Tatton Park 2016 – Starting the Cycling Year in the Rain
The end of 2015 will be remembered as being rather wet, and indeed some of the recent Stockport Community Cycling Club rides have been wet too – e.g. the rides Around Poynton, Lyme Park, and Ashton Canal. Would the start of 2016 be any different? Unfortunately, if this Tatton Park 2016 ride is anything to go by – sadly not.
The forecast had promised rain and as we arrived at Gatley Rail station for the start of the ride it duly arrived. For a wet day there was a surprisingly large turnout of club members.
Setting off we weaved our way through the back streets of Gatley and Heald Green.
Then through Handforth.
On to Wilmslow.
Where we briefly made our way through The Carrs.
Soon we were out on to the country lanes heading towards Mobberley.
Getting out onto the quiet lanes didn’t improve the weather though. By now the rain was becoming more incessant. The photo below sadly isn’t the best, however it shows our riders having to cycle through flooded lanes.
Eventually we arrived in Knutsford and cycled through Knutsford Park.
At the far end of the town centre we entered Tatton Park.
We were glad to warm up and get a little respite from the rain at the Stables Cafe. The rain had clearly kept most people away from Tatton Park today so we were served quickly and had plenty of seating options for a change. Whilst there wasn’t a great deal of vegetarian choices the baked potato and cup of tea that Sarah and I chose was good value, well cooked and the potato a decent size. So no complaints from us.
Any hope that the rain may have subsided during lunch was sadly misplaced. So, we got back into our soggy cycling gear and set off again for the Rostherne entrance at the opposite end of the park. Some of our riders were nearly mown down on the way out by some of the parks deer!
Back on the road we cycled through Ashley.
And then into Hale.
Finally we weaved our way through Wythenshawe.
Finally we arrived back in Gatley after 26 wet cycling miles.
You can view our Tatton Park 2016 ride below:
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