Well, I don’t know if it was the three degree temperatures that put folk off but you could count the Mod+ riders on one finger today!
The senior management team was already in session when Mike and I cycled in, mostly in civvies and clearly hungry looking by the plates of toast being consumed. Due to my lowly position and reputation within the club I was asked to leave the board table and sit with Shane, Ivan, Kevin and Clive. Soon Toby, Last minute Chris, Alvise, Alan, Anthony and Ray S swelled the numbers.
Clive Chris and Ivan decided on a brisk route to Crewe, whilst I used both hands and all my fingers (and one thumb) to marshall together Alan, Alvise, Ray, Anthony, Mike, Shane, Kevin and Toby (replete with new headgear) . Anthony had a forty miler to Tilleys; I had a 35 miler to Tilleys, taking in the Whitegate Way. As it was autumn and cold we opted for my shorter route.
This route is courtesy of our summer rider Neil T. In defence of his absence, yesterday he chose to ride and support Owain Wyn Evans on his Children In Need Charity ride. Owain’s total as of today stands at £1.8 million for his 400 mile four country ride. An excellent result and I hope he didn’t catch Neil”s lurgy en route.
The start of the route meanders over the lovely
pot holed (did you know one of the myths on the origin of this word pothole
comes from the potteries industry. When brigands would surreptitiously dig up
clay deposits in the night leaving exposed holes) Station Road. Our route took
us through Hatchmere, past Norley and onto the Whitegate Way. The colours were
lovely as this photo attests apart from the rears of the pesky cyclists who
seemed to be everywhere today.
A quick sprint down Clay Lane (pottery
reference???) took us through Little Budworth down to Bunbury. Ten minutes out,
the ever-prepared Ray S voiced that with nine riders we should have phoned
ahead, but when has forward planning stood in the way of a CER ride. Despite
our numbers we were all seated and whilst a little slow the food arrived and
was devoured with gusto.
Replete we set off with Kevin and Alan already warming up for the days attack going down to the Shady Oak. In effort to cool their heels an impromptu photo stop was made and a courteous passer by ensured our full complement was included in the photo see below
Shane peeled off leaving the rest of the group
to return to Delamere via Tarporly and Eaton.
Alvise Kev and Ray had another twelve or so miles back to Chester.
A very chilled in the true meaning of the word 33-35 miles, with the Chester lads over 50 miles. Stunning weather and fantastic company and humour.
Steve H.
See route map and/or gpx file download
No comments:
Post a Comment