10th April: Waverton (mod+)

 What a glorious day for our meeting at Rose Farm, where roughly a dozen of us pitched up and that included Steve T and Steve Hayward in their civies.

Steve T had got his appointments mixed up and Steve Hayward, unfortunately, announced that his cycling days were over, due to his doctors orders. This all meant that there were 3 riding with me and the rest with DH. Nick was the only fast rider on the day who therefore decided to join Allan, Steve Hu and yours truly.

 

I had a route that took full advantage of the Sandstone ridge (now there’s a surprise- Lol) which also included a couple of obscure lanes that I hoped would interest the group. We set off south and up the horrible little climb, heading toward Tarporley, however, we soon turned left up the little shortcut across the A49 and quickly descend to Eaton. I had already warned Nick that it would be a slow Mod + ride, due to my recovery from a bad chest cold. I was currently finding it tough uphill, without coughing my lungs up.

 

Anyway this meant I tried to push on when descending and followed their back wheels going up - Lol.

It was only a few miles up the road when I turned left near the main entrance to Oulton Park, for my first, less familiar routing through Little Budworth Country Park. After half a mile we turned right into Beech Road for a meander that took us near the back entrance to The Hollies cafe, which is a favourite of mine and I point out to the group, as I assumed they wouldn’t know this route in. Surprisingly, nobody even knew of The Hollies, let alone this way in through the car park exit.

 

Nick was the first to realise where my deviation had lead us to, which was the more usual route of Clay Lane, as we were heading for the Station House cafe in order to get on the Whitegate Way (WGW) 

This lead Nick to mention that he was at that cafe only a few days earlier. We didn’t stop of course, although almost, as we slip down the side of the cafe as the easiest way on to the WGW. After so much dry weather the WGW was so firm and smooth that we made excellent progress, hardly seemed like 4 miles before we were off it and bunny hopping the speed bumps on Waste Lane.

We turned left for the first of our more serious climbs, that took us back to the top of the ridge, all be it a little slower for me- Lol. This allowed the Chuckle Brothers to show their prowess and pull away, but not that far- Lol. I sensed Nick was just tagging along, taking it easy, after he sat on my wheel for a few yards and then clearly found it so slow he had to chase them down - Lol.

I catch up and we regroup, before doing a left right chink into one of my all time favourite lanes, although more so in the other direction. This was another lane that Nick was unfamiliar with, which prompted me to enlighten him as to our whereabouts, as we descend into the back of Norley. Steve had remembered the lane, from previous rides, usually from Delamere Forest.

That said, only a mile or so later, we get a shift on through said forest, on Ashton Road, which seems to get longer every time I ride it- Lol. We turned left at the junction, up a familiar short kicker into my last surprise lane. This, yet again, had Nick pondering where he was, to the point that he remarked, as we descended the 1 mile long Grange Road, that he was going to get the map out when he got home- Lol. Once at the bottom, even Alan knew where we were, I think- Lol.

We turned left into a little climb before descending to a familiar left turn at Ashton Hayes, where I remarked to everybody that the rest of the route will be a lot more familiar to everybody, as we headed up toward the crossing of the A54. A not so quick stop from me, saw Steve turn back, just as I came into his sight ( he was worried about me, bless him- Lol). Soon after regrouping we turned right at the traffic lights and swing around the south of Kelsall and now have roughly 4 miles to Walk Mill. We pass Weetwood brewery, which lead me to think my cold was worse than I thought, because I couldn’t smell the usual yeasty air, but Steve also couldn’t smell anything, just as Al or Nick remarked “what Brewery”- Lol.

I decide to put in a little effort and see how long my lungs would last, which was only about half a mile before I was gasping between coughs. That bit of madness over, we settle into a steady last few miles into Walk Mill. Steve did his customary passing manoeuvre, just before we reach the cafe, in his bid to get first in the cafe queue. This prompted me to leap on his wheel and undercut him, just as we turn into Walk Mill driveway, but embarrassingly for me, I then turn into the farm entrance, only yards before and give him back the lead- Lol, Lol.

 

We chose to sit outside and put our metaphorical towels (helmets etc) on the deck chairs / benches, which Nick did not comprehend and clearly has no German gene in his blood, as he took my seat- Lol.

The gorgeous sun persuaded some of us to strip off our top layer and soak up the sun, while all throwing our two penny-worth into the initial conversation about Mr Trump- Lol.  Fortunately we moved on to more interesting conversation, but the strange thing is, I can only remember the Trump abuse - Lol.

We got going again and I lead the posse  through to Hargrave and on to Huxley, ignoring the road closure sign, as I knew it was for a big hole in the road that the council seemed to have abandoned a week ago, but left the road closure in place, as they often do. Sure enough the same hole and pile of dirt was where I saw it last week- Lol.

Just a mile or so later we arrive in Brassey Green and I say goodbye to the guys, as they turned left up to Tarporley. Fortunately, for the Chuckle brothers, Nick was still with them, so I didn’t need to draw them a map to take them the last 2 miles to Rose Farm- Lol, Lol.

 

I turned right down to the ‘Shady’ for my return to Tattenhall, via what I think is the nicest 5 mile stretch, anywhere in the county and not just because of the scenery, but the quality of the lanes as well.

Starting with my favourite little slope up to Beeston Castle.

I got home with 52 miles on the clock and a bit of a sun tan to boot.

 

What a cracking day, with great company and even better lanes- Lol.

 

PS : Thanks Nick, for baby sitting the Chuckle Brothers back to Rose Farm- Lol.

 

Till next time gents.

Neil.