19th March 2020 : Whitchurch (unofficial social ride)

Given the advice emanating from Cycling UK, it was clear that the current virus situation would affect our official club rides. Dave H has now communicated this to us all recently. However, I realise that we are, as members, gregarious characters who like to know who has been riding where. So this is a short report of the social ride that a few of us did today.

We i.e. Ray, John W, and myself, decided to meet up outside Alison's at 1000 to see who else might arrive. Steve H appeared, and was not going to join us, but rather wait to see if anyone else would turn up* ( see below)  I had cobbled together a 45 mile route out to Whitchurch and back. Thus we set off bound for Tilston via Harthill, Bickerton and Duckington. In Tilston, we had pre-arranged to meet up with Nick.

So the four of us wiggled our way via Shocklach and Worthenbury down mud-splattered lanes to the outskirts of Whitchurch. The feeding station was the tricky bit, and I had posited a stop at the service station on the Whitchurch bypass where there was a Starbucks. Nick mentioned there was also a McDonald's as well. So it was an easy choice - the toasted bun won the day.

Al fresco luncheon facilites ( c/o McDonalds website)

We had to sit outside as they were only taking "Take away" orders, but apart from the fact that the temperature seemed to have dropped, it was fine for us all.

The route back was out through Whitchurch, and then down muddy lanes via Marbury and Bickerton to round Bulkeley Hill on the  way back to Tattenhall. So a pleasant 45 mile route on near traffic-free yet muddy roads. At Beeston, Nick and John headed back to Tattenhall as Ray and I headed back to Chester for 65 mile plus of social cycling. The weather held up with even sunny intervals in the afternoon.

See route map and/or gpx file download

CA

*Steve reports that no other rider turned up, and the cafe had only three customers in.