Delamere
Station was the meet venue on another great day of mild weather. I forgot to
get a head count, but picturing the cafe in my head, as I write, I
figure there was possibly a dozen, including our leader DH, although he was in
a somewhat sombre grey suit ( He had a court date - rumour has it, he’s Banksy
and he was summoned to appear in front of Ma- Lord, after his latest bit of
street art-Lol)
The usual
Mod+ misfits were in attendance, except Shane aka ‘The Thief’, clearly ashamed
of his behaviour on our last group ride, deciding not to come, some waffle
about building a wall. Surely he could think of something better than that-
Lol.
I had a route we had ridden before to Tilly’s cafe, which was ideal for the expected WNW winds which would cut across our route, virtually all the way. I completely changed the first 10 miles, adding numerous new lanes that I suspected most wouldn’t know in order to change it up a bit. I thought Steve T was joining our group, after what appeared to be genuine interest, but alas he must have had a better offer from the Mods, perhaps they needed a leader.
So, the CB’s, Chris, Toby, Nick (I’ve got no fast boy mates) & I set off north, just a few hundred mtrs behind the Mod group. This was clearly a red rag to a bull, for some, despite me being warned to not make the pace too high (moir- Lol) Suddenly the Chatter Box flew past me in hot pursuit ( just can’t trust a Chuckle Brother). No sooner said, we pass the Mod group and find ourselves zooming past a few early ‘open water’ swimmers at Hatchmere. Shortly there after we turned right into Depmore Lane, which was the first of a short series of meanders, as I like to call them. Next was Pike Lane and Ball Lane beyond, each of them were in great condition and very quiet.
It was my plan to take as many little deviations, from the original route as possible, one or two were even new to me. We were now heading toward Weaverham, on Station Rd , with the intention of by-passing Cuddington and Sandiway, which I have never particularly liked, which Nick sympathised with me on, as we chatted our way through Crowton. I turned south, just before Weaverham and settled into a nice rhythm with Nick. Shortly after, we found ourselves shouting out to the group as they disappeared in the wrong direction. The Chatter Box had struck again, leading the rest of the group straight past the left turn that Nick and I took- unbelievable-Lol.
Back on course, with CB2 blaming me of course , as he always does. It had nothing to do with us being 200 Mtrs up the road and out of sight ( Nick & I were in a nice rhythm, I must admit -Lol). It wasn’t long before we were passing through the traffic lights adjacent to the Station Cafe at Whitegate. For once they changed just as we got there and we cracked on at a more sedate pace, just to make sure there were no stragglers- lol. Only a few miles on we pulled over for Nick to remove a jacket, which lead to CB2 asking where we were. Chris piped up with a wry smile “Oulton Park”, which had us both chuckling at CB2’s expense, as he was at the race meeting, just 5 days earlier- Lol. I understand now why he always co-leads a ride with CB1. We were literally 200 Mtrs out of sight of the track.
After a bit more banter, nature breaks and the usual cereal bars etc we get going again, with CB1 asking how far lunch was. Meanwhile Chris was still trying to figure out where Tilly’s was, bless him. I responded with “a few miles”. No sooner said, we were whipping around a strangely quiet Oulton Park, via the
virtual ring
road, crossing the A49 beyond and down into Tilstone Fearnall (the sight of
many previous group pics, although this ride didn’t capture one at all- blame
the ride leader, who ever he was- Lol)
Tilly’s was quiet, which meant we could grab the prime window seats. Several of us decided to try their new option of Hash browns instead of bread, where applicable, which made a pleasant change. I can’t, for the life of me, remember any of the lunch conversation. Perhaps it was so good that nobody said anything, however, how likely is that with the Chatter Box at the table-Lol. Suffice it to say the food was very good, if a touch expensive [getting that way everywhere to be fair]. I’ll have to lead a ride to the Hospice at Backford, as it’s well cheap in comparison, but that’s what you get if the staff are all volunteers.
Anyway,
lunch over we set off again and immediately lose the group, Toby and I get to
the junction of Long Lane and the rest are nowhere to be seen. I suggested to
Toby that they’re likely still gassing away at the cafe, unaware we had set
off.
Eventually regrouped we head off toward Peckforton and Beeston beyond. We turn right down to the ‘Shady’ pub on the canal. I cruise up the other side, doing a head count as we regrouped at the junction. I was heading left with Chris and Toby because, and rather fortunate, I didn’t need to escort the CB’s up through Tarporley and Eaton because Nick had parked at Delamere, which meant he was on chaperone duty, in order to make sure the CB’s didn’t get lost. The Chatterbox, in particular, loves to regale about the time I supposedly dropped him off on the wrong road to Delamere, but alas his mind is fading and his recollection of those events are more than suspect, bless him; I mean, would I make such a mistake- “of course not”, I hear you say.
So we head
off in opposite directions, which for us three meant a full headwind to Huxley,
although not too bad, but enough for me to seek out the back wheel of
Chris-Lol.
We passed
the Huxley Inn and at the next junction I say goodbye to them as they turned
right up the canal road to Waverton and Chester beyond. I got home with 50
miles on the clock and a sedate average speed of 14.6mph, a big difference to last
weeks Mod+ record.
Yet again, a
very enjoyable meander, with some great company, who behaved surprisingly well
this week - Lol.
Till next
time ladies,
Neil, aka The Wind Whisperer.
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