Good or bad happy or sad…

Let’s stick together. We were all up early for the ride over the long Mynd and the faffing commenced, Andy’s tyre looked a bit flat so we stopped to pump it up a bit. My cable pulled through so I had to stop at the base of the climb stopping again at the Mynd summit, Graham helpfully looped back to assist, after an initial descent and a small climb Andy Jo and Tony seemed to vaporise. Paul B and I waited while Paul M, Tim, Kevin and Lee pressed on. It seemed Andy was fixing a puncture, the front group were well away by this point. Next we shot past the junction descending into Church Stretton and had to back track.

In Church Stretton Paul M and Lee Called, “see you in Church Stretton” I said. Tony Paul B, Jo and Andy were up the road at this point. I was in faff mode only discovering later that Paul M was re-living a Tristan moment and was between both groups. Tim and Graham were navigating an improvised route to Upton Magna while I waited for Paul M on Hazler Hill, we then rejoined Tony Y. Heading south was playing with Jo and Pauls (B&M) mind, as we headed south to Hope Bowdler and over Cardington. My mind was in a fog, was the cafe in Upton Magna or High Ercall and why couldn’t I get an internet connection so I could check?, ignoring my rule, always stick to your first plan, I told Tim “See you in High Ercall”, bad decision number two !

Carding mill valley brought back memories of growing up and riding round Shropshire and an old club mate even posted on my Strava feed with various humours suggestions. The “I just want to get back tension” was building as we dropped into the Cafe at Upton Magna while the other group suffered service with a sneer in High Ercall we made friends,(after awhile in Shawbury)

Jo got on the front and we motored on to Audlem where the Cafe was shut, no worries Cos’ the pub was open! Fuelled up we stuck to the planned route back to Holmes Chapel before jumping on the A50 direct to Knutsford. Arriving just as darkness was falling.

Once more proving it’s those rides that don’t quite go to plan that are the most memorable.