How time flies, as it is already two weeks ago that we (René and I) left for England and Wales to take part in the second edition of Club Triumph's Taith o Amgylch Cymru (or A Tour of Wales in proper English). Last year we started in the South of Wales. This year's start was at a rather well known place, the Gledrid Services on the A5 near Chirk (for those who have done the RBRR that is). The organisers had again found some great driving roads, with about 80% being different from last year's edition. But sadly the weather again didn't cooperate. At the start it began to drizzle and it got worse throughout the first day, the green line in the picture below:
As I hate getting out of a car in the rain I didn't take much pictures during most of the first day. So no pictures of the EVO triangle, Mount Snowdon or some of BL's test roads around Bwlch-Y-Groes. The last one brought back happy memories from many years ago, when I took 't Kreng for a driving holiday to Wales in 1999. Time flies indeed!
But by the end of the first (driving) day there were even some dry spells, enabling me to take some photos along the route, without getting soaked:
Layby along the B487 north of Tre'r-Ddôl
Tim Hunt’s TR4 crossing the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir dam.
In front of the Nant-Y-Moch reservoir dam.
But always look on the bright side of life; the appalling weather was a good test for the car's hood. It passed the test for being Welsh-Weather-Proof with flying colours. Absolutely no leaks, but there were some damp patches starting to appear around the hoods stitching by the time we reached the finish of the first day in Aberystwyth.
The second day (red line in the picture at the top) started much better, dry! And despite lots of threatening clouds it remained more or less dry all day, enabling us to enjoy the scenery even more. And giving the opportunity for a few photo stops:
The supposedly remotest post box in the country, together with a telephone box
that had clearly been used for target practice, near Esgair Cerrig:
The unclassified roads over Mynydd-y-Betws:
A big thank you for Anthony and Michael for organizing this great event for Club Triumph!
After the event we slowly returned home via Usk:
In the back yard of the Olway Inn Hotel on the outskirts of Usk
The evening sun lighting up the countryside, Chepstow Road east of Usk
Salisbury
And like last year we spent a few days in and around the lovely city of Salisbury.
Starting with a stroll through the city’s centre:
Harnham Gate Salisbury
Minster Street Salisbury
New Street Salisbury
Market Place, Salisbury
Bishop's Walk Salisbury
Bridge Street Salisbury
Old Sarum
Visiting the remains of the he ruined and deserted site of the earliest settlement of Salisbury.
Situated on a hill about two miles north of modern day Salisbury near the A345 road:
Salisbury Cathedral
And finally we spent a few hours in and around this iconic building
(Ohne Wörter, as the Germans say!)
And the car? Well she behaved quite nicely over the ±2250 kilometres that were covered during the week. The gear box oil change clearly has improved the gear changes. They are still not wonderful but on the other hand the 'box is still fairly new, so will see how it develops over time. The other problem was the fuel gauge, and as I hoped, it looks like it has solved itself. The gauge returned to something resembling a working condition over the week.
The only thing that needs sorting sooner rather than later are the (front) brakes. During the 10CR I thought the pads locked up inside the callipers, but it seems that when these pads get cold (as in not being used for some time) they don't work as they should. When in regular use they behave as they should, giving decent stopping power. But when they are cold it's like they are covered in grease and they need a second or so before they start to work, scary! At least they produce lots of dust on the wheels!
Edited on the 8th of May 2024: 10 Years after the second edition of the “Taith o Amgylch Cymru“ started, it was time to freshen up the pictures I took during this event in 2014. I also added some extra pictures, and edited the text where necessary.
3 comments:
Beans, sounds like a good tour and glad your roof kept the North Wales weather out.
The problem with poor brakes when cold sounds like an old fashioned competition pads problem from years ago. I thought modern pad material didn't do that any more. What pads are you running?
Thx, as for the pads, they are the set that came with the brake kit when I got it from S&S many years ago, branded APEC. Don't think they are competition pads.
Will remove them in the near future to see what's wrong with them.
Looks like I will return to either old fashioned Mintex/Ferodo or
EBC Green Stuff pads.
I used Mintex M1144 pads on this car before but longevity wasn't one of their strongest points.But braking was brilliant under all conditions.
I think those APEC are a pretty standard after market pad, nothing special. I have used the 1144 ones and they are pretty good unless you get into serious competition driving.
It's got to be worth having them wear out sooner if they give you confidence every time you press that middle pedal.
Keep up the good work, we all enjoy reading your blogs.
Russ
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