1st January 2010: Carden Arms, Tilston

New Years Day and the temperature outside is minus 2º C. I decide to use the main roads to get to Christleton Pond and breathe a sigh of relief that the gritters have already been out. Two riders are already at the pond when I arrive and before long there are nine of us: not bad for such a cold day!
Today Chester Easy Riders are joining Chester CTC on a joint ride to the Carden Arms where the local CTC groups have one of their New Year Day meets. Martin leads off through Waverton in cold and dry conditions but by the time we are passing Greenlooms it has started to snow. This is a cross between snow and hail and I’m not alone in hoping that it won’t last for long.  My wishes are met, the snow stops and we continue on dry roads towards Tattenhall only to find that the snow has already settled here. Martin wisely decides to give Bolesworth and Brown Knowl a miss this year and chooses the direct route through Clutton and Lower Carden.

Photographs by Glennys Hammond

Riding on the newly fallen snow is a real pleasure but the compacted car tyre tracks are already icy and could be worse by the afternoon.  The group becomes spread out so we stop to regroup just before Clutton and those of us with slick tyres find spinning rear wheels make it difficult to get started again on the slight incline. Once moving again everything is fine and we make good progress passing several cars at the side of the road with spinning wheels.
We arrive at the Carden Arms safely, if a little cold, to find a good number of other groups already there. After queuing to order food there was time to greet and chat with colleagues from across the region. What a great way to start the New Year.

Unfortunately it was soon time to leave with the return journey made carefully on the lanes via Stretton, Barton, Coddington, Churton and Aldford. At Saighton the group split into two with some turning off towards Chester while the others headed back towards Christleton.
Distance from Chester and back a cold but enjoyable 33 miles.
BW

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