As so often recently, the Thursday weather forecast was a
disappointment for cyclists. We could get wet in the morning and were
definitely in danger of drowning after lunch. There was a decent turnout of
moderates at Alison’s, considering that it was not a day you would entertain
taking a solo spin for fun. Dave Matthews had turned out, but was having a new
pacemaker fitted in the afternoon. It was good to see George again looking
relaxed and lightly tanned. Big Ray had returned with a new electric Orbea bike.
Mold Andy, Mike G, Steve T, Trevor, Keith and me completed the slowsters group.
Steve offered a ride to Audlem with lunch at the apparently revived Lord Combermere, but it was decided that this could be a stretch if the weather turned nasty. Neil was also thinking of a short ride for the faster group to beat the rain. So it was that I led a route that reached down west of Whitchurch, but had a fast wind -assisted return from lunch at Malpas. We had a bit of climbing to reach Broxton Old Hall. Ray was enjoying his electric bike upgrade as we sped down to Hampton Post, crossing the A41 at Hampton Heath, avoiding the busy roundabout. We turned left down the little lane opposite the high school which enabled us to circumnavigate car- crammed Malpas central, and head toward Grindley Brook before turning for Lower Wych on an attractive curly lane we don’t often use, passing Wigland Hall. We turned right along a rough road stretch past Tybroughton Hall to reach Tallarn Green and Threapwood. Trevor thought I was making a wrong turn before Chapel Lane, but my trusty OS map showed a link via Back Lane and Sandy Lane to Dog Lane and on to Oldcastle Heath (where my wife’s Clio was having an alternator replaced).
Before reaching Peacock Farmyard we turned up Sunnyside in
the direction of the B5069 and the final little grind up to Malpas.
The bijou (as George called it!) Little Deli looked pretty full, so we cycle around the corner to The Old Fire Station. The café was crammed, so we had to split up, with Mike and myself on a separate table, so I don’t know how the general conversation unfolded. Us two old dogs didn’t have an entertaining Graham Norton style chat, analyse the possible outcomes in the Middle East, or discuss Tracey Emin’s exhibition, but we did discuss old dogs, old cars, and the usual one foot in the grave health issues. It was very pleasant to catch up with Mike, but our chat is unlikely to appear in The Guardian magazine. I did reflect that he probably cycled five times my mileage in a year. The food was very good and the staff very friendly, but the café being so busy we were a bit late getting back out.
The roads looked wet, but despite the forecast we didn’t have any rain on our briskish return. Andy and Trevor headed straight for home, although I suspect Trevor would have been just as fast if he had returned to Guilden Sutton with Keith via Tattenhall. Our route back was by way of Tilston, Clutton and Chowley. Despite the constant wet weather recently the roads were flood -free. I had been bothered at times by the likelihood of Ray in his enthusiasm going ahead and missing a turn, or undertaking Andy spearing me on the inside, but overall the day had been very enjoyable, and the quiet lanes route had worked out well. Not quite thirty miles covered, but George hadn’t ridden for weeks, and it was enough for Ray and me. Andy, Trevor, Keith and Mike clocked up considerably more miles. Mad Keith had even done a Ray Hardman, by riding an extra few miles to make his target of fifty. We had also done a fair bit of climbing for a short ride, Steve recording 2,067 feet. Thanks to Keith for keeping the group together at the back, and to Andy and Mike for making the effort from afar despite the bad weather forecast.
DH
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