OP
OP
a.twiddler
Veteran
19/7/26
Recumbent Ride Part 1
Wirral Circular Trail on the Rans.
Home to New Brighton
I’d had this trip in mind for some time. The Wirral Circular trail is shorter than the return journey to the start point from home, but in terms of time the use of the Wirral Way rail trail and various cycle paths makes it potentially slow in places. Not to mention the potential for getting off the route.
I’d been looking on Streetview to try to get some certainty to the route finding but I still had doubts about the urban section on the Eastern side. No point putting it off, I just had to get on and do it. I’d done the Neston to Leasowe section and return last year on the Linear, and other parts of the route more recently (and still managed to get lost). I’d have preferred to do it on a weekday to avoid the crowds but other commitments determined otherwise.
I got up at 05:30 with a view to getting going at 06:00. All the gear was on the bike or nearby. I didn’t feel brilliant but hoped I’d feel better once I got going.
Home to Tiverton
As it turned out I got going at 06:20 into a slight headwind. It was cool and cloudy but going to warm up later. I didn’t mind starting off feeling a bit cold as I would soon warm up. I wore a T shirt and a gilet which I knew I could put over the seat back later. After getting eaten alive by horseflies at Burton Marsh last time I took this route in shorts, I wore long trousers today.
I soon found that I couldn’t get any speed up. I estimated about 3 hours to Neston at my usual leisurely pace which I could normally keep up all day. I can usually do the 30 miles or so to Net’s Cafe between Burton Marsh and Neston non stop. To start with, I found it hard going which didn’t promise well for the rest of the day. I put it down to lack of sleep. Normally about an hour to Tiverton, after a climb on the second half of Hickhurst Lane to Eaton, then a series of climbs and descents to Four Lane Ends. I reached the layby before my turn to Tiverton in an hour and a quarter. Here I took a short break and walked about. Then, down a hill and a right turn to Tiverton. There hadn’t been much traffic about so far.
Tiverton to Waverton
After a short climb It was mostly flat or slightly downhill from here to Huxley so I hoped to make up a bit of time without too much effort. This went fairly well and I turned left downhill in Huxley to turn right on to Long Lane. This was also part of NCN 45 and I began to see groups of cyclists.
Progress was slow again before reaching Waverton. I dived into a convenient field for a pee break before continuing. Once in Waverton the dilemma was this: to go straight on over Eggbridge Lane and get directly on to the Whitchurch Road or turn right and take the longer route via Eggbridge Lane, left on Brownheath Road, left on to Plough Lane, actoss to Quarry Lane, Faulkner’s Lane and left on to Pepper St to join the same road nearer Chester. I could hear traffic on the Whitchurch road from across the fields to the left so decided to take the longer route in the interests of a more peaceful ride.
Waverton to Hawarden Bridge
Eventually I came over the canal bridge on Pepper St and turned right on to the pavement cycle path to the big roundabout before Chester. Using the cyclist/pedestrian crossing then on the pavement path alongside Boughton Road into Chester. Back on the road where it ended, though traffic here was still quiet.
A change of plan at Hoole Lane lights as the turn was barriered off with Road Closed signs and temporary traffic lights. A plan B surfaced. The headwind had been steady but not too strong. Instead of finding another way on to the Chester Greenway, I would take the waterfront route and the Wales Coast Path to Hawarden Bridge.
So I carried on to turn left down Dee Lane, then follow The Groves along the river, then after the Old Dee Bridge
take the cyclepath which skirts the Roodee car park, under the Grosvenor bridge then the curved path which runs alongside the racecourse. A branch of the cyclepath goes through a railway arch then follows the river. I’ve not used this path before but it was very pleasant. It runs between some spick and span new developments and the river before coming out on to a pavement path by the canal access to the Dee. Although when I’ve passed here recently it’s been clear, the canal was full of tall reeds again. The lock gates are still missing. I wonder if they’re going to be replaced?
After a short spell on the pavement the path goes left into a park and comes out on the other side where some path repairs are going on. There are some pedestrian lights here.
I sailed on towards Wales. It’s a novelty going this way as with the prevailing wind it’s more sheltered on the Chester Greenway, and the wind helps you in the opposite direction as it’s wide open, on top of a flood barrier. Despite the headwind I felt I was doing better here. There were crowds of cyclists and early Sunday runners in both directions. There were some markers for the Wales Coast Path.
Also someone had sprayed “Free Letby” on the path like a road sign in white.
