This morning dawned bright and calm, so I decided to make the most of it. It was 10.45 before I could get out, but I did the 18 miles to Warrington in the hour, for I hate that part of the route to Chester, and I can’t see any point in trying to describe that road. Suffice to say that well inside three hours saw the thirtyeight and a half miles accomplished. I had a scout round by the cathedral and bridges, and coming to the park – St John’s park by the riverside, I had a rest.

Leaving Chester by Foregate Street I gained Watling Street, and after a while it became the Northwich road. Through Tarvin and on to Kelsall where a long hill had to be negotiated. Near Sandiway a tramp engaged me and for being the bigger liar of the two of us, I gave him fourpence. Running down into Northwich I stopped for refreshments. Northwich is the queerest hole I have seen for some time, and the road about the canal is very dangerous. Five miles further on I turned right to Knutsford for two miles, arriving just on lighting up time. By devious dark bylanes I reached Mobberley and then Wilmslow, where I called on my pal.

Together we started back via Handforth to Cheadle and Didsbury, then down Barlow Moor road to Chorlton cum Hardy and Stretford. Then the usual road to Barton Bridge and home via Worsley, arriving at 10pm. We had a struggle in the bylanes around home (short cuts) for the mud was sometimes hub deep. The hard ride home completing the first eleven and a half miles in 35 minutes, and the whole twentyfour miles in one hour and forty minutes.

100 miles, 9.25 hours