George and the dragon drive out
APRIL 23 is a patriotic day for the English – St George’s Day – and for once it fell on the annual West Lancs MG Owners Club Sunday Drive It Day Run.
Ray Travies, who organises their run, thought it was about time that St George went to “meet the dragon”.
The club members met at the Manor Farm pub in Rainhill at 9.45am to get their rally plaques and route instructions and give a donation to their fundraising pot.
This year, the planned route was a 60-mile trip into North Wales with a stop for morning coffee.
It was anticipated that it would take about three or four hours to complete, with stops, before they reached their final destination for Sunday lunch.
The weather could have been a little kinder as they set off as it was slightly overcast with a glimmer of sunshine showing through the clouds, but better weather was forecast for later on.
Steve Kirton from WLMGOC said: “As we gathered in the car park the temperature was 10c and 12 cars turned up to come on the run along with 22 members.
“The line up was one MG-ZT, two MGFs, four MGBs, one MGA, one MG Midget, one RV8, one MG-TF and a BMW Z3, and not forgetting Poppy the six-month-old cockerdoodle.
“We meandered through the leafy lanes and highways of Widnes and Wallasey and over the Flintshire Bridge which crosses the river Dee, and before we knew it we were in the land of the red dragon.
“We continued on the A548 which virtually runs parallel to the A55 but is a lot more scenic and a lot nearer the coast of North Wales.
“We carried on another 14 miles until we turned off as we approached Greenfield and stopped at the arranged morning coffee stop, The Mill on the Hill.”
Coffee break over, it was time for the group to crack on further into the land of the mythical dragon, with another 22 miles exploring the hills and green valleys of Wales.
Steve added: “As a famous song has mentioned before, there is a great deal of green, green grass – and an awful lot of sheep – and a very welcoming sight it is to get out and about in the fresh country air with the hood down and the wind blowing through the hair on these beautiful winding roads.
“But Ray had saved the best till last.”
They all headed towards the direction of Mold on the A494 as instructed on the route guide, and turned off on to the “Bwich Pen Barras Road”.
Steve explained: “It was a glorious single track, twisty, winding road with passing places and a very sharp first gear hairpin bend.
“The road had plenty of view points to stop along the way if you just wanted to take in the wonderful scenery.
“After taking time to look at the magnificent scenery, hunger had taken over and as we turned left back onto the A49, our lunch stop appeared, We Three Loggerheads.
“This was once a 17th century coaching inn but is now a popular pub/restaurant with the tourists.
“It has a wonderful beamed vaulted ceiling but also still retains a lot of its charm and character.
“Also running alongside is the River Alyn and this is all set at the foot the loggerheads country park and well worth a visit.”
If you have a MG or classic car and live local why not check the group out?
They meet every third Thursday of the month at Briars Hall, Lathom, near Ormskirk L40 5TH. See www.westlancsmg.co.uk