A day out on the bike

[Rynglieder]

Yesterday was the '14's turn out of the garage.

The sun was due to shine and Carole's friend was due over to our house; apparently there was some big wedding happing down south that was due to be televised. I was also FA Cup final day and as it did not feature Wolves I was not enthused by the prospect watching that. I reckoned I would have the nation's roads to myself and I would not be missed at home.

Sometimes I am happy to just take a run out for an hour or so to nowhere in particular, picking single carriageway roads that I enjoy and just sort of going where the blue front fender leads me. If I have a big chunk of the day though, I prefer to have a destination in mind and sometimes pick somewhere from the English Heritage website and have a mooch around with the camera in hand.

Living where I do, I am usually pulled toward, Shropshire, Worcestershire or Herefordshire for a run out. Birmingham seems to be a malevaolent block against the eastern side of the country; why waste the first hour or so of precious biking time going through or round it? In need of a change, I bit the bullet and scooted around the M42 up as far as Tamworth and then found more enjoyable riding through into Leicestershire.

Nearly 15 years on since I bought it the GSX still gives great pleasure for runs like these. Quick enough for the riding I do and comfortable enough to make you want to keep going. The Z1000 is fun, but literally becomes a pain in the arse after 80 miles. The Z1300 is OK on the straight bits and is nearly always a conversation piece when parked up, but too much of a hippo around the town. The GTR holds its own on days like these except that the bulk and luggage capacity is unnecessary when I am on my own and in no need of 40 spare pairs of Y-Fronts.

Eventually I arrived in Kirby Muxloe where I then spent a while roaming around the castle, taking a bit of time with the camera, relieved to find that the recent repair I had had to do to the aperture mechanism seemed to have worked. (Have you any idea of the number of bloody screws you need to remove to get inside a DSLR camera??) I think I took pictures from evet conceivable angle and a few of a brood of goslings (I got hissed at for that, I think I upset Mother Goose).

Back on the road I let the Gramin Zumo pick me a "Curvy Road" route to Lichfield. I have previously found this setting to be a nightmare when you actually need to get somewhere at a sensible pace but I was quite useful in selecting some roads for me that I may not have considered as I was under no time pressure.

There was a brief final stop at Lichfield where I found something to eat and drink and was able to shrug off the jacket for a while before walking up to the cathedral. I was getting a bit too warm to be walking around a town (sorry Lichfield, city) It seems that the linings were a bit of a mistake, I suppose that as it is now May they should be coming out.

Heading back home I stated to notice a bit of a grumble from the drive chain, so that's the next little job. A bit of lube and a pinch with the spanner and it will be ready to go again.

Looking forward to it.....

The rest of the pictures here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rynglieder/

[lil4399]

Nice pickies 😊

I think the Royal Wedding was a blessing for all bikers as we got the day to ourselves not only without grumbling but actual encouragement to go!

[Proteous]

Thats REALLY local to me, did you pay to enter the castle grounds? Or just get as close as you could?

[VladTepes]

Nice one. I like castles, and ruins, and history, and naturally motorbikes.  So this thread delivers.

[Globalrider]

I'm with ya Rynglieder I have 2X B'n'W '03s - nice country!!

Stan

[Kiwifruit]

Nice pics. Thanks for sharing 

[Rynglieder]

Thats REALLY local to me, did you pay to enter the castle grounds? Or just get as close as you could?

Yes, I think it dawned on me that I was on your patch.

The ticket office is within the moated area of the castle so once you have sidled past the killer geese and are over the bridge you need to be digging in your pockets for a fiver. In truth the best views if you just want to take a few pictures are from the outside of the moat and there is no charge for walking round there, it seems to be the haunt of the local fishing club. I can't recall if the perimeter gates were locked, if not you could probably do lap of it after the official closing time.

I don't usually begrudge a few pounds though, it helps keep our history preserved.

[Rynglieder]

The bikes in general are still being pretty neglected due to a project I have had on down in Devon for the last 12 months which has taken up pretty much every other weekend.

I have managed the odd trip out though; during June I managed to set aside a day which I got together a really enjoyable route through Bishops Castle and Newtown out to the Clywedog dam in mid-Wales.

The sunshine had pulled out the Sunday Drivers on the roads near the edge of the West Midlands but as soon as I had broken through the ring created by those who are just out for an hours drive there was practically nothing in my way and what I came across was easy enough to put behind me.

[VladTepes]

Beautiful countryside.

And a dam great photo  (see what IO did there? ) 

[Notty]

Beautiful countryside.

And a dam great photo  (see what IO did there? ) 

Dam Beautiful countryside in Wales 

[Hooli]

Someone has opened the dam floodgates.

[grog]

great piccys mr glieder. love the dam one.

[KiwiCol]

Rynglieder is going dam busters on this!

[Sweaty]

Beautiful countryside.

And a dam great photo  (see what IO did there? ) 

Now look what you have god dam done Vlad 

[ARH]

well I'll be dammed...   hat..coat..door...