Not the best weekends weather for a ride - but, ho hum, it's not going to stop me. Up at 8:15 (on a Sunday????) to prepare for the ride. Norma gallantly decided to stay in bed having seen the weather (rain and grey cloud). But I am made of hardier stuff (or is that "I am more stupid"?). So, check the bike over, a quick bite of breakfast and I'm off to Poplar Services to see who else was mad enough to join me.

As it happened, not many. Phil was there with Nicola and his new CBF1000, Jimmy turned up for his first indoctrination into HOC (I'd met him at Rochdale Honda as he was picking up a new Transalp) and Gary (our replacement rides co-ordinator) turned up just as 10am was ringing. We trudged off to McDonalds for a drink to wait and see if anyone else turned up. After 5 minutes in the queue and getting nowhere, I suggested we move out and get a brew at the Raven Cafe down the A49. You could see the eyes gleaming as the others contemplated the "gutbuster" breakfast that the Raven offered. So, off we went to get togged up and off.

Phil had put his radio in the new bike but it wasn't working, so it was just Gary and myself talking to each other. We set off down the normal roads to the A49 (and not via the M6 like last weekend) and were soon "in the groove" despite all the wet roads. Gary set a good pace and we soon arrived at the Raven where hearty breakfasts and mugs of tea were consumed with ease. We went outside and sorted out Phils radio (it had slipped to another channel). While inside, we discussed the planned route. Personally, I don't enjoy the roads around Buxton (too crowded, not many overtaking opportunities, too many police around). So, after some discussion, we agreed that we would come back through Wales somehow. I then suggested we head for Builth Wells where I knew there was a bike show. The others seemed keen - so that was that. Wroxeter Roman City would have to wait for another time.

We set off again, with the chat ringing in my ears as Gary and Phil "discussed" the merits of each others riding ability - all in good humour, I hasten to add. The A49 was great, the A483 even better. We found some great twisty roads and, as the surface dried off, the pace got better and better. Jimmy didn't seem to worry too much that his bike only had around 50 miles on it and was enjoying it as much as the rest of us. We did lose him for a short while - but we found out he'd stopped off for petrol at a roundabout (the one where Phil was leading but didn't know the way, so went round and round until Gary took over). Eventually, we got into Builth Wells and headed for the Bike Show. However, since they wanted to charge £10 for each person and we were only going to be there for an hour or so (a bit of a rip-off, methinks), we turned around and headed into the town to find a cafe. Yes, it was time for food and drink again (it's what Manhoc do best).

We relaxed for a while and then went back to the bikes to set off back again. Once Gary and Phil had stopped being children (What's this red button - oh, the kill switch" and "sidestand down, going nowehere") we set off back the way we came. By this time, it was raining again (not much, just enough to wet the roads) so the ride back was a little slower. But still pleasant. We stopped for petrol in Newtown (very cheap) where Phil discovered how good his bike was two-up (45 mpg) and then carried on until we stopped for a quick drink at a local pub. It was here that some girls, somewhat the worse for drink, took a liking to Garys bike and insisted on him demonstrating it's prowess to him. I've never seen anyone run so fast - in the other direction. But we persuaded him that he needed to be a gentleman and let them sit on the bike for pictures. Calm was restored once they had gone and we set off for the journey home.

So, todays ride wasn't quite how Keith planned it, but it was still very enjoyable. Only two pictures today.