ON August 9, still depleted with some members on holiday with some attending the Semaine Federale cyclotourist meeting in St Omer, France, we nevertheless had seven riders out including new member Phil and our youngest member Jordan back with us on his new Hewitt touring bike.

A sunny day in prospect brought out Derek Berry for the first time in two years! We decided on Dunsop Bridge as the destination as opposed to the publicised Slaidburn.

We set off through Edenfield and traversed Haslingden and Accrington to Whalley. It was then onto the lanes through Mitton, Bashall Eaves and Cowark where we met up with Steve Willetts and Elena on their tandem. We continued on the high road which drops steeply down into Whitewell and rode along the Hodder Valley to our lunch destination — Puddleduck’s Cafe at Dunsop Bridge.

Beans and egg on toast consumed, we had a brief chat with Steve and Elena near the bridge before setting off back along the Hodder Valley road through Whitewell and on to Chaigley back to Whalley.

After a brief stop at the new bus station toilets we decided on taking the route over York hill and then over the Roundhills. The last part of the ride retraced our outward route through Haslingden and Ewood Bridge bringing us back into Bury with almost 70 miles covered after a beautiful day’s cycling.

On August 16 there was a good turnout for the ride to Croston with another new member, Gerard, joining us. The weather was very cloudy but a dry day had been promised by the weather forecasters. Led by Brian, we took the outward route through Bolton and then onto the well surfaced canal path all the way to Lostock Junction. Then it was back on the roads through Westhoughton and Aspull for a tea stop at Haigh Hall. Refreshed, we continued and swooped down the Red Rock descent where Stan took his leave of us for an early return. The main group continued up to Standish then took to the maze of lanes around Wrightington Bar and Mawdesley eventually arriving in Croston. The cafe we were looking for was in fact in Bretherton and we soon reached this. Here we ate our meals among a variety of antiques up for sale around the cafe. The homeward ride saw us retrace some of our outward route to reach Charnock Richard and Coppull Moor to Adlington. Here some of the group took the direct route home while other took the road up to Rivington and a tea stop at the Chapel tea room. The last leg of the day’s ride was through Horwich and up the long hill before descending onto the Belmont road and home to Bury through Harwood. A great day’s riding without reaching 60 miles on our cycle computers.

On August 30 a dry start with rain promised later was the forecast on as we made our way out of Bury towards Haslingden and the Roundhills on the B ride to Catforth. A stop was made at Ribchester before we pressed on to Longridge and to the Lancashire Cycleway and over the A6 near Broughton. It was then on quiet lanes to the lunch stop. The second part of the day took us through Avenham Park on the cycle path along the river Ribble to cut out Preston and then the familiar climb to Belmont in the now falling rain and we arrived home with just over 60 miles covered.

Steve Willetts