Monday 30 August

Spent a comfortable night, started off this morning at 9 am to look for somewhere to have breakfast. Went to Juan's around the corner (we spotted it last night), only to find a note on the door saying that it was closed today because of a family commitment, 'sorry for any inconvenience'. Par for the course for us!! Everything closes whenever we come close - I don't know why. Cycled on for 2 miles and then stopped for an energy bar each and a sports drink. Went on having decided to stop at the next cafe we found to have a breakfast. Easy cycling, weather glorious - sunshine with just a touch of coldness in the air, but that will disappear as the day goes on. On back country lanes to start. We came round one corner with two rabbits in the road. They jumped into the hedge, then as we were going past, one of them leapt out again and ran across the road in front of Peter - he just missed it. A bit further on, we were riding two abreast, something flashed past my head (I thought it was a small bird), but it hit Peter in the head. He thought it was a dragonfly or a large bug of some kind. He felt that one!!
Carried on to Nantwich (a totally different feel to Whitchurch) and found a cafe (Hiltons). We stopped for brunch. Peter had a full English and I had a bacon and blackpudding sandwich - delicious! I can recommend this place. The proprietor chatted with everyone and had us all talking to each other. We said we were off to John O'Groats from Land's End and impressed everyone, but then spoilt the impression by setting off up the street in the wrong direction and having to cycle back past the cafe again (Peter: Get it right!!)
Went through a village called 'Aston juxta Mondrum'. I thought, as in juxta-position. The more I thought about it (this is why I go cycling past things, I get lost in my own thoughts!!), the more I thought that it's one of those words you know the meaning of until you think about how you would explain it to someone else. You then can't think exactly what it does mean (or is it just me who has these problems?). What EXACTLY just 'juxta' mean? What a funny word. Comments would be appreciated.
Anyway, on we cycle getting closer and closer to Knutsford, and we get overtaken by 2 serious cylists - lycra, racing bikes, the full works, people that belong to cyling clubs. 'Respect' yells one - why does that sound like an insult?!! This is the first time we've been overtaken by any serious cylists - we've met plenty going the other way - but then, a bit later, we get overtaken by another one, then further on, by another two - it must be the Cheshire pastime. I take comfort in the fact that they have absolutely no kit at all with them, so of course they are going faster than us - more streamlined too!! (Did I mention we'd crossed into another county - Cheshire? We missed the sign).
Now at Sarah and James', having arrived at 1.15 pm. Welcomed by Georgina - thanks for the drinks and welcome, G. Sarah and James pampering us rotten. James cooking dinner.
No rain at all today - the first day so far, although it's not midnight yet!!

Mileage: 33.24 miles
Ascent: 823 ft
Current height: 216 ft
Max height: 380 ft