11th April 2024: Rhos to Trefriw (special ride, mod)

When I volunteered to plan this day, I hadn’t envisaged the amount of preparation demanded compared to previous outings. Routes required for Mods and Brisk’s plus a Mods Route Sheet. Also, people’s abilities have changed and new faces arrived. Any planning had to account for the majority of the groups. Since COVID, opening hours for public houses have changed considerably. Café’s in Rhos have changed, so starters I decided on the popular café COAST used by my family. For lunch I didn’t know whether the Old Ship Inn would be open as regular phone calls were unanswered.

As my Wednesday Pootlers Group had a ‘Welsh Wash Out Wednesday’ I decided that the Mods route I planned would suit them nicely. So, 19 in total turned up at the COAST cafe. The Brisk & Mods+ had decided on a clockwise route largely based on my suggested Routes, Pootlers and Mods would use what I had planned. Ivan I learn’t later, went solo following one of my Brisk Routes.

The Mods, MikeD, Electric Ray, Hon Sec DaveH, Dave Matthews, Keith, and myself, plus 4 Pootlers (John, Shaun, Audax Chris shortly off to Japan & Electric Paul) set of for Llandudno. DaveM was having difficulty on the first climb out of Penrhyn Bay and decided at Llandudno he would bypass the Great Orme round and would rejoin at West Shore. The remainder congregated at the Rest & Be Thankful Café before setting of for Deganwy. At West Shore the main group of Pootlers, Ray and Andy had disappeared leaving just four of us DaveH, MikeD, Keith and myself to wend our way to the lunch stop in Trefriw. Keith was very keen to practice Welsh place names so some fun was had. He could have done with some assistance from Steve Hughes. On we went around the Conwy estuary cycle trail thinking all was well with those in the advanced party. Photo opportunity was taken at the Telford Suspension Bridge completed in 1826 and at one time carried the A55. 

Photo by Mike G

On through Rowen and we had time to take in St Mary’s a 13th Century Church at Caerhun with its views of the Conwy Valley and was once a major Roman Fort in times gone past.  The wind was getting up and on our way to Trefriw where we were passed going in the opposite direction by the Brisk group, who were pounding their way for a lunchtime pancake. At our lunch stop Old Ship Inn, Andy, DaveM and the Mods+ were into their grub and reported that Ivan had visited. Where was Ray? He appears to have lost contact with the Pootlers decided to wait at Llandudno Junction small roundabout but hadn’t realised we went via the estuary cycle path so missed him completely. So he returned safely to Rhos on Sea where he had lunch before returning home. We four had a lovely lunch hour, the beer I had was very pleasant. Andy advised he was making his way home and DaveM was soon on his way as were the Mods+ group. We four made our way across the valley to Llanrwst, via the suspension bridge and as we progressed up the long climb noticed the wind would be in our favour. Across the tops wind assisted, the four of us freewheeled for long periods, and were able to enjoy the limited views of the Carnedd mountains in the west and the Clwydian Range and Moel Famau plus Denbigh Moor to the east.  Keeping the best to last. I planned on a lovely downfall to Old Colwyn. All four of us enjoyed the extravaganza via Llanelian yn Rhos with lovely coastal views. The road surface made it even better, being recently resurfaced unlike the years gone past where it had always been an undulating gravel strewn patchwork quilt.

We four arrived safely at the COAST café just after 4pm, the Mods+ arriving shortly afterwards. Also, the thanks received from Ivan and others for the enjoyable ride they had. Thanks also to Dave Heath for the effort he provided in advising me on what was required, names and numbers who would be attending.

See route map and/or gpx file download

Mike Gilbert