Jules was taking no chances with personal protection, some of those bikers looked really mean…
A nice straightforward ride today for those of us opting for the longer ride. Kev and Jules led us out to Prees via the undulating muddy roads around Whitchurch and we all arrived at the cafe without incident (other than a few large puddle crossings). The cafe was as usual full of bikers of the motorised variety. The fare is off traditional cafe variety – huge mugs of tea, plates of beans etc etc. Somehow Paul H managed to ask for and get green tea, maybe he’d rung ahead to place a special order, who knows – or maybe other metropolitan sophisticates have been influencing the cafe’s recent procurement policy.
And so home, on particularly obscure and narrow roads (which at least kept speeds sensible) through Malpas and Peckforton. On the T junction after Beeston Castle we saw the shorter ride flying past in perfect formation, admitting to having stopped at not just one but TWO cafes. What is the world coming to? The two groups sort of merged, and I sensed Graham Gregory moving in close behind Kevan ready for the Whitegate sprint…only to be thwarted when Kev punctured and we dropped off to fix it. Sorry Graham!
With us at the cafe were Kev, Jules, Jim, Carol, Elaine, two Pauls, Jeff, John Chyrstal, and new boys Jerry and Kian. Distance on our clock was 72 miles at 17mph average.