28th June 2018: Gwaenysgor (mod)

Hottest day of the year so far?  Let's climb some hills!

There were a lot of riders out at Hawarden today. The Mods were outnumbered nearly 2:1 by the Brisk group who were going off to "Climb every Mountain".  This left Dave P and Andy B and myself to try to decide what to do. I offered to cobble together a ride loosely based around the one that the three of us had taken in January 2017 to Rhuddlan when the temperature was 25C cooler.

It was good to see Macca out for the first time since his knee operation. Understandably he was taking it very easy, so made his own ride homewards.

So we set off the usual way to Northop. Here I gave a choice of the route out to Halkyn Mountain and the "pretty" route was chosen i.e. the tiny lanes up to Rhosesmor. This afforded us much needed shade as we avoid the "Steve T" section of the lane. Up and over the Windmill, Andy decides we are going left up towards the quarry - so, no matter, I re-route on the fly. Out through Babel we head north towards Lloc then take the left turn down the No Through road to get over the A55. As I rode down the lane I thought I recognised it. This was the lane taken in October 2011 with a section under 6" of liquid manure which required the then riders' bikes to be jet-washed at the Pet Cemetery cafe!

Dave requests we stay "high" so I re-route again and take the delightful lane passing Llyn Helyg to eventually arrive in the middle of Dyserth. We try to find the waterfall, but to no avail, and, giving up, we head ever upwards towards the "Eagle and Child" pub arriving after after 24 miles.

Lunchtime conversation is as varied as ever as we sit under the sunshade out in the garden. However the heat is rising, and we need to get on, so after a brisk climb to the top of the hill for a panoramic vista of Liverpool Bay and the Snowdon range, we head for Llanasa. The pub here is open for business but not at lunchtimes apparently.

Liverpool Bay with fittingly, two "red shirts"

Following the cycleway towards Whitford, we are out and up going towards the Friary St Pio's cafe for a cuppa. A quick uphill diversion via Carmel finds us at the cafe after just 9 miles opting to sit inside to get out of the heat. The route back to the start is predictable and the breeze up on the mountain tops is very welcome. Andy leaves us at the Bluebell pub heading for Mold, and Dave suggests we take the "Steve T" route back down to Northop. Mindful of recent events, we ride downhill with some reserve.

Outside Northop, Dave and I opt for the downhill run into Shotton and the greenway. If we had run back to Hawarden, it would have been 47 miles with 3500ft of climb. So as ever, each ride brings it's memories and companionship moments.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA