Thanks to Dave Matthews I was just about able to use my usual steed with some excellent replacement wheels supplied and fitted by himself at short notice. Whilst transporting my bike back from Oscroft on Wednesday evening my Berlingo started playing up, so I cancelled my pick up arrangement with Steve Tan for Thursday morning. However, after a further twilight test drive with no problems, I called at Steve’s home, and we decided to chance it. So, we turned up together at Holt after all, but I was even less prepared than normal regarding a route plan.
The staff at Maggie’s were very friendly and efficient as
usual, which further reinforced my belief that we were correct in staying loyal
to them, when Cleopatra’s2 eventually reopened. George, Keith, Ray Big-Decibels, and Mold
Andy agreed with my suggestion of The Two Doves at Overton. Andy was hopeful
that the attractive waitress with the big personality, that we imagined could
have been off “EastEnders”, would be at The Two Doves. We set off for Tilston
with Jim and Dave Matthews joining us initially. It was good to see Jim, back
from holiday and looking well. Dave was partly staying with us to ensure that
his untried day- before work on my bike didn’t present any problems. We set out
for Shocklach via Tilston before heading down the quiet lanes to Cuddington
Green. At Threapwood we turned right over Sarn Bridge and cruised to Holly
Bush. South of the A526 we were again on sunny, quiet lanes, and approached
Overton by way of Cloy, with the last mile to lunch ridden on the road from
Bangor-on-Dee. The guys had been patient with my map-checking stops here and
there, and everything had been hunky-dory, but I hadn’t found any obvious loops
after Holly Bush to give us a few more morning miles than the sixteen recorded.
Much to Andy’s disappointment Miss West Ham c.1998 wasn’t on duty, but the
regular staff were lovely with us as we have come to expect. The food was very
good, but their appetizing full English breakfast was no longer available for
lunch. I voiced my concern that they may be on that slippery slope, where they
started to make changes that made it easier for themselves and less convenient
for the customer. The ultimate result can be ‘Frodshamitis,’ when cafes won’t
supply hot food a minute after 3p.m. even to loyal customers, W.H. Smith closes
for lunch and ‘back in ten minutes’ stickers on shop doors are both rife and
frustratingly inaccurate.
We headed back toward Bangor-on-Dee, but I felt we had to
make a radical change to the obvious return routes or we would be too speedily back
with a following wind, and with a measly number of miles under our belts.
Heading east took us to Worthenbury and we then cut off at Threapwood to ride the
more peaceful lane to Oldcastle Heath. Ken Page then appeared and joined us for
a few miles as we discussed the proximity of the Bourne family farm where they produce top
prize-winning Cheshire cheese; they have been cheese makers since 1750 and use
traditional ‘hands on’ techniques. We
exited Malpas by a new route bypassing the centre on a pleasant narrow lane which
exits opposite the high school. Ebnal, Kidnal and Tilston were soon reeled off and we still had time
for cake and coffee as Alan and Steve Tan arrived on cue. They had managed
forty-seven miles, an admirable jaunt considering Steve’s current condition; we
had managed a more modest thirty-eight. The weather had been fine, the
countryside had looked lovely and the company had been very enjoyable. My new
wheels were smooth as silk, and the Berlingo never missed a beat. Another
smashing Thursday.
DH
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