Having the full day at my disposal, I sauntered down towards my favourite direction, Cheshire, at 9am.  It was a rather indifferent morning, and a trifle cold.  Reaching Altrincham, I turned onto the Northwich road, but near Mere turned left at a fingerpost pointing to Rostherne.  Soon I was rushing down a sharp incline with the beautiful lake before me.  I awoke a gorgeously coloured bird – a pheasant – I just caught a glimpse of it as it flew into the dense hedges which line the road.  Down I flew to the water’s level, and then up again – a walk – by the old church and through the pretty hamlet of Rostherne.  By devious ways I reached Knutsford, and taking the Holmes Chapel road for two miles, I turned off and came to Ollerton.  After refreshments I made my way to Mobberley, Knolls Green and eventually reached Alderley Edge.  Storing the bike at the station, I climbed the Edge and after exploring the copper mines for the fifth time, I went on a tour of inspection around the woods.  On the return I came across the Wishing Well, a small basin of water.  On an overhanging ledge are chiselled the words: ‘DRINK OF THIS AND TAKE THY PILL, FOR THE WATER FALLS BY THE WIZARDS WILL’. I drank. Recovering the bike, I returned via Wilmslow, then a series of lanes to Styal, Northenden and home.

62 miles, 10 hours