18th July 2019: Kinnerton (leisure)

‘Unusual incident on cycle ride’

No it wasn’t Dave setting off without forgetting something, but more of that later!  The three of us, Dave H, Trevor and myself for various reasons were only up for a short ride on Thursday and decided to take the back lanes round Lower Mountain and Golley down to Rossett and then back to Chester, which would be about 30 miles from Guilden Sutton.

All appeared to be going well as we started dropping down past Shordley when we came across a chap in the middle of the road waving us down. He was carrying a petrol powered blower, and proceeded to ask us to carry our bikes as he hadn’t finished blowing the thorns off the road from the cutter up ahead. Naturally we were pleasantly surprised, even astonished at such consideration for ourselves, especially as we had had a couple of occasions to remonstrate with fellow road users earlier. A considerate farmer - now that is unusual. It was about this time that Dave realised that he had left his drink bottle in the café, which was now a considerable distance away, uphill. Fortunately drinks bottles are cheap so we agreed to continue downwards.

We took the old main road back towards town then swung back towards Kinnerton for lunch. Arriving at the pub, Dave realised that his car keys were also with the bottle, which we confirmed with a quick phone call. Plan B was put into action and after lunch, which was decidedly un-appealing, we set off up Kinnerton Old Road and back to Hawarden. Arriving back at the café we had reached our planned 30 miles, but at least the return was mainly downhill. With a pleasant tail wind we soon returned to Guilden Sutton having done 42 miles - we could have gone with the moderates but it wouldn’t have been as much fun!

JD

4th May 2017: Higher Kinnerton (mod)

A day of forecast sunshine had brought out a crowd of new and prospective members to the Meadow Lea café. There were the non-riders: Dave & Liz P; the “doing their own thing”: John W and Bryan; the riders: George, Macca, Clive, Keith, Dave H, Andy W, Tom, Paul, Jim, Trevor, David M and myself; and the prospective members: Anne, out for a short taster and Linda, wishing to try a ride. Unusually, I was the only one with a planned ride and so a large group of 14 set off from the café heading for Higher Kinnerton.

We cycled through Waverton and Tattenhall to Churton, by when 4 of the group had turned off on their own planned shorter routes.  A little later Tom and Paul took off wanting to stretch their legs further.  So a more manageable group of 8 passed through Farndon, Pulford and Doddleston to arrive at the Royal Oak after 24 miles.  We had tried calling the pub to book a table, but no-one answered, so it was with some relief we discovered that it was open, it was serving food, and it could accommodate 8 cyclists.

Photos by Macca

We were efficiently seated in their dining room, and served reasonably priced light bites at around £7-£8 a head. I believe this is a new venue for CER, being too close to our starting points to have been used before, but it proved a good choice. As usual the conversations ranged far and wide, but then dwelt on a new topic for us – pharmacology – including the benefits of an emergency aspirin.

Leaving the pub, we headed towards Hope before striking north on good lanes to then turn towards Buckley just before the A55.  We made a right at the Parrot Pub, through Ewloe on an exceptionally rough surface besides St David’s Park, on to Northop Hall and then down the steep and long roads into Connah’s Quay. Here we said goodbye to George and then crossed the Dee by Hawarden Bridge, and returned by the Greenway, gradually losing riders as they took their own routes home.

Most of us sped by someone standing on a ladder, but Macca had the curiosity to talk to them. He reports: On the Greenway near Saughall one of the Sustrans Millenium mile posts was being carefully painted to highlight the various features on the story displayed.  Macca stopped to speak to the painter, to find that Ann from Stafford is a Sustrans volunteer who is painting these mileposts in N Wales and the NW.  Each post takes her 3 days and she started 9 posts ago near Bangor – there are 1000 in the UK, so she will be at it for some time. Most posts are still the original boring matt black.  By painting them various colours, the stories which are depicted on each post by one of 4 original artists can be revealed.

After 50 miles of riding only Linda, Dave H, Keith and myself arrived back at Meadow Lea café at about 3.45pm.  I was hoping for coffee and cake, but was told that the machines were off and they were clearing up.  It was disappointing to find that a café which should be open till 4pm stops serving well before.  Anyway, this doesn’t detract from a good ride, and new pub and lots of sunshine.

