It was great to see half the club’s membership at the newly extended Meadow Lea Cafe. The cafe was very busy which was also good to see. The usual Brisk contingent was missing today for various and nefarious reasons, so I was pleased not to end up as Billy No Mates for my moderate ride proposal to Whatcroft. Steve H and Alan joined Steve T and Andy B for a 50 miler to the River Farm Organics cafe just outside of Davenham.
We five set off bound for Delamere Forest via the usual route towards Manley and Mouldsworth. Although chilly, it was exhilarating being out in the bright sunshine in the greening countryside. As we wheel around the back of Mouldsworth, Alan is not feeling at his best, thus he decides to make his own ride with Steve H as support. We hope he was OK.
Delamere Forest is strangely quiet as we meander through towards Norley. Up and down around Pinfold Hollows now finds us at the A49 north of Cuddington onwards towards Weaverham. The road out here is through acres of new housing as we approach Winnington and the Tata Chemical Europe works. Over the Weaver river and canal, there is a short sharp hill to attack alongside Anderton Boat Lift before rolling down to Marbury Country Park. Again the park is quiet - I suppose everyone is now shopping!
We run the full length of the park rather than cutting through it to Wincham and then “enjoy” the Wincham Industrial Estate and Business Park before turning to Lostock Graham. Crossing the busy A556 and passing through Lostock Green, we are not far now from Lach Dennis and Riverside Organics farm cafe at the Whatcroft lane turn. It is very busy but has a lot of outside space available. So we sit and wait for our filled panini and coffee setting the world to rights as per usual, and, as per usual the cafe does not disappoint.
As we head off to Davenham Steve decides to cut for home via Hartford as he had cycled out to Meadow Lea from Runcorn today. Andy and I head towards Moulton and the recently “improved “ rough track down to Meadowbank. We now meander along the Whitegate Way which again was quiet. At Cotebrook, I offer a route up onto the hill above Willington. This is as a change from the usual route around to Rose Farm, and, I know that Andy just "loves hills". Bowling along the top, there is the wide expanse of the Cheshire Plain before us. We now head off down the steep descent of Chapel Lane and thence the fast run to Oscroft.
I offer Andy a more direct route back towards Christleton via Platts Lane and Hockenhull Platts and the “Roman Bridges". It is only really passable on a bike in dry weather and the bridges are not Roman but medieval.
Wiki tells us “ Platts Lane originally formed part of the medieval road from London to Holyhead.[7] In 1353 when Edward, the Black Prince, crossed the bridges, he ordered that 20 shillings should be spent on their repair.[8] In the 17th century the surface of the road was disintegrating so badly that posts were set into the road to prevent the passage of carts, and it could be used only by pedestrians and horses”
At Christleton, Andy heads for the hills of Mold and I also head for home. The route around is 50 miles but I have over 60 today. My thanks to Andy and Steve for sticking with me, and I hope that Alan got home OK.
See route map and/or gpx file download
CA
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