Having just taken the precaution of slapping on some last-minute suntan lotion I was now losing more time scraping ice from the car. It was going to be that sort of winter’s day: brilliant sunshine but, once again, cold enough to be caught out by the occasional icy surface. I arrived in the Ness car park at 10.30 and I could see only one bicycle, which turned out to be Clive’s. Before long we were joined by Ivan, Chris, Big Ray, Trevor and Keith. As far as the moderate quartet were concerned, I had two ride suggestions for lunch: Tanskey’s in West Kirby or Meadow Lea at Mickle Trafford. Despite Clive trying to be helpful in explaining his favoured route to West Kirby via Eastham, we finished up choosing a route to Meadow Lea. Funnily enough, Clive’s recommendation of a Wetherspoon’s in West Kirby that had burnt his pizza and forgot to deliver a replacement, but gave him another pint of ale as part recompense, didn’t help tempt us.
Our route out
was by way of Neston to Raby and then turning south east towards Willaston, Capenhurst and Dunkirk. We clocked up a few
more miles wandering around the area east of Backford, often on stretches only
the locals have call to use. The lane beyond Picton had large road closure
signs at either end of nothing going on, which was convenient because we had
ignored them. Meadow Lea was busy, but the service was friendly, and we all
ordered an excellent full English Breakfast. From this point Trevor was taking
Keith on a fifteen-mile jaunt to get some extra miles in as they had both started
from here earlydoors, so there was no point for them in returning to Ness.
Ray and myself set off for The Greenway when we crossed paths with Shane. He had been cycling to Ness in the morning, but had picked up a puncture in a flooded section of the cycleway as you depart the industrial estate and enter the Burton marshes pathway. The delay meant that he had abandoned his plan to cycle with the Brisk Group. Shane warned us of this hazard and the thick ice at the end of the ramp immediately preceding it. It was a dazzling day with a brilliant blue sky as we bowled along beyond Blacon. We hailed Ray Stigter on a solo ride in the opposite direction at one point. We then ran into Chris and Ivan returning from their ride to West Kirby with Clive. They also gave us dire warning of the iced surface of the ramp under the A548. When we arrived at the hazard Ray managed to survive the ice and plough through the water. I had made the mistake of scooting down the last three metres of ice and stood astride my bike holding a metal bollard at the end. I felt that if I tried to start from this position the bike may well slip from under me, and I wouldn’t get properly set to plough through the water that had potholes below. For once this winter, I decided that this was a risk too far, particularly as I am on a list for a hip replacement. I asked Ray at the other side of the flood to carry on to Ness, and I would find a road route back.
Unfortunately, there is no viable cycle route back to Ness without mixing it with heavy traffic and juggernauts along the A548 and then the A550. I thought about shooting down to Shotwick, but didn’t want to waste time seeing if I could get through on this narrow lane. I remembered riding on the A550 some years ago with Roy, when we were heading for Christmas lunch at Parkgate in gale force winds. Then, vehicle drivers had sounded their horns and even shouted abuse out of windows; now, with traffic thick and fast the same was happening again. Assertive road positioning was not a choice, and cat’s eyes out from the gutter were hazards that I couldn’t afford to slip on or swerve around. I was expecting to be smashed into from behind at any moment. A car coming towards me hooted repeatedly and braked; it was Ray coming to find me. There wasn’t a place to stop, so I gave him a thumbs up and carried on.
I gave a sigh of relief on recognising the Two Mills crossroads,
and another one on reaching the lane to Puddington. I later learnt that Ray had
managed to turn around somewhere and had continued to try and find me to give
me a lift back. His efforts are much appreciated. The sun was low in the west now, and I had to
shade my eyes with a hand to see, as I tootled down to pretty Burton. I have
really good prescription tinted glasses, but I am not sure that they would help
me spot ice or potholes as well as clear lenses when riding on shaded winter
lanes. My heart rate was back to normal as I arrived at Ness. Overall, it was
an enjoyable ride in brilliant sunshine and good company. Trevor leading on “my”
route had played a blinder in the morning. The planned route ridden by Ray was 32mls.,
my Detour from Hell took me to 38mls., and Trevor and Keith managed 49.
DH
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