Route: leaving Angie and Alistair’s house and heading north east over Harthill, descending to the Cheshire plain, joining a busy A41 and then passing through Bruera and Saighton to reach Chester for coffee in a Caffe Nero. Then taking obvious roads to Upton to find the Sustrans Route 56 along an overgrown concrete path through Chester Zoo, along the Shropshire Union Canal and then on a railway track-side cycle track, minor roads and one very muddy farm track via Capenhurst, Willaston, and Raby for a beer at the Seven Stars in Thornton Hough. Then via Brimstage, Lever Causeway and Tranmere descending in traffic to reach the Birkenhead Ferry terminal at Woodside for coffee while awaiting a ferry to Liverpool. On the other side saying goodbye to Ian. Following a pavement cycleway on the very busy A5036 past endless warehouses, factories and docks (some derelict, some active) to join a cycle path at Seaforth round Marine Lake but coming to a halt where blown sand had covered the track. Thus detouring via Little Crosby and Hightown to pick up a track-side cycle path to Formby and, after a bit of confusion, a stony track through trees in the company of a small-wheeled bike aficionado to reach the narrow pavement-based cycle track along the Coast Road to find the Leicester Guest House in Southport.Conditions: initially low cloud and drizzle, giving way to sun, but very blowy by the sea.
Pubs: at lunchtime, the Seven Stars, Thornton Hough, for Brimstage Brewery Trapper’s Hat (1.5 pints each!). In the evening, the Tap and Bottles, Southport, for Fierce Split Shift American IPA and Thirsty Farmer Nottinghamshire Craft Cider.
