John’s Ride 8th October 2025
A chilly morning but 6 riders turned up at the club. Apologies were given by Mic, (Poorly) and Peter (on a cruise)
We set off and toured the area west of the club taking in Eccleston, Ulnes Walton, Midge Hall, Little and Much Hoole before joining the A59 to Tarleton and turning off at Sollom towards Croston where we stopped for refreshments at the Velo Cafe. The roads had been quiet and quite dry. Luckily the gales of the last week had blown most of the leaves into the fields so there were no wet leaves on most of the roads to cause us trepidation when cornering or braking.
The Velo Cafe was very busy and it was very noisy inside so we sat outside so we could hold a conversation. As a venue for our committee meetings in the winter this looks like a problem and we my have to hold our meetings at another venue.
Having refreshed ourselves we set off again to Andertons Mill and then to Standish. Here we came up to the back of a queue caused by road works spread along a considerable length of the road. We could see this was going to be a very long wait as there was a digger filling in a long excavation further down the road and there was no way anything could pass. John knew a way round this and we all turned round and followed him back up the hill and we emerged on to the B5239 and passed The Owls Gastro Pub and arrived at Adlington where we crossed the A6 to Grimeford and the Bolton Road. After passing the Lower Reservoir we turned left through Lever Park to Rivington. Here we stopped for lunch at the Village Green Tea Room. This was a great lunch stop and every one tucked into pasties and chips. I asked, what I thought was one of the cafe’s assistants, to take our photo at the table, It was not an assistant it was the proprieter! She was a very nice elderly lady and went and got a chap from across the hall to do the photography and after thanking him we had a conversation with her. She and her husband had bought the old church hall when it was no longer needed by the church. They then started the cafe with just a few tables and after making it a great success it now boasts about 20 tables and you have to book it is so popular.
After a lovely lunch John led us up to Limbrick and then down the western side of Anglezarke Reservoir to the dam where we crossed over and carried on to the Rivington Road to Belmont Village.
At Belmont we turned left past Bolton Sailing club, over the moors and down to Abbey Village. Here we turned left down to Brinscall. On this bad stretch of road we met an on coming Quarry wagon where the road was narrow, wet and muddy. I had a slight rear wheel lock up on the mud but slowed as necessary and we carried on through Brinscall to Heapy Village. Bob Left us here for home and at the A6 Dave and Tony also left us for home. John then led Alan and I to Euxton Mills where we stopped to thank him and made our way home.
A lovely 65 mile final rideout to finish the season and it is one I am sure we would like to repeat. Thanks John.
Photos Here :
https://photos.google.com/u/1/album/AF1QipNR2mhLAk6SD_9N2GRVezhFLqpE9Ia2LyoFN-lk
Rever Link