It was good to see a mix of
old and new members at ease, chatting and supping at Rose Farm cafe. Michael
Dodd had rung me the night before, and I was pleased to see that he had turned
up. Our recruitment has been very idiosyncratic recently. Peter joined after
Trevor gave us a plug on 'Countdown', and Michael on reading our blog, figured that Fiona and Elwyn must be his
friends from the same Chester gym. Steve
Tan had a possible ride, and Clive had a route to Alsager, but I had a cough
and cold and needed moderate pace and distance, even if it meant peeling off on
my own at some stage. Fortunately, Andy Whitgreave likes to take it easy, and
Fiona enjoys the lack of pressure compared with proper road club sessions.
Actually, Andy who is often touring abroad and is cycling fit, enjoys very easy
riding so much that he had arrived on a swanky electric bike. It turned out
that a route to the Bhurtpore Inn was an acceptable moderate ride for Andy, Fiona
and Mike and they opted to keep me company.
The route was familiar and
relaxing: down to Cotebrook, skirting the southern edge of Oulton Park and on
to Wettenhall. There were people below, enjoying tea and a bite at canal-side
tables, as we crested Cholmondeston Bridge at Venetian Marina. At Reaseheath
College, I pointed out where we are no longer allowed to ride through (at point
of prosecution). It was very mild, and garment removal was beginning. We were
soon passing Henhull Hall. At this point I decided that the ultra swish bikes
of Andy and Fiona should not be subject to the grit of parkland in order to
skirt south of Nantwich.
The alternative took us to the
fine old church at Acton, down Ravens Lane, across to Swanley Lane, past
Ravensmoor and into the Bermuda Triangle of Sound Heath. I remember being here
with Dave and Liz and Dave's clockwork GPS; our heads began spinning, and we
nearly disappeared up our own butted tubing. Andy and I decided that the extra
loop south east of Aston would give us a few more pleasant miles before lunch.
We headed in the direction of Audlem, and I tried to draw attention to the
moated Hall o' Coole. This was the second time I had tried to educate the
peasants, a la Brian Mac, but failed to muster any interest! The first time was
when we passed Madam's Farm on the Dorfold Hall estate. When we reach The
Bhurtpore, I'll tell them to look up the history on t' internet! We turned
north west up Back Coole Lane to head straight for lunch in Aston. We always
feel welcome and at home in The Bhurtpore. My curry was plain, but contained
plenty of decent chicken, and the service was friendly and efficient. It was
good to chat to new riders, and get to know each other better. It strikes me
that we have been very lucky lately in the personable nature of the riders who
have joined us.
The return was intended to be
shorter than the 25 miles to lunch. Andy marvelled at the lightness of Fiona's
bike, and they wondered how a light, fit rider would fare on a hill against old
Andy and an electric motor. I had no plans to return via Harthill, for
instance, to test out their imagined joust! Our return was via Wrenbury,
Chorley, Burland Green and Radmore Green.
I led a little diversion down a backwater to see Haughton Hall. Steve Tan rang to say that
The Fast Lads were back at Rose Farm. As Elwyn was sharing a car with Fiona,
and Steve with me, it looked like the partaking of coffee and cake at Tilly's
or the Old Fire Station would be a mite inconsiderate. No matter, if anyone in
the club needs less cake, its me! The
sting in the tail after Bunbury is the sharp climb at Tilston. This was a
chance for the Andy and Fiona contest. I am not sure what happened, but Fiona
flew up like a bird, Mike did a Vettel block on Andy, and then they disappeared
around the corner. We returned on the narrow lanes to Rhuddall Heath and
Tarporley before climbing back to Utkinton, with Andy peeling off for home on
the way. We covered a very pleasant and sociable 45 miles on mainly quiet
lanes, and managed to find a sheltered route where we hardly noticed the the
strong wind. I hope Mike joins us again, when he is not in Germany.
DH
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