The house where we are staying is pretty nice but nothing architecturally amazing. It’s a 50’s (if i guess correctly) extension on a much older farmhouse, so half the doorways were made for people Genevieve’s height. It’s got some beautiful exposed wood beams and luckily i fit under those. White painted exterior and tastefully modern interiors, furnished simply (with beds that have ends…) But the location is about as beautiful as is possible in the UK.
It sits midway up the side of a small valley, overlooking cow fields and trees, completely on its own. Only a small black wriggly tin barn full of hay next door and a yard out front where we have parked up our line of bikes. It was beautiful to wake up and look straight out the window across the fields, very much like home, but no houses looking back at us.
While the house stirred, I got up and started organising breakfast. I didn’t fancy waiting till 10am before food and I don’t mind cooking for everyone, it’s quite fun actually preparing a big meal. The sausages went in the oven, the raw toast hung around next to the toaster and the baked beans were delegated to someone who could work out the microwave. This left me dealing with the bacon in a crusty old non stick frying pan and a questionably non-stick pan for the eggs. I wasn’t about to attempt fried eggs in a non stick pan and there was no other choice so scrambled it was. But it all came together nicely and everyone had plenty.
Another benefit of cooking is that you don’t have to clear up. I got to spend time dicking about with the bikes. Once everyone was ready, we lined up for a photo in front of the house. Last time we tried this in Ogwen valley we got lots of grass in the photo from propping the phone up on rocks and at a jaunty angle. This time I was prepared with a tiny tripod, a ball joint mount and a little Bluetooth remote control. I found it on AliExpress for £1 and was very surprised that it actually worked! Now i just have to work on my composition. I think i could have done a better job framing the house and the bikes, but whatever.
This house really was the perfect base for the weekend. Middle of Wales and plenty big enough for 10 people. The driveway was a bit tricky, being steep, uneven and covered in gravel. But alongside the barn was a farmers track that followed the contour of the hill till it reached the road.
It was like being back at the Malle Mile Rally, dusting along the track standing up. I’ve told everyone about it and urged then to come. It’s definitely on the to-do list for next year. But now, we have a long ride back into the Midlands. We turned north and everyone else turned south, headed for home.
After an hour we pulled over for a cuppa tea in a layby cafe. As soon as we turned out to get going again i realised we were right next to the location of the Steam Rally! The sat nav took us home the same way again so we already knew the roads a little.
Aimi has not felt very confident as a rider for a while now so was apologising for holding the group up. But everyone agrees that she’s a good rider. She’s very happy in the corners taking them just as well as anyone else. She’s only been riding casually for a few years so it’s not surprising she isn’t in the running for a BSB podium. But she’s not holding anyone up. Maybe it’s the new bike she’s more comfortable with? Or that this weekend she riding with a group so she can emulate their techniques? Or just that we’ve covered about 600 miles in 3 days so she’s had an intensive period of riding to really get comfortable in her abilities. But whatever the reason, she’s a much happier and more confident and safer rider for it. I’m excited to do more motorbike trips together!