The changing seasons

 This autumn has been alternately unseasonable warm, or cold and wet.  The annual debate about whether to put the heating on yet or not will be discussed; but if you are a jumpers on sort of person, put another log on the fire person, or sod it put the heating on now, there is no getting away from the need for waterproofs when the forecast is for heavy showers.

I was sat on my own until half past, wondering if the forecast had finally put people off, with cafe staff asking me if anyone was coming.  Oh they of little faith! (in my ladies, that is; as it is a run by volunteers from the churches I do not doubt their ultimate faith!)  Eleven expectant ladies joined me, and we managed a quick chat in the sun and set off before the black cloud could deposit any of the damp stuff.

I had no 'official photographer' this morning!

As I had not set groups off individually, we ended all heading out along the Greenway, and we sorted ourselves into two groups at the end.  We were all heading generally the same way.  By co-ordinating my group of six to ride side by side, fairly close, along the A56, and with me at the rear giving 'Paddington' stares to vehicles that came up behind, we had safe passage until we were able to join the lanes after the railway bridge.  (I do not give a mean stare, even just a glance over the shoulder is enough usually to slow cars and for them to pass a little wider.  Don't ask me how that works, but it really does).

We enjoyed glorious sunshine all the way to the cafe, although the trees have not yet come into their full autumn glory.  One lady had recently returned from a trip to Scotland, and noted the trees there were already all shared of gold and red.  Next month I am sure we will see the difference.

On arrival at the cafe, there was another dubious large black cloud, so we quickly locked up and headed inside, where I secured three tables as others queued.  The second group arrived shortly after.  

Although only the 14th October, 
the cafe was fully decorated
with Halloween paraphernalia!

Delamere has a new large cafe, so booking was not needed.  It was not too busy today, but there were plenty of staff and I think more loos than I have ever seen even in motorway services!  Makes a change from lots of cafe's we visit who only have the one toilet.  New barriers to the car park too, it is a while since I have cycled that was so I was a little unsure.

Leaving all as one group we headed along the rough track that brings us to the bottom of the Yeld, by Kelsall Cycles.  We did not head up the Yeld (with an average gradient of 4.7%), but along the bottom and then followed the gradient around to Kelsall.  By the time we got to the t-junction in Kelsall it was raining, and Mary stopped to put her rain legs on (waterproof over trousers).  We dropped down the hill but Mary unfortunately missed the last turn off to the left, but had said she would make her own way back if she missed us.

We regrouped at the end of Common Lane, but by now an insanely black cloud was rudely throwing large amounts of rain at us (including a rumble of thunder!) - so after a quick photo (of course) we huddled under a slightly dryer large tree (as the trees still do have leaves, they still offer some shelter).  This was a wise move, and enabled Rowena to also put her rain legs on.  Just as the rain started to ease, the sun slipped out and caused a rainbow I was certain we would see (I had kept looking at signs of brightening of the sky, but to no avail until now).  

We were now able to pedal on down to Oscroft and Tarvin in the sunshine, where we picked up a terribly overgrown cycle path which takes us alongside the A51.  (Report any faults of potholes you find to the Council here).

International Fancy Women's Bike Ride

Over the years I have engaged with other events that are happening, such as the Billie Rides, Sports Relief, local rhino hunt....well, it is all documented through our history.

Ten years ago, the first Fancy Women Bike Ride was held in Izmir, Turkey to draw attention to World Car Free Day.  This event was created by Sema Gur as a Facebook event, and reached many women by word of mouth; 300 women participated to that first bicycle tour. Women, dressed in their most beautiful clothes, decorating their bikes with flowers and ribbons, gathered in the city centre and after a 3 km bike ride at a slow pace, they made a press statement and requested “the smell of perfume in cities instead of the smell of exhaust”.  (Our Story - Süslü Kadınlar Bisiklet Turu (suslukadinlarbisikletturu.com)

Chester Cycling Campaign planned an event a few years ago, but were unable to hold it on the official date, so they called it a glamorous women ride.  This year the Campaign approached me, to ask if I would be the lead for a Fancy Women's ride (FWBR) for Chester.  By the time I had come back from holiday and met with Simon, it was the closing date for the event, so we got registered and started to make plans!

