So,I`m off work for 16 days and we`ve got perfect blue skies and sunny weather. And I`ve got a brand new (one of only 30 in the U.K.) Vespa PX150 Anniversary Edition that needs a few hundred more miles on it to complete the running-in process. Early to rise and let`s get pop-pop-popping into North Wales for some scenery! The Vespa`s only got about 300 miles on it but I can now go beyond the previous 30mph limit to about 40-45mph for a bit as part of the break-in. The hills where we are heading will help use all the gears and the various throttle settings will also assist everything settling in. First of all a trip up to the top of the Horseshoe Pass to the famous Ponderosa cafe (in a few of my older Ride Reports)....these imposing slate spoil heaps always catch my eye near the top of the pass. Always check your mirrors!! The Ponderosa was next for a very pleasant bacon sandwich and a mug of coffee (sorry no photo of those...I was too hungry!). Then I took the 'secret' and little used 'Old Horseshoe' which drops steeply behind the Ponderosa and avoids the main part of the main Horseshoe Pass because it`s a while since I last rode down this track. It`s steep downhill all the way but in this next photo I`ve turned the Vespa around to park it securely for a photo looking up towards the top. After the steep track I rejoined the Horseshoe Pass just above Valle Crucis Abbey and its eponymous camping site. Here`s the Abbey in its 12th Century glory. Then into the town of Llangollen to buy some 'Welsh Cakes' for my girlfriend. I thought the Vespa looked quite at home outside this hotel! Onwards from Llangollen via Carrog,Corwen and then cross country along tiny lanes to Bala....which led over some lovely old stone bridges like this one here. A leisurely sandwich and cold drink in Bala and then it was homewards along some more tiny country lanes and back home....but not before I`d passed the lovely Horseshoe Falls waterfall. That enjoyable bimble put another 120 miles on the little Vespa and it sipped petrol at 95 mpg! A short report by my normal standard but I hope you liked the photos. More some other time,maybe.
Thanks guys!! Well,it was another awesome unspoiled day again today so I went out on the Vespa for some more running-in miles. This time I went along the Welsh Coast Road and chomped a bacon batch in a retro themed bike style diner called 'Petrolheads'.....it has bikes and memorabilia inside and hosts themed bike and scooter nights. Quite by chance,check out the manufacturere name on the window above where I parked the Vespa!! I rode the Coast Road until I got to Abergele and looked in a big bike dealers called Woods of Abergele and then took an inland route to Llanwrst....the scenery was stunning!! In Llanwrst there is a big triple arched stone bridge over the river. And across the river is what I call the 'Fluffy Hotel' !!! It`s an ancient dry stone walled restaurant/hotel covered in ivy...quite remarkable and stunning. Across the road is a circle of standing stones rather reminicent of Avebury. After these photos I rode along to Betws y Coed and was on a mission. Well..what could be better...a perfect blue sky sunny day...a day off work and a new Vespa.....it HAD to be time for an ICE CREAM !!! I managed another 150 miles on the Vespa today...only another 80 to go until the first service at 600 miles. It`s running great and is surprisingly torquey and responsive. Still returning about 95 mpg. Can`t wait until it`s fully unleashed!
Howdy Tarka, I say old bean, unless I am mistaken, NEVER once whilst I was in your company did we have "BACON' in or on any of our shared meals, bloody hell is this something you only eat whilst astride a Vespa.......... Thanks for the memories I enjoyed reading and seeing photos of the places we rode when I was a guest in your home, such a beautiful place to live. So are you going to hack the Vespa
Hiya Cobby old bean. Mmmm...bacon....the one at Petrolheads was even nicer than at the Ponderosa...three large rashers of back bacon on a fresh bread batch....mmmm. I tend to have bacon when on days of leisure as opposed to when I`m travelling 'on a mission' where I seem to benefit from the sugar rush of a cake and coffee or Coke. You could have had BACON at every stop we made if only you`d said..... But you were too busy filling your face with chocolate cake/cherry pie or coffee and walnut cake. Glad you liked my photos and they brought back happy memories.
Howdy Steve, Youfukin Limy wanker, no wonder you kept filling up with all those good beers, you were hording all the BACON for yourself. :eek1 BACON, is the top and primary food on a Yanks food pyramid, its a national dish relished by all and the heart of any gathering of ADV-Riders. I say old bean, I shall have to deduct five points from your score as host for perpetrating this international atrocity.
And ten off your score from me. E-mailing me copies of your pictures and gleeful exultation that you have 16 days off - when I'm stuck in the office. Again.
Always wanted to know; what's that little sticky out thing by your left heel? Looks like a clear plastic cylinder with a coloured bar in it. Fuel gauge of sorts?
Hiya mate. It`s a two stroke oil level indicator. When a bubble appears in that conical tube it`s time to top up the two stroke oil tank. The Vespa`s done just about 600 miles now and the bubble still hasn`t shown. Hope they didn`t forget to fit it in the factory. The other sticky out things there are the choke knob and the fuel tap. Oh,and there`s a fuel level gauge amongst the idiot lights around the speedo.
