Where did you ride today?

[Rynglieder]

22/02/2025 Beeston castle, c.135 miles



Another bright day was forecast with temperatures just into double figures, so it was time to pull the GSX out to stretch its legs.

The destination was to be Beeston Castle in Cheshire, about 65 miles northwest of home. My outward trip was of my own choice, largely using the familiar A41 to get up into Cheshire and included a coffee stop at the Raven Café at Prees heath. I was by no means the only bike out, a decent day made it feel that everyone who owns a bike had plucked it from the garage, I don't think I have ever seen so many on the road in February.

Beyond Whitchurch were roads I less often travelled and it is always good to be on new ground. The bike was pulled up on the castle's car park and I slogged up the hill for a mooch around. The castle itself is not that spectacular, but the views from the top make the climb worthwhile. I could just about pick out the radio telescope dish of Jodrell Bank beyond the Cheshire Plains, but I was left guessing about what a lot of the other hill ranges around me were.







I courageously let the Zumo chose the way home, it did find me a few country roads that were virgin territory, but it rather uncharitably brought me back toward home via Telford's dreary dual carriageways. Serves me right for not plotting the route myself I suppose.

A quick cup of tea was snatched at my sister's house near Dudley before finishing the day off. It had mostly been under blue skies but there were a couple of minor showers and the flooded lanes near the castle mean that the GSX is going to need a bath in short order.

[Kiwifruit]

Great pics Pete. Pleased to see pay to park and orange cones are not exclusive to NZ.

[Tony Nitrous]

380K's / 236 miles.   
A bit warm at 33 C but still nice.





Maybe 2 more rides and it'll be another pair of new tyres and a main service.

[Rynglieder]

Great pics Pete. Pleased to see pay to park and orange cones are not exclusive to NZ.

Being an English Heritage member means I get to park for free on their sites if I display a windscreen sticker, however that is firmly adhered to the Jaguar.

I had a word with them at the reception desk and in hushed tones was told not to worry about it. I would speculate the parking charge is not actually enforced and anyone who sticks three quid in the machine is a bit of a bonus for them.

[Tony Nitrous]

286k (177 mile) loop heading East and back to get a bacon and egg roll.
Saw 36 degrees C (97F) heading back.

Funny day, nice at home, cloudy and windy further East, hot and calm inbetween. Cyclone might bring us some rain. Wife has been told that no one is required to go the the city this week due to storm warnings.

[Hooli]

I went down on 14 to visit a mate in Kent over the weekend & she wanted to go visit her old haunts, so we ended up here to eat & watch the idiots doing stunts on the road outside.



It's improved a lot since I last went, the food wasn't bad now, it was terrible 15 years ago when I went last. Then rode around the centre of town, to other places & two weekend trips to Hastings & Rye. I've not sorted or stolen the pics yet so this one is all you're getting for now.

Damn ULEZ charge is a joke though, cost £12.50 just to enter London due to the age of that bike. At least bikes are exempt from the congestion charge so far.

[Kiwifruit]

@ Hooli. We are lucky down here they haven't hit us with that little tax yet.

[Hooli]

That's why I've not been for about 15 years, I only went this time as she offered to pay the charge.

[GSXKING]

We rode to Woodford over Mt.Mee for breakfast at Jallas. Lots of debris after our cyclone last weekend. However it was quite manageable. The route home was via Kilcoy, Somerset Dam (which is quite full) and Pine Mountain.
8 of us had a lovely day out 29deg C middle of March. 

[Coopz]

Rode through the Adelaide Hills the other day, mid Autumn but still very warm. The old girl still runs like a new bike.

[KiwiCol]

& she still looks great too Coopz.

[GSXKING]

Rode through the Adelaide Hills the other day, mid Autumn but still very warm. The old girl still runs like a new bike.

I remember test riding a blue, when I got back I asked if they had anything faster. So they wheeled out my blue and white beast 😈😈😈😎

[Kiwifruit]

Shame the black ones had all been snapped up Chris   

[Eric GSX1400K3]

They hadn't finished building the black ones yet back then....

[GSXKING]

Shame the black ones had all been snapped up Chris 

No need for racism mate 😳😳😳