We left at 11:00hrs and headed out towards Guilden Sutton. Here, a buzzard swooped low over our heads, glided down to the road directly in front of us and picked up a mouse that was hiding in the roadside grass. It was an impressive sight from one of our most common raptors but it was a shame that we couldn’t capture it on photo.
After crossing the busy A51, we rode at reasonably brisk rate through Brown Heath and Christleton. Riding past Eaton Golf Club, we saw Bryan Wade then a few minutes later Andy Barber both, presumably, returning early from Rose Farm. Heading on through Greenlooms, we joined Cycle Route 70 and followed it to Tiverton before passing the very empty and sad looking Wild Boar Hotel. We continued the brisk pace through Bunbury to Burland where we turned left along the main A534 into Nantwich.
The lunch venue was The Bowling Green pub, a venue not previously visited by the CER .We elected to eat inside to keep cool, the heat outside was now oppressive and around the 30 degrees. The Bowling Green is more of a drinker's pub with a limited choice of food, but they had two draught beers on tap and the food was reasonably priced and served promptly. Over lunch we deliberated over our return route, the options being via Wettenhall or Wrenbury/Tattenhall. We chose the latter.
Unlocking our bikes, the soaring heat felt as though it was burning everything and we were keen to get going but John managed to become entangled in a climbing rose! I know the saying is a rose between two thorns but in this case he was ‘a thorn between two roses’ (Sorry John ,but the roses were really lovely!) which you can see in the photo.
Leaving Nantwich we followed the cycleway alongside the river to join Cycle Route 74 through to Ravensmoor and Wrenbury. The canal bridge by the Dusty Miller was up allowing time for another photo. Leaving the canal behind, we were all now taking a turns on the front enabling each of us to benefit from the draught while maintaining the speed. Tattenhall arrived in quicktime and after a brief chat Ivan and John decided that they would accompany me through to Rossett before making their way back to Chester.
Of course, it would have been unforgiveable to pass Cleopatra's without stopping for drink and cake but as soon as our orders were placed the thunder and seriously heavy rain started. Unable to wait around any longer, we set off on the last leg along heavily flooded roads with zero visibility in pelting rain.
Arriving home totally soaked but actually still quite warm I had completed 104km at an average of 26kmh. Ivan and John will have recorded similar figures. Thanks guys for a hot , wet, and very good day out.
See route map and/or gpx file download
KP
Photos ID
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