She believed she could, so she did

In the midst of a fifth heatwave, we had a day of cloud which was most welcome.  However, Kingsway Cafe was closed for most of August, so we were homeless again and decided to meet at Okells in Hoole (see blog post from Feb this year).  So, Social's updated, I called to Kingsway 'just in case' and popped a poster on the
shutter.  I initially thought 'oh, the helpful charity shop can lend me some sellotape, and I will ask them to take it down' (my number was on it); but that was also shut, as was KANRA (Residents association).  So, Kingsway Barbers came to the rescue, but declined a photo!

Rick had kindly bought me a coffee, so I headed down to Okells and met the gang, all sat around a couple of tables.  I did suggest thinking about making it our new home; but we will have a think about it.

10 riders (9 bikes, as we had Team Tandem)

Car parking, and some bike parking

More bike parking at the side

Sarah was not riding so kindly took our photo, and after a chat we finally set off.  It was then a bit of a challenge to extract ourselves from Hoole, with a reversing lorry, queue of cars in Charles Street, busy Hoole Road to try to turn out onto (staying all together and with the car behind sounded their horn - rude!), and then a final synchronised right turn into Ermine Road.  After a tight left to join the Greenway we were finally on our way.

We joined the canal and headed for the river, where Sarah and I recalled our Wednesday evening just gone when we came this way to see the partial lunar eclipse.  There was a hive of activity at Saltney Ferry bridge, with quite a few cars and a couple of kayaks; I was wondering if there was a tidal bore coming through, but we were a bit late so I didn't want to stop and ask.

No photos after this!  We were on the main road, then with a few hills we were quite strung out.  Up and over Caer Estyn, dropping to Caergwrle and then a short bit of main road to the cafe.

Cabin in the woods.  A lovely stretch of road from The Holly Bush pub

Blog post title

The story goes that the owner of this cute little cafe used to run the nearby care home with her husband.  After he passed away she sold the care home, but started up the cafe, as she had always wanted to do this.  I understand the cafe opened a couple of years ago

Anyway, all refreshed and rested, we set off for home; losing riders at various points as people head directly home.  I had reversed the route we used to Alyn Waters last year (See August 2025 post, "Minor Mechanical Matters"), and it was perfect - the little lane is very near to the caff, and except one car was very quiet.  Then through Alyn Waters to Llay, with a downhill drop to cross the Alyn stream and A483.  

Almost autumnal as leave falling already

Showing how dry the weather has been

Before the railway bridge is a favourite lane of mine, alongside the main road to
bring us out at the bottom of Gresford Hill, and then directly back along the Old Wrexham Road and in to Chester via Eccleston and Handbridge.

By the time we crossed the Old Dee Bridge there were only three of us, and I navigated us back to Kingsway.

25 warm and dry miles, a few hills, and more memories!  See you next month