Autumn Confetti

I have often thought November is the best month for autumn colour, and this year has been exceptional!  Even on gloomy days the view is lit up by the variety and bright colours we have had, and even now enough leaves are hanging on to give a fabulous display.  But not for long, and our routes today with just a gentle wisp of breeze was enough to bring some leaves fluttering down like confetti.  Magic!

We split into two equal groups, and after the photo (the kind charity shop lady obliged again!) we sent of Linda and Sarah's group, followed shortly by ourselves.

I decided this morning, for a change, to go straight through town, we often avoid
this but it was quite quiet and we were a small group, and I just wanted to see some of our sights, for a change.  So around the amphitheater we went, and dropped all the way down Lower Bridge Street, where we saw the other group as they came from the Groves to cross the Old Dee Bridge.

Heading out to Eccleston, and then the Old Wrexham road, we were again in sight of the first group.  But they, like us, stayed in twos and in a neat group; it was
very clear that although there were a couple of cars caught behind them, when they did pass they were indicating, and passing wider and slower, as they were also for us.  It can feel very daunting, our instinct as cyclists is to 'get out of the way' and we expect cars to be getting fed up and impatient; but this did not seem to be the case today.

After diverting off the main road we passed the other group in Rossett, where I stayed on the main route through before turning onto the most delightful little
lanes around Hoseley; the other group looped around Darland and back to Rossett which meant they climbed the steep B road hill up to the cafe, but did also get them there a good half an hour before us!  We instead had a little climb to a wonderful road contouring the back of Marford and Gresford, with superb views across Cheshire, with Beeston and Peckforton hills taking the limelight.

At this point Mary shared that there is a geographical feature near to us, the only place locally where there was a glacier.  Who knew!  Gresford Glacier!  No, really it was a thing.  I had to Google this, and the following sites are really worth a read (if you are interested!) - Maes-Y-Pant country park site has some history, which explains why there are large coal deposits locally (Gresford Quarry) and the sand and gravel pits (left by glaciers); an assessment report of Gresford Lake by Ymddiriedolaeth Dyfrdwy Cymru (The Welsh Dee Trust) for the local council (some interesting ecological data); information about a Kettle Hole (it gets better) from Scottish Geology Trust, and specifically Vicarage Moss (as behind us in the picture)

The trees towards the right are down a steep drop, 
there is a lake, or flash, in there, and is noted on the 
map image below...

...the little green circle indicates where we were 
for the photo; you can see the lake ('Kettle Hole')
and note the contours swooping away
to the right, below the text 'Hoseley Bank Farm'

Well, that was a diversion from writing the blog!  Back to it....

We came into Gresford near The Plough, and crossed over to skirt Gresford Flash, the church, and to drop down the steep hill and under the railway.  Then just a short climb to a road around a quarry, bringing us to the top of the hill (Mary has a name for it, but I can't repeat it here.  Suffice to say it sort of rhymes with  'bucketty', but starting with an 'f'!)

We finally arrived at Rackery Cafe and Farm Shop, a new cafe for us, and we sat inside as the only table outside in the sun was populated by the first group.  Lovely food, a nice natter, and we set off after the others had left, with a speedy 40mph descent back down Croeshowell Road (no chance of a turn towards Burton!) and then just followed the B road home.

A nice round 30 miles, back home by 2pm in time to cut the grass and a little gardening.  Fireworks tonight!

Minor Mechanical Matters

 It is very important to ensure your bike is roadworthy, functioning, and safe before you set out on a ride, but sometimes events cause your faithful steed to rebel, leaving you with a puzzle to try and rectify before you can continue on your way.  We have had mechanical evenings with our local bike shop in the past, but nothing can prepare you for the two problems today!  Read on...

Ten of us met at Kingsway, which felt odd after a couple of months away from our monthly rides.  Everyone had been before, and in my 'talky bit' I noted that since
our last ride in May I had been to Mull, completed the Vets 100, we had had the Welsh Festival, summer evening rides were nearly over, and i had new (rather jazzy) handlebar tape.  I nearly forgot to take our photo, but just in the nick of time I borrowed a gentleman who had been talking to a few ladies but had since bobbed into the new Kingsway charity shop to take a photo.

Several riders had requested to go 'in the slow group', but with only ten we were able to stay together, and I just kept an eye on how far back people were, waiting from time to time to re-group or give instructions about the next stretch of road.  I had warned there would be hills and a rough track in Alyn Waters, and everyone managed very well.  There was some walking, which is absolutely fine.

Passing through Marford, or the bottom of Marford hill to pick up the little lane alongside the A483 (a little secret lane!) we saw some of the very cute and distinctive buildings, which were originally built for the estate workers of Trevalyn Hall and noted for their architectural 'Gothic Revival' curves. 

Springfield Lane, 1 1/2 miles of quiet lane

Crossing the A483,
before our first climb of the day

At Alyn Waters, from the Llay side, I recruited Mary to help me navigate the tracks
through.  A little more local knowledge goes a long way!

On our approach to the cafe I noted one lady struggling but in quite a high gear, I suggested she change down but she replied she could not; it transpired that her gear changer on the handlebars had come loose - in fact come off!  We had a little look at the cafe, but there did not seem to be any way to re-attach it.  We managed to hold it on the change her to a lower gear, which if nothing else would be kinder to her knees and make it easier to get home.

Pocket Allen Key,
essential part of your toolkit

On leaving the cafe another lady managed to jam her chain between the front cogs (chainrings), and it was very firmly lodged.  We all tried to help, each person noting 'it is stuck just there'!  After much heaving, jiggling, and poking (with a 'pokey stick' - aka allen key!), and a call to someone's husband who offered to come and pick her up, we managed to free the offending chain, and after wiping our oily hands were able to resume.  There was a comment that it was a bit extreme to do this to avoid the next climb up the hill!

