Rideout to Crossgates

Helen and I went out with NUKB yesterday on a rideout to Crossgates in Wales. Due to Helen’s bike being in bits (forks off, sheared bolts, long story) she decided to give my VFR a try, which obviously means I was on the ZX-9R.

 

 

We met up with everyone at around 9:00am at Lymm Services. We left Lymm on the M56 and got off at junction 10 and joined the A49. We took the A49 all the way down to Whitchurch where we joined the A525 and then turned left at Redbrook onto the A495 to Ellesmere, at some point we lost Andy who let us know that he had had a puncture. We continued through Ellesmere and Whittington on the A495 and joined A483 near Oswestry. We then stopped at Oswestry services for a quick break.

 

We left the services on the A483 and  followed that all the way to Newtown via Welshpool. We then turned left to continue on the A483 to Crossgates. We stopped just outside Newtown and then set off individually to enjoy this stunning road at our own pace. We arrived at Crossgates after a slightly damp run and stopped at the services for lunch.

We left Crossgates and took the A483 back to Newtown. This time the road and dried and we were able to enjoy the run to its full effect. CJ went off 5 minutes before us so he could find somewhere to take some action shots with his camera, as we came past. We all re-grouped in Newtown and then set off back up the A483. On the outskirks of Newtown we turned right onto the A489 to head across to Shrewsbury.

We got a few miles down the road and stopped in Kerry when we realised 2 people were missing. We left Mike a message on his phone and set off again. We continued on the A489 and then cut across to the A488 at Broadway. We took he A488 to Shrewsbury where we turned right onto the A49. We took the A49 up to Whitchurch where we stopped for a quick break and managed to met up with our 2 lost souls. Wolfrunner’s bike wouldn’t start in Newtown and had to be push started, hence way they got left behind.

 

We set off again and continued on up the A49 all the way to the M56 and then we went home via the M6, M62 and M60. Helen really enjoyed the VFR and up until 30 minutes from home she was all up for trading her BMW in against one. The only problem she found was that her wrists started to really hurt, also she would want heated grips. She may look into getting one next year and get bar risers fitted to it.

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Mini Lakes Tour

Helen and I have just come back from a short tour of the lakes while staying at my mother’s static caravan near Bouth. For obvious reasons I went on the Viffer, luggage, fuel range etc.. Getting on it for the 1^st time since getting the ZX-9R it felt like riding a comfy chair.

 

Sunday 20th September

We set out at around 11:00am on Sunday and headed up the A56/M66 to Clitheroe. However as seems to be the norm I forgot the caravan keys so had to turn back after about 5 miles. Helen carried on to Clitheroe services and we met back up after I had gone back for the keys. We filled up at Clitheroe and then headed into Clitheroe and then got on the B6478 to Slaidburn via Newton Fells. We then turned left in Newton and took the road to Dunsop Bridge. We then turned right and took the road through the Trough of Bowland. They still have the road blocked off near Lee Bridge and you are diverted through Abbeystead before rejoining the main road just before the Tower. We then turned left in Quernmore and headed over to Caton and joined the A683 to Kirkby Lonsdale. We stopped at Devil’s for a brew but it was far too busy, so decided to just go to the caravan.

 

We left Devil’s and headed on the A65 towards the M6. We crossed over the M6 and joined the A590 to Kendal. We continued on the A590 all the way to the caravan at Bouth.

 

Monday 21^st September

We set out at around 10:00am and joined the A5092 at Spark Bridge. We then turned right onto the A5084 to Torver. At Torver we turned right on the A593 to Coniston and then continued on this road to Ambleside via Skelwith Bridge. In Ambleside we joined The Struggle which we took up to the top of Kirkstone Pass, where we stopped at Kirkstone Inn for a brew.

 

After the brew we went down the otherside of Kirkstone Pass on the A592 and went through Patterdale and Glenridding before riding alongside Ullswater. We turned off the A592 at Waterfoot and joined the B5320 to Eamont Bridge, just after Pooley Bridge we turned right onto minor roads to Askham. We then continued on minor roads through Helton and Bampton before joining the road to Haweswater Reservoir. We rode alongside the reservoir to the far end where the road ends. We stopped for a brief while to take some pictures and then went back along the road again briefly stopping at Haweswater Hotel. Unfortunately they don’t serve food on Mondays and Tuesdays due to hardly any passing custom. So we headed over to Shap via Bampton Grange and Rosgill where we managed to find a pub serving food.

 

We left Shap on the A6 heading to Kendal and soon hit some very wet and windy weather. We were not able to enjoy the road due to the poor conditions. We stopped in Kendal for some fuel and then after dodging a lunatic car driver, who nearly had me before deliberately crashing into a people carrier, we then joined the A591 and then the A590 back to the caravan in Bouth.

 

Tuesday 22^nd September

We set out at about 11:00am and joined the A5092 at Spark Bridge. We took the A5092 to Grizebeck where we joined the A595. We took the A595 all the way to Ravenglass and then joined minor roads to Santon Bridge. We then joined the road to Wasdale Head and rode alongside Wast Water to the end. We stopped at Ritson’s Bar at Wasdale Head for a spot of lunch.

 

After lunch we rode back alongside Wast Water before stopping for the obligatory photo of sheep for Helen. We then headed through Eskdale Green and over Birker Fell to the steep hairpins at Ulpha. We then continued on and went over Dunnerdale Fells to Duddon Bridge where we joined the A595 again. We then joined the A5092 at Grizeback and headed back to the caravan via Spark Bridge and a quick drink in the White Hart Inn in Bouth.

 

Wednesday 23^rd September.

We set out at around 11:00am and headed on the A590 towards the M6. We went over the M6 and joined the A65 to Kirkby Lonsdale. We stopped in Kirkby Lonsdale so Helen could go to the cheese shop. We then proceeded over to Devil’s Bridge for a bacon butty and a brew.

 

We left Devil’s on the A65 and just after Ingleton we turned onto minor roads and went over Clapham Common and past Stocks Reservoir. We then joined the B6478 to Clitheroe via Slaidburn and Waddington. We then proceeded home via the A56/M66.

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