Group Ride -This months ride will be led by Andrew Maggs.

Andrew has come up with an interesting route down to Branscombe Beach, Nr.Seaton, via Yeovil. The return journey will be by a slightly different route bringing us back to Warminster where the ride will end.

Starts at the usual venue, the Little Chef, Chippenham, at 0900.

Oops - it's Father's day. So what better present can your 'missus give you other than to be let out for a cracking ride in Wales today!

So, the June ride will be led by me, Nick Atkins, and will be a similar route through Mid Wales that I did last year. This is a long one leaving from the old M48 "Aust" services at 0830 prompt, and not one for the "faint hearted".

If you have not done a long ride before and you are on a sports bike, be prepared for aching back, arms and wrists; and don't bring a back-pack unless you are a masochist. Go and get some practice in before the 15th and you will then be fit and thus okay for the run. Then you will really enjoy the trip.

The route will run roughly from Aust up to Llanidloes (not via Llandod and Newtown this time), across to Machynlleth, down to Devils Bridge (Hafod Hotel) for lunch, then home via the Elan Valley, and a new wiggly bit to Brecon.

"This is a 'must do' ride with roads only known by a local" - so said Richard Karn last year. My parents retired to Trefeglwys from the West Country some 30 years ago and that's how I know these roads. Also, have a look at Mitzy's comments on last years run, Welsh Tour – A View From The Rear. That should give you an idea about what the run is all about.

We will meet up at the Aust Services on the M48, NOT CHIPPENHAM! It has to be an early start otherwise we wont get lunch at the Hafod Hotel at 1400. Timings are:

• Meet at the Aust services at 0800 for a PROMPT 0830 DEPARTURE. So keep off the pop and get to bed early on Saturday night. And please come with a full tank of fuel - no sympathy for moaners on this one, fuel is expensive now as we all know, but fill up at Aust if you need to anyway. Petrol prices are expensive in Wales where ever you go.
• Petrol stop in Builth Wells after 82 miles out of Aust.
• Petrol stop near Aberystwyth after a further 75 miles.
• Petrol stop in Brecon after a further 73 miles.
• Finish at the Aust services after a further 40 miles or so from Brecon.

We may miss some petrol stops depending on sports-bike tank capacity.

Total route length is about 290 miles with some 8 hours in the saddle.

Please make use of your bike-2-bike radios too. Channel 5 (446.05625MHz), CTCSS (private) tone 110.9Hz (Icom tone 17, other radios tone 15). And bring a camera! A write-up will go into Exhaust Notes with your pictures.

Here is a Autoroute 2004 route map and route card. Autoroute.

Here is a Garmin file for your GPS: Garmin.

There is a disparity of some 8.1 miles between the Autoroute and Garmin routes, goodness knows why, but you will get a good idea where we will be going.

We are booked into the Hafod Hotel between 1330 and 1400. This year I have asked not to have the pink table-cloth experience in the main Restaurant as we did last year, and instead go for a more particle bar meal. For this the Hafod Hotel wants a menu selection in advance because of the loading on the kitchen due to it being Father's Day. Please look at the attached menu and let me know your order in advance. If you don't reply by the 11th June, tough, no food for you.

The menu is here: MENUE

Send your food booking to me at: nratkins(a)btinternet.com or 01249 66 5414. This is very important.

PLEASE - PLEASE - PLEASE - CONTACT ME OTHERWISE I CANT BOOK LUNCH FOR YOU- IF YOU WANT TO COME, THEN CONTACT ME WITH YOUR MENUE SELECTION, ELSE WE WONT BE GOING TO THE HAFOD HOTEL AND YOU WILL HAVE TO BRING A MARS BAR OR SOMTING AND EAT IT ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD - NASTY BUISNESS IF ITS RAINING!!!!.

Contact me at nratkins(a)btinternet.com by 2100 on Wednesday night, 11th June.

Talking of raining, if it's chucking it down on the day and the weather forecast is that it will continue, I won't be at Aust because I will be in bed. I don't do 300 miles or so in the rain just for fun. If its just damp and getting better, its on. Give me a call on 01666 837080 on Saturday evening to confirm its on if the weather seems dodgy.

WaBAM members have been invited to take part in the Tour de Wiltshire 2008 - The Follies and Fords Run & Social, organised by the Wiltshire Trail Riders Fellowship, in aid of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

There are three classes, one of which is suitable for bikes fitted with road tyres. See the Briefing and Entry Form .

Contact Nigel Lavender nflavender(a)yahoo.co.uk

Group Ride - 0900 at the Little Chef, Chippenham as usual.

Iain Gauld is leading it; prompt departure at 0930 please and remember to come with a full tank.

Group Social at the The Mermaid Inn, Christian Malford - 2000hrs. The first informal meet there to test things out, and the beer!.

Committee meeting - 2000 at the Bell Inn, Broughton Gifford.

Group Ride - 0900 at the Little Chef, Chippenham.

This one will be a half-day ride around Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire and Berks. Sounds long, but you won't need a 'blade for this as it skims the county boundary's. Route length is about 125 miles taking about 3.5 hours. Some odd roads to be taken only known by the route planner (and GPS?).

Just out of interest, the stretch of the A338 from Wantage to the M4 is where Thames Valley Police filmed the "Bikesafe 2000" video staring Phil Curtis (TVP), and the well known British Superbike Champion, Troy Bayliss.

The difference with this run is that we aim to finish at our new Social function pub, the Mermaid Inn, Christian Malford, by about 1315-1400 for lunch. This should be a good short run and a "surveillance-op" to see if the place is fit for purpose.

The run is a short one because of Saturday's Social events for some of the older lot that may not be able to make a full run today! . . . you know who you are ;-)

Like the June Welsh run, please let me know in advance if you are coming to warn the Mermaid for lunch numbers - atkinsnr(a)btinternet.com.

Meet time is as normal, 0900, with a prompt departure at 0930 from the Little Chef/Esso station on the A350 Chippenham by-pass.

Maps: Autoroute and Garmin

Ride leader: Nick Atkins

Group Social The Mermaid Inn, Christian Malford - 2000hrs.

Please come along for this to celebrate our new social gathering "home".

Group Ride - 0900 at the Little Chef, Chippenham.

Peter Hawkes is going to take us on one of his Adjectivally Mystic Tours this month and knowing his routes it will be awe-inspiring. Watch out here for more details.

* * NOTE THE EARLIER DATE - ITS A WEEK EARLY * *

The October group ride will be a week early – 2^nd Sunday.  It will depart from normal meeting place and head to Weston-Super-Mare for the annual beach race, which starts at 12:00.  Chips and sand aplenty!

Committee meeting - 2000 at the Bell Inn, Broughton Gifford

Group Social at The Mermaid Inn, Christian Malford - 2000hrs

Group Ride - 0900 at the Little Chef, Chippenham.

An interesting ride that is a secret at the moment to be lead by Les Snelgrove. Keep an eye on this space for details.

Committee meeting - 2000 at the Bell Inn, Broughton Gifford

Group Ride - 0900 at the Little Chef, Chippenham.

Possibly to be lead by Nick Atkins but depends on our normal commitment to the Swindon Toy Run. Something interesting will happen so keep an eye on this section for updates.

Group Social at The Mermaid Inn, Christian Malford - 2000hrs . . . Happy Christmas!