11th January 2024: Holt (mod)

There was a good turnout at Hawarden. The Pursuit Café was closed, so we enjoyed our coffee in the impressive Gladstone Library building.  Steve Tan was prepared to ‘have a go’ with the brisk group, despite still recovering from his icy accident. The moderate team for the day consisted of Big Ray, George, Trevor, Andy and me.  It was good to have Andy back off the bench, another one of us without a real clean bill of health but enjoying riding if at all possible. Trevor kindly agreed to lead, either to Pant yr Ochain by a roundabout route, or Maggie’s at Holt, or even Bangor on Dee if we had time. Trevor’s local knowledge was very effective once we had cleared the climb through Bilberry Wood. The little downhill lanes took us past Burton Tower and on to Rossett. Various deviations were taken around Marford and Gresford which linked a number of narrow lanes in a green lacework of a route skirting Wrexham and its industrial estate. 

George and I talked about the unnecessary risk taken by many football teams of insisting on intricate passing out from the back. If only Guardiola had us on his coaching staff!  By the time we were passing Clays golf course the decision had already been made to take lunch at Maggie’s.  Another quiet lane had us on a fast-track northeast to Holt. After safely negotiating the iffy dog leg at the A534  we pass Bellis’ garden centre, which for those who have been in the club a long time, associate with Hildegard, the former lively hostess of what became Cleopatras. Some of us had the full breakfast at Maggie’s, whilst the seemingly more moderate orders of George and Roy were spoilt by their late rush for ‘afters’! Andy told us of his recent trespassing ride with Clwb Seiclo Ruthun which aroused the wrath of the resident Welsh farmer. Trevor’s planned flight in a Spitfire sparked a lot of interest. Ray was still trying to convince us that paying for days getting to somewhere while surrounded by hundreds of status conscious strangers and heaving salt water, was preferable to relaxing in a private villa for a fortnight.

George offered to take us the most direct way back to Hawarden.  The weather had been  pleasantly quiet for cycling so far, but the slight breeze in our faces after lunch was cold. We ate up the miles on George’s route via Dodleston and the cycleway to beyond British Aerospace. Along the way, Trevor had left us to return to Guilden Sutton. The last pedal pressing past Hawarden Castle wasn’t too onerous after such an easy return. I was able to return to Runcorn in time to get Harry the dog out; just as well, because Lynne was in the pub! About 32 miles covered.

DH