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Dad's And A Detour Prologue
Leading Up To 5 July 2025
By Ren Withnell
Wait, what? You want to come with me? I mean yeah OK that's great, I just wasn't expecting it.
You see my dad lives on that there saaaaaaf coast, some 280 miles away. Sharon's come with me to visit him and his wife plenty of times but typically I'll go on my own. It is a long way to go, it requires at least a day off work, and my dad ain't Sharon's kin so there's just not the same motivation. To put a figure on it I'd hazard a guess at every 5 visits Sharon will join me on one, that kind of number.
I think there's 2 clinchers as to why she wants to join me this time. Number 1 - we've only just returned from our Kilmarnock trip so there's a touch of the post holiday blues. The only cure for the post holiday blues is to start planning another holiday. Number 2 - it's summertime! A long ride is a lot easier when the rain is warm and in daylight rather than when the rain is really icy and it'll be dark by 1545.
You can't come home from this and not be a little sad.
Actually there might be a third reason. She's cottoned on to the fact I tend not to ride there and back in one long ride any more. If time allows I find I'm enjoying the whole experience a lot more by breaking up the trip south and the trip north. We chat. Before long we're having the whole week off work and streamlining a visit to dad's with a tour of England and Wales.
Of course I'm exaggerating. The plan is thus - camp near Birmingham Saturday night, Sunday and Monday night at my dad's place, Tuesday and Wednesday night camped just outside of Marlborough, then Thursday and Friday night camped in The Elan Valley, central Wales. This means that there's not a single day's ride of more than 150 miles and 3 "rest" days out of 7! That to me sounds perfect, nice-n-easy.
As you can see this is an exhaustive tour of all points in England and Wales.
I'm still disconcerted. Both bikes remain in serviceable order with good tread on the tyres and no impending oil changes due. I have sufficient holidays remaining from work (I did take up their kind offer of "buying" an extra week from them). Sharon's kids seem settled enough, Sharon's grandchild appears to be gaining weight satisfactorily and doing all the things babies do.
There has to be a fly in the ointment - Sharon's sister's cancer is not responding to chemo and the little chemo she managed has made her REALLY poorly. There's nothing we can do about that and the advantage of our trip being UK based is we can be home in the day if an emergency arises. Let's hope that's not the case but if it is then so be it.
She has much to be happy about, and much to be sad about. She's still smiling.
The three weeks between returning from Kilmarnock and departure for this trip seem to fly by! I'm organised enough but I'm usually much more organised long before departure. Oooh, we have a new tent to try out too. The Vango Beta 350 served us well but it's become worn and leaky and somewhat rough around the edges. We shall be learning about Berghaus' Adhara 300L all too soon.
It's Friday evening - I'd best get the bike loaded and get myself down to Sharon's place. The weather this evening is nice enough... tomorrow and the rest of the week? Not quite so good...
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Dad's And A Detour Prologue
So come on Ren, what's the excuse this time? A few notes on the where's and why-fors of a lightweight tour south of The Ship Canal.
Reader's Comments
Upt'North ¹ said :-
Blummin eck Ed, you get away more than Judith Chalmers.
Yes I know I'm showing my age.
Pffffffftttttt.
21/08/2025 13:39:18 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
We try our best Upt'. I only do these things just so I have something to write about just so you have something to read. I do it for YOU!
21/08/2025 14:25:00 UTC
Bogger said :-
New Berghaus tent. 5 ferries in one day, staying in Bungalows. I think theres' been a seismic change in your finances. You're throwing money about like it's confetti lad.
Now I'm not complaining, just observing. Get it spent, that's what I say. You might even enjoy yourself.
Bogger
21/08/2025 18:11:36 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
ENJOY MYSELF!!! How very dare you. They tell me time flies when you're having fun and by that logic if you have a fun life and live to 80 it'll only feel like 20 years. I on the other hand think if I make it to 80 it'll feel like I've lived 240 years. Being miserable won't help you live longer (on the contrary actually) but it'll make it feel like you've lived longer.
Fun. Pffffft.
Ahem. I have prepared an excuse M'lud. The reason I am "enjoying" nicer accommodations is all the people around me are getting older (unlike myself obviously). They're too old to camp, too wealthy to to suffer my prudent ways, and Sharon can be quite frightening when she gets cold. I on the other hand would much prefer to camp in a ditch, eat cold beans out of the tin and get trenchfoot with cheap boots. It's just those around me won't let me.
Now be quiet, I'm trying to book a service for my GS1300.
22/08/2025 08:02:01 UTC
nab301 said :-
More holidays, and a new tent !??
Nigel
22/08/2025 16:46:56 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Quite so nab301. The whole world has gone MAD!!
22/08/2025 18:08:57 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
I like your choice of tent.
Good spec and well priced.
Our "larger" tent with a porch area is now showing signs of age, so I will be interested in how you get on with the new tent.
I have just serviced and repainted the trailer ready for two up touring, but my wife is not keen on towing.
It looks like we will be travelling light with a small tent and a tarp.
22/08/2025 18:41:20 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Where are you off to ROD? And why does the wife not like towing? I'm assuming (assumption is the mother of all cockups) that she'll not be riding in which case how will she know the difference?
So far the tent is a tad more fiddly than the Vango to erect but otherwise seems good. At £120 it's cheaper than the equivalent Vango with similar space and higher "HH" Hydrostatic Head.
22/08/2025 19:31:38 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
So, the advantage of towing a trailer is that you can take lots of stuff. You can take comfortable chairs and the trailer will double up as a large table.
The trailer also adds security. You do not need stuff strapped all over the bike, so out off sight out of mind. The trailer locks to the bike and an additional lock can be looped through the back wheel and locked to the trailer. This is also useful when riding solo, as you do not have the other person to keep an eye on the bike when going into a supermarket, or ordering in a cafe ect.
The disadvantages are speed restrictions (although this does not apply in France and I have fitted new high speed tyres), less convenient parking, and some safety concerns, even if you attach flags, people do not expect (or see) the trailer.
The biggest one for us is we have failed to get away this year for various reasons, and it looks like it will be October before we can get away. So at the moment for a better weather experience we are looking at a Dover Calais crossing and then follow the best looking weather.
The trailer will cost an extra £110 - £125 return depending on crossing time.
This is an extra week campsite fees, or less cooking and more cafes!
26/08/2025 08:02:45 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
I totally get all the benefits of towing a trailer ROD - it's something I have considered myself. But you said the wife is not so keen on towing - is it the additional costs?
28/08/2025 07:55:18 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
No, I don't think it's just the cost.
I think it is a perceived danger, or just uncomfortable knowing the trailer is following.
I think if we had used the trailer more often then she would not be bothered about it.
We have only used the trailer two up on a couple of occasions the biggest was a trip to Devon around 9 - 10 years ago.
I have used the trailer much more traveling solo, and have learnt a few tricks for a more pleasurable ride with the trailer.
28/08/2025 12:22:35 UTC
Ian Soady¹ said :-
I suppose I'd be a bit nervous about forgetting about the trailer and striaghtlining bends - possibly hitting the kerb. Is yous a single wheel or twin wheel type Rod?
28/08/2025 17:40:22 UTC
ROD¹ said :-
The trailer is a twin wheel.
I have never hit the kerb with the trailer.
The trailer is only 1 MTR wide, so no wider than the k16s panniers, and not much wider than any bike with "normal" handlebars.
I think she can still remember that I said about the braking not being great with the trailer down porlock hill!!!
28/08/2025 17:48:14 UTC
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