A very informal affair

It came to my attention recently that following the opening of a new cycle route (actually I am sure it is a shared route!) across Burton Marshes, a new cafe had promptly opened up.

This had to be investigated!

The ride to Net's cafe is entirely off road (apart from the industrial estate but that is quiet at the weekend); so rather than splitting into groups I decided to have a couple of leaders at the front and two at the back to make sure no-one was left behind.

25 ladies met among the usual hubbub in Kingsway cafe - which feels like home now!!!  As we were leaving a few cyclists were arriving - I said it was OK, we were leaving- to which he said 'why is it when we arrive all the ladies leave!!!'.  They were from Southport, had come to Chester by train and were going to cycle back. One of them knows Juliette, the lady who set up and leads the Southport Bicycle Belles.  Small (cycling) world!  Anyway,one of them very kindly took our start up group photo (whilst the other chaps took photos of us with their cameras too!!!)

Setting off across Lime Tree Fields

Crossing blue bridge over
main road near Sealand

Off we went, although the car that stopped to let us across the zebra crossing had a bit of a shock!  The weather was dry but a little grey, and as we crossed the railway we had a flypast from the red arrows.  I was not quick enough with my camera, so I have used the image I found for last time we saw them on a ladies ride.  They were on their way to Southport Air Show.





When we got to the turn off we waited to re-group before the slightly more complicated 'zone 3'.  As we waited I was told there had been a puncture; but the lady in question I knew would be able to fix it; and also knew that my back stop ladies would be coming through.

As the waiting group grew, I thought it may be wise to send half on ahead so that orders could be got in and to avoid too long a queue at the counter.  Seconds later it rained - sorry girls!!!

Puncture fixed - and mucky hands to proove it!

Crossing the Boardwalk

Approaching Burton Point

Finally all came through, and we could then continue to the cafe, negotiating the roads and junctions.  The route is very well signposted now, and soon enough we were on the short boardwalk by Burton point, a wonderful sandstone bluff.





Net's cafe is just along from the gates, and has lots of outdoor seating; which was fortunate as it was by now gloriously sunny and warm.  Then it is just down to the serious business of refreshments and conversation - something all the ladies excel at!!!!

Net's cafe

Heading home was the usual 'ten little indians' - or in this case 30 little Indians (4 ladies met us at the cafe and I found another one on the greenway heading home - so technically 30 ladies were out!) as people split off to head home- or for some reason in several cases to go and get their hair cut!  Ah where is the Cycletta village when you need it!!!!

24 miles, 25 riders (+5!)

Bec's Big Bike Ride - our small part

I saw an article in cycleclips, the e-newsletter of CTC,about a young lady pedaling around Britain for a charity close to her heart.  I looked at the information, and she was passing through/ near to Chester on Sunday 18th August; so I got in touch.

After a couple of emails and a phone conversation with her dad (main support vehicle/ adviser /mechanic), we had agreed on a meeting point and time, and I sent / advised a route for the end of her day; from Broughton to Prenton on the Wirral.  An ideal opportunity to use our new marsh route!

In the morning was our CTC Sunday ride, and the day dawned with sunny blue skies.  I was lulled in to a false sense of summer; so pedaled 30 miles in the morning, which included some closed and quiet roads (courtesy of Etape Mercia), and rain showers. Darn it!

In the afternoon I rode out to Broughton retail park, arriving seconds after Beccy and a chap called Martin (CTC member from Hawarden) rolled up.  We enjoyed a short coffee (OK, a large coffee) until it started to rain; as soon as the rain finished we set off.

Blue Bridge near Hawarden

We headed through Broughton, and up to Manor lane, before turning left and out to Shotton.  We crossed the river Dee on the Blue Bridge, before joining the river path and then 'Zone 3' and the Burton Marshes.

Introducing Beccy, honarary Fab lady!

Martin and Beccy about to turn
into the industrial estate
that leads to the Marsh road

Beccy is cycling 2,500 miles, and today was day 8 of four weeks and a day planned out.  She is raising money for Motor Neurone Disease (MND); and especially in memory and for her mum who they lost to MND only last year.  She wanted to celebrate life and her own health.  She is certainly doing that!

After we crossed the Marshes, we met our own Nicky, who helped us to negotiate Neston (I was a little fuzzy after the Harp) - no that reads wrong - we did not stop at the Harp (that is not why I was fuzzy!) - I just had not been that far before and was not sure how it all linked together.  No need to worry, it is all beautifully signposted now through to the Wirral Way.

I have to admit I ran out of steam.  As we came into Neston, I realised the reason I was dropping behind was the additional miles this morning, and lack of fuel.  I am so used to regular/ sensible cafe stops, that I forgot I had only had a small cheese and ham toastie in Frodsham; and that was 35 miles previously!  We came upon some shops just in time, and I got some flapjack hob nob bars.  It helped a little, and I hope I did not slow Beccy down,after a long ride from Wales via Bala.

L-R: Martin; Nicky; Sue; Beccy; Beccy's dad, Will.

Top Tip - always carry food, eat enough to fuel you along, and keep drinking!

You can read Beccy's blog and follow her progress, donate if you like, or follow the link to find out a little bit more (and sign a 'charter').

(me - just 84 miles for the day - 20 with Beccy)

Destination Donkeys

I hunted high and low, I looked everywhere.  I was trying to remember when I last used it - probably the Wednesday evening ride the week before, as I knew I had not had it last Wednesday.  In the end I resigned myself to the fact I could not locate my camera in time for the ladies ride this morning.  Disappointing, but my (new) smartphone does take nice pics,so that will have to do.  (Those who know me at all know how often I pull my camera out before during and after a ride!)

