Distance 14.1mile
26th May 2016
Click Here For Route Via Strava
Meeting Graham at our prearranged rendezvous point we had to assess where we were going this evening as we had been delayed meeting up due to a lack of communication with myself Graham and Peggy Lou who had already prepared our evening meal. Once we got ourselves sorted we decided a trip through Bolton was in order, and play it by ear where the rest of the ride would take us. As we got to Bradshawgate I suggested we take a quick look at the new bus and rail interchange which is being built on the site of the old Argos and shops on the corner of Newport St. It is quite an impressive structure, but we both prefer the old railway station that was on Trinity St which was sadly demolished years ago.
Now we proceeded on down the precinct on Newport St passing the town hall, before we turned left towards Queens park where they were going to hold Boltfest, a music festival that bank holiday weekend.
Along Spa road we went until we went passed the subway under the railway and along to explore what was further on. We soon found ourselves at what looked like a dead end in a field, as we rode round we lost one another looking for a way across the railway but Graham soon emerged and we spotted a gate that took us along a small path leading us up to Heaton cemetery. Taking the decision to ride up through the cemetery we found ourselves at a set of locked gates, Graham stated as the gates were 10ft tall we probably couldn’t climb over them, thank god for common sense. Off back tracking down the path we rode until we came across another set of gates , these though we could get passe and the path led us up to Overdale drive, we turned left over the new bridge towards the bottom end of Haslam park, here we came across some old stones in a semi circle shape but we didn’t have a clue what they were for, a building maybe but what we don’t know. Now as Graham had been instructed by Val not to make it a late one so they could catch up on Game of Thrones, Graham suggested we better be on our way.
Following the path along Middlebrook to the Lostock Arms which is still in a sorry state, we emerged onto Rumworth Road. In the past we have turned right and continued our way to Horwich but this time was different so we we turned left and joined Tempest Road , after a short distance we came upon a small path on our left signed Wild Flower Meadow and Woodland so we decided to quickly explore this path which led us down through Tempest farm , at first we thought we had cycled into someone’s front garden not a farm. Once we had turned right along Lock lane and emerged onto Tempest road again and I now knew where we were. There is a new housing estate on Chew Moor lane now on the site of the old Stakehill factory which used to make all the crates used in transporting car parts.
Along the A6 Manchester Road we went carefully navigating the treacherous Chequebent roundabout. Safely round we continued up the hill to four lane ends, here we took a short rest, and as the light was beginning to fade Graham wanted to turn his lights on , on his new bike. Travelling down Plodder Lane we parted company at Bradford Road to go our separate ways home, but not forgetting to one bell (now text) each other when we were safely home, this we duely did as I now sat down to enjoy my evening meal which Peggy Lou had saved for me from earlier.
