20th March 2025: Aston (mod)

 It was good to see Peter sitting in the sunshine at Walk Mill. Ivan was dressed to cycle, as if his near- death drama in Spain had been just a passing bad dream. Everyone so pleased to see him. The Steady Eddies this week were George, Keith, Mike Dodd and me.

Pete thought that “The Bhurty” at Aston was too far at this early stage of his renewed rehabilitation, but it was great to have him riding with us through Burton as far as Huxley. The A49 was met at Tiverton, where we whistled down to the Shropshire Union Canal and the railway bridge before slogging up to Bunbury Common. A ferret around attractive Bunbury village was by way of the quiet Bird’s and Wyche lanes. At Haughton we kept left for a change and headed for Burland and after a brief stretch of the A534 were soon back on narrow, peaceful lanes.  The weather was sunny and warm as we headed south to Sound Heath via Ravensmoor.  The Farmer’s Arms at Ravensmoor used to be one of our watering holes and a favourite of the popular Mike Morley. Covid broke the spell, but perhaps we will call again. The Bhurty was busy but still we had plenty of room and we were served by lovely people. It was nice to chat to Mike again, and he mentioned how moved he had been by the National Theatre’s production of Dear England based around Gareth Southgate. The production will have a four-week run at the Lowry in Salford from May 29^th to June 29^th.  Conversation is always relaxed and easy in this group, and civilized in volume without Big Ray. We wish him well with his tooth implant.

Readying our bikes for our return Keith was lampooning my inclination to leave things at a lunch stop (e.g.car keys, Malpas; mobile, Ellesmere) so much so that I couldn’t think straight. Time was wasted as I was pounded into a world of anxiety, checking things I had already checked. The only thing I had actually forgotten was to have a wee! So, that was another four minutes gone. It was a good job that the sun was still shining. Talking about fluids, it was wonderfully warm all day and important to keep hydrated. I noticed George ordered a pint of tap water at lunch, and I should have replenished my bottle.

Our way home had three little intended diversions.  We first took the pleasant back route to Wrenbury via Pinsley Green Road. The second possible diversion would have been a small semi-circle passing Frith Farm, but I thought it better to just “crack on” to Brindley by way of Chorlton Bank. As we approached Pear Tree Farm just before Haughton I was intending a third exploratory diversion down the quiet, narrow lane to Bath House Farm. Unfortunately, Keith had wandered off far ahead, drifting around and out of touch like Harry Kane on a bad day (although Harry always has a chance of scoring, while Keith……). Mike kindly chased him down, and he returned as contrite as a fired-up Jude Bellingham disagreeing with the ref. So it was that we, eventually, passed The Salt House near Spurstow Lower Hall. Further investigation after the ride states that the  spa spring indicated on my OS map was believed to contain rare salts with healing powers, and baths were erected here by Sir Thomas Mostyn many moons ago. My continued diversion was intended to be to Radley Wood and across the A49 to Peckforton, but we decided on coffee  and cake at Tilly’s instead. Some of you may remember, some time ago, that the tiny lanes I had planned to ride were so heavily flooded that two local women applauded us for riding through. Neil was with us at the time and couldn’t understand the perversity of not using the obvious and dry route to Spurstow; I think we understand each other’s idiosyncrasies better now. It was a pleasant surprise to meet Dave Matthews and Andy Whitgreave at Tilly’s on their way to completing a Cheshire Cycleway Ride. Dave currently features in the national audax magazine describing his impressive recent Walney Island to Whitby ride. From Tilly’s we rode to Beeston Castle and then down past the Ice Cream Farm before reaching Greenlooms through Hargrave. A slight breeze  had been behind us since lunch so it was very pleasant  late afternoon finish and still warm and sunny as Keith and Mike took their leave. George and I returned to our cars at Walk Mill. 43 miles for the actual route; more for Keith and Mike. A perfect cycling day.

DH   

3rd October 2024: Aston (mod)

The truly moderate group at Holt consisted of Mike Dodd, George, Ray, Keith, Andy Barber and myself. Andy had a broken gear cable, so reluctantly had to return to Mold. I had an idea for a route, but was wary of being too ambitious as Keith was recovering from a recent knee replacement, and I hadn’t cycled since abandoning the Anglesey ride at lunch. The health problems some of us are negotiating remind me of my two old, hot Renaults: they are still quite feisty, but sometimes yellow flashing lights appear on the dash and can be difficult to diagnose and eradicate. I decided to give the Churton to Barton loop a miss: we could always extend the route in the afternoon if desired.

