14th November 2024: Whitegate (mod)

 Keith rang me to say that he couldn’t extricate himself from the jammed Runcorn traffic to head for Utkinton. His second attempt to find a route out had him close to my house, and as I was about to leave, we decided to share just the one car and find a more radical route.  We still had to undertake a long line of stationary cars, and shoot into a gap on the Murdishaw roundabout trying to emulate the slick timing of Lewis Hamilton, rather than the dangerous bullying of mad Max. The queue on the Northwich Road before the A49 led to a U-turn, but using our cycling lanes we eventually reach the Leigh Arms and headed south on the A49 to Cuddington and Cotebrook. We arrived at Rose Farm to find a strong turnout just about to ride off. It was great to talk to Steve Hayward, as we gulped down a quick coffee. The moderate group acquiesced to my suggestion of an unusual route ending up at the café in the former Whitegate station. The group consisted of Big Ray, George, Trevor, Keith and me.

We finally headed out after 11a.m. reaching the Reaseheath-Wettenhall road via Tarporley, Eaton, Winterford Lane, Mill Lane, The Hall Lane and Oulton Lowe. We then, unusually, headed north-east, diving and climbing through attractive Darnhall to reach the outskirts of Winsford. It is surprising to some, but like Runcorn, Winsford has some posh bits, in this case on its southern edge. Trevor, as so often, knows his way around in this area, but had to take an important phone call, so said that he would catch us up. Despite Trevor’s instructions, and me thinking that I knew what I was doing, a turn was missed. Ray insisted that we consulted a local guy parking his car, but one of his suggestions could have left us heading down some muddy farm track with plenty of potholes. Anyway, I soon got my head around things with my large-scale O.S. map, and we headed down alongside the main road to the roundabout adjacent to Bottom Flash.  We then turned north alongside the Weaver Navigation and with the salt works on our right turned west on to the old railway route known as the Whitegate Way. The ride was now very relaxed away from traffic on the russet leaf carpeted level way. Despite it being mid-November, we cycled past a fertile field vibrant green in the sunshine. Our tree arched route glimmered copper and gold as we cruised along.  Then, Keith displayed the vision of a kestrel in identifying Trevor in the distance ahead.  Trevor had not missed the turn in Winsford but had missed the long conversation about route options with the local yokel, so had finished up ahead of us. The Whitegate station café is in the Marton area and is a very friendly community café mainly run by volunteers. Our conversation was convivial, and lunch was fine. I blame Ray’s loud laugh for “doing my head in” and me not being able to remember much about our topics of conversation.

Our return route took us close to the rear of The Hollies and the Cheshire Polo Ground before crossing the A54 and reaching the Coach Road to Oulton Park. There are interesting bridle paths throughout this area centred on Little Budworth Country Park, some definitely worth exploring on a mountain bike. The Mill Pond presented a lovely shimmering scene on this perfect autumn day as we approached Cotebrook. Some of us remember the attractive Mill Pool restaurant which closed over five years ago and was demolished to be replaced by two very expensive homes. I was thinking of riding around to Ukinton village via Hollins Hill, but the troops soon scotched the idea. It was a short ride, but Trevor must have covered forty miles by the time he had cycled back to Guilden Sutton.  Ray left promptly to drive back to Moreton. Keith and I stayed at Rose Farm café with George for a last coffee, and some interesting discussion about workplace issues like the price paid for confronting unacceptable behaviour, or not, and standing up to management bullies. George’s experience in human resources and mine and Keith’s experience of “talking truth to power” provided some interesting anecdotes. Of course, the option to finish the day with coffee, cake and a chat has always been part of the convivial culture of our club. We had managed it today despite the late start, because of a shorter route than I had calculated. The cycling conditions and autumn scenery had been smashing. It was a bonus to have winter postponed for just one more ride.  

DH