The first of three bridges got closer, a concrete footbridge. Through some barriers, sharp right on to a lane, then after passing the bridge entrance, sharp left again uphill on to the coast path. There was a stencilled graffiti saying “Free Letby” but it’s been painted over. More grafitti whose meaning escapes me. Local drug gangs perhaps?
Back on the Wales Coast Path the next bridge seemed far away but inexorably loomed near. The path dipped under it then came up again. The nearby next bridge brought you level with a road with a cycle/pedestrian crossing and a zig zag past a corner house to get back on the path.
Hawarden Bridge To Neston
It didn’t take long to get to Hawarden Bridge, up a short slope to bridge level then right and downhill to a path which led to a turn off for Neston. A wooded ride with some dips then out on to a fenced road leading to an industrial estate. There were cycle paths alongside each road, well surfaced, too. The path came alongside a dual carriageway before crossing underneath it, through some barriers, left out on to a lane, right under another bridge along a lane before a sharp right turn through some more barriers to climb steeply up to the path which goes through Burton Marsh reserve.
Feeling in need of a break now, I pushed on along the boardwalks, crossed some cattle grids and finally came to the pair of gates which leads out on to Denhall Lane. An older couple on bikes were just coming through and held the gates open for me. “I’m only doing this”, the man said, “because I like that you’re riding a bike with a Reynolds frame!” “Thanks”, I said, thinking, well spotted! Only a hundred yards or so before I could gratefully turn right upslope into Net’s Cafe. Only about a mile or so to my access to the Wirral Way in Neston from here.
It had taken nearly four hours to reach this spot. Plus the time taken for a break, I could feel the buffer which I’d hoped my early start would bring disappearing like a morning mist.
After a cheese and ham panini and a full fat Coke, a peer at the map and a visit to the conveniences, I hit the road intending to make the most of things. At least I felt better than I did earlier.
Denhall Lane to Old Quay, right uphill on Marshlands Road, Bull Hill, left into Town Lane then Mellock Lane before coming to a halt where Station Road meets it on the left. To the right, a nondescript gate which someone was holding open to let two horse riders out. This was the entrance to the Wirral Way.
Neston to Hooton via Wirral Way.
How could I have not found this on the two previous occasions that I’d tried? Having found it on Streetview since made it a bit easier. A housing estate had been built on the site of Neston South station, and the actual trail has a gap of about a mile downhill before it restarts under the viaduct carrying the current railway.
Once the horses had gone I got through the gate and found myself almost immediately in Windle Hill cutting. It is impressive, having been cut out of the rock, reinforced with brick in some places.
Sloping downhill for perhaps a couple of miles, I wasn’t able to get up much speed due to the walkers everywhere. I hoped that they might thin out further away from town. At the end of the cutting a steep slope led uphill to a more level surface.
Soon near Willaston, having to get through a gate due to restricted access then under the Chester High Road, another gate then out on to the trail. Still crowds of people, across a road at a level crossing complete with gates to the restored station at Hadlow Road, complete with track. It was absolutely heaving with people.
I took some photos then rode on. Still plenty of people with dogs, bikes, kids and what have you. The surface was quite loose with fine grit compared with other rail trails I have known. A side effect was that at least I could be heard crunching along as I came up behind them, supplemented with the occasional ding. Not so many roadies about. Perhaps the surface put them off. Certainly the Rans coped quite well with it.
The trail began to curve to the left, hopefully signifying the approach to Hooton. I heard a train rumbling by, and the trail came on to a platform with railings on the right to separate the platform edge from the former trackbed at a lower level. I’d arrived at Hooton Station. I got up the steep ramp to the road by the bridge. It had a most LWB recumbent-unfriendly hairpin halfway up so I ended up pushing the last bit.
I stopped at the top to look at my map and get orientated. A group of older male riders came along on my side of the road. They commented on the bike and asked where I was heading. When I said New Brighton via the Wirral Circular trail they were most helpful with directions to Eastham Ferry and said they’d just come from there.
We parted ways. They went down the ramp, and I crossed the road and headed for Hooton.
Hooton to Eastham Ferry
I came to a major road and waited at some traffic lights, crossed over on green and found myself on a 20mph road. This soon came to a T junction where I turned left and after a few miles came to another T junction on a road with motorway traffic roaring along on the other side of a barrier. According to the map the road crossed over the motorway a few miles leftwards so I turned left and followed it. I passed some tall brick arched barns which I’d seen from the M53 whenever I’d passed over the years so had a good idea where I was. Once over the motorway I came to the rather pretty village of Eastham and took a signposted right turn by the Hooton Arms which eventually brought me to Eastham Ferry. It was packed with cars, many motorcycles and crowds of people wandering about. I found an information board and saw that the route I wanted was across a car park to the North side.