I was expecting a lot of ladies; so it was in a bit of a panic that I arrived in to the cafe - people inside and outside the cafe.  I managed to disperse three sign in sheets, and get myself a coffee.  I didn't, however, take my start photo, so this post has a bit of a boring start.

Linda set off with her mid paced and distance group, whilst I tried to phone the cafe (note to self: I absolutely have to do this a few days before!).  Then we set off, and lastly Welna with the most direct route.

The sky was uniformly grey, there was no rain which is good, but no sun either, although it was not too cold.  We headed out on the Greenway to Mickle Trafford,then widdled round Christleton and Waverton, along the canal and over sneaky Golden Nook Bridge (often catches people out with a steep climb over the canal).  On out to Huxley, then through Tarporley and up to Utkinton.

Finally I could take some photos!!!!  (These have already appeared on the facebook group page)

Taking over the conservatory

Two all day breakfasts please!

Note bikes along the fence- but not a donkey to be seen?

Then we found the donkeys!  Now they have all sorts of animals,not just donkeys.  But they also had baby animals, sooo cute!

Little goats were keen to say hello!

Ladies visiting the animals

Baby donkey - toooo cute!!!!

The time came to return - although a small contingent headed to Kelsall to another deli - The Greedy Pig, owned and run by another Fabulous Lady (Raina).  Linda led one group back, and another group assembled to head straight back.  Seven of us followed the road the two miles to our second destination.

Fabulous You and the sun finally came out!

Fab ladies at The Greedy Pig in Kelsall, enjoying a second coffee stop!

As we were sitting, we noted a number of racing Kelloggs tops coming round the corner and heading up Kelsall hill.  Part of the Manchester to Wrexham and back 100 mile fundraising cycle ride - and they continued to pass us for the rest of the ride home.  Which was mostly downhill!

As we headed back the usual parting took place at various junctions, until there were just three of us heading along the canal , where we spied some little black fluffy baby coots!






27 riders, with 24, 28 and 30 summer miles!  Three cafes, if you include Kingsway at the start!

July to Jemoleys

…another new café!

I genuinely lost count of how many ladies were out today.  Suffice to say we had three pretty full groups, led by Moira, Linda and myself.

Nearly all at the start

And what a scorcher!  It was 21° at 8am, when I dropped my eldest off to Duke of Edinburgh Silver Expedition to Derbyshire.  Sharon’s waterbottle which had started off as frozen, was tepid with a few little bits of ice in by the time we got to Pulford (10 miles!).

at the top of the hill after Golly

...and the downhill after!

I had heard about (yet another) new café that has opened in Pen-Y-Ffordd.  So Moira led a 12 mile via the Greenway, Blacon, Saltney Ferry and Hawarden; Linda and I led two groups out to Eccleston, Rossett (apologies to the three ladies who live there and had already just cycled in to Chester!), Burton, Golly and Shordley.

Near to Shordley there is a tree, carved to look like a guitar player (I understand that the guy who lives there is a music teacher/guitar teacher) - I think it looks like Bob Marley...

What a super café!  One long queue later, and we were all sat outside (and inside) with cakes a-plenty!  Very friendly café and very helpful!

Outside....

...inside!

At some point though, we had to make our way back; nice as it was sunning ourselves on the patio.  The café willingly filled our water bottles, and, minus a few people heading directly back home, we returned as two groups, heading first up the hill out of Pen-Y-Ffordd and then two smashing descents with superb views over to Beeston and Peckforton.

28 and 24 miles, 24 riders.

Fabulous Happy 5th Birthday everyone!

When I started the Chester Fabulous Ladies 5 years ago, I had no plans other than to organise a ride each month, for women to join in, to build their confidence in group riding, their own abilities and to show them some lovely safe quiet lanes and routes.  After a year we were finding many cafes, and I was pleased I had not even repeated a route - not even backwards!

We had a weekend away to Bridges YH in Shropshire, numbers were steady but small, new cafes continued.  A few more years and some of us had fab ladies tops, and before I knew it, it was five years since the first short ride back to Kingsway cafe in June 2008.

To mark the event we had five rides planned by our leaders, culminating in a picnic lunch at The Cheshire Cat in Christleton.

First off...Jo-anne led the first 6 on her longer route.











Some photos shared via facebook...

Second group for the off, led by Linda...


...a small select group, and here they are about to join the canal at Waverton to come back to the Cheshire Cat.

The third group was led by Jane, and here they are about to set off...

Welna led the fourth group out, which I joined (more below)...

and last - but not least - Moira and Kate took a leisurely short relaxed ride.













Back to the ride I joined- we set off through to Guilden Sutton,and along the A51 (on the footpath), before turning right into lanes by Cotton Edmunds.  Shortly after this we turned down to the Roman Bridges, a route we have used before, but is always pretty.

So we stopped for a few photos...







...after which it all went wrong (for me).  The puncture I had fixed from Wednesday night came back, and despite help we could not find the cause.  A new tube did not last long; so in the end I waved Welna and the ladies off to complete the planned route,and I hobbled back, pumping up the tube when I could and changing it yet again.

Fortunately I arrived just after Welna's group, so no-one had to wait too long for me (I hope).

We all enjoyed our Pimms (or not) and wraps,and chocolate cake, using picnic blankets wrapped round knees as the tables were in the shade with a cold drafty wind.  so despite it being a beautiful warm and sunny day, much shivering was to be had.  However, I do not think it dampened spirits!

In the sun for a large group photo

last photo with all the leaders.

Many thanks to the leaders for holding rides - wish I could've done full route!











Sue