10th May 2012: Gobowen (brisk)

Eleven met at Hildegard’s, but Andy & Bryan were only there for the coffee. (Hope you find your feet soon Bryan).  Clive kindly had a route programmed heading south into the wind, all the way to Gobowen.  The run to lunch was punctuated twice (punctured is more apt) as we passed through Sutton Green to Bangor, where the first of a series of pics was taken by yours truly. (PIC 1)

Bangor on Dee

First puncture

First puncture was at Hindford, where Brian’s new mini foot-pump impressed the natives with its efficiency. (PIC 2)  Lunch was unusually taken, NOT in a pub but at the VERY efficient Derwen College on the southern outskirts of Gobowen.  Main courses were ordered from the waitress and arrived in less than 2 minutes.  A new CER record for speed: well done the students.

Photographs by Brian MacDonald

After lunch, we headed north along the towpath of the very sunny and pleasant Llangollen canal, over The Chirk Aqueduct.  (PIC 3) 

Chirk Aqueduct

We then achieved another CER first by attempting to by-pass the town by cycling through the 412 yard long Chirk Tunnel.   We cycled about 5 yards into the tunnel before deciding that we were grown men and should be sensible and walk.  Exiting the tunnel we had a fast run north as far as the very smelly Rubbish Dump at Jonestown. (PIC 4) Here George had to have a puncture and show us his patented rain proof seat cover, an upmarket carrier bag.  I must point out that all the punctures were fixed in record time by the expert re-tyreing of Ray. (Is there such a word?)  Well done Ray.

With all the stopping and starting, it was decided that afternoon tea should be taken at the very lovely Erddig Hall, voted the UK’s “Favourite Historic House” in 2007.  Suitably refreshed, we all set off for Chester and when we reached Wrexham Rugby Club, Trevor deviated off to Farndon.  A very pleasant CER 50 miles, with 3 punctures and two new records set.

BMac