(Photo: Natasha King)
It's always a gamble planning a driving tour in Wales, at least from the weather perspective. Regardless, we set the date for Easter with fingers crossed. Thankfully, the wettest March since 1981 gave way to blue skies and bright sunshine for the 3 days of our tour (rain returned for Bank Holiday Monday... phew!).
The event was a mixture of great driving roads (have I mentioned great weather?); beautiful scenery; an excellent hotel base; a visit to a private estate; some lakeside views; a toy museum and some drinking and gambling (not much of the latter).
Unfortunately, Paul & Trina and Bernard were unable to bring along their Astons (medical and mechanical respectively), but it made little difference to their involvement... especially for Trina who loved being a passenger in Matt's Vanquish. Paul happily tagged along in Howard's 2019 Vantage and Andy's Rapide.
The drive from our muster point in Abergavenny included the Elan Valley Visitor Centre which, perhaps unsurprisingly, was immensely busy. That didn't stop us enjoying a lunch snack and looking around the lake and dam. It's an amazing feat of engineering.
(Photo: Andrew Fawkes)
I took the opportunity to issue 'medals' to every couple. Failure to wear it at any point on the trip would result in a bar forfeit. Needless to say, discipline was maintained after that point with only one 'culprit' of the weekend having to pay up, unfortunately it was Mrs. Webber!!
Andy explaining the medals with (L-R) Heather Webber, Joan Cottrell and Howard Bowes (Photo: Natasha King)
L-R: Andrew & Gillian Fawkes, Bernard White, Trina & Paul Ashley, Fraser King, James Robinson, Matt Maneely, Heather Webber, Steve and Joan Cottrell, Andy Webber, Howard Bowes, Sarah & Dave Bryers (photo: Natasha King)
A drive a little further up the valley, allowed some more photo opportunities with the cars, then we retraced our steps to motor a couple of hours north to Lake Vyrnwy... or at least some of us did. Whilst that was our plan, some found themselves at the hotel and then the call of the bar was heard. Meanwhile, a small splinter group, followed the original itinerary and enjoyed a lakeside ice cream - very well navigated to those who saw the lake!
The Rapides of Webbers and Kings lead at the first lakeside stop of the weekend at the Elan Valley (photo: Frazer King)
Frazer & Natasha King with their Rapide (Photo: Andy Webber)
At Lake Vyrnwy (L-R: Paul & Trina Ashley and Gillian & Andrew Fawkes, who took the photo)
We eventually all reconvened at the hotel and, ultimately, a lovely meal and banter. Andrew Fawkes introduced us to 'Mileage Poker'*. Its first winner - with a 'straight' - was Bernard White who also received a medal for the 'dirtiest car' - albeit a working farm Range Rover as his DB7 was ill.
Left from front: Dave & Sarah Bryers, Joan Cottrell, Frazer King, Heather Webber, Andrew Fawkes, Howard Bowes, Steve Cottrell, James Robinson.
Right from front: Paul & Trina Ashley, Natasha King, Andy Webber, Gillian Fawkes, Matt Maneely, Bernard White.
A few more 'medals' were awarded to deserving individuals: Dave Bryers for having the 'cleanest car' upon arrival and Heather, for her 'nutritional awareness' (eating the most!).
Day 2 started by following Andrew and Gillian as they set off in the wrong direction. Fortunately, only James and Frazer followed, meaning they arrived about an hour later than everyone else at the marvellous Nerquis Hall, home of former Club director Richard Furse. This was the highlight of the weekend.
Nerquis Hall in the spring (Photo: Natasha King)
We arrived in time for coffee and doughnuts in the workshop. Richard then entertained us with stories from the workshops and garages that morphed into a tour of the estate grounds. We learned how the Welsh Coal barons of the 18th and 19th centuries spent their seemingly limitless wealth on follies, orangeries, canals (that go nowhere), 'a-has', etc.
The line-up at Nerquis Hall (L-R: Vanquish (Maneely), DB6 (Bryers), DB9 Volante (Cottrell), Rapide (Webber), V8 Vantage (Robinson), Range Rover (White), DB6 (Fawkes) - Photo: Andy Webber.
After the obligatory group photo, we left Richard and his family to enjoy their Easter Sunday lunch.
Host, Richard Furse (left), receives flowers and chocolates from me on behalf of the group (photo: Andrew Fawkes)
Convoy post-Nerquis Hall (Photo: Gillian Fawkes)
A brief fuel stop then on to late lunch/snack at the Dragonfly Tea Rooms. This stop has been made famous by the motoring journalists whose work resulted in some of the nearby roads being named 'the Evo Triangle'. That fame (infamy?) has also resulted in a plethora of speed cameras! That didn't stop us enjoying the stunning scenery and varied road conditions, from tight narrow bends and single-track bridges to wide vistas and fast flowing sweeping bends. The route took in Denbigh, Pentrefoelas, Capel Celyn and Lake Bala.
Big land and big sky at a mountain stop north of Pentrefoelas (Photo: Andrew Fawkes)
Paul & Trina Ashley (Photo: Andy Webber)
Dave & Sarah Bryers with their DB6 (Photo: Andy Webber)
(L-R) Steve Cottrell, Andy Webber and Frazer King at Lake Bala (photo: Heather Webber)
Another evening dinner included a deserved round of applause for Bernard who had provided the Saturday afternoon route and made sure we got the best from our limited time in and around the Snowdonia National Park. The final medal award was to Natasha King for drinking the most Prosecco as well as a virtual award to Gillian for revealing a chink in her navigational armour.
A highlight of Saturday evening was Paul - a member of the Magic Circle - wowing us (especially Natasha) with one of his magic tricks.
We and others had to leave early on Sunday, leaving a group of 5 x Astons and Bernard's Range Rover to visit the recently re-opened Cloverlands Toy Museum near Welshpool. Coffee and cake at the co-located Llanfair Caereinion Light Railway station was the end of the trip as everyone then made their own way home. Big thanks to Andrew Fawkes for organising this bonus trip.
(L-R) Joan Cottrell, Gillian Fawkes and Matt Maneely at the Toy Museum (Photo: Andrew Fawkes)
Inevitably, there is talk of a repeat event, possibly in October this year (the Brigands Inn Hotel is certainly an ideal base for such plans) along with a possible Scalextric race-off between Area 18 and Area 4... watch this space.
Thanks to all who attended to make this such a warm and friendly event with many, many laughs.
The final coffee and cake of an excellent weekend (Photo: Andrew Fawkes)
Attendees:
Paul & Trina Ashley - Volvo (aka DB7 Vantage)
Howard Bowes - V8 Vantage
Dave & Sarah Bryers - DB6
Steve & Joan Cottrell - DB9 Volante
Andrew & Gillian Fawkes - DB6
Frazer & Natasha King - Rapide
James Robinson - V8 Vantage
Matt Maneely - Vanquish
Andy & Heather Webber - Rapide
Bernard White - Range Rover (aka DB7)
* Mileage Poker rules available from Andrew on request!