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Retired, work part-time or shifts, enjoy being out in the countryside? Then cycle the lanes and byways of Cheshire and surrounding areas with Chester Easy Riders: you won't get left behind.
Chester Easy Riders is an independent cycling club affiliated to Cycling UK. We cycle every Thursday throughout the year with moderate and brisk day rides of 40 to 80 miles.

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Sunday 8 July 2012

5th July 2012: Beatles Cycling Tour of Liverpool

1. Ringo's birthplace

2. Sefton Park

3. Coffee

4. Penny Lane

5. Strawberry Fields

6. Paul's house

7. Otterspool Formation Team

8. Ferry across the Mersey

9. Disembark
Eight members gathered at Chester Station to catch a train to Liverpool for the start of The Magical Mystery Tour – Trevor, Martin & Liz, Clive, Ivan, Mike, Ray & myself.  Alighting at James Street, we made our way south alongside the Mersey, to view various important places associated with The Beatles.  (pics. follow in numerical order) 

Ringo’s birthplace in Toxteth was first 1; sadly it had seen better days.  Riding thro Princes Park, Trevor had the first of 3 punctures.  Sefton Park followed, 2 and the call went out “I want a wee” (It’s like herding cats or kids) followed by a coffee stop 3.  Penny Lane, 4 was next (are you singing along yet?) soon followed by “A shelter in the middle of a roundabout” at its northern end.  George’s birthplace near the Picton Clock was next.  There we were not sure what all the Japanese tourists would make of the locals sitting outside their houses in the sun in the afternoon, still dressed in pyjamas.

A long ride east took us to the increasingly more affluent area where John grew up with his Aunt Mimi.  First though, we stopped at St Peters Church Hall, Woolton, where 55 years ago to the day, John was introduced to Paul, who had to audition there to join the Quarry Men.  Along the road we came to 5, Strawberry Fields, an old orphanage sadly looking in a sorry state.  John’s house on Menlove Ave was next, now a National Trust property.  As was the next 6, Paul’s house in Allerton.  A massive carvery followed, costing £3, at a recommended boozer.

After lunch, the CER Cycle Formation Team 7 appeared again on Otterspool promenade, though with all the folk out enjoying the sun, otters were few and far between.  As we were early for the first commuter ferry across the Mersey (are you still singing?), we had a pleasant 30 minutes to kill at the best hostelry in the City, the Philharmonic Rooms.  The ferry 8, 9 was busy and the half-hour trip enabled Trevor to change puncture number 2.  Disembarking at Woodside at 16:45, I spotted a new Sustrans sign pointing to Eastham ferry and as time was pressing, we went for this new route.
We soon found in Rock Ferry that some signs had already been re-cycled into scrap and as a result I was not 100% sure of the new route.  Who should then turn up but a knight in shining armour, a k a, Gary from the local wheelers, who was cycling home to Port Sunlight.  He put us right and we returned via Eastham, the missing Link and Ledsham to Chester.  Distances were 23 miles in the city, followed by 20 odd to Chester.

Feedback received was encouraging and I enjoyed being a tour guide for the day, though the tips were miserable!!  I used a booklet on the Beatles for my guidance and you are welcome to borrow it anytime. 
BMac


Photographs, tour planning and commentary courtesy of Brian MacDonald

2 comments:

  1. Brian: as novelty rides go, this was one of the best! Clive

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  2. Brian: Glad you got home okay. Just to say many thanks for a wonderful day out. For me it was one of the memorable cycle rides of Chester Easy Riders. It demonstrated there is more to urban cycling than just to and from work.

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