This brings me to the 'proper' blog entry for today, yes I am actually writing this from Bala in northern Wales. Yesterday, when I left the Gower Peninsular I consulted the magazine article I had purchased, showing the best motorcycle rides around the UK and into Eurpope. I set off to do one of the rides, near Brecon in the Black Mountains. The road was everything they said it would be, winding its way up and over the mountains, with sheep grazing nonchalantly at the side of the bitumen as I rolled past. i was faithfully observing the speed limit when a bike came past me like a missile, so i took off in pursuit - the road is much more fun a bit faster!

I then picked a few more smaller roads on the way to Wales' biggest waterfall Pistyll Rhaeadr. I followed a one lane road about 4 miles to its termination at the cafe at the base of the waterfall. When i arrived I was too tired to ride on so talked the cafe manager into allowing me to stay (for free!) in the adjacent camp grounds even though I was not a member. The campground was much more natural than the Hillend one, and I camped last night on the riverbank (only a small stream) and fell asleep to the sound of the stream. The waterfall at 240 feet top to bottom, is apparently 60 feet higher than Niagaras Falls, although while very pretty, and relaxing to look at, this one didn't really seem spectacular, just beautiful.

This morning I set off around Lake Vlewyn (Spelling a bit suspect) a lake formed by damming a river for the water supply for Liverpool 60 os so years ago. The lake was OK, but the best bit was the little back road I found over the hills to Bala. it was very narrow and varied from through forest to across open hillsides and valleys. I took some photo's and will upload them soon I hope.

I have been reluctant to stop the bike in the day time to write the blog as it reduces the available riding time in the nice weather. However when I arrived in Bala the temperature was 24 degrees C and I was overheating in my riding gear! Who would have thought I would have been going into a cafe in Wales to escape the hot sun!

Well I hope these very quickly typed blogs make some sense and at least bring you up top date with my travels for a day or two. I'm off now to visit MT Snowdon before heading the Ducati in the general direction of Scotland.