21st May 2026: Whitchurch

 It was good to see Neil back in the saddle at Alison’s. Dave Matthews was still making progress with his health but was here to talk cars not risk riding yet. With some moderate riders not available this week it looked like just Ray the cruise adviser and me. Then guess who popped up last minute?  So it was that Dave Pipe joined us with the Black Bear in Whitchurch as our destination. It was a lovely warm day with a gentle breeze as we headed for Bunbury via Newton and Beeston. We the twiddled along familiar lanes with a less common diversion by way of Haughton. Ray was generally ahead, (but waiting at junctions) leaving Dave and me to have an unpressured chat as we made relaxed progress. On the road to Wrenbury we took a right turn and weaved our way on very quiet roads to Marbury. A road closure on the route to Black Park had me heading more directly to Whitchurch instead. The terrain in this area is quite hummocky, so we were ready for our lunch stop at The Black Bear. Ray thought we were locked out of the back entrance, so started shouting orders to a guy in the back yard to get a key, who protested that he wasn’t an employee! He opened an unlocked door for us anyway. There was plenty of room and shade inside, and the food and service bob on. Our conversation was wide ranging with well-informed input from Ray. It is a credit to our members in these times of polarised politics that we respect each other enough to avoid unwanted arguments at lunchtimes.

Our route back was to be more direct as it was going to be hot, and I had Steve Tan to pick up at early closing Alison’s, also, my son’s car needed picking up from a Frodsham garage. Th e climb up to Wiswall is quite hard work on a full stomach, but a fine view across Cheshire is our reward. We drift downhill watching for potholes and heaped hot gravel before crossing the Llangollen Canal at Steer Bridge. The A49 is crossed at Bickley and we are still on narrow, peaceful sun-baked lanes up to the edge of the Cholmondeley Castle estate. The climb over Harthill is never easy if you are old, heavy and without electricity, but satisfying to crest and then bomb down straight to Tattenhall. Steve was sat waiting on a wall, and later drove the Berlingo with our bikes in from Frodsham to Runcorn while I drove my son’s car back from the garage; the air con now worked, just in time for the bakery oven days ahead. About thirty-seven soporific sunny miles covered. 

DH