Hello from the Towpath

[RoA]

Hi and
Nice combination

You like my motorcycle and sidecar? - whoops maybe you've seem me in my winter underwear. I do strike a good pose on the back deck as I do my morning yoga - it then seems to meld into a quick nap!

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[RoA]

Sounds like perfect lifestyle, welcome to the site and we may meet on the tow path at some point. My local canal is the Leeds & Liverpool which joins the Bridgewater at Worsley near Manchester....tow paths are being improved all the time over here for cycling,walking ect

The lifestyle is very Idyllic. When we get asked if its cold in the winter - I always say - it depends on where I set the thermostat. The other question is always - the toilet one. But we have a sit down flush. But we do have to pump it out every few months. It's good to see cyclists on the towpath - BTW, we refer to you as gongoozlers. The only trouble with the improvements to the towpath is that the speed of some cyclists has also improved. But that as they say is life!

We cruised down your way last year, as we did the four corners of the canals. Down the Fossdyke to Boston on the east coast. Down the Oxford canal as far as Oxford but the Thames was in flood otherwise we would have made it a bit further south. So we went back up through Birmingham and onto the Shropshire canal and into Liverpool on the west coast. Across the Leeds Liverpool Canal and up to Selby. Up the River Ouse through York and on to Ripon. But as the weather last year was - $%& wet - it took eight months to complete. But we did about 1500 miles and around 700 locks.

Canals do give some opportunity for seeing the countryside well away from the highways. There are also one or two tunnels that you can cycle through as well. I think the longest is about two miles (Just outside Birmingham). The gradients on the canals are usually like the disused railway routes quite easy. If you have a smartphone, there are canal maps that you can download for all the country. There are about 2500 miles of towpath associated with the canals. Otherwise in book form - there are the Nicholsons guides, a bit expensive new - cheap as chips on eBay.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[RoA]

Great location for some great cycling. Regularly use that canal on my frequent off-road rides to Sheffield. Road almost entirely on the canal network up to the lakes last year starting at Bugworth Basin near Chinley. A fantastic three days.

Ah, up the Lancaster Canal I imagine. It's a bit of a 'spherical object' ache for us to get onto the 'Lankie' as we have to book passage for the boat on the ribble link. I'm hoping to get up that way for the first time next year.

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[RoA]

Good combination Mick all the best Mike.

I see your up in the real north - Born on Arran myself. Spent most of my life trying to teach the southern Jesse's basic life skills. Right I'll go and hide now... ;-)

Thanks for the welcome.

 

[skudupnorth]

Very true about the speeds some cyclist travel on the towpath and the arrogance of some is becoming not only annoying but dangerous especially around other users. The section I have had a few "run in's" with other cyclists is from Stretford to Brooklands on the Bridgewater where they will not slow down or give way when they have a pedestrian on the side of the tow path they are riding or squeezing past under bridges when you are half way through.......sometimes I feel I am better taking my chances back on the road !
Loving the nickname "Gongoozlers" !

 

[RoA]

Welcome RoA, sounds like a lovely life - and that's a lovely dog in your avatar too.

Hello Tiny...

Thanks for the welcome and it is a good relaxing lifestyle but only once retired. Its not a good lifestyle if your working because do you take the road to work or go down the canal to relaxation - work is a four letter word and a hard choice to make. The dog is Abbey (Wire Haired Fox Terrier) aged 15 and I am her personal slave though you would never know. We have a junior crew member Poppy a 5 year old WHFT who is far to busy rushing around everywhere to need a slave.

regards

Mick

 

[RoA]

Very true about the speeds some cyclist travel on the towpath and the arrogance of some is becoming not only annoying but dangerous especially around other users. The section I have had a few "run in's" with other cyclists is from Stretford to Brooklands on the Bridgewater where they will not slow down or give way when they have a pedestrian on the side of the tow path they are riding or squeezing past under bridges when you are half way through.......sometimes I feel I am better taking my chances back on the road !
Loving the nickname "Gongoozlers" !

Most people are a bit mystified by the term Gongoozler. Basically it refers to anyone who watches boats from the canal side. It's a term coined by the old working boat crews and its real origin is lost in the midsts of time. Some say its a romany word and the old boat crews were known as water gypsy so there maybe a link in that.

 

[skudupnorth]

There is a massive boat that rides the Bridgewater at the moment, i am guessing it is more houseboat than narrow boat because of it's width which the owner manages to fit a full size motorbike at the rear. The colour is impressive being matt black and looking very stealth like with very few windows ......that's it I am officially a Gongoozler !!!!

 

[Jezman]

Ah, up the Lancaster Canal I imagine. It's a bit of a 'spherical object' ache for us to get onto the 'Lankie' as we have to book passage for the boat on the ribble link. I'm hoping to get up that way for the first time next year.

Yes, that one was in there along with the Peak Forest, Ashton and the Leeds Liverpool. Even managed a short stretch on the Rochdale before realising I was heading in totally the wrong direction. Next plan is to start from the same place and ride up to Todmorden or Hebden, stay over and return via the Huddersfield Narrow.

 

[ScotiaLass]

Hello!
I often cycled from where I live, along the Union canal to the Falkirk Wheel.
Just getting back to biking after a long break due to illness and yes, I always used to wave to the boaters

 

[RoA]

There is a massive boat that rides the Bridgewater at the moment, i am guessing it is more houseboat than narrow boat because of it's width which the owner manages to fit a full size motorbike at the rear. The colour is impressive being matt black and looking very stealth like with very few windows ......that's it I am officially a Gongoozler !!!!

Sounds like it is a converted ex-working boat. However, the big ones are like the Humber Princes. (180 feel long)

View: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHul05Z74oY


Regards

Mick

 

[RoA]

I don't know for sure, but maybe you can take your bike on the trip boat through Standedge Tunnel (16,455 feet of it) holds the record as the longest and highest canal tunnel in the UK.

regards

Mike

 

[RoA]

Hello!
I often cycled from where I live, along the Union canal to the Falkirk Wheel.
Just getting back to biking after a long break due to illness and yes, I always used to wave to the boaters

Good luck with the fitness - Not been on the falkirk wheel, maybe one day.

Regards

Mick