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Travel StoriesShrewsbury 2014
Why And The Ride To Shrewsbury
By Ren Withnell
The gf's been badgering me about going to have a look around Shrewsbury for quite some time now. I don't know why, when we passed through the outskirts last time it looked pretty much like any other town. I admit the surrounding countryside is pleasant and there's some posh places nearby but, well, you know, it's just another town isn't it? If I want to visit a town I can go to Bolton or Bury, they're all pretty much the same these days.
It was her birthday between Christmas and New Year. If you ask me that's a silly time to have a birthday. I mean, who's going to help celebrate your birthday while stuffed full of turkey and building up to the hangover from hell on New Year's day? Rather than risk having fun at Christmas time I promised to take her to Shrewsbury for her birthday, early in the year. I sure know how to spoil a girl don't I.
She's decided she loves camping, even in bad weather. You see we survived an ongoing deluge of apocalyptic proportions whilst travelling through France last year so now she thinks a couple of nights camping in the UK will be a walk in the park. I myself am not convinced and if she's honest the idea of both rain and sub-zero temperatures in the middle of January may be survivable they are not what we might term as "fun". Much as paying for lodgings pains my tight grip on my wallet, even I have to agree perhaps something with real walls and possibly a heater of some description might be "nice".
We'd stopped at a Travelodge in Birmingham late last year on our visit to the Bike Show at the NEC. This place was not filled with character or four-poster beds but it proved warm, comfortable and clean. And cheap, relative to other accommodation. A search online revealed we could book a room in a Travelodge on the outskirts of Shrewsbury for £35 per night if we don't go on the weekend. It's a lot more than a campsite, but about half the cost of an average hotel or a decent Bed and Breakfast. I abused my credit card and booked online.
The final thing to discuss was transport. We're bikers and even though the gf is new to riding she's not afraid of a little rain. That said after many years on the road I know I can't ride in snow or on ice. We agreed that if the weather forecast did not involve ice, snow or 70 mph winds with driving rain then we'd take both bikes, otherwise we'd chicken out and take the car.
So it is I find myself loading my CBF 125 with a handful of clothes and weekend supplies. The gf is doing the same with her Keeway, proudly packing her new saddle bags with her make-up, lotions, clothes for every occasion and whatever else women seem to need. This is a new thing for me. Up until she passed her CBT such trips meant loading my bike up to the gunnels and then me complaining that she's got too much "stuff". Now...now I pack what I need on my bike and she on hers. If she can get it on her bike then it can come. It's up to her how much she takes. It's up to her if she wants it or needs it or not. It's not my problem. It's amazing how little she requires when she's got to carry it on her bike isn't it.
Doesn't she look so proud of herself! Notice the saddle bags neatly packed and fitted.
Considering it's the middle of January the weather is slightly better than acceptable. It's dry, the wind is light and the temperature is around 6 degrees. Not bad at all for this time of year. Our forecast is for a fair day today and tomorrow with a risk of rain on our return journey. It's been very mild this winter so far with few frosts and no snow but a lot of rain. We've got about 80 miles to cover, we have all afternoon and as much of the evening as we need. Bearing in mind motorways are not allowed and we've to get through Wigan and Warrington I think it will take 4 hours at a nice easy pace.
Wigan and Warrington pass by as only we can expect. I have to keep the gf close as she could get lost in her own house if I moved the settee. She's nervous too as she had an "off" a week ago, nothing serious just a slip on mud or diesel in my back street. Ever since that though she's lost some confidence especially in the bends. It's frustrating but I can accept it, she was actually at risk of being overconfident beforehand. The busy main roads of Warrington are not the place to find the limits. It still comes as a relief when we pop out of the built up areas after Stockton Heath.
The weather is dry but the roads are wet and we are heading south. The sun comes out. This ought to be met with yelps of joy, instead we are merely blinded from both the skies and the refection from the wet tarmac. Rather than pushing along the 50 and 60 zones we're forced to squint hard and raise a shielding hand. This goes on for some miles yet we are making good progress and the distances to the next towns fall satisfactorily well.
Something's not right. Nantwich, why are we heading to Nantwich? All I have to do is follow the A49. The A49. It's not hard is it? I've been down the A49 a few times before? So why am I seeing signs for Nantwich and the distances are getting smaller? I pull over and consult with my phone map. Yep, after accusing the gf of being directionally challenged I too am lost. It's not a big detour and not a disaster but I am embarrassed about not being able to follow a major trunk road. Our diversion through Nantwich is informative though. It seems here we've found the part of the population that has all the money and the area where house price averages are seriously distorted. It's lovely, it reminds me of Cambridge with it's open parks and peaceful air. There's fewer bicycles though and lots of Chelsea tractors.
