10 October 2025 (cloudy and mild, sunny afternoon) 25km

Up at 6.30am and had a cuppa and Ju and I went on our phones for an update. I was interested in the election polls for New Plymouth, but couldn't really find a progress report.

Once Peg was up and chatting to Julia, I stripped the beds and then did a workout. Followed that with breakfast and then called Dad, who was in fine form.

Strange to think that in ten days time we will be catching our flight back to New Zealand and our trip will be a distant memory. Even now I can't remember much about the early part of our adventure. Thank goodness we keep the blog and take endless photos, otherwise we'd have no recollection.

The day had dawned cloudy, but it wasn't as cool as yesterday, so we gathered our gear together for the ride to Chester. 

Stu has been having some trouble with his hip flexor, so I gave him some exercises to do and got him to demonstrate his form to me. 

Outside we loaded the bikes, wondering where all our luggage was. We seemed to have very little, but all we were lacking was food.

Then it was time to say goodbye which fortunately just involved a couple of photos and hugs before we rode off down Greenfields Drive toward the marsh and onto the trail to Chester. 

Love the autumn colours of the marshland grasses with the Welsh hills beyond.

This pedestrian and cyclists bridge took us over the busy motorway and these were pretty much the only vehicles we saw all morning. Brilliant!

It felt sad to be leaving after such a great visit, but also good to be back on the bikes, albeit for a short ride to Chester to stay with Ian and Rachel for two nights. 

The ride to Chester was pretty much perfect. Just about entirely traffic free except for the last half kilometre where we had to go on a not very busy road. It was also flat all the way and although a bit chilly at the start, pretty much perfect cycling weather.




Riding along the canal was peaceful and idyllic.






We had a quick look round Chester and grabbed some things from Tesco’s before cycling along the canal to Ian and Rachel ‘s, arriving about 3pm.

It was lovely to see them all again and know we had a nice warm home to stay in for the night.

Lots of chat, dinner and bed about 10pm.

Comments

  1. JimmyOctober 11, 2025 at 1:58 PM

    What a great stay and Peggy is as always lovely and make you feel at home, and Andy was the same I am so lucky to have a sister like that, and Stu if you remember was the first to help Brody take his very first steps at the Batch in Whangamata.

    ReplyDelete
  2. DotdenOctober 11, 2025 at 2:50 PM

    Sounds like you had a great time in Liverpool and love your pics. Julia, glad someone is wearing a bright top out there!! Enjoy Chester. We get back to NP early Nov so coffee date soon. It will be great to talk to you about your holiday.

    ReplyDelete

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