Easy Does It  

23^rd April

After the winter out of the saddle and the lighter nights it was decided tonight would be our first outing of the summer just a short introductory ride to get us back in shape for future expeditions. A lot has changed over winter, mainly that we are both now another year older and we think wiser. The local council gave the go ahead last year for the cycle path from the Gorses in Darcy Lever to Manchester Rd, so it only seemed fit that we explored this.

We set off as soon as Graham arrived at mine down to the start of the path at Gorses looking over the viaduct, but as it is all fenced off we weren’t able to see a great deal, with this the case we travelled along Gorses Rd to Leverhulme park were the path goes along the top of the park to Long Lane where at the moment it ends. We back tracked into the park and travelled along the path passed the five-a-side pitches and left along the paths leading down into the base of the park where we crossed the bridge over Bradshaw Brook up the path veering left up the steep hill towards Tonge Cemetery. Cycling through the cemetery and out onto Bury Rd, turning left towards Bolton town centre then left along Radcliffe Road passing what was the home of Fred Dibnah and is now a heritage centre.

Further along Radcliffe Rd we turned right into Wheatfield St and left at the junction towards Lower Darcy St were we found the entrance to the other side of the cycle path , here they had built a bridge over Lower Darcy St to connect the path to the other end of the viaduct, where we had been earlier, here we had a short breather, both feeling the winter out of the saddle. Soon we were off again heading towards the bridge over St Peters Way, but again this was not open, so we decided it was time for a catch up over a pint and to plan ahead for our next expedition and further ahead to our sponsored cycle ride from Manchester to Blackpool in aid of Christies( more info will follow in future blogs). We then set off back towards Little Lever and decided it would only be right to call into the Farmers Arms for a refreshment, which turned out to be a great idea as my partner Peggy Lou was there and kindly bought the weary explorers a nice refreshing pint which was very much appreciated.