It was a cold and misty ride out to Alison’s where eventually there were about 12 EasyRiders ensconced in the warm cafe. All talk was about the arrival time for Storm Gorreti and how we all could ride out safely and get back to Tattenhall before the arrival of the expected deluge of snow and/or rain.
I’d crafted a “snow whispering” route whereby we would head North then circle South East to Malpas and run for home from there if the storm timescale was accelerated. So with Ken, Ivan, and Nick and the JIT Young Chris, we head out for Beeston Castle and Bunbury.
The roads were clear of ice but quite muddy in places. The long run down to Brindley via Cappers Lane was suffering quite badly from erosion and, in a few isolated parts, there was a little ice showing. There was little traffic about except for hedge cutting tractors - it was obviously the season for it.
We head for Larden Green and Chorley on almost traffic free roads. Now heading for Wrenbury we soon take a left down to run through isolated Holtridge with its large modern Palladian-style “manor house” . The A49 crossing is virtually traffic free and we motor on towards No Man’s Heath.
However, before the A41 crossing, we dive left down Flag Lane - just for a change! After half a mile, we veer right onto the footpath to cross the A41 and ride on the old A41 into the back of No Man’s Heath. It’s now just a couple of miles into Malpas.
As we hit the High Street, there is the usual car jam which we thread through to stop at the Old Fire Station Cafe. Ivan and Cris decide to power on home via Tilston as Nick and I go inside looking forward to a warm lunch. Outside there are a couple of chaps drinking coffee and watching the world go by. One of them, called Ray, asks Ken which ride group are we, which promptly makes Ray say he was a member 4 or 6 years ago!
I pop out and have a chat about the current EasyRiders and Ray asks about Dave H. I go back inside and then see Steve T and Keith cycling by. I shoot out to see Dave H approaching and gesture for him to stop whereupon Ray and Dave have a good chat about old times. Dave’s group were in fact on there way back to Alisons for lunch.
Back inside the Old Fire Station cafe our lunch arrives and very tasty it was. I recall the first time I rode with Easy Riders in October 2009 when Dave H, Brian Mac, and Graham lead me on a “long” 25 mile circuit” from Holt via Malpas and the Old Fire Station.
This link here reports the events of that day on my first Easy Rider ride
Anyway enough of ancient history, with lunch over Ken and Nick state they are going to ride on to Tilston and split off from there for home. So we three take the fast and deserted Tilston road where I bear off for Carden and thence to Clutton. No one is on the golf course except for a groundsman and three very large foxes who run parallel to me towards Clutton. Then, Holywell Lane to Chowley Oak is just one long muddy experience as I now run down into Tattenhall. I pop into Alisons to find Dave H’s group taking lunch.
So the snow whispering routing has worked so far but at only 32 miles today’s ride was not very challenging or exciting - unless you count Nick’s self-sealing front wheel tubeless tyre puncture, several hedge cutting encounters, and three foxes running free.
I head for home with just under 60 miles ridden. The rain - when it did come - was just a drizzle really at 1500, and of course, there was nothing much really. So we in were lucky compared to lots of the UK.
So thanks to Nick, Ken, Ivan and Chris for their forbearance today and yet again it just proves it’s worth getting out on the bike almost whatever the weather.
See route map and/or gpx file download
CA
No comments:
Post a Comment