29th January 2009: Lock Gate Café, Beeston

Photographs by Ray Hardman
Manley Mere Windsurfing Centre

A 15mph SE wind and a sunny afternoon was the forecast. Well, the wind turned up and so did Jim: we would have to see about the afternoon. Tea, tea-cakes and tittle tattle were followed by a decision to brave the wind and a lumpy out-route by heading for the Lock Gate café at Beeston. The climb to Mouldsworth soon had us warming to the task and then cooling down as we descended to the left turn into Delamere Lane. The road through the forest gave shelter, which was maintained through Hatchmere and Norley only to be lost along the exposed Bag Lane prior to our turn left for Onston and Acton Bridge. The day remained dull but there were signs of the sun attempting to break through in the west. With the wind now in our faces and tackling the hills at Gorstage, Whitegate and Little Budworth we could at least be grateful for the overnight rains over the last few days which had washed the roads free of mud and thorns. Oulton Park was quiet once again - don't these motor enthusiasts like cold weather? With the wind strengthening we pushed on through Rushton to check out Kings Lane for the remarkable cleanliness it has been achieving of late and then we took Oxheys Lane for Tilston Fearnall where we turned right for a short stretch of the A51 to the Red Fox before a left took us down the hill to the Lock Gate and sustenance.
After a long break for warmth and recovery we headed back up the hill and left for Huxley with the wind on our backs and superfluous strength in our legs. The sun hadn't won its battle, the wind was cooler and there were no hills to warm up on. But life was easy, Waverton was breezed through, Guilden Sutton beckoned Jim to the armchair whilst I made a warm-up dash for home with 49 miles recorded and a few minor lumps along the way. Verdict: bracing.
RH