A perfect spring day – cool, bright, sunny and no showers as Dave & Liz P, Martin & Liz D, Mike M, Alan, Ray, Ivan, Tony, Bryan and I set off from Expresso with Bryan leading out his prepared route to the Sun Trevor by the “over the top” route. The way out from Expresso was ever upwards with several new lanes appearing.
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| The ford above Nant Mill |
Photograph by Bryan Wade
A brief photo call at a ford upstream from Nant Mill caught most of us out for the steep grind up the other side of the valley. Here we emerged in New Brighton and the start of the long slog up and over Esclusham Mountain towards World’s End. Bryan waved us goodbye as he savoured the long descent down the Minera Steps back to Chester for an afternoon appointment. We were now slogging up over the moors up to 1,400+ ft with magnificent views over Liverpool Bay. The tandem has some technical issues going up so we agreed to meet them later at the Sun Trevor. The Panorama lived up its name as grand views of the Berwyns and Dinas Bran came into view.
Reaching the final descent down to the pub, Ray and I set off believing the pack to be behind us. Having ordered a drink and lunch, they still had not appeared. A phone call revealed that Alan had had one puncture quickly followed by another and was walking down the lane. Whilst the pack lunched (and very good it was), Ray and I helped Alan with his front wheel puncture issues. It appeared to be due to a brake pad rubbing the tyre wall right through. Dave P lent Alan a spare tyre and Alan was mobile again. As we all, bar two, sunned ourselves outside whilst waiting for a certain couple to finish their two course lunch, I decided upon an unauthorised deviation from Bryan’s route i.e. we take the tow path rather than the lanes to the aqueduct. Cutting back down the valley we appear the other side of the aqueduct taking the towpath back towards Cefn Mawr. We follow the usual route back to Wrexham dodging along by the A 483. A second unauthorised diversion finds us taking tea at Erdigg House before wending our way through Wrexham and back to Expresso Café. Only 33 miles today but a lot of hills. We four out from Chester sped back down Marford Hill and Eccleston with 60 miles on the clock.
CA
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