Has_Spring_Arrived_7-4-13

Has Spring arrived? 7th April 13

After a number of weeks where numbers on the Sunday club runs could have been counted on one hand a very healthy 14 riders set out from Southport for this particular version.

Amongst the elite was club chairman Allan Taylor who was a welcome addition after being absent from the peloton for some months.

Greg Rycroft and Eddie Marshall had apparently left the group just after Tarleton Rumour had it that they had forgotten their passports which would be needed to get them North of Preston.

With Spencer Coltman and Steve Duffell on the front of the group Preston was soon in site and I was under the impression that Chipping was to be the Café stop. My protestations fell on deal ears when the route was to be through the centre of Preston followed by the main road to Longridge via Grimsargh.

Still it meant that we reached Longridge in double quick time and we were soon climbing Jeffrey Hill. A bit of a disaster here when Steve Duffel collided with yours truly and ended up in a heap. No harm done however and he was soon back on his bike. A general re grouping took place on top of the climb were we had chance to admire the view on what was the best day we had had for weeks. After the descent Spence decided that Chipping was not far enough and wanted to press on to Waddington.

Allan and one or two others decided that Chipping was far enough for them so the peloton split. Spence then tried to take the Waddington bound group to Dunsop Bridge until he was pointed in the right direction. The café at Waddington was as welcome as ever.

The return route took in the back road off the Waddington Fell climb and then the back road into Chipping. We lost Allan Stark at this point ???. It was on to Preston via the "quiet road" out of Chipping to Woodplumpton. A beautiful day.

Has Spring arrived?

Pete Leonard 7/04/2013

Website Designed by Taylored Web Solutions