Getting up this morning we thought we were in for an easyish day as the route didn’t have too many hill climbs, BUT this was our 13th riding day! When loading our rear panniers we noticed that one of the bolts holding the rack to the bike had sheared off at sometime and was just sitting on the back wheelnut. With the help of the pub B&B landlord and a jubilee clip the problem was soon solved. So off we went heading north out of Nantwich. Just north of Nantwich we stopped on a bridge overlooking the lock at the Venetian Marina and watched the lock in operation. Certainly is an area of busy waterways.
The riverside cycle path at Winsford was closed to cyclists so we had to look for an alternative route. With the help of a lady taxi driver we were soon heading in the right direction towards Northwich but needed to get back onto the river path passed the closure to avoid the busy roads. A few miles on we stopped to ponder on which road to take when a very friendly and helpful gentleman called Jonathan guided us to a non obvious road which put us back on route (Thank you Jonathan). Arriving in Northwich which had had lots of redevelopment in the centre caused us confusion again on the way out of the town, but with the help of a friendly greengrocer the correct roads were found and we were soon back onto our favoured country lanes. We love the countryside and it’s fresh air although today the air was a little too fresh as it seemed every farmer in the area was muck spreading!
The route continued passed the entrance to Arley Hall and Gardens and over the M6 and soon after over the M56 (so much traffic on these).
As we crossed over the Bridgwater Canal at Arden something was obviously amiss from the back of Daisy, our first puncture of the adventure! Being prepared for this eventuality, the puncture was soon repaired and cause found. Re inflation was made easier by a friendly young canal boat dweller with a high pressure pump (much quicker than ours would have done it).
Back moving again we joined the Trans Pennine Trail along the old Warrington to Broadheath railway line towards Manchester and to our B&B for tonight in Sale. Hot meal tonight from the Brewers Fayre next door!
Not the easiest day but we managed to overcome all obstacles!
Total distance today 43 miles
Total Hill Climbs 880 ft
