30th March 2023: Aston (mod)

It was raining as Dave and I pulled into Rose Farm car park, but the forecast suggested that it should dry up a bit as the day went on. Jim, Trevor and Dave M were in the café as we walked in and we were soon followed by Andy B, who, as usual, had cycled in from Mold. But there were no ‘fast lads’ to be seen. Perhaps they were starting from elsewhere? As the time moved towards 10.30, Roy came in with Di, a friend of his from Frodsham Wheelers. She’s been trying to get him out on his bike for ages (he’s been working a lot) and, by coincidence he’d decided to come out with the Easy Riders today and suggest that she join us.

Jim and Trevor were doing their own thing and I’d planned a 40-mile ride down to The Swan at Marbury, but when I suggested it, a few noses were turned up as the last time we’d been there, the view was that the food hadn’t been so good.  An alternative in roughly the same direction was…you’ve guessed it….The Bhurtpore at Aston!

By the time we (Daves H & M, Andy, Roy, Di and me) left, the rain had stopped, so we set off down Utkinton Lane to Cotebrook, round Oulton Park and on to Wettenhall, Cholmondeston and Reaseheath College. On the way, there had been a couple of rain showers, enough to cause jackets to be put on. Skirting through the suburbs of Nantwich, we were soon through Ravensmoor and down the very rough road past Wrenbury railway station, arriving at The Bhurtpore just on 12.00.

Lunch was a soon served and various curries, sandwiches and other tasty comestibles consumed. During lunch, Di told us about breaking her shoulder (for a second time) when she came off her bike last October. She even showed us where a piece of ‘meccano’ had put a lump on her shoulder after she’d been using Roy’s heavy-duty jack hammer to take down a wall in her new home!

Photo by Steve T

Re-tracing our steps to Wrenbury after lunch, we were waiting in the sunshine for the two Daves at the canal by The Dusty Miller. When they arrived it turned out that, after riding a mile or so from the pub, Dave had realized that he’d left his gloves there. Some things never change! After riding 200 yards back towards The Bhurtpore, he changed his mind about going back and decided to collect the gloves the next time he’s there.

Heading north west from Wrenbury, we soon reached the point where Andy peeled off heading for Cholomondeley and Holt on his way back to Mold. We carried on to Chorley and Larden Green, where we took Hearns Lane towards Gradeley Green and Faddiley. 

But, before we got there, Roy got into a deep rut on the right-hand side of the lane and, in getting himself out of it, cut right across in front of Dave H and they collided, bringing both to the ground. Dave M, Di and I were unaware of this as we had been a few hundred yards in front of them and were waiting at the turning up to Faddiley. When I went back to investigate, they were picking themselves up with some assistance from a couple of farmers who had been working in the field nearby. Both had cuts and abrasions and Roy had taken a blow to his chest, but after a few minutes, they were able to carry on, fortunate not to have sustained more serious injury.

Dave M then took over navigation and led us through Brindley to Bunbury and Beeston which we skirted around, taking the lane down to The Shady Oak and up to Brassey Green, where Dave M left us to head back to Oscroft. With the exception of heavy traffic through Tarporley, the last few miles were uneventful. It was disappointing to see the The Old Fire Station café in Tarporley has closed, as it had proved a great late afternoon watering hole of many occasions over the years.

Back at Rose Farm, Roy was now feeling the after effects of the collision and Dave was rueing his lack of gloves, as he cut a finger when he went down. There’s never a good outcome when you come off your bike.

39 miles covered on a day of mixed weather and fortunes. Thanks to Dave M for assistance with navigation and to everyone else for their company.

See route map and/or gpx file download

ST