12th March 2009: The Trout Farm

Photographs by Ray Hardman

Why is it always a stiff westerly head wind when Caergwrle is our start point? At least Graham had benefited on his ride in from Prestatyn. At the Tea Rooms Dave B, Brian and Graham were already settled in to the tea cakes as I arrived with Jim and Dave in tow: this is five more than last time from Caergwrle! It was such a beautiful sunny day that we thought the 'deglas would be too good to miss so I promised an easy pace on the six mile climb and away we went. Two miles to Pontblyddyn and then left up the climb where we settled down into an easy rhythm. The rule was that if the chatter stopped then the pace was too high and we reached the top as a group, with just one “photo opportunity” on the way. The cross wind didn't trouble us but as we turned onto the A525 at Llandegla the wind was on our backs to help us along to the Trout Farm. Here we were Stephanie's only visitors, other than the fishermen, so we settled down at the big table looking out over the lakes where the fly lines were snaking back and forth to drop their flies in anticipation of tempting this month's record catch. With the sun streaming in through the window we put so much of the world to rights that I wondered why it is that the G8 summits aren't held at the Trout Farm.
Having fully recovered and refuelled we set off for the steps down to Cefn-Y-Bedd and on through Llay to enter the Cheshire lanes approaching Burton and then turning into the wind for Kinnerton. Sandy Lane led us back towards Lower Mountain where Graham bade us farewell and we carried on to Caergwrle where we clocked 30 miles round trip. The others were dreadfully disappointed not to be able to accompany me back through Llay, Rossett, Holt, Churton, Tattenhall and Beeston before returning to Chester for a total of 85 miles - but next time eh!
RH