The day (for me) started at 7:00 when I found myself at Chester Racecourse in a growing sea of pink, as I had volunteered to be lead bike for the Race for Life 5k. With an early start, it meant I could still make it to the Town Hall for our 10am start, and Ian's ride to North Wales.
We set off in an unusual angle by the side of the Dublin Packet (a sign of Chester's old shipping history) and the Roman Strongroom (a sign of older Roman history!) and then out of Chester (avoiding pink clad ladies and girls leaving the racecourse still)
What a glorious sunny day!
There are a few hills to be had, leading to North Wales. My excuses piled up as I was jet lagged, had been up early that morning, not ridden much in the last few weeks, it was hot, I set off late after the last pause to take a photo (that is the usual one)
But The Miners Arms is not that far, and I made it to lunch where we gratefully sat outside in the most wonderful weather.
And such lovely leafy lanes to head back. We had a marvellous downhill - Ian warned us that the turn right was not at the bottom, so don't carry on.
Liz carried on.
We grouped under a tree, until Pete (her husband) agreed to go and find her. A few more miles in the bag for her!
Dave writes -
"Six turned up for the ride to the Ponderosa café on the Horseshoe pass. We headed out along the river to Saltney Ferry, crossed the river to Bretton, through Kinnerton to Honeys café in Hope for morning coffee.
Ian departed here to do a quick recce for his ride on the 17th and we continued on past the Ffrwd pub heading for The Steps, but Tony decided to head for home as he had been over the steps with 69 cyclists on Saturday morning.
On the route to Llandegla, we continued to Minera before heading over Worlds End. The road surface on the way down towards the Ford is full of pot holes slowing the descent. We then took a right turn passing Pen y Clawdd farm to the Horseshoe pass where we decided we would go up the old pass to the café for lunch.
Once refuelled we headed off down taking a right turn along a gated road towards Pant [I love that little lane - S] where we joined the main road before turning off to pass Llandegla mountain biking centre. On to the junction with B5430 turning left through Four Crosses on to Rhydtalog turning right on the minor road across to Llanfynydd for afternoon tea. When I was asked what the route back would be, it was no surprise to some when I replied, 'we would be going over hope mountain'!
50 miles cycled with over 4400 feet of climbing."
