Well it was that time of year again and a few mad hatters from CAM set off for the Dragon Rally in North Wales. There were only three of us this year, Mark Tucker, Ivan Cullum and myself, Roger Fleet. The weather forecast did not look too bad, in fact it turned out lovely, four dry days to ride and enjoy ourselves on some good roads. Mark and I left on Thursday morning and went up to his aunties in Bath via Exmoor and Ivan met us there later that afternoon.
Friday morning and the sun was out and we set off for Porthmadog in North Wales where we had pre booked a Travelodge room for the night. As the weather was good we decided to head for the west coast of Wales and then go north leaving central Wales for the return trip on Sunday. Across the old Severn bridge to Chepstow, up the Wye valley, then Monmouth, Abergavenney and follow the A40 via Brecon and Llandoverry to join the A482 to Aberaeron on the coast. From there we joined the A487 to Dolgellau and then on to Porthmadog. Saturday evening was spent walking around the town trying to find somewhere to eat as not much was open on a Friday night in February. We eventually found a hotel with a reasonable menu and something to drink but their doors were locked when we left at 10pm.
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Ivan happy to have arrived  |
The campsite filling up  |
Right hand bend halfway up the track
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Some are equiped better than others  |
Well the day of the rally arrived, Saturday 7th, with more clear sky and a bright sun, so after visiting Tescos for food and fluid for the weekend we then found a nice cafe for breakfast. Once our bodies were fueled up it was off to the checkin point at Tal-y Bont in the Conwy valley. Beautiful scenary as we rode through Beddgelert towards Capel Curig with the snow covered slopes of Snowden and Llewidd and mirror smooth lakes with mountain reflections. Unfortuneately morning mist was higher up our valley and we lost the sun and visibility for a few miles. On to Betws-y-Coed and a left turn on to the B5106 to the check point a Tal-y-Bont and try to find somewhere to park in the layby. Logged in we're given directions to the campsite 3 miles down the road and then west to some woods. Camping in the woods or the top fields was permitted but after missing the side track into the woods I led the way up a reasonabley steep mud/ gravel forest track, then a sharp right bend where the gradient increased and the surface decreased until it opened out into the top fields. Not too muddy but a bit boggy and I came to halt and toppled over, the other two survived with pushes from marshalls. Helpers put me back in the saddle with no damage done and we manovered to somewhere to pitch our tents.
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Combi on the top track section  |
Getting muddy in the field  |
One of the many Trikes  |
The rest of the day was spent watching others arrive and some depart. We had thought the campsite fairly full went we arrived but by late afternoon we could not have got out if we had wanted too. Tent were being pitched on all available grass and what tracks and pathes there were were becoming very slippery with approximately 1500 bikes ,trikes and combinations passing over them. The evening arrived and it's time to cook our meals then depart for the marquee to have a chat, drink and listen to the band later on.
Having lapped up the clear sky in the daytime we had to pay the penalty at night with a very heavy frost. No mud or boggy ground in the morning but solid icy grass and very slippery tracks. By the time enough tents had moved so we could get our bikes out the main track out the field was so slippery the prospect of leaving was not a nice thought but with over 400miles to ride we had to give it a go as it looked as if it was only going to get worse. Helping each other we got to the top of the field, and once moving with only rear brake,clutch and minimum trottle the descent through the woods was not too bad (realised only after the event). Back on good old tarmac we took it easy for a while until our tires we clean and our nerves stabilised.
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Descending the lower track section  |
Descending the top section  |
Gently does it  |
Well the plan was still to ride back through central Wales so we joined the A470 at Betws-y-coed and started to eat up the miles following it all the way to Abergavenney then the A40 and A449 to the M4 and home via the motorways. The sun was out mist rolling off the hills until it evenually blocked out the sun and the temperate dropped quite a bit, but at least it stayed dry and the low winter sun was not in our eyes.
Why do we do it, we don't really know, but the general opinion was because we can, and it is a very good excuse to enjoy some good company with a wide variety of bikers from the UK, and Europe and ride some lovely roads. Just got to wait another year now for the 50th Dragon. Anybody else up for it?
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Mark meeting new people  |
Evening entertainment  |
Why am I here?  |
Because it's fun  |
Rogers iced up bike in the morning  |
