cream tea, headstones and gravestones 17.9.14.

Cream tea, headstones and gravestones.

I met John for a Wednesday ride and being in the middle of a glorious Indian Summer a nice Cheshire jaunt seemed to be just about right and it was agreed.

Off wet set with just one pause on the way to Hollins Green, Bent’s garden centre where I always find I am ready for a toilet stop. The facilities are great with background music to entertain, this morning Tony Bennet was giving his rendition of ‘one for my baby and one more for the road’. Having had my one for the road we continued our jaunt down a virtually car free Holcroft lane due to a road closure at the Hollins Green end.

A short break at Hollins where John decided we had a choice of options to make, initially our destination had been the ‘Bakery’ at Lymm but John now threw a spanner in the works. ‘Do we head for Lymm and beans on toast, or, do we head for Red House Farm and a cream tea?’ Well for me it was a no brainer, a bit like asking the donkey do you want strawberries or a Greenhalgh’s pie. So a democratic decision to head down the Trans Pennine way in the direction of Red House Farm was made.

The cycling this morning was superb, a warm breeze, blue skies and a no rush no push pace added to the perfection of the morning.

Wafting along the tree lined cycle path was a delight, breaks in the hedgerows giving views of the agricultural greenery of the Cheshire plain then here and there plunged into almost dusk like conditions where dense trees blotted out the sky.

The cafe was not busy, a mixed group of veteran cyclists and another couple already enjoying lunch, consequently service was double quick, especially as there was no need to peruse a menu. Two cream teas were very soon on the table and very soon were being enjoyed. A slow and deliberate consumption of scones, loaded with butter, jam and clotted cream took place, mmm, delicious. Diet? What diet! Along with the pot of tea it was a perfect lunch.

Back on the road and cycle track we were soon at the foot of Warburton Bridge and decided that as we had made such good progress on the ride we would have time to have a closer look at the ancient Warburton church. Being tucked away and out of sight from the busy road the now unused church and yard lies in quiet solitude demanding investigation of the occasional visitor.

The church is around one thousand years old and from time to time has been subject to rebuilding though to one side is the original wattle and daub black and white timbered wall. Unfortunately entry to the church cannot be gained so we had to be satisfied with a look round the headstones and gravestones. One particular grave took John’s interest, that of a dignitary and his wife, deceased in the seventeen hundreds, who hailed from Tunbridge Wells, London. John remarked on the remarkable journey it must have been by coach in those distant days, I agreed, it could well have been why he was buried here.

Once again we were back on Dam Head lane and Holcroft Lane heading back to Lymm, pleased also that due to the road closure traffic along this length was light allowing an extension of trouble free cycling.

Soon we were back in Daisy Hill were we had our parting of ways, after of course a break and chat, a bonus was that we were also way ahead of the ‘school run’ the curse of cyclists everywhere. So there we have it, Indian Summer, cream tea , headstones and gravestones and a perfect days cycling.