Eastham Ferry to Seacombe Ferry Terminal
I crossed the car park and found a trail signposted Port Sunlight. I followed the trail initially along the coast then it turned inland. I continued to follow the Circular Trail signs through some anonymous industrial estate roads. I became a bit disorientated but as long as I was able to find the signs, felt OK.
I followed a sign on to Dock Road South and a small way down the road noted a sign readable from a side road on the left pointing back to Eastham Ferry. I continued in the direction I was going and eventually came to a small roundabout. There was a shared path sign in each of several directions. I tried them all as there was no obvious Circular Trail sign. They all led to closed gates (it was a Sunday). I thought I might have missed some narrow trail entrance on one of the short roads and went back to double check.
Having convinced myself that I hadn’t missed anything I went back the way I came. Initially I double checked the signpost by the side road. If it was designed to be viewed by cyclists coming from the side road might there be another sign further down that road?
First, I went back to the main road to see if there was any other information. Nothing. OK then. Back to the turn off from Dock Road South. I rode into a newly built housing estate hoping for some tiny path with a sign to appear. I had absolutely no idea where I was in relation to Seacombe. Having wasted the best part of an hour, I was fuming. My basic Garmin has a compass function. I set it and then headed for a road junction where I took a few turns until I was heading North. I ended up on the road to Lower Bebington which was roughly in the right direction, the B5136. I needed to turn East somewhere further along to get through Birkenhead to the Circular Trail again.
The road had a cyclepath each side with raised humps separating them from the traffic, which was reassuring.
After what I felt was a long enough distance I took a random right turn at some traffic lights and came across a sign to Seacombe on the Circular trail. I’m still not sure of the exact route but I rode a cyclepath on a major road for a while, lost the trail again and just followed the compass across several major roundabouts until I ended up on a road alongside the Birkenhead Mersey Tunnel access road. I passed near the toll booths then crossed the tunnel approach road at a lower level. After zig zagging through the streets of Birkenhead I crossed a corner of Hamilton Square.
I followed Hamilton St. to another large roundabout and followed Shore Road. I turned right down Pacific road hoping I could find a connection at the end to the Circular Trail but didn’t manage to find it. Back up Pacific Road, right on Shore Rd. then right again on Canning St. It became Tower Road which I followed through two roundabouts and a swing bridge. I was about to go round a third roundabout when I spotted a Wirral Circular Trail sign and crossed over to follow it along the waterfront to the Seacombe Ferry viewpoint. I was mighty relieved to have found it as I knew now the trail led along the shore as far as Hoylake so it would be impossible to get off it by accident. I’d also ridden the stretch from Leaseowe previously so I knew what to expect from there on.
I stopped to take some photos of a cruise ship and the Liverpool skyline opposite then carried on to Seacombe.
The ship appears to be the Azamara Quest.
Seacombe to New Brighton.
I followed the trail from the other side of Seacombe Ferry Terminal and found myself on the promenade. It would be a straightforward ride from here to New Brighton, though there was a rather strong headwind to contend with. Having squandered time getting lost and finding my route again still left me feeling a bit pressured. It was about 4pm. Still, having spotted an Ice Cream van at Egremont I just had to stop and have a 99 and a full fat coke while sitting in the shade on a concrete wall. I was relieved that none of the multitudes of passers by wanted to stop and talk about the bike.
I watched what looked like an oil rig support vessel slowly make its way past the forest of container cranes in red and white on the opposite shore.
I got under way again and rolled steadily through Wallasey and found the wind direction changing as the coastline slowly bent round to the West. Suddenly I was in New Brighton, with crowds of parked vehicles, loud music and people thronging the promenade. I’d hoped to ride round the outside of the marine lake but not with this crowd. I settled for leaning the Rans on the railings and taking a photo there. It didn’t look deep, as someone was wading thigh deep near the edge.
Snapped a statue of a mermaid,
then I just had to get on the road for a mile or two to be able to make some progress. I hoped that it wasn’t all going to be like this for the next few miles.
About 63 miles so far. A bit less to get home across the top of the Wirral and down the other side. Via Hoylake, West Kirby, Neston, Chester and to mid Cheshire via a more direct route than the one that got me here.
