26th December 2024: Knutsford (mod)

There was a grey blanket over the landscape, and it was Boxing Day, and it was a new venue, so would anybody turn up for a bike ride? Keith and I had parked by the station, and as we cycled into the impressive newish Delamere Forest Café site we were joined by Trevor and Dave Matthews, who had both cycled from home. Trevor and Dave were returning home, but it was pleasing that they had made the effort, and we enjoyed a coffee and chat for half an hour.  The service had been instant, and it was a pleasant space to sit in complimented with modern toilet facilities and a convenient place to lock your bike. On asking Trevor, I was impressed to find that he had ridden sixty miles last Thursday; a decent achievement for a “moderate” rider with limited winter daylight hours available. Keith and I had a more modest mileage target as we set off for Knutsford into the fog.

                Although the forecast temperature was not too bad for the time of year, we felt chilly heading downhill for the A49 swing bridge over the River Weaver. Keith’s Christmas celebrations from the night before had him feeling less than robust, and I was regretting leaving off an extra layer of clothing. Never mind, the climb over the Trent and Mersey Canal up to Little Leigh warmed us up and we started to get “into the zone”! Visibility was reduced everywhere, and our glasses continually misted up with condensation, but with our lights on we didn’t feel particularly vulnerable as motorists should have been able to see about 350 metres. We headed north past Cogshall Hall to Frandley and Antrobus before turning right for Budworth Heath, Bate Heath, and crossing Chester Road adjacent to the M6. We entered Knutsford from Tableyhill. Costa was our chosen destination. It was easy to lock our bikes up at the back and it was less likely to be a coveted lunch destination for Knutsford’s Le Chameau welly wearers and Ferrari paraders. The staff were friendly, and we found a table right away. It was a better-appointed environment than my familiar Frodsham Costa.  

              Our return route took in Pickmere, Great Budworth and Comberbach. It appeared that the Spinner and Bergamot was open, and people were sat at tables outside The George and Dragon at Great Budworth. It was likely that to be served lunch inside at pubs open on Boxing Day we would have had to book ahead, so in the circumstances the certainty and quick turnaround of Costa had been a good choice. Well, it would have been a quick turnaround if we hadn’t had a cake as well and had an old guys’ discussion of the sort of things and type of people we couldn’t be bothered engaging with anymore. Then we had both limped out, with our various age-related lower limb damage to unlock our bikes; a post Last of the Summer Wine pairing. Back to the never-relished prospect of hard climbs to Acton Bridge, and from lovely little Onston hamlet to Norley, as the mist seemed to thicken. We reached the Berlingo at Delamere Station at about 3.30p.m.  Thirty-eight miles was enough on such a day, and we agreed that it had been enjoyable and well worth the effort.

DH