SH

5th July 2009: Veterans 100 mile ride Kinnerton to Llandrinio

Photographs and slideshow by Glennys Hammond

The Bert Bailey Memorial Veterans 100 mile ride is the premier event in the Chester & North Wales CTC calendar so it was entirely appropriate that with Bryan Wade leading a group, six of us had registered to take part. Come the day, group leader Bryan, was joined by Chester Easy Rider stalwarts Graham and Vicky Payne, Jim Dale, David Heath and Mike Morley along with David Cane, Charles Collier, John Huddleston, Peter Williams, Stuart Roberts and Brian Crook.
With a start time of 8.40 a relaxed group E assembled for the first of many of Glennys’ photo calls and a send off from Mike Cross. We were soon heading through the lanes at a steady but sensible pace designed to make the day enjoyable whilst keeping to a reasonable schedule. Rosset came and went as we made our way towards “elevenses” at Overton whilst enjoying ideal cycling weather with only a light breeze, sunshine and very pleasant temperatures. Overton was reached at around 10.45 much in line with Bryan’s target of two hours per leg. All was going well and the Cocoa and Reading rooms provided excellent facilities for coffee and biscuits.
Leaving Overton things took a turn for the worse as “it’s spitting” turned into something of a downpour that ended any debate about whether or not a waterproofs stop was necessary. Of course, in its usual perverse manner the rain disappeared very shortly after we had all togged up; the rain ceased and another stop was needed to take coats off again. I had opted to leave my coat on as it was not too warm but before long the sun was out again and I made a solo stop, fumbled unsuccessfully with getting my coat back in my rack pack whilst still on the bike only for it to overbalance leaving me with a bruised and oily shin. More haste less speed!! I soon caught up with the group who were now heading out past Tetchill towards the lunch stop at Llandrinio – still keeping up a reasonable pace. We had caught up with and overtaken one group while they waited for some slower riders only to find we had been joined by three extra riders making counting heads a bit more of a problem. Queens Head and West Felton were left behind and then the sight of hills ahead indicated that lunch was not far away; Bryan having assured us that the route turns for home just before the terrain turns hilly. Just as well that Llandrinio Village Hall was reached for a very welcome lunch that certainly filled at least one corner!
It soon seemed time to leave and a much refreshed group were back en route for the return to Overton through delightful countryside made even more pleasant by occasional sightings of the Severn that was crossed on the way to Ellesmere via Knockin with its inevitable “The Knockin Shop” store! By now the sun was quite warm again and just as we were looking forward to afternoon tea Bryan did a great impression of Alistair Darling with an outbreak of unforeseen and rapid deflation - his rear tyre valve exploded. We were passed by Harry Watson’s group – naturally heading up a lane past a large “No Through Road” sign – Harry’s speciality! Having watched Bryan pumping away with his mini pump with increasing interest the support vehicle belatedly offered the use of a track pump but by now the tyre was sufficiently hard for the trip home.
A brief comfort break in Ellesmere and then it was up the A528 back to Overton for more tea, sandwiches and cake. By tactical error after a large slice of chocolate cake I seized on a delicious looking Bakewell tart – what a shock to find out that it was a caramelised onion quiche!
The last leg was soon underway returning to Kinnerton by way of Shocklach and Tilston with a final welcome drinks stop at the home of John and Sue Wright in Tilston. Back at the Scout Hut, after a reviving cup of tea, it was time for the final act; the presentation of awards and certificates by Arthur Miller.
Many thanks to Bryan for his steadfast and almost faultless navigation and very sensible pace setting – only two very minor diversions quickly rectified by his magic box of tricks that seems to whack a few volts up his arm if there is any straying from the authorised route. Thanks also to David Ackerley for a really well organised day that must have involved much hard work by him and many helpers. Will we be back next year in even greater strength – it certainly seemed that our Thursday “Easy Rides” are excellent preparation for the event.
MM

5th April 2009: C&NW CTC Spring 50

Arriving at Kinnerton Scout Hall on our tandem there were so many riders in the entrance it was difficult getting through the gate. Inside the hall it was even more crowded but Janet and her team had everything under control and after time for tea and biscuits our group was summoned to the table to register. Apparently prospective riders had been queuing at the door first thing in the morning despite warnings having gone out that entries for the event were closed. In all some 160 riders were thought to have taken part! This must be a record: no doubt due in no small part to Janet’s advance publicity.


Photograph: "Group 7 ready to go" with thanks to Glennys Hammond



Our group assembled outside and I was pleased to see that David Robinson (CTC national Chair) was joining us. We got off to a good start, although David dropped off the back early on, and we soon settled down to a steady pace ably led by Peter. In perfect conditions the miles flew by, the first control point was reached followed by a comfort stop in Holt, then on past Stretton Mill to the next control. Here Graham and Vicky caught up with our group of Peter, Bill, Alan, Ted, Glennys, Erla and Bryan. A few hundred yards further on they flew past to be briefly seen again at the Overton lunch stop.
The lunch arrangements were faultless: soup, tea, sandwiches, savoury snacks and cakes were served without any fuss or delay. Indeed the food was so good that our group spent too long talking and enjoying the food, necessitating a faster than planned ride back to Kinnerton!
Some statistics: distance 80.5 km, riding time 4:00 hours, total time 4:40 hours, average speed 20.0 kph, maximum speed 59.5 kph (now where did we do that). A great day’s ride in perfect sunny spring weather.
Thanks go to the group: one couldn’t wish for better companions. Most of all though the organisation was impeccable: from the start through the controls, lunch and the finish. If you didn’t know, you would think they did this every day. Thanks again to the organisers and the many helpers.
For route map and/or gpx file download.
BW

4th December 2008: Mold

“Are you mad” interjected my wife as I checked my bike over on Wednesday evening “the forecast is for blizzards and heavy snow tonight and tomorrow.” Well it wasn’t the first weather forecast to be spectacularly wrong but I soon discovered it was right about the strong winds as I battled my way to the Gallery Coffee Shop in Hawarden. Then given the poor conditions outside it took some effort to forsake the warmth of the café and head up to Northop Hall and Northop. The lanes round here proved to be quite treacherous, not due to snow, but to a thick layer of leaf mush and mud. From Soughton we headed south intending to make for Gwernaffield-y-Waun and the hills south west of Mold but as we got closer the sky dimmed and the black clouds obscured the hill tops. Discretion suggested a retreat to Mold followed by a fast ride to Penyffordd with the wind behind us. Keeping just ahead of the rain we made it to the Royal Oak at Higher Kinnerton for lunch and then back to Chester. This was not the ride we had planned but given the conditions it gave a pleasant feeling of satisfaction.
Distance from Chester and back 32 miles.
BW