Today's start destination was Rose Farm Garden Cafe. I
arrived at my usual prompt time of 10.30am on the nose, expecting to flip my
bike around and tag on to any group that felt most fitting. After a moment of
seeing several cycles and no emerging members, I seized the chance to catch my
breath back. Just five minutes later with my lungs settled, and no sign of any
members escaping the establishment, I entered the premises.
Finding familiar faces inside, there's movement and members
gearing up, at least there's a ride out today. Assessing the groups and
spotting Toby doing the same, I spot Nic peering at his maps on his device.
With no other brisk-essence riders present we quickly formed a trio.
Nic had a loose route in mind heading out to Nantwich and
back to Tilston. He mentioned we may have to consolidate looking at the map
from time to time. So I suggested plotting the route on my komoot app, that way
at least I'd be able to hear the directions. With that plotted, taking about
another five minutes, we head outside.
It took yet another five minutes before we set off as Nic
had trouble putting his rain coat on due to the tired zip. In the end I had to
help him, once on. Toby teased Nic that he can't take it off now that it was
on.
With the teamwork sorted we set off left out of the carpark
and left again to head east. By this point the sun had broken through the morning
gloom and it looked to be a wonderful autumns day riding. However that was
slightly shadowed with some interesting manoeuvers by other road users. First
one being when we got to the junction at the main road, a car half pulled into
our junction where we were patiently waiting to cross. However a car behind us
prevented the car in front from pulling fully in, meaning leaving his back end
halfway across the road. Now, if he had waited patiently holding the traffic
momentary, we would have potentially crossed the road quicker and everyone
could have carried on with their day sooner.
The next was a white van rally driver about a mile down the
single track road, which I managed to spot, over the hedge, leaving just enough
time to warn the two in front and dive into the said hedge.
The third, as I was counting it, was after Cholmondeston, a
car past us with foreign plates heading into sharp 90, lucky the road was quiet
and we survived without incident.
We make progress towards Nantwich with the odd car passing
and, as I'm back marker position, I warn the other pair of ‘car back’. On the
one occasion I think Toby heard ‘turn left’, so we turn left North onto
unfamiliar territory and off our planned (well beaten) route. Later on I joked
that if Nic was see no evil, as at times he couldn't see see his device screen,
myself being hear no evil, listening to the route via komoot, leaving Toby to be
speak no evil. Enjoying new ground we end up at a junction and we resort to
looking at our maps to find our way back on track without retracing our pedals
(steps). Turning right we head back towards Nantwich and skirt around and then
on towards Wrenbury.
Once at Wrenbury, with it being lunchtime we pull over to
discuss our lunch stop. Nic suggested Berries or Canal side cafe, but wasn't
100% if it was open. There was a third option, but it didn't sound appealing as
it was further on. As I've been to Berries this week on Tuesday I suggested we
should try our luck at Canal side and we could always double back if we need to
as it wasn't far. Canal side cafe greeted us with a pumpkin seating area, which
we took the opportunity to take the obligatory pic.
Once fuelled we continued West on Frith road looking at the
sky wondering where the pleasant sun that we'd enjoyed before lunch had
disappeared to. Certainly different appearance to what it was before we
stopped, questioning ourselves, why did we stop. With the weather turning for
the worst we stop at a brow of hill to put our waterproofs. Tho I was teased to
take mine off as apparently with me putting mine on it was encouraging the
rain.
We continued on, making our way to Tilston where there
was a ray of sunshine beaming on us. One of us must be righteous, Nic, as he
peels off for home. Leaving Toby and I to head North back towards Chester and
back into the elements. With one more road user incident that Toby spectated.
He was definitely counting that as the third. A car decided to overtake us, but
hadn't taken in the fact that there was a car heading in the other direction. Leaving
me wondering why the car ahead had stopped. Looking over my shoulder revealed
that a car was attempting to overtake us, who eventually decided the overtake
wasn't really an option and pulled back in behind us. We cross the bridge at
Alford, turning right, we head back onto slightly quieter lanes onto Saighton
and Waverton
Finally back home before 3.30pm, leaving me enough to recoup
before having to head for work. I clocked 107km for the day, making progress to
my year's target of 16,000km. I am currently at 12,700km. Tomorrow's job is to
fit mudguards, so I can continue enjoying cycling in all weathers.
See you on the next ride CME
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