Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: tunnie on 24 June 2010, 20:11:51

Title: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2010, 20:11:51
So i was not working Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday & weather reports looked great, its uncertain if the beemer is staying so after my trip to the Isle of Man and how much i enjoyed North Wales roads, decided on a spontaneous camping trip there. With just a campsite in mind & A-Z of UK, i loaded the beemer and off i went...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00930.JPG)

Weather was perfect, not too hot, nice cool air so not too hot in traffic. Stopped off on the way up to Dolgellau from Machynlleth:

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00935.JPG)

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00936.JPG)

I made a wrong turn, so consulted the map, there are worst places to go wrong...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00937.JPG)

Found the campsite

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00949.JPG)

and established camp...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00941.JPG)

With that done, i went in search of a Pub! - Found one in Beddgelert few mins down the road....

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00945.JPG)

View from campsite....

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00950.JPG)

Next day decided to head further North, was a bit cloudy but still all good...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00956.JPG)

I ended up in Rhyl, and ohhh dear. Ryhl made Blackpool look like Monte Carlo  :o - Just tat everyware, so i turned about and ended up in Anglesey, much more like it...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00971.JPG)

Back towards Snowdonia, and i realise its the England game, i pull over and watch the results come in on my phone...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00976.JPG)

Campsite was excellent, £6.50 a night, and for an extra £6 you can have a log fire and all the wood you can burn from a shed at the bottom of the site. So went off into town to get a lighter, damn shop shut!

So 30 mile round trip to another village and i had fire...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC00983.JPG)

Few pages of MCN Classifieds and i had it burning nicely...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01000.JPG)

Took different route home, went through Tywyn, nice little sea side place, what they should be like! Stopped off to rest my arse and have a check of the map, old couple started asking about the bike, they new it was a 1200cc straight away  :o

Turns out they used to tour on bikes and lived in Kings Sutton, which is about 10 miles from me!  :o Small world...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01010.JPG)

So I come out of Newtown heading for Ludlow in gorgeous  sunshine, when i see gliders and hand gliders on this rather large hill, looked interesting up there so stopped off, and checked the map...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01012.JPG)

Checked the route, and headed off, i got closer and closer to this huge hill (which turns out was Long Mynd) without climbing  :o

Get to the foot of it and find a track, little did i know it would be the steepest hill i'd ever gone up... (picture taken at the top)

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01018.JPG)

Stunning views at the top though...

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01031.JPG)

Quite possibly some of the best views i've seen in England....

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01046.JPG)

Oh, and some people struggle with the GS, not me though, still legs bent flat footing it  ;D

(http://dl.dropbox.com/u/803897/Motorbike/Wales/DSC01039.JPG)

Got a bit lost on way back missed some turns, ended up going via Gloucester and Chipping Norton, still views were good and fantastic roads!

Averaged 49mpg, kinda sad to be home, just getting into the grove of things, my balance on bike had improved, ultra slow speed stuff still foot on pegs when doing about 0.1mph

Still always next trip!  ;D
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: Jimbob on 24 June 2010, 20:15:05
Nice run  :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: TheBoy on 24 June 2010, 20:20:07
reconise the layby near the bridge on anglesey - I had Goldie then  :'(
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: PhilRich on 24 June 2010, 20:30:32
Looks like you had a good time Tunnie, the perfect type of break to relax & unwind from the cares of the Race  ;D
Lovely views too!, we tend to forget what a beautiful Country we live in. Glad you enjoyed it  :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2010, 20:36:43
Quote
Looks like you had a good time Tunnie, the perfect type of break to relax & unwind from the cares of the Race  ;D
Lovely views too!, we tend to forget what a beautiful Country we live in. Glad you enjoyed it  :y

Yup, want to do trips to Norway and Switzerland on the bike, but they will cost a few quid.

Had fantasic blast on the roads on way back, the new Tourances Tyres i bought are soooooo much better than the crappy Bridgestone Battlewings. Loads more grip, better braking, smoother, was chucking it into bends fully loaded. Had a big grin on my face when i stopped at a little chef  :D
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: PhilRich on 24 June 2010, 20:41:41
Quote
Quote
Looks like you had a good time Tunnie, the perfect type of break to relax & unwind from the cares of the Race  ;D
Lovely views too!, we tend to forget what a beautiful Country we live in. Glad you enjoyed it  :y

Yup, want to do trips to Norway and Switzerland on the bike, but they will cost a few quid.

Had fantasic blast on the roads on way back, the new Tourances Tyres i bought are soooooo much better than the crappy Bridgestone Battlewings. Loads more grip, better braking, smoother, was chucking it into bends fully loaded. Had a big grin on my face when i stopped at a little chef  :D
[/highlight]



I'm green with envy for your health, freedom, youth & enthusiasm for life Tunnie! ;) Enjoy life to the full 'cos it isn't a rehearsal!! ;D ;D ;D :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 24 June 2010, 20:43:46
I figured what the hell  :) - Had nothing else planned. Thing about the bike is, that last bit, i thought, oOoO, whats up there? Explore! In the car i would never have bothered!

Camping on the bike turned out to be ok, so i reckon it can provide some budget holidays next year, as i might be able to keep it  :)
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: webby23 on 24 June 2010, 20:47:44
Great pics tunnie and good for you for taking the trip

We are fortunate enough to have family in Caernarfon so spend at least a weekend a month over there, beautiful area, matches the Lakes for scenery

 :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: PhilRich on 24 June 2010, 20:50:20
Quote
I figured what the hell  :) - Had nothing else planned. Thing about the bike is, that last bit, i thought, oOoO, whats up there? Explore! In the car i would never have bothered!