Recumbent Ride Part 1
Wirral Circular Trail on the Rans.
Home to New Brighton
I’d had this trip in mind for some time. The Wirral Circular trail is shorter than the return journey to the start point from home, but in terms of time the use of the Wirral Way rail trail and various cycle paths makes it potentially slow in places. Not to mention the potential for getting off the route.
I’d been looking on Streetview to try to get some certainty to the route finding but I still had doubts about the urban section on the Eastern side. No point putting it off, I just had to get on and do it. I’d done the Neston to Leasowe section and return last year on the Linear, and other parts of the route more recently (and still managed to get lost). I’d have preferred to do it on a weekday to avoid the crowds but other commitments determined otherwise.
I got up at 05:30 with a view to getting going at 06:00. All the gear was on the bike or nearby. I didn’t feel brilliant but hoped I’d feel better once I got going.
Home to Tiverton
As it turned out I got going at 06:20 into a slight headwind. It was cool and cloudy but going to warm up later. I didn’t mind starting off feeling a bit cold as I would soon warm up. I wore a T shirt and a gilet which I knew I could put over the seat back later. After getting eaten alive by horseflies at Burton Marsh last time I took this route in shorts, I wore long trousers today.
I soon found that I couldn’t get any speed up. I estimated about 3 hours to Neston at my usual leisurely pace which I could normally keep up all day. I can usually do the 30 miles or so to Net’s Cafe between Burton Marsh and Neston non stop. To start with, I found it hard going which didn’t promise well for the rest of the day. I put it down to lack of sleep. Normally about an hour to Tiverton, after a climb on the second half of Hickhurst Lane to Eaton, then a series of climbs and descents to Four Lane Ends. I reached the layby before my turn to Tiverton in an hour and a quarter. Here I took a short break and walked about. Then, down a hill and a right turn to Tiverton. There hadn’t been much traffic about so far.
Tiverton to Waverton
After a short climb It was mostly flat or slightly downhill from here to Huxley so I hoped to make up a bit of time without too much effort. This went fairly well and I turned left downhill in Huxley to turn right on to Long Lane. This was also part of NCN 45 and I began to see groups of cyclists.
Progress was slow again before reaching Waverton. I dived into a convenient field for a pee break before continuing. Once in Waverton the dilemma was this: to go straight on over Eggbridge Lane and get directly on to the Whitchurch Road or turn right and take the longer route via Eggbridge Lane, left on Brownheath Road, left on to Plough Lane, actoss to Quarry Lane, Faulkner’s Lane and left on to Pepper St to join the same road nearer Chester. I could hear traffic on the Whitchurch road from across the fields to the left so decided to take the longer route in the interests of a more peaceful ride.
Waverton to Hawarden Bridge
Eventually I came over the canal bridge on Pepper St and turned right on to the pavement cycle path to the big roundabout before Chester. Using the cyclist/pedestrian crossing then on the pavement path alongside Boughton Road into Chester. Back on the road where it ended, though traffic here was still quiet.
A change of plan at Hoole Lane lights as the turn was barriered off with Road Closed signs and temporary traffic lights. A plan B surfaced. The headwind had been steady but not too strong. Instead of finding another way on to the Chester Greenway, I would take the waterfront route and the Wales Coast Path to Hawarden Bridge.
So I carried on to turn left down Dee Lane, then follow The Groves along the river, then after the Old Dee Bridge
take the cyclepath which skirts the Roodee car park, under the Grosvenor bridge then the curved path which runs alongside the racecourse. A branch of the cyclepath goes through a railway arch then follows the river. I’ve not used this path before but it was very pleasant. It runs between some spick and span new developments and the river before coming out on to a pavement path by the canal access to the Dee. Although when I’ve passed here recently it’s been clear, the canal was full of tall reeds again. The lock gates are still missing. I wonder if they’re going to be replaced?
After a short spell on the pavement the path goes left into a park and comes out on the other side where some path repairs are going on. There are some pedestrian lights here.
I sailed on towards Wales. It’s a novelty going this way as with the prevailing wind it’s more sheltered on the Chester Greenway, and the wind helps you in the opposite direction as it’s wide open, on top of a flood barrier. Despite the headwind I felt I was doing better here. There were crowds of cyclists and early Sunday runners in both directions. There were some markers for the Wales Coast Path.
Also someone had sprayed “Free Letby” on the path like a road sign in white.
