18th July 2024: Ellesmere (mod)

 The car park at Chirk was exceptionally full, but it was good to welcome Kevin as a potential new member, who made it on time despite having to ferret around adjacent roads to find a parking space. Rather more difficult was the journey for Trevor and Dave Matthews who had to take a bus at one stage, because their train from Chester was stopped because of an incident on the line. I checked today, and sadly someone had lost their life on the railway near Weston Rhyn. The moderate group consisted of Dave Pipe, Andy Barber, Trevor and myself. We departed late from Castle Bistro in order for Trevor and Dave Matthews to catch a coffee. We left Dave M to his toast, as he was riding home.

We managed the scary A5 roundabout and were soon on the quiet lanes passing both Henile and Ebnal halls on our route to Welsh Frankton and Lower Hordley. Dave Pipe adjudged that some of the lanes approaching Welsh Frankton would be too rough to be considered safe for his tandem. Fortunately, the fine weather meant we encountered little flooding, and we had plenty of smooth tarmac before lunch. We headed east for Cockshutt and English Frankton before turning north-west on the undulating lane to Spunhill via Colemere. The weather was ideal for cycling, and it was a pleasure to be out on these lush little lanes. We had an unavoidable five minutes on the main road before heading down the path to The Boat House at Ellesmere. The restaurant was busy, but as the service is usually efficient, we decided to take lunch here as planned, and managed to find a table on the shaded veranda facing the lake. Trevor had enjoyed his Nordic cruise and despite Ray’s prediction had not returned as The Micheline Man, having only put on 3lbs. Dave Pipe decide that he would give expensive beers a miss (again!), as we all enjoyed our food which was delivered in good time.

Andy had some duties to fulfil around a family event, so needed to ride all the way back to Mold without further delay using main roads as required. It was a soporific setting in the warmth on the side of The Mere, and it would have been nice to have warm sponge and custard and an afternoon nap. The route back was short but included plenty of steep banks on narrow lanes. We climbed through Ellesmere passing Beech House where the great engineer Thomas Telford had been based. At Tetchill we rode down to Onston on the Llangollen Canal, navigating our way up and across the A495 and around the Hardwick estate, over the old railway route and up to New Crickett. We checked and re-checked here before making the correct decision to turn left for Duddleston Hall, Upper Wigginton and St. Martins. We still had the A5 killer roundabout to negotiate, but then ensured a nice ending by taking to the canal towpath and crossing the beautiful River Ceirog on the aqueduct designed by William Jessop and the aforementioned Thomas Telford. There is one of those 100% efforts required to exit the towpath and reach the road. Steve Tan hadn’t been waiting too long. I think Trevor and Dave stayed for a coffee, before Dave gave Trevor a lift to Chester because of the uncertainty over the train service. I managed to get back in time to collect my son’s car from a garage in Widnes with an MOT pass and no advisories. I expect that the modest destination and timing also worked for Andy. Another typical Easy Riders day out in an attractive environment and relaxing company.

DH