Cool, with heavy rain interspersed with sun and a hilly ride in prospect. Is this off-putting? After tea and toasted teacakes at the Gallery Coffee Shop in Hawarden the leader set off with a tight group of one heading towards Ewloe and then bearing left to go through Burntwood, Buckley and Alltami where the pleasant lanes and scenery began to caress the wheels and the mind. After Soughton things began to improve weather-wise and by Gwernaffield the sun was out, the roads drying and the temperature just about right for the constant trickle of hills, all with lovely views of the Clwyds. This was followed by a warm up on the one in four out of Bont-newydd. The White Horse in Cilcain, recommended by Bryan two weeks ago, was the refuelling stop. I wondered if one needed an appointment but then I found that ringing the bell summoned assistance. After soup, a roll and a lime and soda (£1:60p) it was off to Loggerheads in the sun. Through Loggerheads and right after Cadole to climb to Nercwys where there were clear views over the Cheshire plain to Beeston and the Peckforton hills, and carrying on via Ty-newydd to Leeswood Hall where those enormous ornamental gates on the very narrow lane set one's mind wondering. It was then down into Leeswood and civilisation once more to pick up the A5104 from Pontblyddyn to Penyffordd where the skies started to threaten again - but it was only a threat. It was only left for me to cross the A55 footbridge at Bilberry Wood and to do the last climb up into the starting point at Hawarden. Only 27.5 miles from cafe to cafe but 3000ft of climbing, and it was only 2:35pm. So it was then a dash back home for 3:30pm with 50 miles in.
RH
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