Stonehenge Summer Solstice Sore A#*e Saturday

[glsuk1970]

So me and a couple of mates decided to take a trip to Stonehenge on Saturday. We left Wrexham about 7:30am and headed down the A5 and picked up the A49 heading for Hereford but not before a swift bacon butty at the OK diner in Leominster, the pain already begining to show...:( Here's the route - linky. (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=LL11+4QE&daddr=Hereford+to:A466+to:A466+to:2+Miles+West+of+ Amesbury,+Salisbury,+SP4+7DE+(Stonehenge)+to:51.60 7783,-1.694641+to:Chipping+Norton+to:Crossgates,+Wales+t o:Ll11+4QE&geocode=%3B%3BFXSPFwMdMErW_w%3BFTB2FQMdEjXX_w%3BFW jtDAMdhiHk_yG0E5DCaHOr0g%3B%3B%3B%3B&hl=en&mra=dpe&mrcr=3&mrsp=5&sz=9&via=2,5&sll=51.575363,-1.763306&sspn=0.909798,2.460938&ie=UTF8&ll=52.264796,-2.411499&spn=1.791867,4.921875&z=8)

It was a bit damp when we set off but it soon cleared.

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/Threebikes.jpg

The OK diner in Leominster, pain already begining to show...:(

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/OKDiner.jpg

The DRZ400 only has a tank range of about 65 miles before it hits reserve so we had to make plenty of fuel stops. Apparently, 65 miles is plenty far enough on that seat.

Once we were through Hereford we picked up the A466 passing through Monmouth and onto Chepstow. On the way we stopped at an old abbey in a beautiful little village, not sure of it’s name though.

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/DSCF4141.jpg

After a short stint on the M4 we left at J17 and passed through Chippenham and Devises on our way to Stonehenge. We were there just after lunch and you could see they we’re obviously expecting a big crowd that night, something like 35,000 people eventually turned up!

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/DSCF4146.jpg

Easily the most comfortable bike of the three..

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/DSCF4149.jpg



http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/DSCF4147.jpg

The route back was pretty straightforward – nip around Swindon and head for Chipping Norton, taking the A44 west all the way to Crossgates and then the awesome A483 north back to Wrexham.

We arrived back home 433 miles later to chicken fajitas (and alcohol) lovingly prepared by the missus, just after 8.00pm. North next, probably Northumberland.

[Speedy Claire]

Wow looks brilliant hun... I`ve never been to stonehenge so will have to include it on my "places to visit" list. You went at the right time of year too, summer solstice, spot on!

[Kinvig]

Godamned hippy beat nicks! ;o)

Looks like good weather for a ride!

[Amplimator]

Looks an awesome ride......me wants the DRZ tho!

[El Saxo]

Once we were through Hereford we picked up the A466 passing through Monmouth and onto Chepstow. On the way we stopped at an old abbey in a beautiful little village, not sure of it’s name though.

http://i452.photobucket.com/albums/qq245/glsuk1970/Stonehenge/DSCF4141.jpg


That'll be Tintern Abbey, it's a great spot to stop for a leg-stretch isn't it? The Monmouth-Chepstow road is brilliant too, I always go that way when I go down to visit Stretchie & Gruntygiggles (it's a lot better than the M5!) :D

[KeithCRM]

[quote]That'll be Tintern AbbeyTis an abbey :)

[Luckypants]

The DRZ400 only has a tank range of about 65 miles before it hits reserve so we had to make plenty of fuel stops. Apparently, 65 miles is plenty far enough on that seat.

He lies!:smt059 65 miles is probably bum range, mine does 80 odd before going to reserve and is generally good for 100 miles. :D The seat on them things is not designed to be used......

[glsuk1970]

That'll be Tintern Abbey

That's the place!!
He lies!:smt059 65 miles is probably bum range, mine does 80 odd before going to reserve and is generally good for 100 miles. :D The seat on them things is not designed to be used......

65 is the worst he's had before needing to switch to reserve - the bike just stuttered to a halt while he was overtaking a caravan :eek:

It's an ace bike, brilliant in the tight twisties.

[Luckypants]

65 is the worst he's had before needing to switch to reserve - the bike just stuttered to a halt while he was overtaking a caravan :eek:

Wow, must be giving it some then! Yeah the reserve thing is a bit unnerving, mine died pulling out of a junction in Denbigh but was heading downhill so pulled in the clutch to clear the on-coming truck!

It's an ace bike, brilliant in the tight twisties.Yep! Mines an S on 'Adventure' tyres, so not quite up to the SM model in terms of handling or grip, but it is easily as quick as the VFR in the twisties. They crash well to, I've lowsided on the road being hamfisted with knobbly tyres and fallen off loads off-road. My son lowsided in the wet a couple of weeks ago. The bike looks fine, just a few grazes, snapped levers and broken indicator. I can see the attraction in these SuperMotos!

I saw your DRZ mate's thread on Thumper Talk to :D

[glsuk1970]

...sneaks off to thumper talk to take a look.

[halflife]

Wow, must be giving it some then! Yeah the reserve thing is a bit unnerving, mine died pulling out of a junction in Denbigh but was heading downhill so pulled in the clutch to clear the on-coming truck!



Root cause of the 65 mile range is that when riding with glsuk1970 (wow thought you were older than that!) he forgets I have a bike that will only do 90mph flat out after about 5 miles after leaving his house.

I was also conned into this trip. just before setting out he told me (and anyone listening) that if my plank of a seat got a bit uncomfortable we could swap bikes. Sort of forgot saying it though at 50, 100 and 300 miles using some excuse about being too vertically challenged for my bike:smt017.

He lies, proof attached :---)
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_2qrqg8FEgSw/SkD7wMbF_2I/AAAAAAAABIQ/lEI7bTnmVaw/s144/31032009002.jpg

[glsuk1970]

... a complete pack of unsubstantiated, despicable lies

All lies, apart from the bit about me being a short ****.