The first of three bridges got closer, a concrete footbridge. Through some barriers, sharp right on to a lane, then after passing the bridge entrance, sharp left again uphill on to the coast path. There was a stencilled graffiti saying “Free Letby” but it’s been painted over. More grafitti whose meaning escapes me. Local drug gangs perhaps?
Back on the Wales Coast Path the next bridge seemed far away but inexorably loomed near. The path dipped under it then came up again. The nearby next bridge brought you level with a road with a cycle/pedestrian crossing and a zig zag past a corner house to get back on the path.
Hawarden Bridge To Neston
It didn’t take long to get to Hawarden Bridge, up a short slope to bridge level then right and downhill to a path which led to a turn off for Neston. A wooded ride with some dips then out on to a fenced road leading to an industrial estate. There were cycle paths alongside each road, well surfaced, too. The path came alongside a dual carriageway before crossing underneath it, through some barriers, left out on to a lane, right under another bridge along a lane before a sharp right turn through some more barriers to climb steeply up to the path which goes through Burton Marsh reserve.
Feeling in need of a break now, I pushed on along the boardwalks, crossed some cattle grids and finally came to the pair of gates which leads out on to Denhall Lane. An older couple on bikes were just coming through and held the gates open for me. “I’m only doing this”, the man said, “because I like that you’re riding a bike with a Reynolds frame!” “Thanks”, I said, thinking, well spotted! Only a hundred yards or so before I could gratefully turn right upslope into Net’s Cafe. Only about a mile or so to my access to the Wirral Way in Neston from here.
It had taken nearly four hours to reach this spot. Plus the time taken for a break, I could feel the buffer which I’d hoped my early start would bring disappearing like a morning mist.
After a cheese and ham panini and a full fat Coke, a peer at the map and a visit to the conveniences, I hit the road intending to make the most of things. At least I felt better than I did earlier.
Denhall Lane to Old Quay, right uphill on Marshlands Road, Bull Hill, left into Town Lane then Mellock Lane before coming to a halt where Station Road meets it on the left. To the right, a nondescript gate which someone was holding open to let two horse riders out. This was the entrance to the Wirral Way.
Neston to Hooton via Wirral Way.
How could I have not found this on the two previous occasions that I’d tried? Having found it on Streetview since made it a bit easier. A housing estate had been built on the site of Neston South station, and the actual trail has a gap of about a mile downhill before it restarts under the viaduct carrying the current railway.
Once the horses had gone I got through the gate and found myself almost immediately in Windle Hill cutting. It is impressive, having been cut out of the rock, reinforced with brick in some places.
Sloping downhill for perhaps a couple of miles, I wasn’t able to get up much speed due to the walkers everywhere. I hoped that they might thin out further away from town. At the end of the cutting a steep slope led uphill to a more level surface.
Soon near Willaston, having to get through a gate due to restricted access then under the Chester High Road, another gate then out on to the trail. Still crowds of people, across a road at a level crossing complete with gates to the restored station at Hadlow Road, complete with track. It was absolutely heaving with people.
I took some photos then rode on. Still plenty of people with dogs, bikes, kids and what have you. The surface was quite loose with fine grit compared with other rail trails I have known. A side effect was that at least I could be heard crunching along as I came up behind them, supplemented with the occasional ding. Not so many roadies about. Perhaps the surface put them off. Certainly the Rans coped quite well with it.
The trail began to curve to the left, hopefully signifying the approach to Hooton. I heard a train rumbling by, and the trail came on to a platform with railings on the right to separate the platform edge from the former trackbed at a lower level. I’d arrived at Hooton Station. I got up the steep ramp to the road by the bridge. It had a most LWB recumbent-unfriendly hairpin halfway up so I ended up pushing the last bit.
I stopped at the top to look at my map and get orientated. A group of older male riders came along on my side of the road. They commented on the bike and asked where I was heading. When I said New Brighton via the Wirral Circular trail they were most helpful with directions to Eastham Ferry and said they’d just come from there.
We parted ways. They went down the ramp, and I crossed the road and headed for Hooton.
Hooton to Eastham Ferry
I came to a major road and waited at some traffic lights, crossed over on green and found myself on a 20mph road. This soon came to a T junction where I turned left and after a few miles came to another T junction on a road with motorway traffic roaring along on the other side of a barrier. According to the map the road crossed over the motorway a few miles leftwards so I turned left and followed it. I passed some tall brick arched barns which I’d seen from the M53 whenever I’d passed over the years so had a good idea where I was. Once over the motorway I came to the rather pretty village of Eastham and took a signposted right turn by the Hooton Arms which eventually brought me to Eastham Ferry. It was packed with cars, many motorcycles and crowds of people wandering about. I found an information board and saw that the route I wanted was across a car park to the North side.
