6th May 2010: Ellesmere

Leaving home to ride to Holt this morning I checked the SatMap for the today’s proposed route only to find that the unit was completely dead.  Having sorted out a 46 mile route on the SatMap yesterday evening this was not a good omen but at least I would have time to check it out over tea at Bellis.  I arrive just as the rain was starting in earnest to find Mike and Clive relaxing over tea and teacakes.  By the time mine is ordered Jim and then Liz and Dave P appear.  I circulate a map of my proposed route while checking the SatMap battery to find a broken wire (vibration on last weeks tracks?) is the cause of the problem.  A fresh battery is fitted and with the route agreed it’s time to depart.
From Bellis we head south through the lanes to Bangor on Dee, across the bridge, past the racecourse and up Brynhovah Bank where, having warmed up on the climb, we stop to remove a layer.  Now we’re on the back lanes we enjoy the countryside as we make good progress through Dudleston Heath on lanes, I’ve never ridden before, to Perthy and Welsh Frankton until we are faced with the steepest climb on the ride, a veritable wall of a humpback bridge!  Safely over we turn into Hordley to join the Vets’ 100 route north towards Ellesmere.  Not far to lunch now but the sky’s darkening and what starts as light drizzle quickly turns to a downpour requiring a stop to cape up.  It’s then 15 minutes in the rain before we arrive in Ellesmere and make for the Black Lion for lunch.
Although the pub isn’t particularly busy we can’t get two tables together until one of the patrons kindly gives up her table so that we can sit together: then it’s decision time, large or small portion?  The meals are soon served but the small portions are almost as big as the large: only cheaper!  By the time we’re ready to leave the rain has stopped and we head to Hanmer through the puddles on the wet lanes.  We are still making good time as we pass through Drury Lane and Lower Wych on our way to Malpas so it’s just after 3.30pm when we stop at the Old Fire Station tearooms in the centre of Malpas.  Dave P promptly disappears to call in at the local bakery while the rest of us place our orders in the café.  Now the Old Fire Station is famed for its cakes in CTC circles so its more or less compulsory to try either the walnut or coffee cake.  I force myself to sample the walnut cake.  What can you say; absolutely perfect.  Conversation turns to computer problems (or to be more precise PC problems) as Clive first explains the myriad of software he uses to scan his computer for viruses, before we move on to discuss backup software and external drives.
It’s again time to leave so we tear ourselves away from the tearooms and head to Tilston where Jim, Liz and Dave P continue north to Crewe-by-Farndon and back to Bellis in Holt.  Clive, Mike and I take the longer route through Tattenhall and Greenlooms where Mike turns off leaving Clive and I to make for Chester via Christleton.
A great ride almost entirely on lanes (no tracks today) and very little traffic. 46 mile circular from Holt with the distance from Chester and back exactly 70 miles.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
BW