27th February 2025 : Tarvin (brisk)

A pretty full and noisy Maggies saw myself, Ken and Ray set off in a northeasterly direction towards Kelsall, thinking we might not get the full effects of persistent  NW headwind. A lovely sunny day with perhaps the first properly dry roads of the year. A keen and chilly wind remained though. We briefly followed the mod+ group through Farndon before Ray made attacked and formed a breakaway. We charge on through Churton and then familiar roads to Aldford, Bruera and a short stretch of A41 to Tattenhall.

Going over the bridge at Newton, we were held up by an escorted heavy loader transporting a canal boat to the adjacent marina. On the other side of the bridge, we nearly came off our bikes as we had to break quickly as a large group of cyclists (even older than us), were for some reason, stood all over the road.

Through Huxley and along Cork Screw Lane to Willington Lane, we had yet more hold-ups, first cars trying to pass each other, we clear that to more cars held up by a reversing tanker. We were planning lunch in Kelsall, but after deciding it was a bit early, we cut back southwards to Oscroft then across to Tarvin.

 Lunch was in a café by the post office on the High Street, perhaps not often used by CER, called, according to Ken, ‘50’. A small cafe, but good value. Pot of tea and bacon bap costing just over £6. The lunchtime special, broccoli mask and a local pie was tempting, but not if you want to cycle afterwards.

Back out the way we came, with a brief stop as I lost pressure in my rear tyre. A quick injection of air sorted it, and if the sealant did work in preventing further loss, I don’t know as  I never saw any escaping, but never look a gift horse I the mouth! Across the A51 towards Waverton, where Ken and Ray turned left towards Christleton, I went left towards Tattenhall and home.

I would have missed this if it wasn’t for the very helpful arrow!

Mileage around 40 miles form my home and fairly flat as you would expect at an average of 15.9mph, and a pleasant ride around our local lanes, not withstanding the pot holes. 

Caption for image: I would have missed this if it wasn’t for the very helpful arrow! 

See route map and/or gpx file download

NH

8th December 2016: Christmas lunch ride to Stamford Bridge

Quite early in the year Dave H had volunteered to organise this year’s Christmas Lunch and since I knew the roads well I offered to lead the ride. The forecast earlier in the week was for a rainy morning clearing up by lunchtime. Fortunately as Thursday drew near the forecast improved and by 9.00am the rain had just about stopped. I met up with Dave H, Steve T and Keith at Jim’s house and together the four of us (Jim wasn’t doing the ride – said he had to have his hair done!!) set off along the Greenway towards Ness Gardens. Despite some rather ominous looking dark clouds we arrived in a dry condition to find Brian Macca, Bryan, Steve H & Mike already enjoying their pre-ride drinks. George joined us soon after to make 9 riders and Kate joined us for a coffee. She would be joining us again later for the lunch. 

I was determined to avoid the ‘missing link’. On a day like today our bikes were certain to get covered in mud or something worse as we passed through the farmyard. So we set off towards the village of Burton and turned right into Mudhouse Lane which brought us out onto the busy A540. A quick dash down the dual carriageway and then we turned left into the relative safety of Badgers Rake Lane. Apart, that is, from our old friend Vanman who thought it would be a good idea to overtake us on a bend.

Photos by Macca and Mike G

We passed the bottom end of the missing link and took a right hand turn to cross the Welsh Road, heading through Ledsham and Capenhurst. Dunkirk Lane brought us out onto the A5117 and we crossed it to join the off-road cycle path alongside the railway. Having to stop to open and close the gates on this section can be a bit of a pain but is much safer than any of the alternatives. At the end we turned left, by-passing Mollington and crossing the A41 towards Backford.

At the bottom of Chorlton Lane I would normally have turned right to go past the back of the zoo but so as not to arrive at the pub too early a loop was required. So we turned left through Croughton and threaded our way under, over and around the M56/M53 Stoak Interchange. Then it was straight down Picton Lane through Picton and into Mickle Trafford.

The weather had been improving all morning and as we crossed the A56 the sun came out. We passed the café at Meadow Lea Farm, which will become one of our regular starting points next year. Jim joined us here and we continued through the village of Guilden Sutton. The final stretch was an unavoidable trip along the A51 but we kept to the safety of the footpath until we reached our destination at the Stamford Bridge Inn near Great Barrow. Here we were joined by Dave & Liz, Tom, Andy W and Kate.

We had been to the Stamford Bridge for our Christmas lunch a few years ago when we had been well fed and looked after and it was partly for this reason that Dave had chosen it again this year. Once again we weren’t disappointed as we tucked into an excellent Christmas Lunch, washed down with one or two selections from their great range of beers. 

After lunch we all made our own ways home. The whole round trip had been about 33 miles. Not a bad tally before lunch for those of us who had ridden out to Ness in the morning.

Many thanks to Dave for organising the meal. Not an easy task but successfully accomplished.

TC