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Retired, work part-time or shifts, enjoy being out in the countryside? Then cycle the lanes and byways of Cheshire and surrounding areas with Chester Easy Riders: you won't get left behind.
Chester Easy Riders is an independent cycling club affiliated to Cycling UK. We cycle every Thursday throughout the year with moderate and brisk day rides of 40 to 80 miles.
For more information see the About Us tab.
Showing posts with label Seacombe. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Seacombe. Show all posts
Sunday, 20 September 2009
10th September 2009: Seacombe Ferry
I can understand the reluctance to start every 8 weeks from Ness Gardens as, at first sight, the Wirral Peninsula seems to have limited cycling options away from main roads and suburbia. However today five of us explored places popular in Victorian times with a circuit including dry marshland, The Wirral Way, past people's back gardens, across sand dunes, along promenades, docks and through the oldest Public Park in the world; and with a glorious 22 C sunny day to boot. We traversed the only Coal Mines in Cheshire (did you even know they existed?) at Little Neston, rode through the former principal port to Ireland (Parkgate), past The Titanic owners house at Thurstaston, all the way round the coast to the site of the former New Brighton Tower that was 49 feet higher than Blackpool. Excellent pint and scoff at Seacombe Ferry Hotel - remember from 1200 to 1500 for the future. Then down past Birkenhead Docks and through the Park, Oxton and Poulton to the Victorian playground at Raby Mere, before the final 4 miles back to Ness. In fact the whole day was one long series of glories past, a bit like the riders, with 41 miles back to Ness.
Friday, 5 June 2009
4th June 2009: West Kirby & Seacombe
A cooler day is forecast with plenty of sun and a light breeze; just the right stuff for the bike so let's see if we can make the most use of it. I catch Jim's wheel at Capenhurst and Graham (P) is just tying up as we sail into Ness. Tea and teacakes and a free top up for the tea (you've got to ask) and we're ready for decision time. Graham and Jim have the same idea, they think I have a route in mind - I haven't. 'Look, it's getting warmer, it's sunny and it will be nice at West Kirby - let's go there.’ 'O.K.' times two.
Down to the Wirral Way, it's dry so we're OK, and the day is improving. 'How about fish and chips on the sea front?' 'Sounds good to us.' The day improves a little more. Visibility is good and the views over the estuary to the welsh hills are stunning but we have to leave them for a while as we drop into West Kirby where Harry Kwok is preparing some fish and chips for our appreciation. Will the tyres need a little more air to cope with those chips? We risk it and are soon settled overlooking the Marine Lake, with the views restored and the sun also playing its part. Over-indulged, we continue through Hoylake to Meols where we can return down the Wirral or carry on to New Brighton. Graham fancies the latter so we continue along the cycleway, keeping the sea on our left. A small interruption for ice creams at Moreton - where the 'mill' turned out to be a lighthouse, doh! - and we enter New Brighton's cafe society. 'May as well complete the route to Seacombe and check out the Vale Park café.' Acquiescence. We enjoy the architecture at the ferry terminal and follow this with an enjoyable cuppa at Vale Park. Then, with a light wind on our backs, we head back to West Kirby, but this time we take the cycleway from Hoylake station to Riversdale Road. This is a good surface, pleasant and avoids the main road. After snacks al fresco we are back on the Wirral Way, only to come off at Willaston (Jim is our Garmin substitute) where we take the Missing Link so that we can leave Graham at Capenhurst Lane (to complete his 91miles) whilst Jim and I take the gated Sustrans offering to Backford. We part at Mickle Trafford for our 70+ miles for the day; a day with virtually no traffic, no hills and stunning scenery all the way. I think we made the best use of the day.
RH
Down to the Wirral Way, it's dry so we're OK, and the day is improving. 'How about fish and chips on the sea front?' 'Sounds good to us.' The day improves a little more. Visibility is good and the views over the estuary to the welsh hills are stunning but we have to leave them for a while as we drop into West Kirby where Harry Kwok is preparing some fish and chips for our appreciation. Will the tyres need a little more air to cope with those chips? We risk it and are soon settled overlooking the Marine Lake, with the views restored and the sun also playing its part. Over-indulged, we continue through Hoylake to Meols where we can return down the Wirral or carry on to New Brighton. Graham fancies the latter so we continue along the cycleway, keeping the sea on our left. A small interruption for ice creams at Moreton - where the 'mill' turned out to be a lighthouse, doh! - and we enter New Brighton's cafe society. 'May as well complete the route to Seacombe and check out the Vale Park café.' Acquiescence. We enjoy the architecture at the ferry terminal and follow this with an enjoyable cuppa at Vale Park. Then, with a light wind on our backs, we head back to West Kirby, but this time we take the cycleway from Hoylake station to Riversdale Road. This is a good surface, pleasant and avoids the main road. After snacks al fresco we are back on the Wirral Way, only to come off at Willaston (Jim is our Garmin substitute) where we take the Missing Link so that we can leave Graham at Capenhurst Lane (to complete his 91miles) whilst Jim and I take the gated Sustrans offering to Backford. We part at Mickle Trafford for our 70+ miles for the day; a day with virtually no traffic, no hills and stunning scenery all the way. I think we made the best use of the day.
RH
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