Local history and hidden artifacts

I try to plan the cafes now based on where we went about four years ago, and where we haven't been for a while.  I had been avoiding Tarporley, as the last time we went (in January 2012) there were only 12 of us, and the cafe is very popular on a Saturday morning, so there was only just space for us.  Now, as our numbers have crept up, I was not so sure; but I had popped in last Sunday on our ride when we passed the cafe, and asked, and they seemed unfazed and able to take 20+ cyclists, saying they had a garden terrace at the back.

It was busy as usual at Kingsway cafe, as we slowly filled the place, and several new faces who had come along following the Wirral contribution to Cycling UK's Festival of Women last month.

I have to select the X-Large picture now to get us all on!  30 :-)
Can you spot the new Chester CTC tops among the throng?

Lacking Mr Rosie (Ken, Rosie's husband) to take our start up group photo, I asked a chap from the new trophy shop to do the honours, and, after assembling, we sent the faster further group off; followed by Linda and Catherine with regular pace, and I brought the third shorter ride out.  Not particularly slow, and following Sonia's route.

We gently headed towards Duddon, then climbed to Willington Corner.  After a short break, where we decided we were actually quite warm after all, we continued.  This road gently climbs and contours to Willington Hall Hotel, where we turn left up to the top of the Sandstone Trail.  Then we really do contour, with lovely views across Chester and the Lower Dee Valley, and to the Welsh hills (and any weather heading our way, in this case we could see rain showers)

I stopped the group to tell them about the Winged Wheel on The Swan Hotel, like the Trip advisor of the 1800's!

The cafe were as welcoming as promised, and offered to let us bring our bikes through the cafe to the garden at the back.  We settled on the raised deck, and the other groups arrived shortly afterwards.  Very speedy service, given that there were 30 of us; and although some items were forgotten - they did not forget or leave us until they were assured we all fully catered for.  Including a spare chocolate which I had mislaid and was sure Welna had eaten!  (I found it under my serviette after all that!)

Anne's photo of the FF group setting off home

Most people set off back as usual, but two stayed back with me to explore the church.  This is the essence of cycle touring; and as I was not leading a group I had the luxury of having a little look around.

Charles Hardy, proprietor at The Old Fire Station Chocolate Shop and Coffee Shop, has written a pamphlet: A Guide to Tarporley and History of Tarporley and Surrounding Areas.  He gave me a copy last week (they are free), and it had inspired me to check out St Helens Parish Church.

However, it is missing information about the Winged Wheel, so I shall send him the link!

Within St Helens, we saw the following:

 The chancel screen has Italian gates,
which were made in the 16th century,
 and brought from Siena
by the Countess of Haddington in 1889

The altar tomb in the chancel to Jane Done,
who died in 1662, Mary Crewe who died in 1690,
and her granddaughter Mary Knightley who died as a child in 1674

A monument to Sir John Crewe who died in 1711,
with his semi-recumbent effigy in a flowing robe
and weeping cherubs at his head and feet.

However, the main thing I wanted to see was the Civil War armour, purported to be on display in the church.  We walked all round, whist the organist made his best efforts to play 'Mr Blue Sky' and other unusual songs, repeating himself but appearing to improve slightly.  We could not see the armour.  Luckily, Reverend Georgina appeared, as they were preparing for a wedding, and could direct us to the armour.  Look up, she said, and sure enough, there they were.  There is another helmet in a darker corner. 

Satisfied now that I had proved there was indeed armour there, we set off again.  The little old fire engine was not available to see (in the newest fire station as you leave Tarporley at Birch Heath), so we just had to make do with the downhill 10 miles back to Chester.

30 riders, 34 miles (for me) and 3 pieces of armour.

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!