Looping North Wales from Plealey on the Honda CB1000GT

There I am, red gloves, dark jacket, keys jingling by the Honda CB1000GT on Plealey's Shrewsbury Road.

There I am, red gloves, dark jacket, keys jingling by the Honda CB1000GT on Plealey's Shrewsbury Road.

Fumbling with the keys at Plealey on the Shrewsbury Road, A488. Drifting through the quiet village streets of Plealey on the Shrewsbury Road. Sharing the A5 at Nesscliffe with a big white semi-truck and some folks.

Oswestry on the A5 means negotiating space with the big red beast. Llangollen’s woods keep the red car and us company. Chirk’s bridge stands guard over the white SUV ahead.

Following the traffic out of Glyndyfrdwy on the A5. Glancing in the mirror as Druid rolls by. Chasing the other rider through the woods near Llidiart y Parc.

Gloves on, Honda CB1000GT humming out of Conwy on the A5 past Capel Curig. The silver SUV on the A4086 gets the polite nod as we squeeze through. There is no water in the shot at six seconds, just hills and A4086 scenery. A white car ahead and a parked vehicle on the left keep us honest on the A4086. Stone walls and winding roads in Beddgelert, where the A4086 keeps the hills honest.

Red gloves on the Honda CB1000GT, prepping for the Gwynedd roads near Llanrug. I settle into a gentle overtake, map glowing on the mount ahead. The A4086 curves through the trees, quiet and fenced in at Llanberis. This is where the Honda finds its deepest lean, slicing through the Welsh hills.

Right, Bontnewydd Bypass, white truck ahead, let’s see if he moves. Morfa Bychan, white building on the left, Tremadog Bypass humming along. Caernarfon Bypass, red markings and guardrails, that bridge holds firm. Tal-y-sarn, green trees and open road, A487, another day in the life of the Scripting Paddy. Mind how you go.

Trailing that blue car on the B4573 in Talsarnau, stone walls on the left, keeping our distance. Stryd Fawr narrows in Harlech, my red gloves gripping the bars as the phone guides us tight. Slipping past that blue car in Talsarnau, past the Sports Bar sign, squeezing through the village. Penrhyndeudraeth opens up, forested hills rising behind the fence, a quiet breath before the road ends.

Deep into the lean at Barmouth on this A496 stretch. Spotted a stone building in Llanbedr with that quaint little porch. Just tall grass and a large tree at the Tal-y-bont junction.

Winding through the woods on the A496, folks are watching my gloves. Mawddwy’s hills are calling, but I’ve got a vehicle in front. Mallwyd on the A458 keeps the trees close and the GPS busy. Barmouth twisties make the trees blur in the mirror.

Mallwyd on the A458, and that white car is already judging my life choices. Back in Banwy on the A458, and this white car ahead is making a very slow point about patience. Parked white car near that brick building in the village, looking as comfortable as my red gloves on the handlebars. …another day in the life of the Scripting Paddy. Mind how you go.

Red gloves on the Honda CB1000GT, chasing a car through Llanfair Caereinion on the New Road. Overtake complete, hills rolling by as the road bends through the open countryside. Silver car ahead, dry fields on both sides, and another day in the life of the Scripting Paddy. Mind how you go.