I met Tom this morning at 10am, and together we proceeded towards Cheadle, bent on a ‘potter’, having nowhere to go in particular.  Passing through Cheadle, we joined Wilmslow road, and just at Handforth, we turned into the bylanes leading towards Styal.  At the Moss Nook crossroads, we carried straight on, across a murderous length of setts, eventually reaching Ringway.  Again at the crossroads, we carried straight on, towards Castle Mill, but, at that turning, we kept on past it.  Our lane, after a lot of winding, brought us to Hale Bank.  A footpath now attracted us, and joining it, we lifted our machines over stiles, down some steps, and across the Bollin river by means of a rickety wooden bridge.  The woodland scenery was very beautiful here, and the bridge, with the stile and steps in the background, gave it a rustic air.  More footpaths, later between miles of allotments, and we came to Hale, about half a mile from Altrincham!  A suburban road by the Bollin, known to me, brought us on to the Chester road at Dunham Massey.  The morning was very calm and sunny, though a cold nip, as last Tuesday, was in the air.  The main road was quiet, and we continued along it via Tabley to Lostock Gralam, then the rough setts of Northwich.

Just beyond the swing bridge, we took the Barnton turning, climbing over a ridge, then dropping again past the immense salt and chemical works of Brunner Mond.  Up again, we ran through Barnton to Little Leigh, then down to the Weaver, and we soon reached Mrs Wade’s for lunch.  Over two hours were lounged away here, then we joined the Onston footpath for a walk.  A circular was made to Mrs Wade’s again, via Crowton, then yanking out the bikes, we pottered back to Little Leigh.

Near Comberbach, I punctured, and whilst testing it in a stream, a huge rat jumped over my shoulder.  It gave me a shock, so sudden was it.  The perforation discovered, it was soon repaired, and once again we moved on through Comberbach, in the gathering dusk, to Gt. Budworth.  Two miles later, we turned through Arley Park to Arley, then a winding lane took us through several hamlets to Poplar Farm for tea.  Then, as usual, High Legh, Broom Edge and Heatley to Warburton Bridge, then the main road to Irlam, and at Patricroft we separated, early home for a change.                         80 miles