There was a modest turnout of riders this week. The threatening weather forecast and booked September breaks were likely reasons for the absence of some regulars. John Wilkie and Richard were doing their own separate rides. I think John was preparing for one of his mega challenges, and Richard had workmen at home, so had been using our collection of past ride routes to dip into and return home early. The moderate group consisted of Steve Tan, Steve Haywood, Steve Hughes, George and myself. Steve Haywood had been thinking about a ride to Whittington. I think it was Ye Olde Boote Inn we had enjoyed visiting there in the past. My concern was that if the forecast number of heavy showers arrived after lunch, that two hours of a wet return ride would not be much fun. Steve Tan had expressed the belief that it was pretty certain that we would get wet, it was more a question of when the rain would arrive and how heavy it would be. I suggested an experimental circular route to Malpas, of all places(!). Not for the first time, the idea would be to cover a decent mileage to lunch, but be close to home anytime after lunch if the rain had closed in. Another ploy in order to beat approaching bad weather is to give lunch a miss until returning to the starting venue. Once we successfully adopted this tactic from Cleopatra's, arriving back dry, but those without cars, who stayed for lunch, found it wet on their ride home. Once, the Fast Lads rode from Chester to Chirk, had their breakfast, and beat the rain approaching from the south, by staying ahead of it on their brisk return north.
Anyway, today's moderate riders amiably went along with my untried route plan, which reached down to Penley via Shocklach and Worthenbury. It was a pleasant surprise to briefly cross paths with Richard at Holly Bush. From Penley we turned left at the site of the former Dymock Arms a historic Grade ll-listed building which was set on fire by arsonists back in 2010. We headed up some rough, quiet lanes before navigating left and right across the A525. It was reassuring, as always, to have sound directional advice from my Garmin-led friends. I just hope that they never acquire pedestrian recognition or lane assist technology for bikes! There would be a lot of slamming on, and landing in prickly hedges. As long as we know the wind direction, or the position of the sun in the sky, George knows where the Welsh hills lie, and we can find two stick to rub together to make fire, who needs a Garmin? We headed for Lower Wych from Tallarn Green. I was discouraged from exploring a path crossing Wych Brook at Oldcastle Mill. I must take Tonto with me and have a delve sometime soon. After the steep climb out of Lower Wych we soon reached The Lion At Malpas. Our Gourmet in the Saddle, Steve Tan, and Steve Hughes who has spent years munching his way through the menus of top Ribble Valley chefs, appeared to approve the fare on offer. We have Steve Haywood to thank for first introducing us to this particular pleasant watering-hole
After lunch, it was still not raining, so instead of bolting direct for Holt, about 8.5 miles away, we went across to No Mans Heath, and headed up narrow lanes just east of the A41. Edge Lane was a smoothly surfaced, quiet little gem, which saw us re-crossing the A41, and passing Edge Hall and dropping into Tilston. Plenty of ominous clouds, but still no rain, so we ignored the safer bet of the Wetreins short cut for the sake of squeezing a couple of more miles in via Barton, Coddington and Churton. At Coddington, Steve Haywood took his leave to head for Tattenhall. We did cop a heavy shower at Churton, but we weren't too wet on reaching Holt, and George was already tucking into cake, as Steve Tan and I reached Cleopatra's after chucking our bikes into the Berlingo. Steve Hughes needed to return home earlyish, so everyone was pretty happy even though our mileage had been defensively modest.
See route map and/or gpx file download
DH
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