined us. After some negotiation it was agreed we could have a 3 course meal for the price of 2 courses and I must say the food was very good, especially the Pea and Mint soup!!

After a catch up and natter we toddled off to bed for an early start in the morning.

Saturday 4^th June.

Ian busy fixing PMR’s as usual

The weather was promised to be dry and warm but who can trust the weather so some of us had come in their winter gear! After breakfast Mick and Netty and Tim Ross ( a newbie trying us out) joined us ready for the ride. With full tanks and empty bladders we set off through Stoke and out onto the beautiful Staffordshire Moors, the sun was breaking through and the temperature was rising, thank goodness for airflow! After a couple of “off” routes we made our first stop was at the Vanilla Kitchen in Tideswell, where despite only having breakfast an hour or two ago some people had to scones with jam and cream!! Jim had also joined us in skateboard 1, Jill was shopping! We filled the small café and it became even fuller when a group of sweaty cyclists also muscled in, exhausted from their ride in the hot weather.

Enjoying a Cream tea in the sun

We then meandered our ways across the moors until we reached Bakewell Show Ground and the site of the TRENT wings Wingding ( a gathering of Goldwings) Cheryl and Alan had taken some of them out on a short ride, so we parked up and sat out in the warm sun enjoying cream teas and drinks from the Bakewell tart stall. Denise and I went in search of a Cash Machine and came across a load of Morris dancers in the square , there was a Morris dancing festival on, so we quickly grabbed the cash and headed back to the site, some of the dancers looked quite scary!!. By now Cheryl and Alan were back, John Williams had joined us ( he wanted to test the bike on his own) Nigel and Sue (  Sue in a car as she had to work Sunday) had also arrived. For Roy and I it was a chance to meet up with some old Shropshire Wingers who were camping and enjoying the warm weather. Those in their winter gear were beginning to get hot. Denise took a pound off of everyone and went over to the Tombola stall, where she had great delight in winning prizes for everyone and running back to us with the booty. After more cream cakes(!) and a quick listen to the folk group it was time to leave  to get back to the hotel for dinner. After a few more wrong turns we made it back safe and sound.

At the hotel Tony Moate had arrived, we said goodbye to Mick & Netty and Tim and soon it was time to eat again. Pea and Mint soup whoopee!

Sunday 5^th June

Ready for the off

Richard had called in at Breakfast to collect a Sat Nav, he was not stopping but it was lovely to see him. Tim was joining us again today with Traci, his partner. We also said goodbye to Rodger, Alan and Deb who were unable to join us today, but we will see them soon in Germany.

It was already quite warm when we set off for Snowdonia, the sky was clear and the sun was beating down. The route to the coffee stop took across several counties and though some very lovely villages with great big houses, Footballers I expect. At Maccy Dees Mold we were greeted by Nigel, Joanna, Dave and Jan (looking very trim) Dave was very intrigued with the PMR set up on our wing and was busy taking pictures of the top box interior and measuring the aerial. Luckily I had a ruler purchased from the Wing Ding (as you do!) so he could take exact measurements. After a welcome cool drink we set off through beautiful countryside down into the Snowdonia Park, the weather was brilliant, sunny and hot and the roads were dry. The Snowdonia park was fantastic and the roads fairly quiet , Nigel was trying to explain over the radio which of the peaks was Snowdon , but Roy and I failed to agree which one was Snowdon!. We reached Tan-y-Bwich Railway as planned ready to see the two trains to cross, very spectacular. The café did not have a lot of choice and Hazel and Pete ended up with pasties but the young lad serving was not sure what was in them as he had not worked the day before???? We were not quite sure what that had to do with it but Hey Ho.

Eating again

Trainspotting

After watching the trains , we said good bye to Nigel, Joanna, Dave and Jan and set off again to ride through clear Welsh countryside to Chirk for tea. On route Tim and Traci, Nigel and Tony said good bye and they headed off to their homes. After a brief stop at Chirk and a quick search for a fuel station ( they had knocked down the planned one) we set off for the hotel. It had been a long hot day, 226 miles but the views and roads had been worth it. I was so glad we were in our airflows, but I think the winter gear wearers were a little hot!

After another good meal ( no Pea and Mint soup) we sat around discussing the day and Rob ( my proxy son) got quite excited when he thought Roy and I were getting a new bike ( sorry to disappoint you son, but we are not!)

Thank you to everyone who had joined us, it was a brilliant weekend, company and weather wise and we look forward to seeing some of you on the Germany Trip. A special thanks to Nigel for all the individual pictures!

Lined up