I met with volunteers from the Campaign in August, to ride the proposed route and think about sections and how we would do it.  It was a very useful afternoon, and helped us to tweak the route.

However, a few weeks later we heard that half of the city centre was closed for a battle of Britain Parade, so we had to rethink either route or timings.  

As the Fancy World is linked via an international Whatsapp group, it was really interesting to see posts from around the world, non more so than on Sunday morning, when reports came through from New Zealand, Malaysia and India.

Auckland

Edmonton, Canada

Freiburg, Germany

Kochi, India

Playa Del Carmen, Mexico

Vancouver

We assembled in front of our new market square, and checked off names of those who had booked in.  We had 26 riders in the end, with a couple of fancy men who agreed to ride at the back.  Our youngest rider was age 7, with her Barbie and horse taped to her handlebars (She was riding behind me as we came through Hoole, and was excited to tell me we were near her school, or the school her friend goes to).

Setting off up Northgate Street

Crossing the inner ring road

Heading along the Greenway

Reassembling after leaving the Greenway

We had frequent stops for photos and to re-group, including our Roman Amphitheatre.  Despite having no sun, the day was warm and dry, and we certainly brightened up the streets as we covered our five mile route.

Heading along Faulkner Street,
bells a-ringing!

Along the back on Crawfords Walk

Stop to regroup and photos
on the Canal Path

We ended down at the Groves, just before half past three, perfect timing for a last photo and ice creams, courtesy of the Bike Bike Revival.

We spilt into smaller groups
to come through town; and
singled out for Grosvenor
Bridge, now we actually have a
cycle lane here (thanks
to the Campaign!)

A pause at the house called 'Nowhere',
for some local history.  The tales
were told a bit further along the ride in Edgar Park

Edgar Park

Finally we arrived at the Groves by the river Dee

An orderly queue for ice creams, with big thanks to Snugbury's 
for looking after us!

History and Heritage

September rolls around again, and this time we had an unseasonably hot spell, which had already lasted about a week.  12 ladies arrived at the cafe, and after a chat, sign ins and a coffee, photos outside and we set off in two equal groups.

As I have said in previous years, September is a 'back to school' month, and I always think it is like a mini new year, so we plan an easier ride out to encourage newbies.  This year I thought we could head to Ellesmere Port and the Boat Museum, as we can follow the canal all the way.

I was aware that we have had some new resurfacing along the towpath in the past eighteen months, but some path was still very rough.  I took my group through  the Zoo, and we joined the canal at 'Pretty Bridge'.  It was just lovely, although the hedges are a little overgrown.  At Stoak, I highlighted that I knew it was going to be a little more rough under wheel, but we agreed to press on.  In all about a mile is quite broken up and potholey, but as you get nearer to Ellesmere Port the path became a much better surface.

I also explained that as we get nearer to Ellesmere Port, you will see evidence of the industrial past.  I suggested we think of it as Heritage and History, as you pass factories and old iron bridges.  We spotted our first heron in a field near Stoak, and someone else noted on one a fabulous old rusty structure.

The canal is also full of Pennywort, in big floating clumps.  During lockdown I recall this invasive weed filled the canal for several miles, although I had never seen it before.  you can read more about this and the problems it causes here.

We also noted some notable autumnal colouring to the trees, even with crispy brown leaves all over the path.

Before too long we crossed under the motorways and main roads in Ellesmere port, and came out at the boat museum.  This is where the Shropshire Union Canal meets the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey, and was a 'transhipment dock'.  The cafe is free to use (you do not need to pay entry) and today was a lovely calm place, with a gentle breeze, just perfect.

In order to avoid hills in the heat, we returned along the canal path as far as Croughton, and a short climb to Wervin gave us the flat route then back to Kingsway.  A grand 14 miles!!

