After a week of wall-to-wall sunshine today is no different. John W and I set off from Chester for a warm ride to Delamere while Clive opted to drive out to Kelsall for the start of the ride.
I had circulated a ride for today, a 57 mile circular tour taking in two crossing bridges over the Manchester Ship Canal. Clive requested a reverse of the route which offered a longer ride before lunch and shorter ride after.
There were several riders out today and the Brisk riders were as stated with the addition of Ray who wasn’t sure if he could go the whole route as he was expecting another delivery! Ken was out for a coffee only and had cycled from home to Delamere then down to Bangor-on-Dee putting in a good ride of 68 miles. Well done Ken.
The four of us set of from the café along the worst stretch of tarmac in Cheshire to Hatchmere crossroad taking the route out towards Norley and Hartford. At Winnington, we lost John as somehow the gpx route on reversing and tinkering by Clive gave John and Ray a wrong routing and so we lost John briefly. Regrouping and a complete group again at the lights crossing the Weaver, we head up hill towards Anderton where the road is still blocked to cars due to land slip so now pleasant not having traffic trying to pass us. Continuing along the usual roads to Comberbach and Gt Budworth then we head out to Hoo Green.
Passing the Swan with Two Nicks at Dunham Massey, we spent time chatting to a couple of cyclists who were also out enjoying the sunshine. Here we had a good introduction to an electric Specialized carbon bike capable of 100 + miles and at fast speeds (20mph), covetous of at a reasonable £5000+. After leaving them to continue with our ride, on the approach to another enjoyable hostelry, The Vine, the cyclist pair pass us with grace and ease. I chased after them until the junction with the Rope and Anchor inn and they were cruising at 25mph. The guy on the electric was very proud of his bike and his cycling ability and he was 82 years young. His usual average ride was normally in excess of 20mph!
Taking the opposite route to these fast cyclists, we head towards Carrington then along a good lane of flat road surface running passed the MUFC training ground. Clive quipped it would have to be a good surface for the select cars that would traverse this road. No players in sight and no autograph hunters chasing us, so we continue towards Irlam where we navigate the old locks via a pedestrian bridge currently undergoing some TLC.
 |
| Reflected glory at MUFC Training Complex |
 |
| Manchester Ship Canal |
 |
| Riding the Weaver path |
We now have a 4 mile dash along the Cadishead Way, a busy dual carriage way, to our lunch stop at Hollins Green, and The Black Swan. On examination of the menu, it was pricier than the Swan at Marbury so a suggestion of visiting the Saracens Head on the outskirts of Lymn was proffered and off we went. Crossing the canal again via the toll road bridge at Warburton, it was still displaying the cost to travel over the bridge at the princely sum of 12p. We soon arrive at our new lunch stop and are rewarded with CER prices for lunch averaging £6-7 but the beer was pricey at £5.00 a pint, Only one taker for this expense (no prizes for guessing who).
Back on our route, we pass through Lymn and the cobbled streets of Grappenhall before the long drag up to the roundabout for Appleton. After the downhill plunge from High Legh to Acton Bridge, we take the off-piste route to Dutton Locks and Pickmere Locks. It is then a gradual uphill ride all the way back to Hatchmere where Clive returns to Kelsall and the remaining three head on through Delamere via Ashton Lane and back to Chester.
A good day out with some new attractions and lanes and no incidents, just enjoying the reasonably quiet lanes even though a national rail strike in progress but it was pretty warm (26C).
A circular route covering 57 miles and no serious hills to ascend.Thanks to my companion’s for another good day out on a bike. A total of 80 miles to 88 miles earned by us riding to and from Delamere cafe from Chester.
See route map and/or gpx file download
ID
Photos JW and ID
No comments:
Post a Comment