Wales weekend – part I
Tariq Hussain, June 2024
The group consisted of 25 bikes, plus five pillions. This was a social ride open to all EKAM members. We were returning to the four-star Metropole hotel in Llandrindod Wells. Great food, a swimming pool and sauna and better rates than a Travelodge. The Metropole is situated in Mid Wales, with roads and scenery as dramatic as any in France, or Scotland, just minus the high mountain passes. Hardly a pot-hole to be seen.
At the hotel for the weekend there were over 100 bikes from four bike clubs. The largest was Thames Valley Advanced, they were on an associates training weekend. It was good to catch up with other IAM riders and officials.
The main riding group set of together from the M4 Oxford Service Station, on Friday 10 May, minus the weekend organiser who broke down on the M25 and returned home, but joined the group in his car and became a pillion on the Saturday ride out. Sadly, one rider filled up his bike with diesel and he and his brother waited together for RAC breakdown which turned up over 12 hours later. They arrived at the hotel at about 4 am, Saturday. Interestingly another rider made the same error last year, but managed to sort it out before riding off from the fuel station. The only other mechanical problem during the weekend was a puncture which was sorted.
The riding routes were organised by John B. Riders were split into two groups, coasts and curves and lakes and hills. The groups switched around the next day. John B and Steve W led the rides. I was offered a pillion ride by John B on the Saturday. This was my only my second pillion ride in over 50 years. The sense of not having any control was at best interesting and at worse terrifying. Though it was great to still be able to join one of the rides over the weekend.
And the weather? Well, it was mostly good to great with just a couple of short Welsh downpours.
Wales weekend – smiling
Charles, June 2024
I have always wanted to visit Wales by motorcycle. Having lived & worked overseas for 47 years I’ve been waiting quite a long time for this experience! Imagine my delight when it all came together, and even better, the added bonus of being in the company of seasoned veterans.
Apart from being in great company, lasting memories of two days in Wales was the magnificent countryside, the hills, lakes & reservoirs, twisties, farms roads dotted with lambs and their mums and the whiff of muck spreading in places!
The Saturday’s ride treated us to a stunning ever-changing canvas of hills and valleys basked in sunshine. I smiled and smiled with sheer delight. The sights were better than I imagined. Sunday was equally awe inspiring, and the route treated us to ups and downs and off-the-beaten track single track roads. Not a pothole in sight!
As we meandered our way through the spectacular countryside on the return leg to Llandrindod Wells the heavens parted big time. And while the rain pummelled us and we were enveloped in rain/ mist it was quite exhilarating really. Even though my visor steamed up a bit I continued smiling the whole journey.
Wales was a great experience and for me I learned a good deal about my bike and my riding. So whilst there’s still a way to go on my journey from aassociate to advanced there has been ‘progress.’ Thank you all for a most memorable weekend. I learned from watching the best and your feedback was appreciated. Thanks to all those who in EKAM who are guiding me to becoming a safer, better, more confident rider.
In closing, special thanks to all those involved in organising the weekend and leading the rides. I look forward very much to joining the next trip, hopefully as an advanced rider.