Back on the correct road progress is good. The sun has kindly dipped behind some clouds, there's dry patches on the road and the traffic is surprisingly light. We cruise at 50 and 60 mph. On a 125 60 mph is not really a cruise, more a frantic cacophony of whizzing engine parts and screaming exhaust but once you get used to it it's cruising. Fields pass by, occasional roundabouts give our hot engines time to breath and the sun sets over the hedgerows and crops. I've not explored this area much.
These are not curvaceous tyre shredding roads. There's no jagged mountains or luscious valleys. There's nothing "est" about here. It's not the biggest, fastest, gnarliest or even quaintest area. As such there's been nothing to bring me here. Still I'm finding it pleasant, easy on the eye, relaxing to ride and interesting. I make a note to spend some more time in this area. Maybe, just maybe it may prove to be a little local gem that's been sat under my nose unnoticed. This distance signs are now falling for Shrewsbury. That's about right, it's getting dark and I'm ready for a rest.
We're here! How did she get them big blue bags inside them small saddlebags?
Finding the Travelodge is a doddle. The A49 joins the A5 for a while and where it leaves the A5 again is where our Travelodge rests along with a small service area. We park the bikes and the gf is still smiling. She agrees we've arrived perfectly, those last few miles she'd started to feel the cold and was getting tired, the rest of the ride was a delight. Inside we're greeted by a grey haired gentleman who is filled with good information about where to eat, buses and shops, questions of our journey and a smile. Upstairs our room is a surprise too, big, warm and sparklingly clean.
It seems this room was made for bikers, with perfect storage for the bike gear.
If we'd wanted character accommodation we'd have been disappointed. What we have is a large room with a king size bed, a bath come shower, toilet and sink and of course TV and tea making facilities. Our surroundings comprise of a combined Burger King and Little Chef, a car park, a fuel station with shop, a Dobbies garden centre and the main A5 and A49 roads. It is hardly quaint or magnificent and yet we do not care one bit! The room is warm, we crank the heater up a little more for good measure. We make a brew and strip off out of our bike gear. There's no pitching up in the dark, no soggy sleeping bags and no airbeds to inflate. It might not be stunning but to us this is indeed the lap of luxury.
It's not going to win any awards, but it's warm and dry and that will do us.
Our friendly receptionist advises us there's a pub that does reasonable food some 10 minutes walk away in the village of Bayston Hill. While it's toasty warm in our room the temperature is falling like banking stocks during a crash outside. We wrap up and follow our directions and sure enough within 10 minutes we're within a quiet country pub. The menu is basic, apparently there's more on offer during the week but this being Sunday the landlady likes to keep things simple. That's fine, as long as the food is hot and good we'll be happy. At least the prices are competitive.
While we wait for our meal we get talking to a local couple, a few years our senior. They have plenty of advice on where we might visit in Shrewsbury and talk of how good the food is here at the pub. Sure enough our meals arrive and mine's pretty good and the gf is impressed with her chicken pie. Feeling full we sit and chat a while in the warmth of the pub before we make our 10 minute walk back. It's already obvious it's going to freeze tonight with a clear sky, bright stars and a sting in my nose as I breathe in. Thank goodness we're not camping. We chuckle at the thought of the sleeping bags and tent.
Back at the Travelodge all is toasty warm, so much so I even the gf agrees we may need to turn the heater down a little. I maximise my return on investment by having the longest hottest bath I can tolerate, topping it up with piping hot water several times. The gf takes a shower and we settle down to watch Guy Martin trying to hurt himself by sledging down a very steep hill. He's not all there that fella.
With the room nice and warm the gf is feeling frisky. It's so warm I even remove a jumper or two.
Why And The Ride To Shrewsbury
Ren explains why he's taking Sharon to Shrewsbury. Well, he tries but he doesn't really know to be honest.
A Look Around Shrewsbury
Sharon and Ren take a look around the town of Shrewsbury. Ren achieves the dizzy heights of being "mildly impressed"
Going Home From Shrewsbury
The return leg from Shrewsbury involved rain, silly truck drivers and something left behind.
Reader's Comments
Tom McQ said :-
You end the story where "the GF is feeling frisky"???
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
Ren - The Ed said :-
Tom McQ, if you wish to know more you'll have to ask the gf. I'm not at liberty to disclose any more details.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
john de ville said :-
Trust you Tom..............................................but I thought the same thing...............lol.
01/01/2000 00:00:00 UTC
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Travel StoriesShrewsbury 2014