B RIDE - WADDINGTON

SUNDAY 6 MARCH 2011

A bitterly cold morning in Bolton only two regular B group riders, joined by Steve Taylor, who decided that an earlier return was likely after the ride to Waddington. Also I'd learned from Maurice that a friend of Steve's would be waiting for us at Waddington.

Maurice joined us at The Three Pigeons, from where we set off up through Egerton towards Darwen, at least the long climb managed to warm us up, but dropping down into Darwen chilled me through to the bone, despite the merino underwear. Nonetheless we were making good time riding without a stop through to Whalley, where Ray stopped for a brew before returning home, He had an invitation to dine.

The three remaining rode through Clitheroe to Waddington, where we found the cafe full to bursting, we luckily got the last seats, there was a big group known to Steve as the Darwen Dashers, with them was Bernard Pearson, a mate of Steve's who had met Maurice last week.

A long pleasant chat after eating the obligatory beans on toast then it was home, in what was now brillant sunshine, still cold but definitely Spring like. Route home via Bashall Eaves passing the The Three Fishes in to Whalley up through Lango and Wilpshire into Blackburn, which is even more of a no-go area for me, as I manged a snake bite puncture from one of the hundreds of potholes we saw during the day.

On Bull Hill, where we'd stopped to part company with the Darwen Duo, Geoff Smith rolled up, he was on his way back from Settle, the irony is that he left us for dead as we were climbing out of Egerton.

A good day, in good company with one new member, Bernard has joined.

Home in walkden just before 4.00 PM 62 miles. Report by Peter Moore