I like Skol
A Minging Manc...
- Location
- Sunny Ashton-under-Lyne
Day 2, part 2......
Still at Wigan Pier and as far as I could work out this is it, the small protrusions of curved rail track, otherwise known as 'The Tippler'.
Very impressive!
Leaving Wigan the towpath deteriorated and became just grass and packed dirt. Luckily it had been dry recently but I can imagine it becoming a bit of a puddle and mud fest during prolonged spells of bad weather. It was also getting past dinner time and I had already resisted requests to go into Wigan for lunch and promised to stop at the next canalside pub we encountered. Our unplanned dinner venue was The Crooke Hall Inn in Crooke Village.
This was one of those pubs you probably wouldn't choose to eat in given initial appearances but we dropped lucky and the food was perfectly acceptable basic pub grub, the beer was welcome (I have to admit I had a second pint
) and the staff gladly provided a set of darts so me and the youngest lad could enjoy a game of 'round the clock' to while away some time. He very nearly beat me too!
Leaving Crooke behind we followed the canal for another 4-5 miles through some very rural countryside. The canal meanders alongside the previously navigable river Douglas that the canal replaced in 1790. On reaching the outskirts of Parbold we left the canal for the final leg of the ride and this is where it got interesting.
The route height profile and been almost as flat as a........ canal upto this point but that was about to change. We had to climb over 500ft from the valley floor to the summit near Beacon Country Park. It wasn't much of a problem for me or my oldest son but the poor 11yr old was complaining of being tired before we even started. Regardless, he dug deep and slowly pedalled his way to the top without tears, tantrums or getting off to push (although he did stop to nip into the bushes for a pee!
)
Once at the top we stopped to grab a packet of crisps from the pub at the summit before enjoying the rewards of our effort as we descended to an anonymous industrial estate just outside Skelmersdale, arriving outside the offices of my wife's employer a mere 15 minutes before her finishing time
Over the two days we travelled a little shy of 60 miles but, for a first attempt at cycle touring we had proved it could be done and despite the cooler weather at this time of year we had largely avoided any real rainfall and kept spirits high. Looking forward to the next adventure now
Still at Wigan Pier and as far as I could work out this is it, the small protrusions of curved rail track, otherwise known as 'The Tippler'.
Very impressive!
Leaving Wigan the towpath deteriorated and became just grass and packed dirt. Luckily it had been dry recently but I can imagine it becoming a bit of a puddle and mud fest during prolonged spells of bad weather. It was also getting past dinner time and I had already resisted requests to go into Wigan for lunch and promised to stop at the next canalside pub we encountered. Our unplanned dinner venue was The Crooke Hall Inn in Crooke Village.
This was one of those pubs you probably wouldn't choose to eat in given initial appearances but we dropped lucky and the food was perfectly acceptable basic pub grub, the beer was welcome (I have to admit I had a second pint
) and the staff gladly provided a set of darts so me and the youngest lad could enjoy a game of 'round the clock' to while away some time. He very nearly beat me too!Leaving Crooke behind we followed the canal for another 4-5 miles through some very rural countryside. The canal meanders alongside the previously navigable river Douglas that the canal replaced in 1790. On reaching the outskirts of Parbold we left the canal for the final leg of the ride and this is where it got interesting.
The route height profile and been almost as flat as a........ canal upto this point but that was about to change. We had to climb over 500ft from the valley floor to the summit near Beacon Country Park. It wasn't much of a problem for me or my oldest son but the poor 11yr old was complaining of being tired before we even started. Regardless, he dug deep and slowly pedalled his way to the top without tears, tantrums or getting off to push (although he did stop to nip into the bushes for a pee!
)Once at the top we stopped to grab a packet of crisps from the pub at the summit before enjoying the rewards of our effort as we descended to an anonymous industrial estate just outside Skelmersdale, arriving outside the offices of my wife's employer a mere 15 minutes before her finishing time
Over the two days we travelled a little shy of 60 miles but, for a first attempt at cycle touring we had proved it could be done and despite the cooler weather at this time of year we had largely avoided any real rainfall and kept spirits high. Looking forward to the next adventure now
cold, needing 3 layers to keep even slightly warm.
! Anyway I took full advantage of the current sunny spell today to head out this afternoon towards Kirkstone via Outgates, The Drunken Duck (no pint there this time
) and down the B road into Ambleside, where the real fun began. I turned up the hill next to The Golden Rule and got stuck into 3 miles of pretty much constant uphill weighing in at an average 20%, though I'm sure some are nearer 25%....in the Cyclechatter's code there's no surrender
.They don't call it The Struggle for nothing...I really felt I'd earned my pint of Kirkstone Black in the Kirkstone Pass Inn as I enjoyed the views over the south Lakes. Then it was time to feel the need...the need for speed as I enjoyed a fast downhill run towards Troutbeck, stopping for a couple of swift halves at The Mortal Man before carrying on down Holbeck Lane(be warned and joining the A591. Luckily I turned off it at Waterhead and headed for Rydal via Under Loughrigg...onto the A591 again but mercifully briefly, thanks to that handy little lane just on the right after White Moss carpark. Another pause at Tweedies Bar to enjoy a couple of fine ales and catch up with old colleagues. The Sublime Chaos stout helped give me a bit of energy to despatch my old favourite Red Bank
and I enjoyed some fine views towards the Langdale Pikes from the track round Loughrigg Tarn. I much prefer this to the road , as you get much better views and fewer Rambo wagons. If you're lucky enough to get a clear still day, then you can see a magnificent reflection of the Pikes in the Tarn.
however the wind was light and it was an enjoyable ride with a detour through Attingham Park.
