A perfect day for a ride – and a long one it was too: Jules recorded 86 miles at an average speed of 16.8 mph which was going some, given that the ride included some hilly terrain. Craig had planned a fabulous route to Loggerheads – we went out through Tattenhall and Holt, and enjoyed/endured some interesting ups and downs around Ffrith, Treuddyn and Maeshafn on beautiful secluded lanes which many of us didn’t know.
We passed one rider at Whitegate who joined us – he was only intending to do 20 miles round Northwich – I chatted to him and he told me that he’d need to leave us at some point, as he was refereeing a Cheshire Cup football match at Moss Farm at 2 p.m. At 12.30 I noted that he was still with us (at this point he’d punctured and was without an inner tube or pump, not having expected to be going so far) – he had no idea where he was and was horrified to discover he was now in the Welsh hills, at least 35 miles from Northwich – and there was no way he was going to get back to Moss Farm for 2! Oops! Anyway he rang his poor wife who set out to meet him at Loggerheads – we suspect he didn’t make his game – so we would like to apologise to 22 young footballers for leading him astray and depriving them of their ref!
A great lunch at the cafe (photo below) then back via Buckley, Queensferry and along the Greenway round Chester (Jules doing a Cancellara on the front, with us all strung out behind him, at such a cracking pace that dog walkers, runners, horses, families on bikes and old ladies on mobility scooters took one look at us and scarpered onto the grass verge – I should add we did respond with thank yous – one Dad said to his son “blimey it’s like the Tour de France going past” which made me at least (sad, I know) feel quite proud!)
There was a battle royal between the two Kevs for the sprint through the Forest, with Kev C pipping Kev U for the honours – revenge for the day before apparently – and so home – a really great day out, ably led by Craig, and everyone did a good job of keeping the group together despite hills, traffic lights, road junctions, gigantic potholes, bollards, gates and punctures.
With us today at the cafe were (blimey this is becoming a test for my failing memory): leader Craig, incredible Jules, irrepressible Titch, puncture free Chris, bare legged Nigel, strong Steve, Geordie Nick, new rider David, big Rob, climber Keith, invincible Vince, spinter Kev C, my domestique Kev U, always-positive Carol and returning triathlete Paul. Ali left us at Loggerheads, as explained above – (Ali, come and join us again!) – and John Keen and John Chrystal, who didn’t stop for lunch, joined us again at different points during the ride home. Thanks everyone – a day to remember!!