I must meet Tom this afternoon at Ringway, 5pm, prior to tea at Mrs Woodward’s.  It was blowing and raining when I made a start via Four Lane Ends, but near Walkden I was able to pull my cape off, and proceed unhampered.  From Barton, I caught the full force of the violent wind, whilst at Sale, a storm gathered, breaking before Altrincham was reached at 4.40pm.  The double function was performed of replacing my cape and lighting my lamp, just outside the town, then, came the hard climb to Hale Barns, then the level road to Ringway.  I halted by the church, and after a few minutes waiting, he came up.  Greetings passed, then we rode on to Mrs Woodward’s where it was proposed to have tea.  Putting our capes over the bikes, we entered the kitchen, where we discovered ‘Adam’, a well known member of the Bolton section, and two of his friends, all comprising the Saturday run of the Wingates CC!  We had tea together, then spent a couple of hours chatting on many topics.  Another cycling club was in for a ‘hot-pot’ supper, and they were having a rare old time.  At last, at 7.15, we turned out.

It was still raining, the cold capes being none too comfortable at first.  At Ringway church our friends left us, and we struck across country by a rough winding lane to Moss Nook, where we joined the Cheadle – Styal road.  We left that a little late however, and at length came to Wilmslow road.  At East Didsbury, we struck Kingsway, and I had a bit of a chat with my lamp, which kept lit when it wanted.

This rectified, we carried on, but getting fed up with Kingsway, we left it at Hans Renold’s, preferring the rougher, winding old road.  Then we plunged into the suburbs of Manchester, and the rain ceased.  Off came our capes and it started again.  When we put them on it gave over, so we left them on.  It started again.  We have grown accustomed to the wiles of the weather.  Keep a cape in sight, and you will ride dry, but put it out of sight, and you will get drenched in a few moments!  Tom stopped for some carbide, and I for cigarettes, then thus equipped, we continued our bumpy ride through the suburbs for another few miles, until at long last we reached Tom’s place, wherein the night is to be spent.  Tomorrow, we are booked for a day in Derbyshire.              40 miles