Sunday 7th Feb and the day is dry. 8am at the County Officers and Neil is already there " It's been 2deg C all the way here in the car." "Oh, the forecast's right then." And it is to be 5deg C all day. Phil turns up within the minute and were off on the second Smiler of the year. We're taking it easy; we don't want to be knackered at the 100 mile stage. So it's through and off every four miles with the sun trying to break through the mist. Out through Tattenhall and Bunbury to a slight hiccup at Alpraham where Phil's Garmin freezes and he goes straight past a right; "Phiiiillllll - rrrriggghhhhtt!" A reboot sees him OK and we're back in formation. Then a ten minute break for a drink and some carbs puts us right for the next leg to Prees. We go through Sound and Audlem before it gets a bit hilly through Wilkesley and Calverhall and then we drop down to Prees at 12:15.
The Raven cafe is a cyclist's dream: Cheap, fast service and big servings. We get stuffed for under a fiver and we're off again, still heading south as far as Edstaston where we point west for Loppington and finally Cockshut. Now it's north for Ellesmere and home. We have a pleasant stop in the Boathouse cafe, overlooking the mere, in Ellesmere and then off again for the final leg. We're back at the County Officers for 16:20 with 104 miles up at 15.1mph average. We aren't all that fresh but we're pleasantly tired - where's that hot bath?
Garmin Connect - Activity Details for Smilers to Prees Heath
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