Today was a first - I enjoyed my coffee inside at Alison’s, the reason being the cold had driven the CER hardcore all inside. Whilst it was a balmy four degrees Celsius in North Wales it was somewhat cooler and icier on the Cheshire plain.
The assembled crew split into a mod, mod + and a brisker group. Shane, Alan and myself had planned to use Neil T’s dry roads route we used in autumn '24, with a lunch stop at Holt.
So, the three musketeers set off and meandered along muddy icy lanes until we reached Farndon. At Farndon we turned left & right and crossed the busy Barton road. Following the ascent of Wetreins Lane the mantle of ride leader was passed from myself to Shane, with a new lunch destination of Whixall Marina.
I’m sure since I enjoyed my Christmas Fayre and libations that the climbs to Malpas have been made steeper. Alan and Shane sprinted off up ahead as if being auditioned for the new Ineos squad. The roads around Malpas were particularly treacherous with long sections of slush. However, we were soon away and zooming towards the busy Whitchurch road and then onto Fens Bank.
I’m always amazed at the time taken from passing the sign advising you are entering Whixall and riding over the canal to the canal-side marina. It must be another fifteen minutes. Hot food, chilli con carne, eggs and lasagne were all washed down with hot tea as we basked in the midday sun at the marina. Special mention must go to the staff and service here, it really is first class.
Replete with hot food we set off home repeating
our route to Tilston in the vain hope we would enjoy a tailwind. Of course, as
we all know in cycling, a headwind out means a headwind back!
Shane peeled off in Stretton and Alan and I plodded on to Coddington and ultimately Tattenhall. In Chowley Oak we espied two cyclists who bore a remarkable likeness to Keith and our esteemed secretary Dave H. It was pleasing to see Keith had done six hours voluntary community service accompanying Dave to Bangor on Dee and Overton. Thus, the remaining four easy riders plunged into Tattenhall to the warmth of waiting cars.
A pleasant route with thanks to Neil T and Shane in temps down to two degrees Celsius covering forty seven winter miles.
Steve Hu
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