Welsh National Rally 2019

On Saturday May 4th Mick Leach, John Genders and myself set off at 5:30am heading towards Welshpool for the 25th Anniversary Welsh National Rally.
Our route took us over Cannock Chase to Penkridge the A5-M54-A5 and at Shrewsbury the A458, where we stopped at Dinkys Dinahs for breakfast, then the remaining 12 miles to the Welshpool Livestock Market for the rally start, arriving at 7:50.
After signing on we headed out at 8:15 to refuel and start the route planned by Mick.  It involved visiting eight unmanned checkpoints and two manned, this would give us a Silver Award. Mick was on his Honda CB250, John on his Honda Dominator and me on my Honda CB400F.
After the first checkpoint at Bwlch-Y-Cibau we headed toward Llangollen and the Horsehoe Pass to Llandegla. There was snow on the distant mountains and on the verges around the pass too.
The next checkpoint was manned at A & D Motorcyles in Denbigh which we reached by passing through the Nant-Y-Garth Pass. Onwards then to Nantglyn, Pentrefoelas and Tan-Y-Bwlch Ffestiniog Station for the second manned checkpoint.  Sadly we were not lucky enough to see a train. From here we took a detour from our planned route to get fuel in Penryhndeudraeth before crossing the estuary on the old toll bridge.  We followed the route along the coast road through Harlech to our next checkpoints at Llanbedr and Barmouth where after finding the checkpoint we stopped for lunch of fish and chips.
The run back to Welshpool took us to Brithdir and Dinas Mawddwy, arriving at 16:35 having covered 190 miles.  We signed off and received our Silver Awards, a coaster made from polished Welsh slate.
The run back home of another 80 miles meant I covered a total of 350 miles on the day. It was an excellent day in good dry weather on great riding roads with some fabulous scenery.  Well done to Mick for planning the route and the Clive Motorcycle Club for organising the event.  I will certainly try to do it again next year going for Gold but would stay overnight to travel back next day as the return journey proved painful.  If anyone thinks they might like to try it just go for it, you will not be disappointed.
Malcolm Bridges


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