It was overcast but dry and reasonably warm as I rode out to Delamere Station Café. I was grateful for this after last week’s sodden outing. At the café, I was joined by Dave H, George, Alan, Andy B, Steve Hu, Mike and Keith, who it was good to see out with us. Also there, but just for coffee were Dave M and Neil. In another corner were a trio of briskers (John M, Ray and Colin) who were out, but only for a short ride.
The plan
was to ride out to The Dog at Over Peover using a route I’d had on my phone for
a while. Now that my Viewranger app has been turned off recently, I was trying to use the much
inferior Outdoor Active app instead for the first time, so I wasn’t sure how
this would go.
We set off
on the usual route through Delamere on what must be the worst road surface in
Cheshire – at least for cyclists. After a stop to fiddle with my phone to get
the map centred, we continued to Norley, taking Gallowsclough Lane to
Cuddington, crossing the A556 at Sandiway. A left into Dalefords Lane took us on
to Foxtwist Green, Whitegate and Bradford Mill, where we crossed over the
Weaver Navigation canal and under the Crewe to Liverpool railway line. The ‘road’
here is not metalled, but although it was quite rough, it wasn’t too wet or
muddy, so we made it up the hill into Moulton and Davenham without incident or
complaint from the peloton.
Now on better
roads we reached Lach Dennis at which point I had to stop navigating using the phone
as the battery was almost dead. This new Outdoor Active app was many faults and
heavy battery usage is one of them, so a switch to trusty old paper was required.
As we
followed him, we passed a tree hugger…literally. There was a guy standing with
his arms around a very large oak or sycamore tree with his face pressed against
it. Every day is an eye opener with CER! By the time we caught up with Dave we
were a bit off piste, but after some mid-course corrections we arrived at The
Dog at 12.45, precisely the time our table had been booked for.
As usual,
the staff at The Dog were first class and we were soon seated in the snug with
drinks and food swiftly ordered. Fish barms, club sandwiches and other tasty
dishes soon arrived to fuel us up for the afternoon.
I looked it
up when I got home and it seems certain that it was one of only 8 'Continuation' XKCs built by Jaguar in 2021 using original parts and drawings to celebrate the
70 years since this type of car won at Le Mans. The cost of these cars was £1-2
million, depending on specification. Astonishingly, all are sold!
By the time
we set off back, the clouds had broken up and it was now a lovely warm, sunny
spring day – ideal conditions for the run home through the Cheshire countryside.
The return journey was via Radbroke Hall, Lower Peover and Plumley to The Smoker, where we crossed the busy A556
Northwich By-Pass. The lanes through Higher Wincham, Pickmere, Great Budworth and Comberbach were quieter, although the odd
gust of wind from the SE made itself felt. At Little Leigh the lane by the
school was packed as it was turning out time, but we were soon past and down
the hill from Willow Green and over the Trent and Mersey Canal to the A49.
The traffic
here was very heavy and it was quite a while before there was a gap big enough
that we could cross safely and take Acton Lane up the steep hill into Acton
Bridge. This is a real sting in the tale, coming 42 miles into the ride.
Surprisingly, there are no chevrons on the OS map at this point. Similarly,
there are none at Norley Bank which is, admittedly, shorter and less steep, but
unwelcome at this late stage of the ride.
The group
dispersed at Hatchmere after a good day out in the Cheshire countryside and 47
miles travelled. Thanks to all for their company and support.
ST
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