Raining again! We had a new room-mate this morning in the form of a Manchester CTC lad and of course CTC means a new friend. The three of us started to the Swallow Falls and Miner’s Bridge, where our new friend took our photos – in capes! The rain ceased as we returned to Bettws, and taking the Holyhead road we pushed up Dinas Hill. After a while we came to Pentrefoelas and another half hour brought us to Cerrigydrudion. A Temperance Inn served us a good lunch, during which another rainstorm came on. Another cyclist joined us here from Beddgelert on his way to Manchester, and so swelled our little party.
Now we took the moorland road to Ruthin. When I last traversed this stretch it was good, now it was a river. Climbing and dropping in turn we ran through Clawddnewydd and a place with an unpronounceable name until we flashed into Ruthin. Across the pretty Vale of Clwyd we ran, then dismounted for a three mile walk over the Clwydian range. The vale looked extremely pretty beneath us. After a while we came to Llanferres, near which is an Inn with a sign portraying two men struggling, and bearing the name ‘We three, Loggerheads be’ – the Loggerheads Inn. Llanferres seems to be a regular picnic resort by the number of people and conveyances about. A little up the road we examined a border stone – Denbigh-Flint, which seemed to be of a great age. Up again, then down for some miles into Mold.
Without stopping we joined the Chester road, for we wanted to get there for tea and it was 5.40 with 12 miles to go. Via Hope to Broughton we sped, arriving in Chester at 7pm, almost famished for something to eat. At a little place in Newgate Street we upheld the cyclists name for appetite, and after a chat we took to the road. I was having another day’s holiday, but my pal had to work tomorrow so we left him in Northgate Street as arranged. At the turning for Whitchurch we left our friend from Beddgelert and the two of us – the Manchester CTC-ite and myself, carried on alone.
A fine road and with lamps lit bore us via Rowton Moor, Handley and Broxton to Malpas. Keeping to the main road we soon reached Whitchurch where we decided to spend the night. In the CTC Handbook is one Alexandria Hotel, a big place with high prices, but as a last night burst we decided to stay here. We had supper in style and we kept the servant busy – more tea, more bread has become a familiar phrase with us. We retired at 11.15 to ‘No.8 room’, second floor. I’ll bet it runs about 10 shillings each in the morning but – San Fairy Ann. Goodnight.
75 miles, 12 hours
