24th October 2013: Whitchurch

A couple of thank you: first to all those who gave me their £5 Xmas Lunch deposit, bringing the total number of diners to eighteen.  Secondly to Jim who led today’s ride back in March, but in the opposite direction.  As the pub then was such an excellent choice, it just had to be revisited: more of that later.  I simply copied most of his route onto a very high-tech page from a 3”: 1 mile road atlas. 

It was good to see both Mike M & Dave M at the cafe, even if it was only for coffee.  A new rider from Utkinton “Tish” also joined us for the first 10 miles to Malpas, where she had to turn off; after having read the CER Blogs over recent weeks, she decided to give us a try.  Hopefully we’ll see her again.

George (finally recovered from his SECOND End2End ride), Lizzie, Paul, Ray, Roy, Dave R, Steve and I set off on what promised to be a warm & sunny autumnal day in an anti-clockwise direction through Clutton, Malpas and The two Wyches.  These two villages are said to be named after medieval “wych-elms”, while their larger Roman neighbour “Whitchurch” had a white stone church.  Lunch at The Black Bear, Church Street (01948 663800) opposite the big parish church, again lived up to expectations. On the plus side, drinks and food were both served quickly but a minus point was given to the all-time rip-off £3 for a lime and soda.  £3 was much better spent on a pint of Shroppie Gold, which really was the VERY best pint all year.

Photograph by Brian MacDonald

Shortly after re-starting, we passed the town cemetery that displayed a plaque for “The Commonwealth War Graves Commission”.  I thought that these peaceful places only existed where battles had raged, but here were buried WWll airmen who had died at a Polish hospital to the west of the town.  Continuing NE through Wrenbury, we paused & posed for a photo-stop in front of an unusual mill at Acton.  After 16 miles we adjourned for afternoon tea & cake for the princely sum of 80p at the Metropolitan Knitting Centre Café at Aston-juxta-Mondrum.  Continuing NW through Wettenhall and Eaton, we dropped Lizzie back at Utkinton after 46 miles, George and I stopped at Duddon, while the rest continued to Chester.  All in all, the usual high standard CER day, with sun, gentle wind, good company, fine food and excellent beer.  What more could you ask for?

BM

21st February 2013: Wrinehill

It was going to be a cold and windy day and the weather didn’t disappoint. There was a whole crowd at Rose Farm including Petar for his second week, and a new rider, Dave R, who wanted to savour one of our rides. Just as we were about to leave "Hop a Long" Davenport arrived by stagecoach with clipboard and sample shirts. He was there to "put the shirts on our backs", which was duly accomplished - well-done Ivan - a thankless task. 

Jim and I discussed routes as he had one to Goostrey but agreed that, with a strong SE wind, the Wrinehill option was more sensible. So Ray, Paul, Liz D, Dave H, Jim, Andy, Petar and Dave R and I set off for Tarporley. Dave M was in "big ride prep mode" so went his own way, and Trevor accompanied us to Bunbury before turning for home. After Bunbury, we took the Haughton Moss option towards Acton on dry roads. Nantwich was bypassed by taking the river park diversion but then there was no avoiding short sections of the A529 and the A51 to get us to Wybunbury. Missing the obviously named Wrinehill Road, we turn back down the hill to admire the big sandstone church by the correct turn. Here it was just a matter of following this long lane over the West Coast railway line to the Crown in Wrinehill. 

The car park was reassuring quite full for a small pub as we gratefully rushed inside for the warmth therein. The landlord was welcoming, and soon the order was taken. After a short wait, the whole order arrives in more or less in one go. Most of us had the fish and chips main meal and expressed our satisfaction with quality and quantity. We ready for the return ride knowing the cold wind is going to be behind us. 

Dave H, Jim and Petar opt for a leisurely return, so the rest of us head up the main road through pretty Betley for a mile or so before finding the little lane to Chorlton. Here we "admire" the large housing estate with enormous houses at the lane's edge enjoying panoramic views of the main West Coast railway line. More A road takes us back to Wybunbury, just kissing where we rode through this pretty village a few hours earlier. Cutting through Nantwich, we take the Wettenhall lane north to Eaton. On the way we pass the Metropolitan Machine Knitting centre and inquisitiveness and the cold encourage to stop for an inexpensive hot drink with cakes. Up through Eaton, and the hill out finds us transecting the A49 back to Rose Farm. A dry, cold day with a 45 mile circuit to places and lanes anew. Andy, Liz, and Dave R head for their cars as Ray, Paul and I head back Chester clocking up 70 miles under the tyres.

CA

20th May 2010: Audlem

Arriving early at the Ice Cream Farm I was surprised to see three riders already inside: Jim and two others I hadn’t seen before.  New members I thought but it wasn’t to be, at least not for today, as Keith and Mike had just come out for a chat.  By the time I had blagged some sellotape for emergency bike repairs and ordered the regulation tea and teacake the rest of the group had appeared: Ray, Ivan, Brian, Dave and Liz on the tandem and Mike Gilbert whom we hadn’t seen for a while.  Then Kate appeared for a chat and to give us the once over.  We look forward to seeing you again Kate.
Discussion turned to today’s destination and the edge of the known world as defined by OS Landranger sheet 117.  Today the big earthers prevailed and Audlem (Sheet 118) was agreed, with a route via Harthill and Wrenbury.
Bryan led off steadily over Harthill, passing Cholmondeley Castle and on to Wrenbury where we waited while a canal narrow boat negotiated the drawbridge.  Once over, we had the road to ourselves and Ray shouted, “which way are you intending?”  “Right at the junction, past the station then onto Aston” and with that, if I’m not mistaken, the pace miraculously picked up.  With time in hand we looped south through Wilkesley and Kinsey Heath to enter Audlem from the south.  The Shroppie Fly or Coffee Lounge Café for lunch?  Ivan was insistent on a pub, so The Shroppie Fly it was with a table(s) by the canal to enjoy the fantastic weather.  Timothy Taylor Landlord and Wells Bombardier along with other cask ales, together with good food and service made for an excellent relaxing lunch stop. There was even a history lesson thrown in for free.  Now who can remember the importance of “Fly” boats?
An afternoon tea stop sounded good so with that in mind we set off to Brown Bank before turning north towards Nantwich.  I was thinking of the Venetian Marina café but Ray suggested the Metropolitan Knitting Centre café which none of us, other than Ray, had tried before.  Ever willing to try something new we made for the Knitting Centre, via the Secret Bunker at Hack Green, Ravensmoor and Nantwich, where we enjoyed the hospitality and seemingly unlimited quantities of tea at 50p a head.  After an all too brief stop we remounted and pushed on past the Boot and Slipper to Alpraham, Bunbury and Beeston to reach the Ice Cream Farm with time to spare.  There was nothing left to do but to sample the ice cream and relax!  A day to remember and a great ride.
Distance from Chester and back a good 74 miles.

BW