After the first steep climb up New Pale we meandered along the narrowest lanes through Kingsley, then followed the twinkling Weaver to Dutton Locks and beyond. The warm wind wafted us along as we drifted past Cogshall Hall, up to Frandley and through Antrobus. We were soon circling Arley Hall on Back Lane, careful over the smooth cobbles to Arley Green, with its pretty pond and black and white timbered buildings.
Photograph by Kate Williams
We continued to flit through quiet, undisturbed lanes up to Hoo Green, and Booth Bank with its Wesleyan connection. Lunch is at ‘The Swan with Two Nicks’ in Little Bollington. The food, drink and setting are fine, but Dave and Liz were not totally convinced about the attitude towards customer service. Dave had to settle for begging, whilst seriously considering strangulation, in order to obtain cutlery! Mike Morley was just sublimely satisfied to be supping good ale, as ever.
After lunch we squeezed over the Bollin footbridge and climbed over the wall into delightful Dunham Massey. Dave showing off his muscle power, and once again proving that there is very little off limits for determined tandemists. Kate managed to persuade a friendly couple to take a group photograph, with sunbathing deer in close company. Off through Dunham Town past Lavender Barn Tea Shop at Dog Farm – a great place for a break if you’re in a cycling group which doesn’t have alcohol dependency. We are soon spinning along the Trans-Pennine Trail, and slip into Lymm village via a very Ray-repelling grassy bridleway. A brief stop, a couple of half drunk cappuccinos (my thanks to Brian Mac), sat next to the ducks and lurking, large fish.
Then we wind our way back, across the derelict Admiralty WW2 Stretton Airfield. We are usually sheltered from the headwind by lush high hedges. Kate spots a pattern: left, right, left, right – a steady rhythm of back lane turns. Like a shoal of fish, colours catching the sun as they constantly deflect from danger – in our case main roads and juggernauts.
Eventually The Big Effort looms – the steep bank up from the Weaver a taste of what’s to come. A little more light, rhythmic pedalling along Ball Lane, then, the beginning of the end: up through Kingsley, up Hollow Lane, up and up to Newton Firs. The new lads are feeling it: fifty miles up and hard climbing, Peter without gears, Trevor with a heavy frame and wide tyres – who could blame them. But they’ve stuck at it, and we have covered many pleasant, easy miles today to look back on. Someone says, ‘We’ve all been there!’: some of us surprisingly recently, when we first joined, often using a bike, gearing and a pair of legs that were less than ideal. That tandem’s made it again, although Dave has been cautioned for over-use of the whip.
Finally a whoosh down to Manley with just a couple of short, steep bits. Nevertheless, the vastly experienced, allegedly intelligent, and normally likeable Bryan Wade is caught out in completely the wrong gear turning left up the bank at Simmonds Hill. This is due to bad Karma for flatly refusing to carry any of my maps earlier in the day.
The weather was great, the company was great, and we’ve covered about 54 miles of lovely, traffic-free lanes. Can’t wait for next week!
See route map and/or gpx file download.
DHeath
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