There were about 10 riders at the Old Priest House cafe in Audlem - about a third of CER membership - a pity more didn’t come and support Dave M’s Autumn Special Ride from Audlem to Ellerdine Heath. Well those who did enjoyed a glorious day out down lanes anew in warm dry autumn weather.
I decided to fashion a slightly longer brisk ride based around Dave’s excellent route. The brisk three, Matt, John W and myself, set off in the opposite direction to the Mods to avoid the slow slog up to Norton-in-Hales before the even longer slog up to Loggerheads. In fact the first 9 miles were all uphill. The other side of Loggerheads we split off left now down many lanes anew. The autoroute function on Plotaroute tried to send us down an unmade lane so we backtracked a little to divert via Croxton. We take Ginger Lane out of Croxton and you’ll be pleased to know that, as we have now very slowly cycled this once-metalled deep-lying lane, you don’t need to unless you are on a gravel bike!
 |
| We'll be alright -it's only one mile downhill |
Bishop’s Offley and Tunstall come and go as we now rejoin Dave’s route just after Shebdon. We now slavishly follow his route across the flat land via Sambrook and Great Bolas arriving at the Oakgate nursery by 1230 after 33 miles.
We are shown to our reserved table and our ordered food arrives promptly and is of excellent quality. After discussing veganism at some length, Matt and John move onto the intracacies of saddle design vs Audex length vs comfort levels. I chill out in the sunshine.
Just as we are about to start to depart, the Mods turn up mumbling something about “getting lost” or perhaps I misheard what was said. Anyway, we set off as per Dave’s route towards Stanton and onwards towards Marchamley Hill.
I had already decided to go around this hill towards Hodnet and then to Wollerton to rejoin Dave’s route at Fauls. We continue to follow the official line to the other side of Ightfield where Matt succumbs to a puncture - a very nasty thorn is the culprit. We divert off piste now to enter Audlem via Coxbank and Kinsey Heath i.e. the way the Mods left Audlem.
 |
| Audlem's staircase locks Overall, an extremely enjoyable day's 58 miles cycling down largely dry lanes in ideal autumnal weather with like-minded cyclists. You should have made the effort! |
See route map and/or gpx file download
CA
Photos JW
No comments:
Post a Comment