Longer ride to a new cafe

...new to us, that is.  Fire Station at Malpas, no chocolates (not to be confused with Tarporley Fire Station and chocolate shop!).

Usual gathering at Kingsway, although the cafe is shut through Saturdays this summer due to no staff, my daughter was able to open up for us.


We sent the faster group off first with Alex, and the slower group with Linda.  This led too many for one group, so Gill led the second half but keeping us in sight so as not to get lost.

looks like a grey day...

...but some shadows here!

Out along the Canal,and Caldy Valley nature park, along to Saighton (new road layout still not finished by Rake and Pikel)

Bruera

Past the Carden Arms at Tilston.
New Years Day meet up location.

we took a fairly direct route to Maplas, after Tilston there are sandstone cut lanes, Overton Scar and the circular contour following climb up to Malpas.  We were quite warm by this point, as the weather was warm and dry if not very sunny.

inside....

...outside!

On arrival at the cafe - called Oakwood - we met the faster group who had taken the outside table, so we took over inside.  Four tables later, we were waited on and had a variety of lunches (that bit further and it is really lunchtime by now).










Our return journeys offered a selection of directly back, direct with variation via Holt to North Wales; or a scenic direct back with me.


One lady left early to get back,only to suffer a puncture and be rescued by the 'direct-to-Chester' group, who helped her out.

I had a little plan to drop to No Mans Heath (on the A41), where we crossed to Larkton, but immediately left along a smashing little lane.  This brought usto cross the A41 (again) to go through Edge - I love the name,and the hall and tiny hamlet are so cute, really old thatched cottages and almost a secret location.  Then we crossed the A41 (but sssshhhh! I was hoping no-one would notice!)  and came up the back of Bolesworth castle, along another deep sandstone cutting.

This then brought us to Tattenhall, and straight back through the usual lanes.

May the rain stay away!

Ooooh the forecast on Thursday for Saturday was rain rain all day.  By Friday (which was very, very wet) the forecast appeared to be sunny all day, but the morning to start with did not promise much other than rain!  Still, working on the premise 'Rain before 7, fine before 11'and the fact that hey, what's a bit of rain? 28 ladies dutifully gathered at Kingsway cafe (there was even a bit of sun!).

Never mind the black clouds - this is the ladies ride - we don't have rain!

And a brightly coloured crew we were too!  Three groups; slow and steady, Regular and Faster Further set off on pre-plotted routes  thanks to the magic of modern technology, Map my Ride and Facebook!

Welna and Lind led the regular group, which I joined, and we had a lovely (and even sunny in parts) ride through Hoole, along the canal to Vicars Cross, Boughton crossing by the Cherry Orchard to Stocks Lane, and Huntington to the Rake and Pikel where we took the Saighton road.

At Saighton we dropped down the hill - with one of my favourite views off to the right - Dukes Tower and Welsh hills, with added Rape field to include some colour.

At the ice cream farm a few ladies could not resist having an ice cream (even though quite a cold day!).












After coffee, snacks, and a few ice creams, we set off in our respective groups again,dropping people as we go (as they near their homes and can head back).  Past the two bridges, to Hargrave and Crocky Trail, Waverton and Christleton.  Pearl lane over the bridge and along the A41 (cycle path)

20 miles.  And no rain!

Afternoon tea and Farewell ride to Hildegard at Holt

Hildegards tea rooms at the cross in Holt has become a favourite of cyclists over the last four years.  Prior to that she ran the cafe at Waterways (near Wrexham industrial estate) and before that she was at Bellis's, when it was a small friendly cafe.  

A couple of years ago she was diagnosed with leukemia but recovered and had the all clear following treatment.  However, she is unwell again,and so is returning to her family in Munster (Germany).  I really wanted to pop down and see her again,and with her well, so an afternoon tea ride was shared on facebook for anyone to come and join me.

5 ladies met at the Piper in Hoole, and (after I popped back home for the card I had got out) we set off to Caldy Valley and Saighton, where we met Kath (from Farndon).  It was a lovely sunny afternoon as we dropped past Saighton Grange and along the lanes and back lanes to Churton.

I spied a big black and ominous cloud over Wales (you have quite a good outlook from these lanes,across the lower Dee valley), and pondered if we would make it in time before it struck - if it was indeed coming our way.  A few light spots worried me, but we carried on regardless past the Lions and into Farndon.

We met Welna and Stephen already parked outside in the sun (although they were experiencing different weather every five minutes ( jacket on, sunglasses off; sunglasses on, jacket off!).

Coffee Tea and Cake (CTC!) shared around and hugs and best wishes - and a photo with the selfie stick (I don't know why people keep laughing at me with my selfie stick!)


We parted company, and I set off with Caroline and Kath to Borras Head, and along the fab
 
contour underneath Gresford, with extravagant views across Cheshire to Frodsham, Beeston and more.  Caroline continued up and Kath and I diddled around the Hoseley lanes before also parting company.  

