Memory Lane

There are many unusual names to the lanes we spend our time riding around, and you do wonder what the meanings may be.  Chapel Lane, Mill lane and Station Lane are probably quite clear; Platts Lane means a wet meadow which was one we used....but I am ahead of myself!  There should be a few more 'memory lane's' around, as sometimes our rides take you to places you have not been for a long time.  Today was Cath's first ride with us, and as we approached the Candle Factory, she relayed how, as a youngster growing up in Tattenhall she remembered the lady who set up the Candle Workshops, and how they used to help her make candles in her kitchen.  That was in the 1970's, and I remember the workshop from the 80's.

First off, coffee and chat in the cafe.....

After quite a few wet days this year, last weekend was particularly hot and humid, but today was sunny and bright, but quite chilly especially out of the sun.  after signing in and the mandatory group photo, Alex led her faster group off and Welna led her regular riders, leaving me with a small group happy to bimble along.

My group followed a fairly straightforward route out to pass the Ice Cream Farm, we had a short pause here to take off garments as it was such a lovely day.

Between Christleton and Waverton

Platts Lane, as mentioned!

We had the final climb up through Burwardsley, to the candle factory, with fabulous views back over to Liverpool and North Wales.  Photos speak for themselves...

We were later than most to arrive, and had to take our bikes through the workshops and cafe as the gate was padlocked.  But we were able to sit outside in the glorious sun (as long as you were in the sun, as I say it was still a bit chilly!)

Waving goodbye to all as we head off left and down Barracks Lane

We set off down, down and down again, passing Burwardsley church and retracing where I went left instead of right!  More down, really letting rip, and some competitive jostling on the final slopes!

50 shades of grey clouds

Another ride on Valentines day!  Our last one was in 2009, when we went to The Eureka cafe for the first time.  25 ladies gathered this morning, and after a little deliberation between routes (Alex and Sue had both produced diverse routes) and cafes (Yvonne's will seat 17 at most after that we are sitting on knees!), we managed to set off.

apologies to the two on the left of this pic - hard to see if we are all in!  My new Selfie Stick!!

Kate led a couple of the slower ladies directly up the Greenway to Shotton - but this ride was not without incident.  Faced with the blue bridge (over A494) Kate claims she did not get lost as such, but just a little unsure of her bearings!  [no photos]

I led a regular paced group out to take in some hills.  Starting off along the Greenway we left at Blacon and crossed at Saltney Ferry Bridge. 

The back road was unfortunately busy due to road closures and this has the effect of making the odd driver  more inpatient.  We left the road to climb up to Mancot...

Waiting for the group at St Davids Park

....and then Hawarden (I very sadly did not have my camera to hand in time to capture the sign outside the hairdressers in Hawarden 'Love is in the Hair' - groan!), before negotiating Ewloe roundabout (actually quite easy - we went anticlockwise using footpath)...









....and then dropping down some superb little lanes and crossing the Wepre Brook.  




Arriving at Yvonnes we met with the first group, and enjoyed 65p mugs of coffee and the largest bacon bap for £2!

Yvonnes van - last visited in April 2009
on a much sunnier day!

Not one of our largest cafes - but fab historical
photos adorn the walls.

It isn't all about the cake!

We headed straight back (bumping into Alex's group - see below) clocking a neat 23 miles.

Corner cafe in Shotton.

Alex took a faster group a longer way around, over to Capenhurst, along route 56 including the seven gates alongside the railway.  They fell foul of a puncture, which although was fixed with no problems, somehow the pump got stuck/wedged onto the wheel and could not be released; so rider, bike and pump had to wait for rescue whilst the rest of the group carried on.  This caused an unfortunate delay and meant they did not make it to Yvonne's in time, as she shuts at 12.  My group met them on route 5, so they were able to turn around and find another cafe in Shotton, The Corner Kitchen.  Another one to add to the list!

23 ladies; 18/23/27.5 miles; 2 cafes; 1 puncture.

Although a day early, this ride is listed as a 'Ride like Billie Day' - please see website for other rides around the country.  

A little bit Lumpy and a little bit wet

Probably the least planning I have done for a ladies ride - I was late asking for leaders, and so late posting on facebook or emailing out that ladies were starting to ask if there was a ride, and then last minute decisions on where to go - to be informed my first choice is not open on Saturdays!  So, with a quick look at records (where have we not been for a while?), a speedy plot on my mapping system, quick event creation and email out we were ready to go!

