It was drizzling as Dave and I drove up to Rose Farm. Not a good omen perhaps, but as we’ll see the weather turned out to be reasonably OK in the end. As is often the case coming out is the right decision.
The crowd of Easy Riders eventually sorted themselves out
into the Mod and Mod+/Brisk groups. I had in mind a route down to the café in
Wrenbury and although Dave had another route he quickly agreed to this. The mod
group for the day consisted of Dave H, George, Big Ray, Keith, ‘Electric’ John
M, Trevor and yours truly – seven bodies in all.
The ‘Magnificent Seven’ set off at a ‘stately’ pace down the
road from Rose Farm heading out down the usual route past Oulton Park and on to
Wettenhall. Approaching Venetian Marina
we came to the spot where, on an icy day one November, I came off the bike due to
the sharp camber in the road. I still have the evidence of the mishap on my
right hip!
Not long after, we turned
down a little-used lane to Henhull Bridge on the Shropshire Union Canal, rode a
few yards on the main road, and rang the cafe to ensure that we could be
accommodated.
Ravens Lane took us down to Ravensmoor where we joined the road to
Wrenbury and we soon arrived, slightly damp, at the café with 18 miles on the
clock. This used to be called No.18, The Park, but that establishment moved
some time ago to be melded with The Bhurtpore pub at Aston. The café in
Wrenbury is now called ‘Berries’ and the staff there were most welcoming. We
were soon supplied with drinks and various sandwiches, toasted and regular. George
wanted to order a sausage sandwich, but first had to establish the nature of
the sausage. Was a Frankfurter (as in a hot dog) or a ‘proper’ one. Having established
the provenance the sausage sandwich was ordered. We were favourably impressed
with ‘Berries’ and would happily go there again.
The sun had come out, briefly, whilst we were having lunch, but
had disappeared by the time we came out of the café to head back. But at least
it wasn’t raining and it felt quite warm.
Our route back was direct, taking is via Chorley Bank and Brindley
to Bunbury. Dave H resisted the urge to stop at Tilley’s and we pressed on to
Beeston Castle and the swoop down to the Shropshire Union canal and ‘The Shady’
(no ‘Oak’) pub. As we all know, this is followed by the long drag up to Huxley
Lane where Trevor turned left for home and the rest of us turned right for
Tarporley.
Tarporley High Street was the usual nightmare with huge SUVs
inching past each other, the drivers having no idea about how wide their
Chelsea Tractors were. Free of the congestion, there ‘just’ remained the climb
back up Utkinton Road to Rose Farm, where we arrived, breathless with another
18 miles covered.
So, a total of 36 miles at an average speed of just over 11 mph. A pleasant day out in the Cheshire countryside
in fine company is what you need to lift your spirits, so thanks to all involved.
ST
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