Elevenses today was at the Little Roodee car park Café and as most of the regulars were away on holiday or working I had planned an easy ride. Ray was already at the café when I arrived so at least I wouldn’t be riding alone. After catching up with recent events Dave Mann joined us for his first ride with Chester Easy Riders. Once the introductory formalities were complete the discussion turned to Twitter, blogs, Harry the Bike and Ray’s prestidigitation: all good stuff but it was soon time to leave.
We head off along the Dee Promenade and make good progress through Christleton, Hargrave and Huxley narrowly avoiding a van as we negotiated the canal bridge by the Shady Oak. Then with everyone happy with the pace we leave Peckforton behind and pull into the Bickerton Poacher car park for lunch. It’s quite a while since we stopped as early as this for lunch and almost as punishment for this misdemeanour we are forced to wait for our drinks while a large business group are served food. My phone beeps and it’s a text from Jim announcing that he’s just got to the top of Mt. Ventoux! Now that’s serious stuff: a little different to our efforts today. Outside we sit under cover just in case it should rain and sure enough it does just as we were about to leave. Dave queries Ray on sundry bike maintenance issues and chain life during the half hour we are forced to wait for the rain to ease. At least we haven’t got on to the average gradient of today’s ride; I think to myself.
After the rain it feels unseasonably chilly as we start off but by the top of Gallantry Bank we are warmed up for the circuit of Bickerton and Larkton hills passing Broxton Old Hall and on towards Bolesworth. Thoughts of tea and cake at the Ice Cream Farm begin to fill my mind but no carrot cake today so I make do with an excellent coffee cake instead. We settle down to a relaxing break with plenty of time in hand and somehow or other a debate begins with Ray asserting the pre-eminent nature of science in moving the world forward, which leads on to issues of communism, capitalism, religion, tribalism, greed and the cultural divide. This is not the normal Chester Easy Riders fare but who cares.
The final leg home is made via Saighton with a brief but fascinating stop at the architectural salvage dealer by New Russia Hall.
Distance from Chester and back, a short but enjoyable 36 miles.
BW
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