31st January 2019: Overton (mod)

A little belatedly winter arrived this week.  It had brought with it a fair covering of snow to my little corner of North East Wales.  I was, however keen to get out on my bike if I could.  I had missed the two previous club rides due to other commitments.  I therefore gambled that the loss of a couple of hundred feet from my home to the starting point at the Ice Cream Farm would have resulted in less snow.  My gamble paid off.  As I drove through Waverton the fields were more green than white.

I pulled into the car park followed by Dave H, also, I was pleased to see dressed in his cycling gear.  We were quickly joined by two further members, not in cycling attire, Steve H and Dave M.  Today, just there for the coffee.  As we amiably drank our hot beverages it became apparent that we were not going to be joined by any further members.

A consultation around the table determined that our wisest course was to head south keeping to the low ground of the Cheshire Plain and try to pick a route where there was a good chance that the roads had been treated with salt.  Overton was to be our destination.

Leaving the Ice Cream Farm, turning left and then right at the crossroads, Dave and I retraced our outward journey back to Waverton.  We then turned south, through Saighton, and Churton bypassing Farndon to cross the A534.  We were bowling along at a steady pace on treated roads and warming up nicely.  Through Shocklach and Worthenbury we stuck to the main B 5069 through Bangor on Dee and into Overton.

The White Horse was quite busy on this cold January day.  We both decided we had earned a full meal and ordered accordingly.  The food duly arrived, piping hot and the portions definitely “large”.  We tucked in with a will and our mothers would have been proud of us as we cleared our plates.  Back on the bikes we decided that the sensible plan was to retrace our steps.  We knew all the route was on treated roads and we had not encountered any of the feared black ice on our outward leg.

We arrived back at the Ice Cream Farm just before 4pm.  Fortunately, as the days are now lengthening in full daylight.  Circa 45 miles covered.  My thanks to Dave for his  company.

GW 

20th December 2018: Overton (mod)

Gathering at the Ice Cream Farm were a mix of brisk, moderate and “only out for a short ride” riders. In the last category were Trevor, Jim and David M.  That left Neil and myself out for a moderate ride. I had the White Horse at Overton in mind, as it was a while since I’d last visited and I knew that the landlord had changed.

The route out and back again was through Tilston and Worthenbury, though we followed different lanes each way wherever possible. We arrived shortly after 1200. The gate into the back yard was sealed, unlike previously, so we locked our bikes to a bus stop.  Within we found a warm fire and a good welcome.  The menu had changed from the previous landlord but still provided substantial good value food and the Joules ale was excellent as usual.

As we left Overton it was apparent from the roads that we had luckily missed a heavy shower. Returning into Tattenhall we met the brisk group coming down Bolesworth Road. Neil then left for his direct route home, while I returned to the ICF for a coffee (no cake!). It had been an excellent day’s December riding with a slight wind, no rain while we were out, cool but not cold. The total mileage was just under 40.

See route map and/or gpx file download

SH

28th December 2017: Overton (mod)

Deep midwinter: sleet had fallen on frozen ground overnight. It was freezing and the roads were icy.  So it was in hope rather than expectation of a ride that I strapped my bike to the car and drove out to Cleopatra’s in Holt. Steve T, Dave H, Keith and Ken had all driven out with the same feeling. David M was also there but in civvies, ostensibly to lend moral support, but really to flog the new Chester and North Wales  CTC vests (discounted to a great value of £20 for a limited period only!).

We considered the options for the day: anything between just riding over the bridge to the café in Farndon and returning, to one of our more usual routes to Hanmer or Whitchurch. As the sun rose we determined to ride out towards Shocklach and decide then based on the condition of the surfaces.  We found that although some sections had been melted by the sun, others remained covered with crunchy frozen sleet.  We reasoned that the smaller less-used lanes would be unsafe, but that we could follow more major roads through Worthenbury, Bangor-on-Dee and into Overton. Cycling gingerly we made slow yet safe progress and eventually arrived outside The White Horse just before opening time having covered only 12 ½ miles.

We were grateful when the doors were unlocked and we met Stuart from Orkney, the temporary landlord. We received a cantankerously friendly welcome.  Five steak pie and chips were ordered and we settled down to wait, having been told that Stuart was on his own and it would take a while. Our conversation was a typical mix of the idiosyncratic. Dave proudly brought a twig out of his bag and claimed it was a specialist twig used to remove mud from under mudguards; Steve told us that his name was shortened to “Ste” by Scousers; and Dave, Steve and Keith revealed yet more insights into the strange world of Runcorn. We were just becoming absorbed in the finer details of 1:50k and 1:25k downloadable maps, when thankfully, five plates of substantial food arrived, the talking ended and the eating began.  Some time later we said our farewells to Stuart and hit the road again.

Photo by Ken P

We hoped that sunshine and the slight rise in temperatures would allow us to take a different route back. And so it seemed after repeating our outward route to Worthenbury, we gained the confidence to head into Malpas, then Tilston.  At Stretton we stopped outside Stretton Hall for a photo and decided to return via Wetreins Lane.  This turned out to the iciest ride of our day, but without mishap we made it back to Cleos having covered just over 30 miles. Except for the road surfaces, it had been a beautiful day and we all were grateful to have made the effort: a suitable finale as the last CER ride of the year.

