Thanks to Claire for this post….
The day began overcast and windy. There was no chance to sit in the bunch and nap, as our route took us over some draggy slopes through Manley to Mickle Trafford. After that, the ride settled down to a brisk ( for me!) but chatty pace, as we rode two abreast down the long, straight, tarmac path to Shotton. There was a gusty side wind to add a little interest. Several of us had not ventured that way before, and a fresh, new route is always welcome. We then turned down to the waterway, carefully avoiding dogs, bollards, and some other obstacles designed to keep vehicles out, and bikes and pedestrians in. The pace increased a touch despite the headwind, as we enjoyed another long, flat, uninterrupted stretch of riverside path, until we reached Chester. ( I love junk miles!) At Chester, the path was found to be locked for the races, and we reluctantly had to join the Sealand road. It led us past the race-goers walking towards the racecourse in all their finery, many on their mobile phones to check the latest odds! The Police cheerfully halted the traffic to let us ride up the narrow street along the castle walls above the racecourse, past the law courts, and over to the cafe (next door to the Blue Moon Cafe) by the river where we stopped for lunch. By this time, the sun had come out, and we were able to prop up our bikes against the railings, take off our outer layer, and sit outside, enjoying the fast-flowing river and festive atmosphere. ( Cafe got ‘4’ Eleanor, for the nice view, and copious quantities of tea. Toilets were average ). After admiring each other’s wheels, we re-mounted and cycled past the Bike Factory and Specialized Shop, resisting the temptation to pop in, and instead turned right to Littleton. This took us down some picturesque country roads, such as Guy Lane, Ryecroft Lane, and Willington Road, well away from the traffic, with gentle undulations and interesting bends. Then the road curved upwards, and we started to climb towards Utkinton. We climbed the steep road to the left of Tirley Garth to Willington. The road bent upwards and twisted around corners for much longer than I expected! It was with a real sense of achievement that we got to the top, and with the adrenaline still pumping, we bowled along through Eaton, Little Budworth and home. Several regulars riders were absent, so only about 9 riders started out on what proved to be a very enjoyable and entertaining ride. Thank you Jed, for leading us on a route with something to please everyone!