The sun was dazzling and the sky was blue as I drove out to Tattenhall. When I arrived about 09.40, several club members were already there or parking up. In the end, a dozen or so had turned up, sitting outside in the bright sun, drinking coffee and eating whatever. Much of the talk was about our leader (Dave H) who had a hip replacement just over a week ago. Everyone sends their best wishes and we look forward to seeing you back on the bike soon
Then came the discussion about where to go to. Neil was
taking the Mod+ group ‘North’ – who knows where. I had a route down to Berries café
in Wrenbury and Jim, who’d ridden out from Guilden Sutton with Keith was planning
to go to the café at Cholmondoley Farm Shop and then ride home. Since my route
would pass Cholmondeley, we agreed to follow Jim’s route out to there and then we’d
continue on to Wrenbury.
So, the ‘mod’ group (Jim, Andy W, Keith, Andy B, George and
me) set off from Alison’s and up Bolesworth Road, but turning off to Brown
Knowl before we reached the steep climb over Harthill. Skirting round Bickerton
Hill to Hampton Heath, we then turned east to reach Cholmondoley. Jim and Andy
W turned left at the junction to head for the café and the rest of us went
right, running past Cholmondoley Castle and across the A49.
From here it was a short run down
to Wrenbury, where we arrived at mid-day. We took the bikes round to the back
of Berries café, but had to negotiate our way around tool boxes and other stuff
belonging to a guy who was working on a Range Rover. He was literally kneeling
in the engine compartment!
The café was fairly quiet and we
soon seated at a table ordering various sandwiches, baked potatoes and (lots
of) tea. As usual, the service was
excellent and the food top notch. Conversation ranged widely covering bike
computers, tax reasons for getting married and many other subjects.
We left the café just on one o’clock
where the guy was still working on the Range Rover. Andy B needed to be sure of
getting back to Mold before it got dark, so he headed back towards
Cholmoldeley, whilst the three amigos pressed on towards Ravensmoor, Brindley
and Bunbury. George had remarked at one point that the roads had been quite
dry, given the torrential rain that we’d had earlier in the week, but as we
rounded Beeston Castle there was a section of the road which was completely
flooded. Happily, we were able to get past it by going through the shallowest
part, getting only a wheel wash in the process.
Approaching Tattenhall, we got to
the end of Newton Lane, where Keith and George headed for their cars and home.
I completed the round trip back to Alison’s, arriving there just after 2pm.
A modest 31 miles covered on a
November day which was dry, bright and quite warm. Sitting here writing this
with the rain lashing down, I can only reflect on how lucky we were. Thanks to
Jim for leading the first part of the ride and to the rest of the mod group for
their banter, support and everything which made the day go so well.
ST
