There was a good turnout at Ness. Jim, Dave Matthews and Andy Whitgreave had ridden out for coffee but would not be on the moderate ride. Andy has been as scarce as curlews on Thursdays until recently, but it has been great to be able to share banter with him again. I hope he can join us more often for the day. I have an untested theory that some of our coffee and home guys are hamstrung by their downsizing to one car, and their wives being unwilling to buy a Lambretta to putter down to M&S on a Thursday. Are they being Green or mean? Keith, Trevor, Big Ray, Mike Gilbert, Andy Barber, George and I were the laid-back rovers for the day. At best, I am a one and a bit trick-pony when it comes to offering a Wirral route. Where is Brian Mac when you need him? We agreed that we weren’t too keen on ferreting around the lorry-laden industrial areas around Birkenhead, so we headed up the sunny green centre of the Wirral instead. The route we took was through Burton, Oaks Farm, then passing just north-east of Willaston onto Benty Heath Lane. It was here that I was able to disorientate myself by not heading for Raby by the obvious route. I was glad to have a wealth of navigation expertise in the group, with Trevor and his new Garmin setting the gold standard, and Ray’s local knowledge also reassuring at Raby’s little grid of lanes. We carried on in a northerly direction through lovely Thornton Hough, navigated Brimstage and headed down from Storeton to Barnston and Pensby. Keith kindly retrieved my map as it flew off my handlebars on the way down. At Irby Hill the easy route to Tanskey’s café on the promenade is by dropping down to Caldy, but the vote was to carry on to Meols via Greasby. Ray was given the lead as this is his home territory. First we had to negotiate a tooth-rattling Heron Road which had been prepared for resurfacing, and then slip onto the main road for a couple of hundred yards before heading for the prom and then Hoylake. We became a bit broken up as Ray sped ahead; nevertheless, it was a revelation to find that Ray could be useful. I wonder could he write up our next Wirral ride?! The expansive sea view was a delight, although there was a helluva lot of sand to cross before you could paddle in the waters of Liverpool Bay.
Despite Tanskey’s happily taking our booking, it was over an hour before we were served, by which time the sun had largely moved off us, so we headed inside from our covered, reserved table outside to warm up. It’s a good job that we all get on so well, which meant that conversation remained cheerful and interesting despite the long wait. We largely avoid any controversial politics, although Trump does provide a free hit. Keith has a grizzle about Kier Starmer from time to time, which is fair enough, but despite his relative youth I have warned Keith that he sounds increasingly like a grumpy old man. Mind you, we all know that grumpy old men are usually spot on in their judgement on a vast range of issues!
It was a good job that we had a shortish, flat thrash to return
to Ness via the largely sheltered Wirral Way. Trevor had to get out early when
he returned home, and Keith also had to ride to Guilden Sutton where his car
was parked. Trevor went off ahead, and I
stopped to fasten my helmet, and was chasing to catch up the rest of the group,
resulting in me hitting the metal entrance to the Wirral Way; fortunately, no
damage was incurred by man or machine. The lads eased off to enable me to hook up and
we were soon despatching Thurstaston, Gayton and Parkgate at a sustained lick,
before surfacing for Neston and back to Ness. Apart from the lunch delay it had
been a very enjoyable thirty-four miles or so, more for George and Mike, more still
for Andy, and Trevor and Keith must have clocked close to sixty. Many thanks to
the group for their company and support. I hope Trevor made his Swingers
evening.
DH
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