The new venue, the Expresso Café in Gwersyllt, was busy as Ivan and I arrived a little late from Chester. Dave H was already there and Dave S, a Café Hopper rider, had just turned up. Brian Mac arrived a bit later having cycled from Neston and, because of problems on the trains, explained that Janet would not be coming, and he was not out for the whole today either. So where to go! I had come prepared with a 44m ride to the Wild Pheasant just outside Llangollen. All the hills would be before lunch with a nice flat 10 miles after lunch. All agreed and we set off to navigate our way out of largely unfamiliar territory bound ever upwards for Coedpoeth via Southsea (however did it get that name!). Dave H picked up a puncture here so, a bit delayed, we set off for the Llandegla forest and the roundabout to the Ponderosa on the A5104. The lane off the roundabout runs parallel to the A5014 and affords magnificent views to the left and right of the Vale of Clwyd and the sea, and the Berwyns the other way. With good visibility and the weather that we had today, this is a perfect place to view some stunning countryside.
Photographs by Ivan Davenport
Dave S knew the route well and just turning down to the A5104 at Carrog, we stop at a boundary monument erected in 1400 to recognise a short-lived land “agreement” between Owain Glyndŵr and Henry IV which lead to the razing of Ruthin and the Welsh Revolt of 1400-1415 – amazing what you come across in the countryside. Running down to Carrog, we take the Old Coach Road for a pleasant if not surprisingly hilly run along the north side of the Dee until the Chain Bridge Hotel at Berwyn. A quick left down the A5 found us at the Wild Pheasant. Here Dave S pressed for home, whilst we three were ready for a late lunch after 28 very hilly miles. Good fare at reasonable prices – but tough if you want salad today – they had run out. Setting off well after 14:00, I promised us a flat 10 miles to the Pontcysyllte aqueduct along the recently resurfaced canal towpath. We had an extremely pleasurable fast and level cycling with few walkers and time to digest our repast to boot. The mostly familiar way back was via Cefn Mawr, Ruabon and the Sainsbury’s roundabout at Wrexham that found us going along Summerhill Road and back to café arriving at 16:00 with 44 miles on the clock. Dave was in car assist mode whilst Ivan and I, in the gathering gloom, wended our way back via Llay and Kinnerton to Chester. For two lone souls with headlights ablaze down the Dee cycle path, we had nearly 80 miles on the clock and had experienced what a well known octogenarian rider would have exclaimed to be “Magic”.
Photographs by Ivan Davenport
Dave S knew the route well and just turning down to the A5104 at Carrog, we stop at a boundary monument erected in 1400 to recognise a short-lived land “agreement” between Owain Glyndŵr and Henry IV which lead to the razing of Ruthin and the Welsh Revolt of 1400-1415 – amazing what you come across in the countryside. Running down to Carrog, we take the Old Coach Road for a pleasant if not surprisingly hilly run along the north side of the Dee until the Chain Bridge Hotel at Berwyn. A quick left down the A5 found us at the Wild Pheasant. Here Dave S pressed for home, whilst we three were ready for a late lunch after 28 very hilly miles. Good fare at reasonable prices – but tough if you want salad today – they had run out. Setting off well after 14:00, I promised us a flat 10 miles to the Pontcysyllte aqueduct along the recently resurfaced canal towpath. We had an extremely pleasurable fast and level cycling with few walkers and time to digest our repast to boot. The mostly familiar way back was via Cefn Mawr, Ruabon and the Sainsbury’s roundabout at Wrexham that found us going along Summerhill Road and back to café arriving at 16:00 with 44 miles on the clock. Dave was in car assist mode whilst Ivan and I, in the gathering gloom, wended our way back via Llay and Kinnerton to Chester. For two lone souls with headlights ablaze down the Dee cycle path, we had nearly 80 miles on the clock and had experienced what a well known octogenarian rider would have exclaimed to be “Magic”.
CA
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