Riding out to the Ice Cream Farm with the wind from behind I decide on the Waverton route and make a note to use the more sheltered Greenlooms route on the way home. It’s a good decision and catching another cyclist we ride together for a few miles before he turns off with an invitation to check the blog and join us the next time he has a free Thursday. Arriving early I settle down to sort out a route as the others turn up. Graham arrives complaining of a slow puncture which he hopes will be OK and before long there are nine of us although sadly Glennys won’t be joining us for the ride.
My suggestion of a ride southwest to Overton Bridge with the return skirting Wrexham, to get assistance from the prevailing wind on the way back, is accepted without a murmur of dissent. Once outside Graham decides his rear wheel puncture requires more than just re-inflating which gives me an opportunity to investigate an abnormally large amount of float on the left hand pedal and difficulty unclipping. The verdict: excessive wear on the pedal release necessitating extra care today.
Once away we are soon bowling along at a steady pace through Tattenhall, Tilston, Shocklach and Worthenbury with superb views across to the Welsh hills on our right. This really is ideal cycling weather; later in the summer as things warm up the views will be lost in the haze but not today. Then taking the minor lanes to bypass Bangor on Dee we head towards Overton and the final descent down to Overton Bridge with the Dee valley laid out before us. The terrace of the Cross Foxes pub was designed for days like this and we take full advantage sitting outside in the sun looking down at the river below.
Is this to be another case of lime and soda over spec? I can almost hear Ray preparing to do battle but no we are spared the onslaught for today at least. Once Jim had reminisced about his school days as union rep. it was time for some admin. Do we seek organisers’ liability cover for the group in addition to our individual third party cover and if so how. With full agreement to opt for additional cover the only issue was how: affiliate to the CTC or become an “Informal Group” (IG) of an established CTC Member Group. Opinions were aired, views expressed and affiliation to the CTC chosen. With that out of the way we could settle down to enjoy the rest of the day.
The return journey took us further south to Erbistock before we turned northeast along the lanes through Crabtree Green towards Wrexham. My recollection of the roads around King’s Mills proved sadly flawed but once recovered we were soon skirting the industrial estate on idyllic lanes passed Erla’s Hall (wondering about the past Viking connections) where Dave P left us to make his own way home. The rest of us continued on to Holt where Ray suggested Vernon’s for afternoon tea and we took an outside table to enjoy the afternoon sun, tea and cakes. What more can you ask for? All the right ingredients today, good weather, lovely lanes, great views excellent lunch stop, great company and we even pulled in afternoon tea. Now that’s what I call a ride.
Distance from Chester and back 62 miles; Ice Cream Farm and back 42 miles.
BW
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