Starting at 10am I rattled towards Liverpool. I put rattled because any cyclist who takes the following route must rattle. Through Atherton, Ashton in Makerfield and St Helens beyond where the road is being widened. Extra caution is necessary here. Beyond Knotty Ash the road improved somewhat and a comfortable pace was attained via Old Swan to the pier head, where I just caught the Birkenhead Ferry. More town roads for two and a half miles to Port Sunlight, where the road runs into some pretty country. The charming villages of Bromborough and Eastham were left, and I was soon running smoothly to Hooton and over excellent roads. Near Childer Thornton, I ate some sandwiches and had my ‘dinner halfhour’. Little Sutton and Great Sutton were passed successively, and in a surprisingly short time I was entering Chester, the Roman ‘Deva’.

Gaining the ancient Watling Street (Northwich road) I got well on the way to Northwich, but became weary of the road and sick of the incessant sound of motor-cars, so I turned right at Tarvin for Tarporley. I immediately brightened up, and skipped along via Duddon and Clotton to Tarporley along a typical Cheshire byway.

At Tarporley, I turned left for Cotebrooke, and after a delightful run through those wonderful Cheshire bylanes, with glimpses of romantic Beeston Castle, I came to the Frodsham road. Crossing Northwich road at Delamere, I came to Delamere Forest, a pretty stretch of woodlands. By Hatchmere and devious lovely lanes I came to Kingsley from where I joined the Warrington road. Then via Crowton to Acton and over the river Weaver to Lower Whitley and Stretton to Stockton Heath. Over this last stretch I had caught some rain, but it cleared up, so I took the road to Lymm, and arrived just on lighting up time. I had some trouble finding Warburton Bridge in the dark. Then on to Irlam, Worsley, Walkden and home for 8pm.

103 miles, 10 hours