Cycling UK have useful forums to ask questions, or see if anyone else has had a similar issue and how to fix it - this was one subject from three years ago, but still relevant today

We headed back to the B road from Llay to the Holly Bush down a delightful lane I do not think I have ridden before! on the B road I think I spied ANOTHER new cafe I had not seen before, I will need to check that one out  (I did, and yes!  Watch out for the Cabin Caff in next year's runs list!)

After a scoot along the main road, we turned right in Hope to climb to Caer Estyn, not as bad as it first appears - but after this we had lovely views across Cheshire and lots of downhills to lower Kinnerton.  We had started to split up now, people heading on more direct routes home, leaving just three to return along the river (significantly wind assisted!) to Kingsway.

30 miles

Link to Komoot route

Postcards from a summer break

Anglesey walk

We have had an unintentional hiatus this summer, due to unavailability of leaders.  I had a last minute trip to Anglesey in June, but we agreed as we had just had the Ladies weekend to Arnside the weekend before, a deserved break was sanctioned.  

July saw Linda and I planning to sing at Llangollen Eisteddfod with Chester Ladies Choir, and initially we considered moving the date to the following weekend.  However, I then had a trip to London organised, so 'plan B' was to have an 'summer afternoon tea' ride (venue to be decided).  The weekend weather was forecast (and indeed was) very very hot indeed, and the choir withdrew from the event.  Too late to re-arrange back to the Saturday I stuck with the Sunday plan, and had two riders booked on.  Then I discovered that my planned cafe (Bluebell at Barrow, set among lovely shady trees) is not open on a Sunday, so that scuppered my plan.  With a few messages to my booked riders, we mutually agreed to cancel and stay somewhere cool in the shade for this month.

Llangollen, where we didn't sing
but I did take my mother the week before
for a train ride

See you all in August!

A Tale of Two Stones

 I never intended there to be stone stories on our route today, but as the ride evolved, I knew we were passing two 'stones' of note.

A very sunny May morning greeted us at Kingsway cafe, after several weeks of warm and sometimes hot sunny weather.  It has been an amazing spring, and now the Cow Parsley (one of my favourites) is out along the lanes, with bluebells along the way too.

A friendly chap came out of the cafe to offer to take our photo, which was nice!

Linda led the first group of 6, leaving me with 8 riders; some new faces, some returning, one maybe on her last ride before moving to Scotland.

My group set off along the greenway, past Bren bikes with a field full of buttercups - also in abundance (the dandelions have now all gone to seed).  We left the Greenway at Blacon, to drop down Western Ave, crossing Sealand Road and down Ferry Lane - much to Rowena's dismay as this brought us past her house!

He's new!

Ferry Lane, with Hawthorne Blossom - also out with avengeance!

Over to Bretton, and our first stone.  Or not, as, despite cycling slowly through the village I missed it!  So here is a photo from an earlier ride (a summer evening ride in June 2017, that took some finding!)

It is on the right as you come into Bretton from the main Saltney road, if you want to find it.

(also saves me writing about it - here is the info board.  You would think that would make it easy to find!)

So, anyway, we carried on through to Lower Kinnerton, where I decided to 'climb' Lower Mountain on the back road rather than straight through Higher Kinnerton, and as we rode I remembered another stone up here, but again not quite sure where (and struggling to remember the story) - no matter, I thought to myself, I will 'phone a friend', the one who first told me about it.

However, on finding (or I think I found the stone), I called Stu but there was no answer.  He has kindly emailed me with the history:

He said he first found it on a lockdown ride when someone had cleared it and done a bit of planting around it so it was quite easy to see then but it's very overgrown now so it does just look like a pile of old rocks.

However, the stones lie at the bottom of a small dip, and the ladies passed by in order to get up the other side.  So I was on my own anyway!

My photo from May 2021. 

Lower Mountain road, with Hope Mountain ahead (not today though!)

Our cafe destination was a new venue, 'Park in the Past' near Hope. This is a new country park which seems to have started life in 2017 (https://parkinthepast.org.uk/fagl-lane-quarry-has-a-new-name-park-in-the-past/) I had called in last year to check it out, and one of our lady's swims here.  It is also the venue for a new Parkrun, and today was their second event.  

Limited outside seating, for such a lovely day, but more room inside if needed.  I did have a most marvellous bacon bap (which may have been the last as other's had only bread - due to aforementioned Parkrun post run refreshments)

Then we headed home, fairly directly, with a small diversion for the last few through Grosvenor Park, as it was such a nice day (we really should have had an ice cream!)

Using Google Lens, I identified this unusual flower
(but forget what it was now - Japanese something I think) 

VelodRoman Bridges.

I was away to Oxford for our April ride; but Gill and Linda stepped in.  As there was just two of them, they limited numbers to 6 riders.  With an event on Facebook, the six slots soon filled up!

Post ride Gill posted "Lovely ride to Rose Cafe today thanks for your company everyone"; and a word of thanks from our newest rider "Thank you all for making me feel so welcome on my first time with you today "

Angela also posted a photo, saying "Thank you for today’s ride Gill and Linda 

"

Meanwhile, Sue had posted on the leader Whatsapp wishing everyone a lovely ride, stating she was not up to riding; but was championing the Fab Ladies on the velodrome last night (Manchester):

I think we should run a competition, post your holiday photo wearing your Fab ladies top, where have you been?

Blog title - I was scratching my head, even harder when I was not there.  But I have gone with a play of the two elements in the post -  Sue in the VELODROME; and Angela's photo of the ROMAN bridges, Geddit?