Eastham Ferry to Seacombe Ferry Terminal
I crossed the car park and found a trail signposted Port Sunlight. I followed the trail initially along the coast then it turned inland. I continued to follow the Circular Trail signs through some anonymous industrial estate roads. I became a bit disorientated but as long as I was able to find the signs, felt OK.
I followed a sign on to Dock Road South and a small way down the road noted a sign readable from a side road on the left pointing back to Eastham Ferry. I continued in the direction I was going and eventually came to a small roundabout. There was a shared path sign in each of several directions. I tried them all as there was no obvious Circular Trail sign. They all led to closed gates (it was a Sunday). I thought I might have missed some narrow trail entrance on one of the short roads and went back to double check.
Having convinced myself that I hadn’t missed anything I went back the way I came. Initially I double checked the signpost by the side road. If it was designed to be viewed by cyclists coming from the side road might there be another sign further down that road?
First, I went back to the main road to see if there was any other information. Nothing. OK then. Back to the turn off from Dock Road South. I rode into a newly built housing estate hoping for some tiny path with a sign to appear. I had absolutely no idea where I was in relation to Seacombe. Having wasted the best part of an hour, I was fuming. My basic Garmin has a compass function. I set it and then headed for a road junction where I took a few turns until I was heading North. I ended up on the road to Lower Bebington which was roughly in the right direction, the B5136. I needed to turn East somewhere further along to get through Birkenhead to the Circular Trail again.
The road had a cyclepath each side with raised humps separating them from the traffic, which was reassuring.
After what I felt was a long enough distance I took a random right turn at some traffic lights and came across a sign to Seacombe on the Circular trail. I’m still not sure of the exact route but I rode a cyclepath on a major road for a while, lost the trail again and just followed the compass across several major roundabouts until I ended up on a road alongside the Birkenhead Mersey Tunnel access road. I passed near the toll booths then crossed the tunnel approach road at a lower level. After zig zagging through the streets of Birkenhead I crossed a corner of Hamilton Square.
I followed Hamilton St. to another large roundabout and followed Shore Road. I turned right down Pacific road hoping I could find a connection at the end to the Circular Trail but didn’t manage to find it. Back up Pacific Road, right on Shore Rd. then right again on Canning St. It became Tower Road which I followed through two roundabouts and a swing bridge. I was about to go round a third roundabout when I spotted a Wirral Circular Trail sign and crossed over to follow it along the waterfront to the Seacombe Ferry viewpoint. I was mighty relieved to have found it as I knew now the trail led along the shore as far as Hoylake so it would be impossible to get off it by accident. I’d also ridden the stretch from Leaseowe previously so I knew what to expect from there on.
I stopped to take some photos of a cruise ship and the Liverpool skyline opposite then carried on to Seacombe.
The ship appears to be the Azamara Quest.
Seacombe to New Brighton.
I followed the trail from the other side of Seacombe Ferry Terminal and found myself on the promenade. It would be a straightforward ride from here to New Brighton, though there was a rather strong headwind to contend with. Having squandered time getting lost and finding my route again still left me feeling a bit pressured. It was about 4pm. Still, having spotted an Ice Cream van at Egremont I just had to stop and have a 99 and a full fat coke while sitting in the shade on a concrete wall. I was relieved that none of the multitudes of passers by wanted to stop and talk about the bike.
I watched what looked like an oil rig support vessel slowly make its way past the forest of container cranes in red and white on the opposite shore.
I got under way again and rolled steadily through Wallasey and found the wind direction changing as the coastline slowly bent round to the West. Suddenly I was in New Brighton, with crowds of parked vehicles, loud music and people thronging the promenade. I’d hoped to ride round the outside of the marine lake but not with this crowd. I settled for leaning the Rans on the railings and taking a photo there. It didn’t look deep, as someone was wading thigh deep near the edge.
Snapped a statue of a mermaid,
then I just had to get on the road for a mile or two to be able to make some progress. I hoped that it wasn’t all going to be like this for the next few miles.
About 63 miles so far. A bit less to get home across the top of the Wirral and down the other side. Via Hoylake, West Kirby, Neston, Chester and to mid Cheshire via a more direct route than the one that got me here.
