Had a good weekend up in Beddgelert for the 2013 Dragon Rally. Had originally planned to go on my Armstrong MT500 but it's currently in 'dry dock' awaiting some work on it's carburation. Took my WM20 instead. It's first long trip and it performed beyond my expectations.
I'd expected to be reporting back with tales of woe regarding roadside repairs in the middle of nowhere. But the 323 mile round trip went without drama, cruising merrily around the 42/45 mph mark returning an average of 60 mpg for the trip. Took a route up past Lake Vyrnwy and Lake Bala along single track roads that suited the bike just right. My kettle kept rattling against my chair on the high roads sounding just like a cow bell. Thought Julie Andrews was going to appear at any moment with the Von Trapp children..! Due to torrential rain i decided to stick to the M54 and M6 for the final leg home. Kept the bike at a steady 45 for 90 minutes, slightly scary with the spray from the passing HGV's. Quick check over once I'd bathed and thored out showed a rear mudguard bolt missing and another couple loose.
The toolkit I compiled from the list on the technical section of the forum didn't see the light of day.
Met a couple of chaps off the forum while I was there and compared notes. LJ was on his M21 and Pat Meagher on his WM20. The WD bikes seem to attract a great deal of affection. Had an offer of a straight swap for another BSA model (don't recall what) but this ones a keeper. Saw another bike arrive but never found it on the camping field.
I shall change the oil and give her a full check over then it's down to South Devon in May to visit relatives. Can't wait 
Stuart
email (option): stu.gibbins@btinternet.com
Hi Stuart...Nice photos and glad to hear the old girl exceeded your expectations...The last time I did the Dragon Rally was in the mid 70s and on a M120 Panther...What part of S.Devon will you be visiting and at what time in May?..If you're in my area and it's before I go to Normandy you could pop in for a cuppa..I'm about 6 miles from Tavistock in the Tamar valley.(approx. 15 miles north of Plymouth)..Ian
email (option): ian@wright52.plus.com
I am only 10miles from Paignton, if you need a guide over to the boss's for tea and biccy's I could show you a safe route over Dartmoor, 
Colin, I might take you up on the offer. Cheers.
Roger, it's a Garmin Oregon GPS receiver loaded with road maps to act as my sat nav. Use it more as an accurate speedo/trip meter though. Using the motorway was a last resort, I was stone cold and wet through and just wanted to motor home.
Pat, your clutch seemed pretty harsh when we tried it Sunday morning. Bit of tinkering and I'm sure you'll sort it. I meant to whip my plug out tonight and see what it looked like. If it's still a bit white I think I shall try raising the needle 1 position and see how she runs. Given I have no clue as to the condition of the engine I was really pleased with how she ran. The high mpg I got makes me think I'm running a bit lean though, don't want to melt the motor!
After leaving the campsite a Honda C50 loaded to the hilt went past me like I was parked up! I went for an overtake in Shrewsbury but the milky got back on his float and pulled away from me 
.
Thanks for positive remarks,
Stuart
email (option): stu.gibbins@btinternet.com
Let me know when you are in Paignton,It would be an excuse take a run out and have a ride along the coast to Slapton.
Hi Stuart,
Indeed a very good weekend if not a very cold and wet one. Great to have met you for a long chat about these old bikes sorry not to have met Pat but I did see his bike. It was a terrible wet weekend and ride home. I don't know which ride was safest the M6 your route or mine along the A5 with diesel spills on just about every roundabout I met, nothing worse than that red/blueish haze on the road.
I'm glad that I went a few days earlier to make the most of the long journey and as you can see and from what we chatted about, that nice route each of us took...
My first camping night was on the firing range near the Holiday village on the A470 Bronaber. That was blooming cold!...
I only had the tools out once because the float had somehow slipped off the needle and petrol gushed out onto right leg, lucky I saw it. I did mention about putting thinner oil into tank instead of the usual straight 50 oil I normally use. This resulted in an oiled up plug making starting much more difficult. If I had stuck to my usual thick stuff I know I'd have been better off, but as I was expecting the thicker oil to be problematic in cold weather I changed...
Your quite right about the attention these bikes get and much respect that they get, and deserve too. The speed we get out of them is quite enough, I've said numerous times that it really is not about speed. The plodding up hills, noise reverbrating off of hills and alleys is the attraction for me. See you again there next year maybe?
Great photo's LJ. Looking at what you took with you I feel like I travelled light. Certainly was a good route up past the lakes and over the hills.
Just so he doesn't feel left out here's a pic of Pat's WM20:
Stuart
email (option): stu.gibbins@btinternet.com