Ducati Manchester Rideout, Sunday 17/08/08: 13 Aug 08

[Lucazade 749s]

I will be landing at 10:05 on manchester airport. Then I am getting a train to Blackpool. If any of you will be in BP around 17:30 - 18:00 let me know we could go for a beer will be there till friday at Hilton.

P.S.
Do not pass next to railway tracks at the same time I will be in train!
If you do I will go crazy?!

Enjoy your selfs guys.

[Rob998]

Bump!

Weather doesn't look too bad: Metcheck.com - Tomorrows Weather Forecast for Llangollen - [Updated on 16 August 2008 at 0:00] - Weather Feeds - Live Data - Long Range Weather Forecasts
I know this run clashes with the DOCGB Northern Rally, but if you aren't on that and need a fix can you please post up here as I need an idea of numbers so I can print off some route cards.

Also, I'll be leading the main group now, so I'll need some one to act as TEC. I'll be taking it at a comfortable pace so the fast riders can shoot off & ride at their own pace, but I'd ask that you wait for the main group at obvious rally points, I.E junctions where we make a turn rather than straight over, fuelling stops etc

[rug2210]

Rob, I'll be there and available for tec duties.
Ian

[Rob998]

Great stuff, Ian, cheers!

[998gsb]

Rob I might be around after all - as the do i have to go to is saturday not sunday.....

I need to take Sophia in to DM anyway so may well just join you if the weather is fit.... have to say the local Granada news forecast didn't look promising tho....

If im not there - dont wait - and have a good one...

Gav

[Rob998]

Hope to see you there Gav, but you're right, the weather does seem to be worsening.

Hope they sort Sophia out for you.

[Douglas]

Hi guys. Thinking of joining you if the weather is not too bad. Just have to clear it with HQ.

BTW will DM be open tomorrow?

[Rob998]

Hi Douglas, yes DM is open tomorrow, hopefully early enough for us all to have a coffee/hot choc before we set off, and for me to choose a steed from their demo fleet!

And the weather forecast seems to be improving again. It's been up & down like a whores drawers. I really think that the met office don't have a clue, and that their supercomputers & satellites are just the modern equivalent of eye of newt & wing of bat.

PLEASE NOTE: After some advice, I've simpified the route on the Bala leg, straight down the A494 rather than onto the B4402, as that road can be a bit intimidating!

fromucati Manchester to:A41 @52.970460, -2.707840 to:A539 @52.959730, -2.908180 to:A542/Abbey Rd @52.971810, -3.172495 to:The Ponderosa, Horseshoe Pass, Llangollen, Clwyd, LL20 8DR, United Kingdom (Ponderosa Cafe) to:A5104 @53.018410, -3.276660 to:

[Douglas]

Weathers nice here, so just getting ready. See you about 1000.

[Rob998]

Well, me Douglas (who made a sterling effort & travelled all the way up from Burton-on-Trent to play out with me) and Robert (a really nice chap I met at J&S the other day on his ST4s, along with his better half, Dee who is getting her 696 in a couple of weeks and will no doubt join us on subseqeunt rides) had a lovely day out in the sunny playground that is Cheshire & North Wales! Sat outside the Ponderosa to have our lunch and had a nice pint in the blazing sunshine in Bala.

No sign of Brunstroms finest either!

Thanks to Ducati Manchester for lending me a Multistrada 1100s to play with!

[stevel]

I had hoped to join you.....honest! But it was lashing down on the Wirral at the appointed hour, brightened up later though. Cheers for posting it and fixing the route though Rob, catch up next time.........have to try the road from Denbigh to Corwen some time, stunning

[Douglas]

Safely home, after a great day out on the 748. Left home at 0815, and arrived at DM just before 10. After a short wait for the place to open, and for Rob to organise his Multistrada, we were off.

I made my first visit to the Ponderosa Cafe, and then it was off to Bala, round the lake and back to Bala for a quick drink, before setting off home. I left Rob and Robert at the A5 Junction and made my way home via Whitchurch and Stafford.

Thanks for organising a great ride out Rob, and to you and Robert for the good company and the relaxing ride. I am hoping that I will be able to ride with you both again before too long!

I will try and post the pic from Bala later

Douglas

[Rob998]

Good to hear you're back safe Douglas, and you're welcome!

Ducati Manchester are planning a big day on the 14th of September, with a BBQ, an autojumble, a Ducati Corse Alfa Romeo and other stuff. I'm trying to sort a band too.

Oh, and there's a D16rr in there that might be for sale, Chris fired it up for us this morning and it sounded awesome. Wouldn't let me take it for the ride-out though!

[Douglas]

Here is the picture taken of Rob, Robert and myself in Bala