In our last post, which detailed our Wilmslow Half Marathon exploits, Sarah wrote how I had been feeling a little unwell for the last few weeks. This virus continued exerting its effect throughout this last week. In the early part I struggled and then as I began to recover Sarah started to struggle. It has played havoc with our Greater Manchester Marathon training. Unfortunately Sarah was still feeling unwell and so was unable to come along to today’s Stockport Community Cycling Club ride to Henbury.

In such circumstances, Sarah missing today’s ride was probably wise since it rained and rained and rained!

From the moment I had left home it had been raining. It set the tone for the day as I met up with a hardy group of club members at Torkington Park.

  

We set off through Hazel Grove and then on through Middlewood towards Higher Poynton.

And from here we made our way to Adlington.

  

The rain was relentless and just seemed to come down harder and harder.

I must admit that at one point I considered turning off and going home. And as we cycled on towards Prestbury – it was pretty grim.

However I continued on through Prestbury and then Over Alderley.

At long last we reached Henbury and lunch at The Blacksmiths Arms. It was a warm and welcome rest!

The pub don’t normally serve sandwiches on a Sunday. However Graham had rung earlier in the week and they kindly agreed to serve us sandwiches. The food was tasty and reasonably priced.

It was still raining after lunch though thankfully now more of a drizzle than a downpour. Of course even cycling in the rain can have moments of fun …

We headed back through Mottram St Andrew and Wilmslow.

  

Julia insisted I include a photo with daffodils in it, for it is meant to be spring after all 🙂 So happy to oblige in the photo above and a couple below too.

Finally we cycled through Woodford and then back to the start at Hazel Grove.

We had cycled nearly 28 miles and this was another great route (thanks Graham). That said, there are not many days of cycling which I look back on and debate whether I enjoyed it or not, but since the rain put a bit of a dampener (pun intended) on the today’s ride this one came close. In the end however I think I just about came down on the side of being glad I went cycling. It would be worth trying this route on a dry day though!

You can view today’s route to Henbury below:

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