Camping on the bike turned out to be ok, so i reckon it can provide some budget holidays next year, as i might be able to keep it  :)




Well lets hope so, as you're much more in touch with your surroundings on a bike as opposed to a car where you're more cosseted & insulated from the outside, just as you've found to your obvious delight  :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: waspy on 24 June 2010, 21:33:21
Good for you Tunnie :y :y It's good to go exploring from time to time. I used to do just the same in my younger days & just like you i found some very nice places :) :)
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: Varche on 25 June 2010, 12:43:45
Fantastic set of pics. Thanks :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 25 June 2010, 13:06:16
Wot?!?! No video footage taken on your super-duper mini-spy-cam thingy?!?!?

Got one on order now...
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: omegod on 25 June 2010, 13:06:17
Lovely pics, I was round those parts 2 weeks ago. Took a wrong turn and I think I went on the old A5 from Bala to Conway, to be honest the scenery was tearjerkingly  stunning and the best I have ever seen! This was helped by the classics flying past me on an organised run, 70's 911's , 60's Maesarati's etc.
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: hoofing it on 25 June 2010, 13:16:55
Looks like you wanted to chill out a bit nice photo's :y
you wouldn't last a night in the scottish highlands (west coast) bloody midges eat anything that breaths :D
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2010, 13:21:24
Quote
Wot?!?! No video footage taken on your super-duper mini-spy-cam thingy?!?!?

Got one on order now...

Still struggling to mount it, i find its not quite right on the helmet and at wrong angle  :(

Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 25 June 2010, 13:22:02
Quote
Looks like you wanted to chill out a bit nice photo's :y
you wouldn't last a night in the scottish highlands (west coast) bloody midges eat anything that breaths :D

I had the good fortune to participate in a 6-day motorbike tour of Scotland about 7 years ago.

You're right, those midgies are friendly wee beasties, aren't they? And they ALL want to come and say hello!
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2010, 13:22:59
Quote
Looks like you wanted to chill out a bit nice photo's :y
you wouldn't last a night in the scottish highlands (west coast) bloody midges eat anything that breaths :D

Yeah was the idea, get away from it all from a bit. Since i work so hard  ::)

No midges to note for me, maybe they all full up on Darth Loo Knee  ;D
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 25 June 2010, 13:30:13
Quote
Quote
Wot?!?! No video footage taken on your super-duper mini-spy-cam thingy?!?!?

Got one on order now...

Still struggling to mount it, i find its not quite right on the helmet and at wrong angle  :(


I'm surprised someone hasn't picked that one up!  ;D

What are the hand-guards made of, are they plastic? Any chance you could drill one of those and mount the camera on there? I think the camera comes with various bit of mounting hardware, including a bit with a ball-and-socket joint?

Unless you went for the economy version that came with bugger all?  ;)
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2010, 13:36:57
No it comes with mounting brackets, and the hand guards are plastic, but i want the Camera to see what i see, also mounted on me it removes most road vibration.
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 25 June 2010, 13:43:16
Quote
No it comes with mounting brackets, and the hand guards are plastic, but i want the Camera to see what i see, also mounted on me it removes most road vibration.
What about the top item on this page:

http://www.dogcamsport.co.uk/bullet-camera-suction-mounts.htm

They're designed for bullet cams, but as the camera you've got is so small, it might fit?
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 25 June 2010, 14:07:41
they look tad big, i'd like to get a solid state bullet cam for reasonable price, but can't find one
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 25 June 2010, 14:26:30
The next item down on the page is for smaller devices.

Guess I'll have to wait until my camera arrives to get a better idea of what can be done. It might be possible to fabricate some kind of packing to make the camera a snug (and secure) fit in the mount.

If I buy some and they work, I'll only need one, so I'll have a spare or 2..... ::)
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 25 June 2010, 19:16:31
Very nice pictures and nice trip Tunnie :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: hercules on 25 June 2010, 19:21:29
Quote
Quote
Looks like you wanted to chill out a bit nice photo's :y
you wouldn't last a night in the scottish highlands (west coast) bloody midges eat anything that breaths :D

Yeah was the idea, get away from it all from a bit. Since i work so hard  ::)

No midges to note for me, maybe they all full up on Darth Loo Knee  ;D
::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ::) ;D
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 01 July 2010, 18:09:55
Quote
No it comes with mounting brackets, and the hand guards are plastic, but i want the Camera to see what i see, also mounted on me it removes most road vibration.

Check this video, he's got a couple of thought-provoking ideas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxZsckWZOAQ&feature=related
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: tunnie on 01 July 2010, 20:39:17
Quote
Quote
No it comes with mounting brackets, and the hand guards are plastic, but i want the Camera to see what i see, also mounted on me it removes most road vibration.

Check this video, he's got a couple of thought-provoking ideas...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HxZsckWZOAQ&feature=related

Tis a good clip that saw that when i was browsing eBay for the camera  :y
Title: Re: Spontaneous Wales trip...(56k warning)
Post by: djac on 02 July 2010, 12:35:47
Don;t know if you've seen this, but apparently it can be adapted to use with the camera we have:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Veho-VCC-A002-WPC-Waterproof-Micro-Camcorder/dp/B0031LX6F6

A bit pricey though, considering the price of the camera.