Our route took us to Tilston, Duckington and Bickerton Hill. Goldford Lane across the Coach Road from Duckington is a special, lush climb with lovely properties studded in the escarpment and fabulous views. It was a treat just to be living the moment in this environment in such relaxed company on a fine day.  Bryan Wade would identify cycling like this as the essence of Chester Easy Riders. We were soon heading down past Cholmondeley Castle without losing Mike Dodd this week. After crossing the A49 we took a novel diversion along the quiet little lanes down to Gauntons Bank before riding alongside the Llangollen Canal to the lift bridge at Wrenbury. We were even able to give advice to a white van man on how to circumnavigate the roadworks on Station Road. The driver was very cheerful but had made the mistake of asking Ray in the first place. Ray had told him that he didn’t know what day it was, never mind where we were or how to get to anywhere else. We cycled the back way to Aston, turning left at Pinsley Green.

The renovated Bhurty at Aston was quite busy, so the food was a little slow in coming, but it was excellent and the friendliness of the staff appreciated. Conversation was wide-ranging including quotes from ancient philosophers about leadership and Rory Stewart’s recent book and podcast. Most of the informed conversation emanated from George and Mike as usual.

We set off on our return at about 2p.m. Ray needed to get back handily, and Mike was riding to Chester, so there was no appetite for an expansive afternoon route. We headed for No Man’s Heath by way of the pleasant route through Pinsley Green, Marbury, Swanick Green and Bickley Town. We by-passed Malpas and hit the Roman road at Kidnall in order to reach Tilston. We ignored the Lost Barn with some regret having spent an indulgent last coffee and cake in the sun at the back recently. At Crewe -by -Farndon we attempted the back route to the by-pass in order to rediscover it and avoid the usual boring speed bumped slog to the top of Farndon. Keith managed to fall into the brambled bank alongside the footpath with his foot stuck in the pedal on the leg on which he had his replacement knee.  Fortunately, he appeared to be unscathed. All that leadership discussion in the pub earlier had obviously not led me to cotton on about the risk of tackling a steep path to someone recovering from knee surgery. You can see the point of risk assessments when leading a group activity after all. To compensate, Keith was allowed to have the best cake left at Maggie’s, as those of us not in a hurry enjoyed a last coffee.  About thirty-six miles covered, and no flashing yellow lights on our virtual dashboards, although Keith may have had a temporary red.

DH

29th August 2024 : Aston (brisk)

A sunny and virtually dry day - and just as more caravans are on the roads on sunny days, there were a lot of CER riders at Alison’s establishment today - a dozen of more I think. I was bowling through Waverton on my way to Tattenhall when I espied Steve Hu coming the other way - he was out for a warm-up ride - so we bowled along at a heady speed into Tattenhall - and this theme pervaded the rest of the day’s ride.

The route today was somewhat instinctive - in fact, I think I only looked at the route once on my psuedo-Garmin in the 50 miles. The brisk group was pared down to Ivan, Ken and Matt and myself and we set off bound for Clutton into the light and shade of the autumn sunshine. The climb around Carden Park golf club was somewhat magical with dappled sunshine on the lanes. Passing through Tilston, we were soon onto Chorlton and hitting the Bangor-Whitchurch main road. Threapwood came and went as the eponymously named lane “ The Lane”, gradually deteriorated after Tallarn Green. The standard route from here is to head for Whitewell but we took a much nicer surfaced lane today. We end up riding down the delightful Broome Lane and its secret wooded valley to arrive outside Iscoyd Park.

We are now on the A525 cycling into Whitchurch town periphery exiting on Edgeley Road and rising up Edgeley Bank to pop out on Ash Lane aka the Whitchurch to Market Drayton back lane. The road is quiet as there is a "Road Closed" sign - the first of many today. We motor on to Ightfield to take the Burleydam Road. This is five miles of gentle downhill fast riding with little traffic. In Burleydam, we eschew the eponymously named pub to take Dodds Green Lane north to eventually hit the A530 Whitchurch to Nantwich Road.

There now is a lunch venue choice to make - Longmans Farm shop and cafe (on the A530 near the Aston turn) or head for the Bhurtpore Inn in Aston. The pub wins, so we arrive at “The Bhurty” pub. Are they owned by the “The Shady “ pub I wonder? We sit outside, partly expecting to see a certain DH and retinue, and all partake of the excellent range of beers along with an excellent repast. Lunch banter ranges from car insurance to train driver's remuneration and high rail ticket prices.

We notice that there is a Road Closure sign outside of the pub. On talking to the locals it appears that the road from Aston to Wrenbury is firmly closed just near the railway station and will be for quite a while. So we take the "Diverted Cyclist" signs down Pinsley Green narrow lane which adds a couple of miles to the advertised 48 mile route.

The route back is somewhat instinctive as we power on overtaking a combine harvester convoy to head east through Chorley  (no - not that one up north), then Faddiley and onto Bunbury and Tattenhall. We say goodbye to Ken as he heads back to Tattenhall as the remaining trio head back to Chester via the Ice Cream farm lane.

So, as I said, a pretty instinctive route, with the welcome return of Ivan on a brisk ride. Ken, Matt and I just hung on at the back enjoying the slipstream. All round it was 50 miles with Chester coming up at around upper 60’s, and my bike computer showing 76 miles at 16.2mph when I got home.

See route map and/or gpx file download 

CA

Photos MT