Sunday 13th September – Club Ride to Clapham

This ride started at Halton station, a handy spot for Mike Bridges and Ian Holland to park their car free of charge. They were at the start with leader Mike Codd,  joined shortly by Nick and Susan. Phil turned up and asked if he could join. I said “Yes”, as we had had a cancellation.

Crossing the bailey bridge, we went left past the village hall and joined the road to Caton, taking a convoluted but kinder route to join the upper road to Arrow Lane. We left it going right, just before the quarry and went through delightful countryside (“Apart from the pylons”  (Nick)).

We came out onto the KL road and turned left then right to get blown along the downhill course from Aughton, descending further through Gressingham and across Loyne Bridge. Through Hornby we turned to Wray, our coffee stop at Bridge House farm.

Having had a socially distanced coffee above the river, we continued past Millhouses and straight ahead at the next junction along the narrow lane above Wennington. A left turn onto Old Moor Road took us to a T-junction. Her, the leader got confused and turned right (back towards Wray to take a left towards Lowgill then a further left to take Mewith Lane (a left then shortly right at our T- junction would have got us to the same road). Here, Susan left us to return to watch THE TOUR.

Continuing on Mewith Lane, we finally turned left, bringing us past Clapham station and across the A65 into Clapham, where we bought butties and coffee at the village shop and saw Alan Bennett, just completing his shopping. Two sat by the river for a picnic; three sat in the Cafe’s back yard for our lunch.

Since the descent to Gressingham, I haven’t mentioned the wind. We had arrived at Clapham before noon, helped by it and also by the shortening of the ride which was originally intended to be from the Boot & Shoe. We now had its full influence all the way back to Lancaster, Crossing the A65, we continued through Bentham and Wray, still making fairly good time. Phil left us at Claughton and the rest of us continued to Halton station for Mike and Ian to load up their bikes, while Nick and I continued home to Lancaster.

40 miles and 2600 feet.

Mike Codd