I arrived later than intended, like Lando Norris in Bahrain. Lando had a struggling George Russell frustrating him, I had the usual doddery Honda Jazz drivers meandering between Frodsham and Kingsley at Welsh urban driving speeds. Some of those drivers were even older than me! Throw in a grid sucking tanker, and a girl leading three horses slowly up the narrow lane towards Utkinton, and my committed fast drive was largely sabotaged. It was poignant to see Steve Hayward and Steve Tan, guys who would always ride in all weathers if not on holiday, being unable to do so today; more about that elsewhere.
My suggested
destination of Overwater Marina near Audlem was accepted by Dad’s Army: Big
Ray, Dave Matthews, George, Keith and me. Our route out was via Cotebrook,
Eaton and Wettenhall. It was so dry and
sunny that we were able to use the paths through the park and along the scenic
bank of the River Weaver to avoid traffic at Nantwich. After just a couple of
hundred yards south on the A530 we turned onto the back road toward Bridge80 cafe
based at Overwater Marina on the side of the Shropshire Union Canal . It was delightful to sit in the sun in these
surroundings downing a “Full English”, and so Chester Easy Riders.
Our return
was past the moated Hall o’Coole, through Sound, and straight north beyond Ravensmoor.
Dave Matthews was in good form having been cycling nearly every day recently and
Ray was straining at the leash. Keith and George were being patient as I was
probably even slower than normal. A challenging foray in The Lake District on
Tuesday with Keith, and my knackered hip, were taking their toll. (The reprise
of one of my Special Rides had been worth it: taking in Grange-Over-Sands, Rusland
Woods, Hawkshead, Coniston Lake and the Kent estuary in glorious weather). The glorious
weather was still with us as we crossed the A534 at Paddiley, and aimed for Tilly’s
at Bunbury. Our Tilly’s sojourn was very enjoyable, but there was still some
climbing ahead on our last leg: around Beeston Castle, up from “The Shady”,
through Birch Heath and up from Tarporley before the last steep bank to reach
Rose Farm. About forty miles covered in ideal cycling weather on scenic
Cheshire lanes in the usual agreeable company.
DH
No comments:
Post a Comment