17th June 2010: Shrewsbury 110

With the longest day almost on us what could be more appropriate than a 100 plus mile ride to make maximum use of the daylight.  Today’s special ride would do just that: meet at Chester Station at 08.00 hours for an 08.30 depart and as it turned out return at 21.00 hours with the sun sinking after an absolutely perfect cycling day.

Photographs by Bryan Wade and Mike Morley

I left home with the route in the SatMap and four OS maps in the rack pack for backup.  At the Station I was joined by Graham and Jane Turner until, with five minutes to go, Ray H and Dave P arrived.  At 08.30 exactly we left the Station heading east before turning off the main road to pass the Law College, through Christleton to Waverton canal bridge where Dave Hill and Dave Heath were waiting to join us.  “Where’s Mike?” I asked.  “With you” came the reply, and sure enough he had somehow joined the back of the group without me realising.  With all eight of us together there was just enough time for a photograph before starting the first leg to Market Drayton.

On home territory there was no need to check the SatMap, other to ensure it was recording properly, and with the wind behind us we made good progress through Tattenhall, over Harthill to Bickerton where a major cycling event appeared to be starting with a police motorcycle escort.  All to soon we had to leave the other cyclists, with their police escort, to shouts of “You’re going the wrong way” from bystanders.
Our plan was to do a steady 14 mph, 30 minutes elevenses at Market Drayton, 60 minutes for lunch and 30minutes at Ellesmere for afternoon tea.  Even with what seemed to be an interminable wait at the level crossing in Wrenbury we were well on target as we progressed south to Market Drayton arriving at 11.00 with some 30 plus miles on the clock.  Ray had arranged for elevenses to be taken at the Pheasant Grill so we were somewhat surprised to find a notice in the window “Closed due to family funeral”.  No matter: the alternative Buttercross Tea Room round the corner proved more than capable with delightful service and help at hand as locals popped into the kitchen to help.  “Is this a community café?” asked Dave Heath.  Fair enough, but with eight cyclists to serve, service lacked a certain urgency and it was 12 noon before we left!
Out of the Buttercross we take a right and just as we turn into a very narrow lane there’s a shout from the back that we’re missing Dave P and Dave Heath.  With no sign of them after a few minutes a phone call revealed they had turned left at the Buttercross!
Once reunited we are again on the back lanes passing through Hodnet and Stanton upon Heath before making a brief ‘cultural’ stop for photos at Moreton Corbet Castle.  By this time I had already decided that out of the three potential lunch stops the nearest at Cross Houses was the only possible one.  South through Upton Magna, over the River Severn at Atcham and on to Cross Houses where we arrive at The Bell at a little after 2.00pm with 60 miles clocked.  Here we take a relaxed lunch with a choice of excellent food (although the liver and bacon casserole did seem to be missing the bacon) and Bombardier.
It was 4.00pm when we left, so no chance of making Ellesmere for afternoon tea but we enjoyed the ride through the lanes south of Shrewsbury before turning north for Ford, where we hit rush-hour traffic, and Montford Bridge to cross the Severn.   By this time Dave Hill was feeling peckish so in search of a shop we went through the centre of Baschurch rather than the scenic route by the church but without any success.  The route from there to Ellesmere took us on delightful lanes through Lower Hordley and into Ellesmere by the marina.  It was now just after 6.00pm and with 90 miles done we were ready for a break.  The Black Lion did us proud with apple crumble, jam rolly-poly, coffee and lime and soda.
“Which way back Bryan?” “Penley, Threapwood and Farndon” I replied.  “Not up those hills!” was the almost universal response in a tone of almost abject disbelief.  Now I never thought I would hear Dave Hill complain about the hills but there is a first for everything and sensing revolt I quickly asked for alternatives.   A variety of routes taking in Overton, Bangor on Dee, Wrexham Industrial Estate and Holly Bush were all mentioned before a compromise route of Penley, Holly Bush, Worthenbury and Farndon was agreed.   Fully refreshed we left the Black Lion at 7.00pm to start the final leg back to Chester.  By Farndon the group had started to fragment with Ray, Mike and Dave Heath some way ahead while Dave Hill, Jane and Graham turned off for Pulford leaving Dave Pipe and I to take the B road through Aldford back to Chester where we arrived just before 9.00pm having clocked 113 miles for the day.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
BW