What a glorious day for our
meeting at Rose Farm, where roughly a dozen of us pitched up and that included
Steve T and Steve Hayward in their civies.
Steve
T had got his appointments mixed up and Steve Hayward, unfortunately, announced
that his cycling days were over, due to his doctors orders. This
all meant that there were 3 riding with me and the rest with DH. Nick was the
only fast rider on the day who therefore decided to join Allan, Steve Hu and
yours truly.
I
had a route that took full advantage of the Sandstone ridge (now there’s a
surprise- Lol) which also included a couple of obscure lanes that I hoped would
interest the group. We
set off south and up the horrible little climb, heading toward Tarporley,
however, we soon turned left up the little shortcut across the A49 and quickly
descend to Eaton. I
had already warned Nick that it would be a slow Mod + ride, due to my recovery
from a bad chest cold. I was currently finding it tough uphill, without
coughing my lungs up.
Anyway
this meant I tried to push on when descending and followed their back wheels
going up - Lol.
It
was only a few miles up the road when I turned left near the main entrance to
Oulton Park, for my first, less familiar routing through Little Budworth
Country Park. After half a mile we turned right into Beech Road for a meander
that took us near the back entrance to The Hollies cafe, which is a favourite
of mine and I point out to the group, as I assumed they wouldn’t know this
route in. Surprisingly,
nobody even knew of The Hollies, let alone this way in through the car park
exit.
Nick
was the first to realise where my deviation had lead us to, which was the more
usual route of Clay Lane, as we were heading for the Station House cafe in
order to get on the Whitegate Way (WGW)
This
lead Nick to mention that he was at that cafe only a few days earlier. We
didn’t stop of course, although almost, as we slip down the side of the cafe as
the easiest way on to the WGW. After
so much dry weather the WGW was so firm and smooth that we made excellent
progress, hardly seemed like 4 miles before we were off it and bunny hopping
the speed bumps on Waste Lane.
We
turned left for the first of our more serious climbs, that took us back to the
top of the ridge, all be it a little slower for me- Lol. This
allowed the Chuckle Brothers to show their prowess and pull away, but not that
far- Lol. I sensed Nick was just tagging along, taking it easy, after he sat on
my wheel for a few yards and then clearly found it so slow he had to chase them
down - Lol.
I
catch up and we regroup, before doing a left right chink into one of my all
time favourite lanes, although more so in the other direction. This
was another lane that Nick was unfamiliar with, which prompted me to enlighten
him as to our whereabouts, as we descend into the back of Norley. Steve had
remembered the lane, from previous rides, usually from Delamere Forest.
That
said, only a mile or so later, we get a shift on through said forest, on Ashton
Road, which seems to get longer every time I ride it- Lol. We
turned left at the junction, up a familiar short kicker into my last surprise
lane. This,
yet again, had Nick pondering where he was, to the point that he remarked, as
we descended the 1 mile long Grange Road, that he was going to get the map out
when he got home- Lol. Once at the bottom, even Alan knew where we were, I
think- Lol.
We
turned left into a little climb before descending to a familiar left turn at
Ashton Hayes, where I remarked to everybody that the rest of the route will be
a lot more familiar to everybody, as we headed up toward the crossing of the
A54. A
not so quick stop from me, saw Steve turn back, just as I came into his sight (
he was worried about me, bless him- Lol). Soon
after regrouping we turned right at the traffic lights and swing around the
south of Kelsall and now have roughly 4 miles to Walk Mill. We pass Weetwood
brewery, which lead me to think my cold was worse than I thought, because I
couldn’t smell the usual yeasty air, but Steve also couldn’t smell anything,
just as Al or Nick remarked “what Brewery”- Lol.
I
decide to put in a little effort and see how long my lungs would last, which
was only about half a mile before I was gasping between coughs. That
bit of madness over, we settle into a steady last few miles into Walk Mill. Steve
did his customary passing manoeuvre, just before we reach the cafe, in his bid
to get first in the cafe queue. This prompted me to leap on his wheel and
undercut him, just as we turn into Walk Mill driveway, but embarrassingly for
me, I then turn into the farm entrance, only yards before and give him back the
lead- Lol, Lol.
We
chose to sit outside and put our metaphorical towels (helmets etc) on the deck
chairs / benches, which Nick did not comprehend and clearly has no German gene
in his blood, as he took my seat- Lol.
The
gorgeous sun persuaded some of us to strip off our top layer and soak up the
sun, while all throwing our two penny-worth into the initial conversation
about Mr Trump- Lol. Fortunately we
moved on to more interesting conversation, but the strange thing is, I can only
remember the Trump abuse - Lol.
We
got going again and I lead the posse through to
Hargrave and on to Huxley, ignoring the road closure sign, as I knew it was for
a big hole in the road that the council seemed to have abandoned a week ago,
but left the road closure in place, as they often do. Sure enough the same hole
and pile of dirt was where I saw it last week- Lol.
Just
a mile or so later we arrive in Brassey Green and I say goodbye to the guys, as
they turned left up to Tarporley. Fortunately, for the Chuckle brothers, Nick
was still with them, so I didn’t need to draw them a map to take them the last
2 miles to Rose Farm- Lol, Lol.
I
turned right down to the ‘Shady’ for my return to Tattenhall, via what I think
is the nicest 5 mile stretch, anywhere in the county and not just because of
the scenery, but the quality of the lanes as well.
Starting
with my favourite little slope up to Beeston Castle.
I
got home with 52 miles on the clock and a bit of a sun tan to boot.
What
a cracking day, with great company and even better lanes- Lol.
PS
: Thanks Nick, for baby sitting the Chuckle Brothers back to Rose Farm- Lol.
Till
next time gents.
Neil.