Thursday 14 November 2024 - Laureen's Ride - The Northern Loop. And a visit to 'Aspire'

On a misty morning, Sue can be seen trying to locate any lost souls who may have made it to Timperley Bridge by 9:30 and who may be wondering what comes next. Nobody was there, so we pedalled off to Hale Station for the 9:45 meeting point there. Paul and Jeanette were in situ, getting puzzled looks from fellow members of the Seamons club, who were about to set off on their road bikes and were concerned that Paul wouldn't be able to keep up on his mountain bike.

It took a few miles of tarmac, with rear lights handy in the mist, before the bridleways of Laureen's Ride presented an opportunity to pause for a group photo.
 

The bridleways of Deepest Cheshire seem riddled with purple signs denoting 'Laureen's Ride:



The route comprises several loops, with the southern bridleways rather muddier than the northern ones we enjoyed today. We came across some highland cattle. Sue's picture, shown here below mine, is as usual better than mine...

The paths like the one shown here are a delight to ride, and we didn't encounter any horses, whom Laureen probably had in mind when the route was designed.

This path is by Lindow Court Park, by the entrance to Lindow Moss,
and features on our Lindow Moss walks.

The mist cleared, and we enjoyed a perfect autumn day in Cheshire's finest countryside.

We crossed the A538 and reached a path that ascends from where the cyclists are pictured below, steeply up to run beside the airport runway.

On this occasion those ahead stopped at the point pictured above, and we enjoyed elevenses in the sunshine.

We continued for a kilometre until I realised I'd left my sunglasses at the elevenses spot, so there was a delay for Sue and Jeanette to watch the aircraft while Paul and I recovered the glasses (which have since been properly lost - a regular occurence).

We disturbed some crows on the perimeter track, attacking a kestrel, which looked very sad. I couldn't think of a way of getting it to a rescue centre, and I thought it might be kinder to despatch it rather than simply leave it to the mercy of the crows. There were other people around, so I moved on.

Nature red in tooth and claw (Tennyson)

Soon we arrived at the Earlams Community Cafe in Styal village, where we enjoyed more coffee and cake before descending down steep steps past Styal Mill

A steep pull up the path beyond the mill was hampered by slippery cobbles and was so pretty that most of us dismounted to take photos anyway.

That was it as far as photos were concerned on my part. Before returning to the tarmac to get back to Timperley from Mobberley, we enjoyed some lovely leaf strewn bridleways, just a little mud, and some field paths that were quite hard work.

Our route is shown below - about 60km with 300 metres ascent. After stopping at Paul and Jeanette's house in Hale for more tea and cake, our total time out was about six hours, but cycling time was around four hours.

 

We had plenty of time to get ready for a visit (all four of us) to the Aspire restaurant at Trafford College, a few minutes walk from our house. For £22.50 each we enjoyed the following menu, plus different breads to start, and lovely chocolates and coffee to finish. Cocktails and wine were very reasonably priced.

All the courses were delicious. I'm reluctant to fumble with a camera too much in these circumstances, but the dessert shown below gives a clue as to the standard of each course.

We have booked again for an Asian themed taster menu in January. These students clearly have excellent tutors.

Monday 11 November 2024 - A Visit to Bridgewater RHS Gardens

With a prospect of blue skies, Sue and I pedalled along the towpath to RHS Bridgewater, where there was still much colour on offer despite having reached mid November.

Here's the towpath near Sale. The sky wasn't blue!

After enjoying a coffee, we strolled around the gardens and I took a few snaps:

A visitor from France secured Sue's services as her official photographer.

The Garden Cottage (below) is a grade ll listed building, part of the original Worsley New Hall Estate. Constructed in the 1840s, it's a fine example of Victorian Gothic architecture that served as a home for a succession of head gardeners and their families until the 1930s. Since then it was purchased by the Cunliffe family in the 1950s. They oversaw major alterations to the internal layout. More recently, in 2023, refurbishment has created office, study and meeting space for RHS staff.

 There are still splashes of colour amongst the brown dead heads of the beds of hydrangers.

Soil - it's fascinating.

The components of this picture will develop over the years.

Autumn crocuses

 

The next set of pictures come from Sue, who did much better than me on the day.

Back to my camera, for a few pauses on the hour's cycle ride home for lunch.