8th July 2010: Audlem

Having read the blog for last week’s ride, I arrived somewhat prepared at the Ice Cream Farm brandishing photocopies of pages of the OS maps and a proposed route.  A flattish ride to Audlem was proposed and quickly accepted – sheep mode again!  The eight of us (Mike, Ray S, Graham and Jane, Liz, George, Jim and I) set off with Mike leading the way.  Mike was designated leader because he had a map holder on his bike, which was more convenient for me rather than trying holding an A4 map whilst riding along.  Confident of his map reading skills, we set off bound for Duckington via Bolesworth Hill Road.  Mike insisted we carry straight on at the Bolesworth Road turn (instead of right) thus allowing us all to “enjoy” the delights of the climb up to Harthill – so much for a non-hilly ride!  This pattern of ignoring turns featured a few times throughout the ride but it will be churlish to mention any further.
An easy ride to No Man’s Heath followed, and, crossing the A41, we went on the old road past the Wheatsheaf pub, which looked like it had been spruced up – remember those bangers and mash lunches in the earlier part of the year?  Crossing the A41, we set off for Wrenbury where we were held up by the traffic lights at the canal bridge.  There were a few suggestions about stopping at the Dusty Miller (dismissed as  “too early for lunch”) but we pedalled straight on bound for Dodcott cum Wilkesley and Cox Bank.  Here the road goes over the canal and a vista of several locks stretches northwards to Audlem. After several left turns, we pulled up in Audlem at the “The Lord Combermere” which according to the website “overlooks Audlem Square opposite the Church.  The pub and restaurant re-opened on 25th January 2006 after a £400,000 plus refurbishment.”  After somewhat of an ordering mêlée at the bar, we sat outside in the sunshine happy that 26 miles were under our belt.  The food was judged to be good to very good.  We had a quick look at the new bike shop opposite the pub that sported Scott bikes in the window- no discount given according to the new proud owner of the Scott bike who happened to be admiring his new purchase from the pavement.
The ride back to Tattenhall was classic CER i.e. all along quiet lanes through Sound, Ravensmoor, Swanley and Bunbury mostly in sunshine with the odd drop of rain.  Riding around Beeston Castle, Ray has the smell of a late afternoon cup of tea in his nostrils and he powered on towards the Ice Cream factory.  As it was just before 1630, we were in luck for once.  Mike scooted off back to Delamere “án kortinu” and presumably arrived safely.  Liz, Jim and George packed their bikes back onto their cars, whilst the rest of us wended our separate ways home.  A respectable 46 mile round trip that, with the 27 mile Chester loop, made for a very enjoyable 73 mile day’s riding.
See route map and/or gpx file download.
CA