A sunny and virtually dry day - and just as more caravans are on the roads on sunny days, there were a lot of CER riders at Alison’s establishment today - a dozen of more I think. I was bowling through Waverton on my way to Tattenhall when I espied Steve Hu coming the other way - he was out for a warm-up ride - so we bowled along at a heady speed into Tattenhall - and this theme pervaded the rest of the day’s ride.
The route today was somewhat instinctive - in fact, I think I only looked at the route once on my psuedo-Garmin in the 50 miles. The brisk group was pared down to Ivan, Ken and Matt and myself and we set off bound for Clutton into the light and shade of the autumn sunshine. The climb around Carden Park golf club was somewhat magical with dappled sunshine on the lanes. Passing through Tilston, we were soon onto Chorlton and hitting the Bangor-Whitchurch main road. Threapwood came and went as the eponymously named lane “ The Lane”, gradually deteriorated after Tallarn Green. The standard route from here is to head for Whitewell but we took a much nicer surfaced lane today. We end up riding down the delightful Broome Lane and its secret wooded valley to arrive outside Iscoyd Park.
We are now on the A525 cycling into Whitchurch town periphery exiting on Edgeley Road and rising up Edgeley Bank to pop out on Ash Lane aka the Whitchurch to Market Drayton back lane. The road is quiet as there is a "Road Closed" sign - the first of many today. We motor on to Ightfield to take the Burleydam Road. This is five miles of gentle downhill fast riding with little traffic. In Burleydam, we eschew the eponymously named pub to take Dodds Green Lane north to eventually hit the A530 Whitchurch to Nantwich Road.
There now is a lunch venue choice to make - Longmans Farm shop and cafe (on the A530 near the Aston turn) or head for the Bhurtpore Inn in Aston. The pub wins, so we arrive at “The Bhurty” pub. Are they owned by the “The Shady “ pub I wonder? We sit outside, partly expecting to see a certain DH and retinue, and all partake of the excellent range of beers along with an excellent repast. Lunch banter ranges from car insurance to train driver's remuneration and high rail ticket prices.
We notice that there is a Road Closure sign outside of the pub. On talking to the locals it appears that the road from Aston to Wrenbury is firmly closed just near the railway station and will be for quite a while. So we take the "Diverted Cyclist" signs down Pinsley Green narrow lane which adds a couple of miles to the advertised 48 mile route.
The route back is somewhat instinctive as we power on overtaking a combine harvester convoy to head east through Chorley (no - not that one up north), then Faddiley and onto Bunbury and Tattenhall. We say goodbye to Ken as he heads back to Tattenhall as the remaining trio head back to Chester via the Ice Cream farm lane.
So, as I said, a pretty instinctive route, with the welcome return of Ivan on a brisk ride. Ken, Matt and I just hung on at the back enjoying the slipstream. All round it was 50 miles with Chester coming up at around upper 60’s, and my bike computer showing 76 miles at 16.2mph when I got home.
CA
Photos MT
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