I’m Missing Graham

Summer 2020 is almost upon us, and by now Graham and myself have been on numerous adventures, but this is no ordinary year. Thousands of people have sadly died of the Covid-19 virus pandemic in the UK with many hundred of thousands more around the world. The UK like many other countries has gone into lock down, restricting people’s movements and daily life beyond the imagination of any of us. 

The pandemic has affected a lot of people in different ways, including Graham and myself. Graham has become “Daddy Day Care” looking after his grand-daughter who along with his daughter and son-in-law lives with him and Val. Myself being furloughed and moving in with my parents and caring for my father who needs to be shielded, which sadly also means I am no longer able to see my partner Louby Lou or my dog Lucie, only via Face-time. 

We are all internally grateful for all the people in our fantastic NHS including my partner Louby Lou,my brother and my daughter as well as Graham’s wife Val and his daughter too who all work in the NHS and to all the key workers who have managed to look after us in so many ways. 

Graham and I have been keeping in contact during these dark and difficult times, even though we have had to put our adventures on hold until it is safe. Due to my family circumstances I will not be able to get out with Graham on a Thursday evening as is our usual night for adventures but hopefully we can arrange for another day to go exploring as this pandemic eases and our world gets back to what I think will be a new normal. Maybe we’ll explore a little further afield also . 

I have managed to get out a couple of times on my own, cycling around the Blackrod area of Bolton which is a beautiful part of Bolton, if a little on the hilly side compared to what we are usually accustomed to, but it has not been the same without my best friend and wing-man Graham who I miss greatly. 

I recently had a ride out not having a clue where I was going but all our adventures normally start like that. I stopped a couple of times to see where I was and which direction I should be heading. It was at one of these times I was passed by a couple on mountain bikes so I decided I’d follow them and see where they led me. They rode up a dirt track marked “Private Rd”, I hesitated for a second but then continued to follow them nevertheless. At the top of the track they had stopped and as I came up they said “hello” and asked where I was going. As I was new to the area and  I didn’t have a clue they kindly offered to let me follow them at a safe distance. Thanks to the kindness and thoughtfulness of this couple I had a quite enjoyable afternoon ride along the canal. 

The following week I saw that there was an old railway line which was now a cycle path that ran parallel to the canal, so I decided my adventure would be to find it, easier said than done.

I decided to go in the opposite direction from the week before and rode up to Frederick ice-cream on the A6 where I picked up the Leeds Liverpool canal. 

A check of the map showed it was some considerable distance to the bridge I needed to find where hopefully I could join the cycle path, so I decided to sit on the side of the towpath for a quick break. Whilst resting I Face-timed Louby Lou, as we chatted I shuffled around to remain comfy, only so sit down on some stinging nettles, which didn’t surprise Louby Lou at all. 

Recovered from my mishap I arrived at the bridge I wanted, and rode up expecting to find a cycle route only to find myself in someone’s garden. Over the bridge I saw a couple walking towards me, once safely passed I asked them if they could direct me in the direction of the cycle path, slightly bemused they did, it was 20 feet in front of me, only slightly embarrassed I thanked them and continued on. 

The path is National Cycle route No55 which brought me out at Red Rock. From here it should have been a nice easy ride back, but like nearly every adventure things don’t always go smoothly, I missed one of my turnings and ended up nearly in Aspull, which caused me an extra 2 mile cycle uphill. Lesson learned: always check if you aren’t familiar with the area and don’t be overconfident.

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