A baker’s dozen CER members turned out at Meadow Lea on a
bright but cold and frosty morning. Ken, Dave M and Shane were only out for
coffee and Trevor was leading a foursome of mods. That left six of us (Steves
Hu and T, Alan, Roy, Nick and Ray S) to form the ‘mod+’ peleton. The plan was
to go to The Courtyard Café at Brimstage, following a route last travelled two
years ago. But as we shall see we would not reach that destination.
We’d agreed to take things carefully as conditions weren’t
ideal, so our progress was ’steady’ as we headed along Salters Lane and then
joined Fox Covert Lane which runs along the back of Chester Zoo from where
animal sounds could be heard. Having crossed the Shropshire Union Canal at
Wervin, we soon doubled back to cross the busy A41 at Backford and head down
Station Road.
A sharp right turn took us on to Demage Lane and the
cycleway that runs alongside the railway line. To our relief, it was not icy,
the fallen leaves having stopped ice forming. However, at the end of the path
there was a large patch of ice causing us to dismount and walk the bikes past.
Crossing the A5117 took us onto Dunkirk Lane and past the Urenco works at
Capenhurst where Andy B spent several happy years.
Only a little further on disaster struck. Steve Hu, Alan and
Roy were running directly ahead of me on a straight stretch of road when I hit
a patch of black ice that they must have just successfully ridden over
and, in an instant, I was down on the tarmac, bouncing on my shoulder, forearm
and hip - Ouch! It took a few minutes
for me to recover and re-mount, but we pressed on.
However, only a short distance past Ledsham Garden Centre,
Alan had a puncture. We stopped at the entrance to a large house to fix it, but
it took two goes and the use of a ‘boot’ patch over a cut in the outer before
we could carry on. Whilst the repair was underway we discussed curtailing the
ride as time was passing by and I was feeling sore. Ness Gardens Café was an obvious
possibility, but they weren’t answering the phone. Ray suggested the Blue Bicycle
in Neston and a phone call secured a table for six at about 12.30.
Having crossed the A550, we wound our way into Willaston and
picked up Hadlow Road which took us over the A540 and onto Dunstan Lane. This
lead us down into Burton and thence past Ness Gardens and into Neston and the
Blue Bicycle café. The table in the upstairs room was soon filled with ‘Breakfast
Burger’, ‘Baked Jacket Potato’ and other delights along with pots of tea and a
bag of ice cubes for Steve T to put on his sore shoulder. The Blue Bicycle
certainly delivered and is worthy of another visit.
It was soon time to leave and the route home took us to
Little Neston and down onto the boardwalk across the marshes. The first part of the path was caked in sheep
droppings and other agricultural muck, so any thoughts of getting home with a
clean bike were dashed – especially for Alan. The path was also flooded in several
places, but all was traversed without problems. Steve Hu and Alan left us where the ‘blue
bridge’ crosses the Welsh Road, leaving Steve T, Roy, Ray and Nick to press on.
Ray headed for home as we passed Chester so it was a threesome who finally
arrive back at Meadow Lea, where Dave H and Ray B had just arrived back from
the ride that Trevor has reported on below.
Only about 34 miles covered on an incident filled journey. Note
that the gpx file attached came from Steve Hu’s Wahoo and he started his ride from
the ‘blue bridge’. Thanks to all for their company and support.
ST