19 ladies arrived at the cafe, milled around, and mostly signed in to the 'regular' steady normal paced ride, one taker for slow and one for fast!  Somehow it all settled out, and three groups of differing sizes set off into the Cheshire countryside.

Crossing the Gowy at Stapleford

The field in the background is
a large crop of Rape - in OCT!

The destination was Lockgate Cafe, which for years was referred to as 'cockroach cafe' - for no reason other than it was a slightly grimy if not functional 'caff'.  It has had a few re-incarnations over the last few years, when we last visited in 2011 it was called 'Flavours' (which never suited it!) but they did do the decking, and now it is a very pleasant little cafe - with plenty of space.

Lockgate cafe sits between the canal and the railway just over the hill from Beeston.  My group took a slightly deviated route via Duddon and Tarporley, stopping in the town to show off the CTC Winged Wheel, with an explanation about it.  But this route did make it a little bit lumpy! 

Winged Wheel

It is a good job that there is plenty of space in the cafe, as the Wrexham group were there again!  This is the third time this year, and becoming a bit of a habit!  I also met a few from the Ellesmere Port racing club, who I used to ride with (when I was 17) - so they felt old!

Wrexham - we will have to stop meeting like this!

Cream tea and friends

inside the cafe

The other half

Heading back, we divided up again, with Linda taking some on the 10 mile route, and I led what I thought was about 13, but turned out to be 15.

We headed up to Beeston, round, and down the other side.  Passing the Ice Cream Farm we crossed the A41 and climbed up Saighton to my favourite view - which looked rather grey and ominous.  Too late, it started to rain at Huntington.  I was very tempted to settle down at the Rake & Pikel, but we just donned waterproofs (those that had some!) and blasted back to the cafe.

A rather grey view!

Distances something between 25 - 30 miles - hard to gauge now with three groups doing different distances and different people in different groups.

I believe poor Mary had a puncture on the way back, and even the shorter route people got caught in the quite heavy rain - at least we were all heading home!

Bears on the Plain

Actually I think the Cheshire Plain is much more Nantwich way,very flat over there.  This ride was just to prove we have hills in Cheshire too.  Another new cafe - although 1 year old and I have been here a couple of times - but new for the ladies ride.  It is also a little further but as it is August and still technically summer I thought it would be worth the extra miles and hills!

It was.

Holidays meant that although the weather was going to be nice, numbers were still manageable - a cosy 17 of us, split into two groups this month.  

Super Alex

Alex led a faster group, they headed off around Beeston.  We nearly did too, as I became a  little confused just after the ice cream farm; but soon rectified it.



We headed pretty much straight out, along the cycle path on the A41 to cross the A51 at the lights, and then cross to Pearl Lane and over the main road.  Christleton, Waverton (some mad hat drivers out today - had to pass the cyclists even though their turning is coming up.  No close ones though).  After passing rocky Trail, Martins Lane to Hargrave, and then towards Tattenhall, turning off by the ice cream farm.  

First climb - not a hill but a bridge over A55

Through Christleton

horses near Waverton
(you will need to squint at this as it is a bit blurry!)

another climb - but not a hill, bridges
over railway and canal

As we skirted Tattenhall, we started to climb towards Burwardsley (signposted the Candle Factory); actually quite a gentle pleasant incline.

lovely views to Helsby Hill

We waited a little for one lady (recent hip replacement, so doing very well!), but still made it before the faster group (so I could get the last heart-shaped cherry bakewell!)

Don't you just love our Cheshire countryside!  

Climbing hills brings its own rewards in the form of fabulous views - the great thing about the teddy bear cafe (apart from very speedy service) is they have a marvellous decked balcony terrace area, with super views across to Chester and North Wales.

Another grand thing about climbing hills is the downhill afterwards!  And heading right out of the cafe gave us several fast drops past Harthill and into Tattenhall.

From here we headed to Bruera (crossing the A41 again, and meeting a  racing club going the other way) and Saighton - another little hill but with one of my favourite views across to North Wales with Eaton Tower nestled in the trees.

After a suitable drop back down to Huntington, I led the remaining ladies through Caldy Valley nature park, because it is nice!