How to avoid a headwind

Aug ride was quite a nice day weather wise, but with quite a strong wind, which was likely to be in our faces.  A small turn out again, with no cafe as they are closed through the summer on Saturdays as they do not have enough volunteers.  Kingsway still have the flags up since the Coronation, which feels like a lifetime ago!

The initial plan was to head to Waterways garden centre near Wrexham, as we have not been there since July 2017; however due to my recovery and the weather, we agreed to have a shorter ride to Rossett, which would give us another new cafe (always a bonus!)

So we bimbled out on the Greenway to Blacon, and for a change came off and dropped down Western Avenue to Sealand road and picking up Ferry Lane.  This is a very awkward turn, and by now it has decided it will rain a little heavier so I donned my waterproof.  By the time we got to the bridge though that had come off again!

Over the river and railway, I chose another different approach to the 'Broughton Straight', and stayed on the right side which now has a cycle lane nearly all the way.  This means you do not have to re-join the main road at Bretton, and can stay on until Broughton Park.  At this point the cycle path unceremoniously dumps you back on the carriageway (but facing oncoming traffic, so I guess we should not do that) - I instead kept us on the footpath which worked a treat and got us to the lights before the big roundabout where we could cross, and then pick up the back lanes again to Bretton.

Round to Kinnerton, and turning off I paused so the group could catch up after the last junction.  Mary told me she did not wish to go 'up there' meaning straight on, as she thought it was a long and big hill; however I highlighted that the alternative (Stringers Lane) is a notoriously long road, and would be directly into the wind.  Mary relented as she realised it was not the hill she thought it was, and we all set off.

Exploring these lanes did indeed help us avoid the wind, and after the initial climb we had a joyful up and down route through Golly and into Burton, crossing the level crossing into Rossett and the cafe.

We were able to sit outside, and after refreshments we headed back fairly directly along the Old Wrexham Road

Hot ride to Holt

Thanks to Jean for the blog title today, and it was indeed very hot.  After last month, today was less sun but very humid, with a threat of thunderstorms later.  This may be why rider numbers were low, but we have all agreed small numbers are so nice as you get to chat to everyone.

We opted for the selfie group photo today, before we set off - in one group (also quite nice!), and pottered along to Hoole Lane, where Karen was having an issue with her gears.  She chose to turn back, leaving just the five of us to carry on to Holt.  Malpas had been billed as the destination, but we all agreed earlier this week to pull the distance back.  I have not been riding for the last six weeks, so it was my first time back out on two wheels, and very lovely it was too!

We were having discussions about which cafe to go to, as Cleopatra's as we know it has closed for the time being.  However, there are several cafe's between Holt and Farndon, so we felt assured there would be somewhere.  In the end we agreed to try Maggies, which is just on the corner of the same triangle as Cleopatra's.

On our way to Holt we were passed by a large group of chaps, on bikes, with just the last one with a number on his back.  This seemed curious - if it was a road race, they would all have numbers; or if it was a time trial they would not be allowed to ride in a bunch.  The mystery deepend as we continues alog the long straight Rossett Road and saw a hand made sign which read 'Good Luck Sean'.  I pondered if this was related to this group, but it did not explain the phenomenon.

When we arrived in Holt, a large group of cyclists were gathered at The Cross, and we realised it was the same ones.  After I put my order in, they had departed, but a chap with an apparent sag wagon was still there.  He explained what was going on.

Chris (I looked him up later) told me it was an Iron Man world record attempt, and Sean has now done 90 days of Iron Man triathlons every day since the middle of April.  That is a 2.4 mile swim in Mold baths every day, followed by a 112 mile cycle, following the same route which doubles back through Holt several times, and then running a marathon from Deeside up and down the Greenway. Repeat.  You can track him and read about his other adventures here  Quite amazing.

Here they come...

He's hiding at the back

Still hiding!

That is Sean at the back. Hard to capture!!

After this excitement, we set off back home via Farndon, and Saighton.  

Loop around the back of Churton

Saighton

Caldy Valley Nature Park