Spring lanes around Hoseley

Wild garlic along Duke's Drive in Chester

"Scenic and circuitous route"

Helen described the ride on facebook in this way.  I was away, in the Algarve (cycling) but managed to propose a few routes for the Saturday.  

That is about all I know at the moment!

A couple of photos posted by Helen...

Spring Fever

OK, so not quite Spring in March, and it was a cold rather than a fever.....

I had been fighting with razor blades in my throat through Friday night, and on Saturday, much to my annoyance the pain persisted.  I came to the café (after a brief warning Friday night on facebook that I was not well) to meet all and dish out sign in sheets.  We were lucky to have 5-6 leaders, three with routes not dissimilar to mine, and I was able to send them off with a wave and a photo.  Alex did the ‘talky bit’ (with me prompting) – she said she was more nervous than she is in front of a bunch of schoolchildren! (and she is a teacher!)

So, I rely on the facebook comments of the ride, and photos thereon.

Ruth says:

Saturday ride. Friendly chatter at Kingsway....

Three groups.... 

Dry but cold! Despite 4 layers and three pairs of gloves, I was still cold...the warmth of the cafe at Delamere station was very welcome! 

Safely led and guided by Welna, we were a group of ?9 to the cafe...  Cycling along I thought to myself I really need to do more rides east of Chester as I didn't know the lanes so well! Maybe this summer - but it's rapidly filling up. I thought retirement was meant to be peaceful and quiet, far from it.  

Four of us returned to the Dee Miller and home in time for Wales v Ireland!! 

Take care and maybe see you at the spring 50! That will certainly be a test and challenge for me as Saturday was my first or second ride out since Dec 25th...and no time to get much of a ride in before the day! 

from facebook....

Thanks to Alex for leading the ride to Delamere Stn Cafe . Hope you're feeling better Sue Booth 

·   Sue  Super dooper girls.

14 March at 14:09 · Like · 2

·          

Elaine lovely ride! Thanks Alex

14 March at 14:11 · Like · 2

·          

Collette  It was lovely to see you again Elaine & you look great! 

14 March at 14:12 · Like · 2

·          

Alex Great ride. Thanks for the company girls. Just had hot soup at the zoo and contemplating my ride home:-(

14 March at 14:49 · Unlike · 3

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Elaine  Thanks Collette! Are you feeling better now? X

14 March at 15:15 · Like · 1

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Collette  Much better - put it down to middle age! Cuppa & a few paracetamol & I'm as right as rain. Thanks x

14 March at 16:35 · Like · 2

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Alex  Home now....thank god!

14 March at 17:30 · Unlike · 2

·          

Sue  Have you been out having adventures?!

14 March at 17:41 · Like

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Elaine  Was the ride back ok?

14 March at 18:07 · Like

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Alex  Just riding home, Sue, after meeting the boys at the zoo for a bite of lunch. Trying to get the miles in as doing the Sea 2 sea in a couple of weeks. Elaine, the ride home was fine....shame it was mostly uphill

14 March at 18:28 · Like · 1

Sue Alex ...?!!!!!!

14 March at 15:46 · Like

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Alex  what, Sue???

14 March at 16:38 · Like

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Sue  Your face....are you about to say something!!

14 March at 16:54 · Like

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Alex  Probably...that's why I kept missing the Turnings!;-)

14 March at 17:29 · Like

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Sue  There is a story unravelling with all these Facebook comments!!

14 March at 17:37 · Like

   Sue  Christine  you look like you have a halo!

14 March at 15:54 · Like · 4

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Christine  Indeed I do. Maybe it was because I only has ONE piece of cake!! Ha ha

14 March at 16:53 · Like · 1

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Sue  Was it cake in a-bun-dance?

14 March at 16:57 · Like · 1

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Sue (That just snuck in there! !)

14 March at 16:57 · Like · 1

Welna Thanks to my regular group today you did great! Pity no more photos. Only one of the breakaway group on our way back to Chester via Platts Lane

·Louise  Thanks Welna, it was a lovely ride.

14 March at 15:23 · Unlike · 3

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Ruth  Great ride, great company. Thanks Welna for leading us to cake and snacks and safely home again

14 March at 17:32 · Unlike · 1

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Sharon  Sorry you missed out Sue but you know when your body says " you can try but i'll make you feel even more worse tomorrow" Hope you feel better soon xx. To Welna a big thank you for leading and getting us to the cafe, had a lovely dinner there and then a great ride home. About 44 miles for me today the furthest i been this year xxx

14 March at 18:20 · Unlike · 3

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Welna  'only' 37.36mi for me today - Sharon 's definitely the furthest!

14 March at 18:38 · Unlike · 1

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Welna  Sharon I like the way your bike light blinked just when I took the photo!

14 March at 18:39 · Like · 1

Thanks to Collette, Welna and Christine for the photos.