SH

8th June 2017: Overton (mod)

I arrived early at Rose Farm, the A55 increasingly problematic these days had been benign, and was relieved to see that the cafe now opens at 9 am.  Soon settled in with tea and tea cake I await my fellow riders.  I had a premonition (I am sure that you can get tablets for it these days) before I left home that there may not be too many moderate riders out today, I knew that Dave H was on a beach in some foreign land and Steve H was bagging another Munro, so I stuck the relevant OS map in my pocket.  A wise move it proved to be.

As 10 am approached Bob and Jim arrived together.  We chatted about the merits of caravans as opposed to camper vans and awaited our fellow riders.  By 10.25 am it was evident that the good turnouts of recent weeks had come to an abrupt end.  Jim was only out for a short ride as he had grandparent duties later in the day.  So it was just Bob and myself.  I had a déjà vu moment.  Several years ago on a similar wet day in June I found myself at Rose Farm and as 10.30 am approached the only other rider present was "big Roy" from Runcorn.  For our more recent members Roy was our "Arnie".  Built like the proverbial brick ****house he was thirty years younger than me and was formidable on a bike.  The thought of trying to keep up with Roy filled me with dread.  He must have seen the fear in my eyes and he very diplomatically said that he didn't fancy getting wet as he was cycling with a Runcorn club that evening and would give it a miss.  My relief was palatable.  Fortunately no such fears today.

Looking at my map I decided on the White Horse at Overton for no good reason other than I recalled it did good bar food at reasonable prices and was usually quiet.  The three of us turned south through Duddon to cross the A51.  I had chosen a circular route to avoid cycling directly into a southerly wind. We therefore turned east and cycling through Hoofield headed for Beeston castle.  Jim left us at this point, which left just two surrogate Welshman wandering aimlessly around Cheshire.  I had to grit my teeth cycling past Tilley's in Bunbury.  I will never fill my loyalty card with this behaviour.  From here we headed for Brindley and then to Cholmondeley castle via Chorley.  Turning left just past the castle we cycle past Michael Owen's racing stables and down into No Man’s Heath (what a great name) and up into Malpas.  Dave H is right there is no flat route into Malpas or not one I am aware of.  Down the Main Street we turn right and onto a great stretch of road.  A good surface, virtually traffic free and going west slightly downhill.  We soon make Threapwood and thence to Worthenbury.  Here we turn right onto those "fiddly" lanes around Hollybush before rolling into Overton.

The landlord of the White Horse was friendly and efficient and as I had hoped only two other tables had diners.  We had donned our waterproof jackets several times, as the weather brightened and then darkened again, and wholesome hot food was very welcome.  I had chosen a more direct return route as the need to tack into the wind, I believe that is the nautical term (happy to be corrected) was not necessary with the wind at our backs.

Our return route was through Bangor-on-Dee, where there was actually a race meeting taking place a first for me, and back to Worthenbury.  Picking up the Cheshire Cycleway we headed north through Shocklach and then Tilston, where I noted the Carden Arms is open all day, and crossing the A534 at Barton we follow familiar welcoming lanes to Tattenhall.  As Bob and I had both parked in Waverton we made our way back to the cars via the usual route through Hargrave and Greenlooms.  We note that the bridge over the canal just beyond Hargrave is closed to vehicles but helpfully they have a sign out informing cyclists they can get through.

My thanks to Bob for his excellent company.  His gizmo informed us we had covered 66 miles at an average of 12.5 mph.  A classic Easy Riders day but where was everyone else I mused.  You missed a treat.

GW

15th December 2016: Overton (mod)

The forecast was miserable, not bad, just miserable: overcast and grey with a fair chance of rain.  That did not deter a reasonable attendance at the Ice Cream Farm: Clive, Ken, Dave H, George, Bryan, Andy B, myself, Jim and Trevor.  The last two were only out for coffee, but as we were setting off, were replaced by Dave & Liz P on the tandem.  Unfortunately they were late and not quite ready, so we left without them, agreeing to meet at our destination: The White Horse at Overton.

So the seven of us set off to pass through Clutton and on to Tilston, where shortly after Bryan left us.  We then headed SW towards Tilston, passing a pair of horse riders… then another horse… then another pair of riders… and the another pair of riders. What had drawn them all out today on these particular lanes?

Welcome assistance from Clive led us through Threapwood and Holly Bush to arrive at our destination. We settled down to enjoy the good Joules’ ales and food, though later I wished I’d ordered a larger portion of fish and chips as energy flagged during the afternoon. And what did we discuss over lunch?  Kitchen appliances believe it or not! The Pipes joined us eventually, but by then we were finishing off our food, and reluctantly left them to make their own return.

Our route back was again aided by Clive along some pleasant lanes towards Worthenbury.  George and I noticed two adjoining recently derelict houses complete with rotting cars – what story lay behind those we wondered.  From there it was on through Shocklach, Tilston and Coddington, passing two incredibly ancient oaks, before crossing the A41 and back into Tattenhall.

We were all surprised that the weather had stayed benign: no rain, relatively warm and even some glimpses of weak winter sun.  Overall 40 miles were covered.  We said our farewells and wished Merry Christmas to those we wouldn’t see again for a couple of weeks.

SH