March 27th 2011 Ruthin (Ice Cream Farm, home via the Mills)

The first Sunday of the spring equinox brought dry weather, a tad cold due to the hour going forward. Dave, Alan and Ed met at James Street to be greeted by hoards of runners massing for the start of a marathon in the city centre.

I thought a marathon, was 8 pints , followed by a Chinese and then no sleep all night!!! The official run was Ruthin, now I had to be back home by 16.30 to get washed and cleaned up in order to take Elizabeth and kids to the Katie Perry concert at the Echo Arena.

Alan and Ed, being good eggs were ok with that and opted for a run to Tattenhall. We made our way through the Wirral lanes to the 2 mills and then onto Mollington. Lovely lanes, with the hedges starting to show their summer foliage, daffs standing to attention in the grassy banks, and the birds in full voice establishing their territory for the coming breeding season. Things like this, that you have not seen all winter make the early spring rides very enjoyable. We were riding at steady at 17's, enjoying the scenery and breathing easily, knowing exactly where we were going and all together.

We meandered through the lanes, which were even quieter than normal, due to the early start, in theory, with the hour going forward. Dave punctures (first time in 2 years) Alan, as ever offers help and before long we are back on the road again. Arrive Tattenhall 11.30, 45 min stop and then a good ride back via Farndon to the Two Mills. Arrive at the Mills ( quite empty today). Must be loads of losers doing the Cheshire cat thingy, at mach 1, giving it the bells!!

Uncle Mal turns up at the Mills, we chat about the day and all ride home together to Hamilton Square. A lovely club run, average 17mph, home at 16.00, Katie Perry was boss. She got me up to dance, and said I looked like a sportsman... I told her I was a cyclist.

She kissed me and sang “I kissed a roadman and I liked it, hope my boyfriend don’t mind”.

Dave Massen