Run Sunday 5th October to Connah’s Quay and Chester.

A good turn out despite the fact that it had poured down all night. On arrival at the club the absence of an appointed run leader became evident. Leadership vacuums are always fun to watch – who would fill the void? Everyone avoids eye contact in the hope that someone else will volunteer (a bit like the AGM on Monday night in fact) – and finally Jed can stand it no longer and tentatively suggests we head for Connah’s Quay then Chester… and then looks surprised when everyone happily agrees, and follows him out onto the road, just glad that someone has taken the initiative! It was a good ride out through Delamere, along several miles of what was once railway track, and then along the banks of the river Dee – at a nice steady pace, punctuated by a few puncture stops, most of them for Craig who was relying on tubes which were more patches than tube. And so to the Blue Moon café where I think Jed must be on commission. The combination of warm sunshine and slow service at the café meant we stopped longer than normal, before setting off out of Chester along the canal, winding our way under bridges and round dog walkers and their not-always-cooperative dogs – whether we or the dog walkers (suddenly approached from behind by a long line of blue and yellow cyclists) were the more irritated, was a moot point. Riding behind Jed as he negotiated various gates, bollards, cobbles, street furniture and low bridges on his tricycle was something to behold – although I’m told his spatial awareness did have its limits and he ended up coming to an abrupt stop at one set of bollards which weren’t wide enough to accommodate his wheels! And then later his inimitable politeness was severely tested when a particularly perky black Labrador with a big stick in its mouth threatened to take out his spokes.

The ride back took us through Waverton and Mouldsworth at which point the pace picked up alarmingly and we ended up racing at what felt like breakneck speed through the Delamere bumps, with Kevan and Ewart vying for front spot and the rest of us in their fairly distant wake.

Thanks to Ged for a great run and for taking us all on, and to everyone else for their cheerful companionship!

El