The Manley venue had been revamped and we sat in new chairs and cushions warming ourselves around an attractive fire feature. Clive's chair was like a throne: he quite liked the title of "King Clive". Clive had an innovative route around Grappenhall, Moore and Weston, but he went along with my alternative to Knutsford. Paul, one of our new faces had returned. We were eight altogether: Paul, Alan, Dave M, Dave B, Martin, Clive, Mike G and myself. I was soon leading from the rear as I hauled my 15 stones plus up Sugar Lane. We then headed north in the direction of Frodsham, right after Simmonds Hill and meandered off the main drag onto the small lanes, through Newton Hollow, and left at Crow Mere to Lord of the Manor, Djibril Cisse's property. At this point I decided that a further detour to a viewpoint at the memorial above Frodsham was out, as we needed to press on. I had decided that a brisk, no frills ride was now required to get to Knutsford and back in daylight. We dived down to the A56, across the Weaver, turning right along Aston Lane. Soon we were cycling around the picturesque duckpond at Higher Whitley, swishing through Antrobus and rollicking along in the direction of Tabley Hill. It was pleasantly warm again, and all this pressing on had me desperate for a drink by the time we hit Knutsford, just on 12:30. We marvelled at the McLaren showroom. Someone deludedly wondered if you could order a carbon fibre bike rack with your £168,000, 205 mph, 12C! Lunch was at the White Bear where they unlocked the beer garden for our bikes. The staff were friendly, and the food and drink was fine, if unremarkable.
Dave Matthew's had an interesting proposal for a route back, so we went with it. We set off at a quarter to two, after slowish service and some extra coffees. Would we make it back in the light? Dave's route back was a belter! We set of at a good pace down the main road in a southerly direction, and then headed off right on a rural route to Davenham via Lower Peover and Lach Dennis. Beer, extra coffees and some enlarged prostates required an early toilet stop. We also had to negotiate a closed road, but the workmen were helpful as we edged through on the pedestrian route. We passed some lovely old properties as we threaded through Davenham. We then went through the woods after Hartford Bridge on a leafy route alongside The Weaver. We came up through the golf course at Vale Royal on the Abbey site, and through a luxury toy town housing development close to Whitegate. We then headed for the beautiful Mill Pond, just past Oulton Park. From Cotebrook to Utkinton was hard uphill work, but we were soon ramming down Willington Road, as Dave M. took his leave near his house at Oscroft. It was becoming dusk, but modern bike lights are reassuringly bright and we were close to home now. Through the sandstone cutting at the back of Barrow, and back to Manley just on official lighting-up time, around 4pm. Over 53 miles clocked up: pretty good for a winter ride!
See route map and/or gpx file download.
DH
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