As an excuse to get out of going camping at the Greenbelt festival with the wife and kids this weekend, I decided to go on a road trip.

 

I had planned to do this last year with my eldest daughter but couldn't afford it and as I now have my own company, decided to do it this year.

 

Up until 10am this morning, was still undecided where to go a) east cost from the wash upwards b) North Yorkshire moors around Harkerside / Hawes / Richmond or c) north Welsh coast and then south.

 

I decided on Wales so am now in a small hotel in Llandudno on the sea front. Took 5 hours to get here but once I left the main roads had a great time going through the country lanes getting used to driving an automatic. Tomorrow it is down the cost to portmeirion, Harlech and then Aberdovey where I think I will stay the night. Not been around this area since I was in the 6th form doing my Geography A level, so look forward to seeing it again.

 

So far the car hasn't missed a beat but one issue I have found is getting petrol, had to stop at a number of garages before I could get super unleaded. Should be good until I get nearer to home before I have to fuel up again (I hope!).

 

Will post some pictures when I get back, some may even have the Zed in them..

Nice thing to do!

Happy Zedding.

Have fun Mark, Aberdovey is a lovely place and a good choice to stay over night :thumbup:

Pics please

 

Wales has some great roads.

You can get some great fish & chips in Llandudno. Betws y coed is a nice little place to visit. Think there's a car museum there aswel.

Fish and chips were very nice in Llandudno especially sitting on the seafront listening to the sea and little else.

Day two was eventful in terms of weather. Started with sunshine heading south, then hit torrential rain, bit more sun, then a lot of heavy rain and finally very warm and the roof off

 

So the plan was to go onto Anglesey as I have never been but a the weather was so bad I decided to carry on down to Portmeirion. What a place! If you haven't been you should, I will certainly be taking the wife and kids there. Will post pictures when I get home. After a wander around and a quick food break, it was off to Harlech Castle.

 

I had it in my head that I had been there a number of times with school, but my memories were you had to climb a lot of steps from the beach to get there and this is not Harlech Castle, still it was an interesting stop even if it meant getting a bit wet.

 

Then it was on to Aberdovey, this was were everyone went to when I was a kid growing up in Wolverhampton and the number of Wolves tops and Black Country accents shows it is still popular. Again not been there since I was at school but always wanted to go back. Unfortunately everywhere was booked so went 10 miles further down the road to Machynlleth which is a nice little town.

 

Car wise all OK except for an annoying rattle that has appeared. You can only hear it when the roof is off or a window open. At first I thought it was a binding break but it is still there albeit faint when the car is stationary. I will look in to it on Monday or next weekend if I run out of time. Still getting used to an auto box that sometimes seems to like to rev a lot, hopefully that is me and not a slipping clutch (how do you test for this on an auto?).

 

Tomorrow it is to Aberystwyth then homeward bound, I have hardly seen the wife and kids over the last two weeks and am beginning to become a soppy old sod and missing them.

 

I am surprised how much I am enjoying being on my own and being able to just stop and start as I want.t is something I would not have done in the past, especially not knowing where I am sleeping that night!

 

I would recommend anyone thinking of doing this to do it, the scenery is great and the weather just adds to the experience.

Enjoy your trip Mark and look forward to the pics.

Well after 530 miles of smooth driving in the Zed, I am finally home.

 

Todays journey saw me going to Borth and then on to Aberystwyth, then home via B roads, A5, M54 and M6. The roads were nice and quiet as below.

 

It would have been rude not to drive with vigour but within the limit...

 

I wanted to go to Borth as it was the location of the only holiday I had with my parents and siblings. It was 40 years go though so other than it being a pebble beach, I don't remember that much!

 

Aberystwyth was pretty good and took some photo's of the Zed.

 

Pictures to follow tomorrow once I have sorted them out.

Nice trip there Mark - glad you and the ZX had fun mate!!

 

Richard:thumbup:

Sounds lovwoy mark, in the z and with family, what more could a person ask for

Sounds lovwoy mark, in the z and with family, what more could a person ask for

 

Hi Trish, good to hear from you. I was just me and the Zed, Jane and the girls (who are all grown up from when you last saw them!) were camping at the Greenbelt festival. It was great and really relaxing. Will post pictures n a bit.