There were 12 adults and kids today setting off for Nanney’s Lock Marina between Church Minshall and Nantwich. We passed the riders from the Nantwich triathlon that was taking place at the same time, and for which I had a number! Dave Fearon wore some very fetching ‘faded denim’-look shorts from the 1980s to complete his retro-fixie image! We were joined by Chris Graham and Andy, until after lunch, because they lost their group whilst looking for Andy’s odometer that fell off. The rest of us included Elinor and Robert O’Brien, Caroline and Connor Fearon, a new boy Dylan, Steven, and Alison and Claire Heine. Having assured everyone that there were no hills, we ended up going through Whitegate on the ‘out’ and back up the road from Church Minshall to Winsford! We took a very steady pace, and rode about 26 miles in the blazing-hot sun. Tucking into a tuna pannini, with a lovely view of the narrow boats, I did not regret skipping the nearby Cheshire Triathlon at all! Dave decided to liven things up nearer home, by taking us off-road between Nova Scotia and Sandiway, on a trail parallel to the Whitegate Way. A couple of riders took a spill in the sand but no harm done! We passed Andy in the long grass at Gorstage acting very suspiciously, but he was actually still looking for his odometer! We all had a terrific time and agreed to do a ride again next week. Thank you Dave for leading us on a great ride! (Andrew and James Risk were on the last day of their C2C today, so I hope that went well too!) Claire (‘The kit lady’)