Ten riders gathered at the Ice Cream Farm at Tattenhall on a
fine summer morning - Daves H, P and M,
Liz, Bryan, George, Trevor, John M, Petar and Steve T. As usual, Dave M was
here only for coffee, as domestic duties called, so it was nine who set off for
Ellesmere, the destination chosen after a quick conflab between Daves H and P.
After a couple of false starts as Dave H stopped to adjust
his map holder, we set off down Newton
Lane, turning right at the end and heading towards Bolesworth Castle,
where we passed several signs advertising
‘CarFest North‘ on August 29th. This is the annual bash
organised by Chris Evans (of Top Gear infamy) which raises funds for Children
in Need.
Crossing the A534, we sauntered through Brown Knowl and Duckington,
crossing the A41 at Edge Green. Then briefly down the Cheshire Cycleway before
turning right into Whitewood Lane at Kidnal.
The leading group followed the road round the corner towards Horton
Green before being hauled back and pointed in the direction of Chorlton Lane
and Cuddington Green. We continued through sleepy Threapwood before crossing into
Wales at Tallarn Green, where George could now feel ‘at home’.
As we left Tallarn Green, Trevor raced up from the back to
inform us that the tandem had decided to do its own thing, so the magnificent
seven pressed on, stopping only to ask a local for directions to Three Fingers
and/or Croxton. ‘No idea, mate’ was the response. Was that Two Fingers? But we did eventually
find Three Fingers and then Little Arowry, before cycling on to Hanmer. Here we
found that the Hanmer Arms, one of our favoured stops, is now closed; the pub
sign has been taken down and there was no sign of life. Sadly, Steve H will
have to take it off his list.
Out of Hanmer and past Bettisfield Park which was looking
idyllic in the warm summer sunshine, we ran for a short time along the A495
before turning off for Bettisfield itself, crossing the Llangollen Canal as we
did so. A loop round to Balmer Heath took us back into Wales once more.
Then on through Lyneal to Colemere where a vineyard has been
planted recently. Is this pure optimism or something to do with global warming?
Picking up the A528, we cycled into Ellesmere. It has been agreed earlier that
we would stop for lunch at the Red Lion rather than The Boat House as the fare
on offer there is more varied and they serve beer. The waterfront at Ellesmere
was crowded with children, dogs and the best fed ducks and geese in Wales, but
we managed to get through without running into anything or one.
The Red Lion Coaching Inn (http://www.redlion-ellesmere.co.uk/)
offers an ‘over 60s’ two course lunch for £5.50 and a pint of lime and soda for
£1 – excellent value for money. The pub
was busy, so it took a little while before we were served. Dave H endeared
himself to our waitress when his food arrived by saying ‘It’s so long since I
ordered, I’ve forgotten what I asked for.’ Fortunately, she took it in good
part. Several members took the spotted dick dessert, including Trevor, who
claimed that it would add to his performance after lunch.
Lunch conversation included (inevitably) the Tour de France,
the Americas Cup yachts and Bryan’s new app which tells him when it’s going to
rain. The app says it won’t rain this afternoon – we hope that it’s right!
As we were finishing our meal we got into conversation with
two elderly cyclists. After telling them where we had come from, we asked where
they had ridden from. Their reply was ‘Shrewsbury’, whereupon Dave H, in his
usual subtle style asked ‘What do you do for entertainment in Shrewsbury’.
Again the question was answered without any offence being taken and it seems
that there is a pub where jazz can be heard some nights at no charge, so there
is life in Shrewsbury!
Leaving the Red Lion, we head right at the roundabout, up
Swan Hill and then left up to Sandyhill, Trevor’s spotted dick kicks into
action and he comes flying past us all. Sadly, the effect is short lived. Dave
then leads us down Lion Lane, a tiny road alongside Lion Lane Wood which leads
on to the A539 at Sandy Lane. After only a short distance on the A-road we turn
right into quiet Burgess Lane and head up to Holly Bush and Worthenbury. From there we go through Shocklack (where John
M left us to head home), Tilston and Clutton along the quiet and flat lanes of
the Cheshire Plain before reaching Tattenhall . Soon after leaving Tattenhall, we turned right
into Newton Lane, but George turned left, heading for his car parked in
Waverton.
Back at the Ice Cream Farm, Bryan consulted his app, which
told him to expect ‘light rain in 6 minutes’. We continued to drink our coffee
and chat for much longer than this, but no rain appeared. So much for
technology!
49 very pleasant miles on a dry, warm summer’s day at an
average speed of 12 mph – true ‘easy riding’.
ST
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