Ian's meander, 29th April 2021

There have been a couple of informal groups riding together since the ‘rule of six’ returned and I joined one of them a couple of times recently. This ride was led by Ian, with Mike, Jim, Keith and Phil following his twists and turns between cardinal coffee stops. To the north we went to Wellies at Greenlands for coffee and scones, to the east we stopped off at Wray for lunch of bacon butties and poached eggs. And then the rest went on to have some tea in Scorton. None of these stops is very far from Lancaster (which made it easy for Phil and I to bunk off after lunch) but as we set off in the right direction, Ian would put in a short ‘diversion’ to ‘get in some extra miles’. Such as the pretty road going east from Priest Hutton that bypasses Borwick. But then we did some work puffing up Sunny Bank! There are other informal groups (we saw the Bolton-le-Sands mob zip off up the A6070 while we stuffed scones…) that have been riding together, everyone beginning to get fitter in time for the emergence of a new rides programme in a few weeks time if the restrictions are relaxed a bit further.

Hope to be linking up with more old friends (they are mostly old…) in the not-too-distant future!

Tim Dant, 2nd May 2021

A Footnote to “Ian's Meanderings” - The Cardinal Tuesday Morning Coffee Shops

on 29th April, 2021

From Millenium Bridge we gained Greenlands Farm (the most northerly) via Kellet Lane, Back Lane, the wooden bridge, Back Lane & Borwick Lane (Warton), the A6 and the A6070.

After coffee, having surmounted Sunny Bank as per Tim's write-up, we used Rabbit Lane into Gressingham, Loyne Bridge, the A683 to Melling, Lodge Lane over Melling Moor to Wennington and the 'B' road to Wray, for Bridge House Farm (the most easterly).

From lunch it was 'the usual' valley route to Claughton where Tim & Phil cut for home. The 'main party' of three climbed over Caton Green then climbed to Postern Gates for a traverse of 'Happy Valley before taking a left turn over Procter Moss, down into Lower Dolphinholme and the Wagon Road to Street for a right turn at Harris End crossroads, down Long Lane, a left up Brewers Lane, across the bridge by the ford then Higher Lane, across the top of Snowhill Lane to descend Tithebarn Lane for tea at The Barn (the most southerly).

We wended our merry way home via Cleveley Bank, Whams Lane and the university, to give me personally a total of 54 miles, front door to front door.

Ian Roberts.