Moto ADV: We Went To Wales

Our Yorkshire mates had already arranged a moto trip to Wales a week or two hence. From a coffee shop in Derbyshire we phoned them and said, "Can we, the usual suspects, join you please?" With barely a detectable hesitation, the answer was, "Of course you can. But accommodation might be difficult."
Somehow our Expert (AM) got us rooms in the same hotel as the Yorkshire boys. Sorted! It would be DAB meets HAB. Derbyshire Advanced Bikers meet with Harrowgate Advanced Bikers.
One of the "usual suspects" - GW - was missing. He is blatting across North America with a certain Nick Sanders. The scenery, therefore, will be just that blurry stuff on the side of the road!
Soon the day of departure arrived. The plan: AM and JM to RV with TE in Staffordshire. MP, MF, JK, RD, JA, CA to RV with us at The Dragon Hotel, Montgomery, Powys, Wales.

My machine ready to go.

The clock reads 45613. Trip to be reset at refuelling stop about 3 miles away. Moto does 11+ miles per litre. 30 litre tank. 330 miles range.

 At 10:00 am AM arrived for the first RV of the day. Today he will be mostly wearing Cordura and Nylon.

After successfully RV-ing with TE in Staffordshire, he took the lead to guide us on beautiful secondary roads through forests (Cannock Chase) and by waterways, valleys and escarpments to beautiful Powys.

 This is Park Gate Lock.

 TE and AM. They make a great TEAM!

TE and JM.

 Tudor dwelling Staffordshire/Shropshire border.

 TE navigated via public houses mostly! I think that this is Brewood.

 AM checking his vanity case.

 Straight on at the Bridge Inn.

But first a quick look at the canal.

Turn left at The Bell Inn.

 Snack stop at The Woolbridge Inn....

.....on the River Severn. 

Left turn at The King and Something!

We pulled into beautiful Much Wenlock, Shropshire.

The Market Hall.

 AM in the sunshine.

 Another view of the Market Hall.

 The Talbot Hotel (hidden piazza).

 Canary Wharf? This is prettier!

 No plastic here.

Much Wenlock is a delightful town.

 JM - AM - TE plus ices.

 A shady stop.

 Wenlock Edge.

 A village in the valley.

 We don't let the grass grow under our feet.

 Straight on at the Plough on Wall pub.

 Any questions?

Entering Wales at the border post(s).

 Straight on or left?

 There wasn't much traffic.

 TE's navigation was spot on.

 Actually, we araffed most of the way.

 Here we are at our destination. The Dragon Hotel.

As you can see - not very far from home.

 About 8/10 for neatness.

 My room was good. 

 It even had a bathroom with plugs.

A few minutes later the gang from Yorkshire rode into town. We all met up for a pre-dinner sundowner and generally compared notes. Later .......

....... AM opted for bread and beer.

And soup.

And fish. Nice!

The hotel looked after us very well. The food and service was good. 

The next day we set off for a ride via Bala, Tywyn, Aberdyfy, Welshpool and back to Montgomery. MP had done all the planning. We had a great day out - about 185 miles.

 Coffee stop at Lake Vyrnwy Hotel.

After a stop for lunch near Penmaenpool we rode to Aberdyfi.

JK. RD. MF. AM. TE.

 AM. TE. JA. MP. CA. JM.

 MP taking a zoom shot.

The Next Day TE, JK and JM left the team and headed for home. We all had commitments elsewhere. JA also had to go back home but he was headed NNE 200 miles whilst we were headed ENE 100 miles. 

 TE and JK in Ludlow - a beautiful "Middle England"-type place.

 A place of culture.

 Fine alleys.

And Tudor buildings.

From the lovely market town of Ludlow we rode back to our respective homes via Bridgnorth, Shifnal, Penkridge and Rugeley.

This is what the speedo looked like:

So, 424 miles round trip. 250 miles since refuelling at Bala.

More moto adventures to follow. Thank you for reading.