Annual Walk Mill Wander

I was quite late sending my monthly email out this month, but it is also a very busy time of the year, so a turn out of a dozen ladies on what was actually quite a sunny and not-too-cold morning, for the last official ladies ride of 2012, was pretty good.

look at that blue sky!

We assembled inside the cafe, which is far more sociable I think this time of year.  Although I was so early Tina had not yet got the coffee on!  It was all festive and fairy lights - a bit like my bike after Kath brought me two sets from the £1 shop.  It will bring a bit more cheer to the informal Wednesday evening circuit, headed by the guys who lead the Summer evening rides.  That is another story (and maybe another blog!).

We set off towards Mickle Trafford, but not on the Greenway in case of patches of ice, and then round to Guilden Sutton, A51 and skirting Christleton to pass through Waverton.

arriving at Walk Mill - I always think it has such big skies here.

Walk Mill is our usual Christmas/early Dec venue, as it is not too far out, and often people are so busy they cannot afford the time for themselves this time of year.

We settled down to our coffees, teas and cakes; chat and social bit, before heading back out to the bikes.

I have previously taken a pic of the ladies by the door of the mill, as they usually have a festive wreath on the door.  but with no wreath, and similar pictures in past years, this time I tried something different.  It took a bit of doing, trying to entice the ladies onto the bridge to pose in front of the water wheel, and to coerce Caroline out too (baby due Dec 24th!).  See if you can spot her!

(I can barely see her and I know where to look!)

We headed back to Chester via the canal - because it was such a nice day and it is so lovely along the canal!

The nice new tarmac drive leading to Walk Mill,
with Beeston and Peckforton  in the distance.

12 riders, and 14 miles.  lots of smiles!  Click here for the route out.

Chester CTC Christmas Lunch

Chester Fabulous Ladies are part of the wider Chester CTC, and so are encouraged to come out on the regular Sunday rides throughout the year.  There is the odd one that I arrange/ lead; and for the past few years I have taken charge of the Christmas Lunch ride, held on the first Sunday in December.  It is usually a bit early for pubs to have really got into the swing, but most are usually decorated, and all we ask for is Turkey and crackers (and a vegetarian option!).

This year I booked The Rising Sun in Tarporley, and we met at Christleton Pond at the usual 10am.  The Sunday before I had ridden out with the deposit, and had to pass through four floods, due to heavy rain at the end of November.  The weather in the previous week had been so changeable, with Saturday being a bit frosty and clear; Sunday had rained but although there was no frost there was ice along many of the lanes.

Dave took Bob and Kinnerton Kath on a slightly longer and a bit faster ride, calling to Rose Farm for elevenses; the rest of us took a leisurely pace to the 50p shop, and Christine's tea shop.

It was trying to rain as we left the 50p shop, and we headed to Huxley and Tiverton, before doubling back to Tarporley, arriving in perfect time as the door was opening!

A pleasant lunch, and they looked after us well!

People did various things heading home - although everyone set off with me to Utkinton, and dropped down Wood Lane to Duddon, where we crossed the A41 before heading to Walk Mill for afternoonsies.  Several people split here, and seven of us partook of coffees and cakes, before lighting up and returning to Chester (arriving home before dark at about 4ish).

27 Miles ( about 31 FF)