Here We Are, Oh No We’re Not !

18th  February 2021

Journey Length 15.27ml

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Our Thursday afternoon exercise and adventure took us towards the same area as last week, but this time we explored somewhere new, even now after more than 10 years of adventures we still hadn’t explored everywhere. I met Graham at Nob End and explained where we were to explore today. Given the weather forecast I didn’t anticipate we would enjoy this adventure as much as we did, luckily the bad weather held off.
We rode down the canal towards Ringley locks. It was here I stopped and showed Graham some interesting facts about the canal I had learned from watching some old historical programmes. I pointed out where the wooden lock gates used to be (in fact they are still there just the tops have rotten away) and the steel bands that held the lock gates in position, this wasn’t the only history lesson I gave Graham that day.

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The weather had warmed up considerably from last week’s freezing temperatures and to avoid what would be an obviously very muddy Red Rock Lane we took the Outward Trail route off Ringley Rd. We joined it at the site of Ringley station on the disused railway line. All that is left now are the remains of the old platform. There used to be a memorial brass plaque here but as with a lot of things it had sadly been stolen many years ago, just the hole in the wall remained. Standing on the platform Graham made out we were waiting for a train “whoo whoo “ he called out. We waited a while but no train arrived so we set off.

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Outward Trail to be honest was very muddy and full of puddles but this didn’t deter us extreme bikers. A little further along the path we came upon a horse and rider, Graham spotted it first “ Gee Gee ahead “ he noted, this would amuse Peggy Lou who disliked the use of Moo Cow, Bah Lamb etc. We slowed down to pass her. Graham brought to my attention that there was no saddle on the horse, she was riding bareback, ha ha ha she was riding bareback. There were now 2 blokes in their 50s giggling like school kids.
We now crossed the bridge over the M60 motorway , I stopped in the middle to take a quick photo of the small amount of traffic on the motorway due to the pandemic. Now the bridge bounces slightly as you cross and Graham thought it would be rather funny if he made the bridge bounce around while I tried to take the photo, gobbin. Just over the bridge we came to the Waterdale sign we saw last week. Down the hill and around the bend there were a number of work vehicles, Graham noticed that it had gas on the side of one of them, I joked “must be electricity they were working on then ehh?”.
A little time later we paused and sat on a bench for a breather. It was here we discussed the benefits and disadvantages of owning a dog as many dog walkers passed by. Having a dog myself I couldn’t agree with him, but hence to say we don’t always agree, that’s why we are such good friends. The poll on benches or forms was brought up, I therefore conceded defeat as the results were 50% for Benches, 37.5% for Forms and 12.5% for both .We soon arrived at the area we hadn’t explored before, Bradley Brook. To gain access to the path we had to negotiate a wooden gate way, as Graham struggled through a voice said from behind him “ Good job you’re slim fella “ , Graham just turned and gave the man one of his silly grins and carried on. The area was very pleasant with picnic benches dotted around along the brook and looked a great spot to visit in summer. Graham looked at the double picnic benches and asked “ Are they Bench Benches or Form Forms ha ha”. Glad to see he hasn’t lost his sense of humour.
After a while we came to a fork in the path and there was a large information sign, so we gave it a look. Graham confidently studied the map and pointed out the route we had come. I asked him “where are we ?”, he replied pointing at the map “think we’re here, yeah that’s where we are” . It was at this point I pointed out the 3 BIG words You Are Here! printed on the map. “ Oh yeah didn’t see that pal ” he said laughingly. Now you see why I don’t intrust him to plan our adventures, god knows where we’d end up.

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We took the dirt path on the right up the hill, which was another mistake, it was very narrow and slippery. I noticed that ours were the only bike tracks in the mud, it soon became apparent why, you could only just walk up it, never mind ride. Over the deep clough Graham noticed some old rope swings, not for the faint hearted i must admit, and he was wondering if someone was on one of them when it snapped, oh graham you do think some funny things. We passed a guy, with a cup of coffee in his hand, “must be a shop near here pal” Graham noted. Indeed after some distance we came to a garage which sold Costa coffee. Now Graham being Graham stated “that coffee must have been cold, errmm unless he was just taking his litter home ” , this is infact something we always do.

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We were now on the very busy Bury New Rd. I pointed out to Graham that I thought they should put a cycle lane here, and was just about to get on my soapbox about it when I realised we were actually riding on it, doohh!. A little farther on we realised where we were, the same place as last week but from the opposite direction. We made our way down to Drinkwater Park, passed the path we had taken the previous week. We saw a sign for the site of the remains of Irwell House,so we had a little explore but we were unable to find it: (since our adventure I have located it on an old map, and we actually rode by it not once but twice). The only thing we did manage to find was an extremely muddy path, where we both slid around, Graham wished for knobbly tyres on is bike because he really struggled, but I’d no sympathy with him, he had chosen the route ha ha . After leaving the mud we both agreed that was another bad idea Graham had had.

Waterdale was ridden through and we came to Clifton Aqueduct, it was here I gave graham his next history lesson. I informed him it was a Grade 2 listed structure and pointed out the unusual groves in the side of the canal wall which cleverly allowed them to drain one or other sides of the aqueduct as needed, he was thoroughly impressed

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As we headed back up to the bridge over the motorway we came upon a big hole in the path, in the hole was a gas pipe and oh boy was it a big pipe, a very big pipe. A sign pointed out they were fixing a gas leak, hasten to say we didn’t hang around. I rode all the way up the hill, Graham was behind and pushed his bike to the top. Once he had caught me up he asked “did you make it all way up ?” , “yeah” I replied, “wow you’re my hero pal” he exclaimed.
We decided to drop down onto Red Rock lane on our return and this gave us another problem. Our path was blocked by a large lorry on the narrow muddy path carrying a porta cabin . The driver flashed us to let us pass, this we did. We remained on the side of the path as we watched him struggle on, then bang. The path was so narrow he hit an overhanging tree, knocking loose his load he was now stuck he couldn’t go forwards or backwards. Now we never stand idly by if we can help, so we offered him our help but he informed us he’d got in touch with the people he was delivering to and they were coming to help, we wished him luck and carried on.

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Stopped on the bridge we noticed La Roma restaurant and pondered whether part of it had been demolished, since it had been the Lord Nelson pub. Indeed After finding a very old photo i noted it had .
As we made our way back up to the canal we passed Affleck Ave , I joked “that’s where Ben lives”. Graham retorted “ he’s a heartthrob you know, bit like us two”. We now rode over the packhorse bridge. Here we stopped while I climbed up to get a couple of photos of the aqueduct, now being extremely afraid of heights ( hard to believe of an extreme biker I know) this wasn’t as easy as it sounds, but in the interest of our loyal followers it had to be done.

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Graham accompanied me along the canal to Hall Ln, as we did we stopped off at the overflow of the canal, Graham pointed out that there was a chamber under the towpath that they used to play in as kids. When you are standing in it you’re at eye level with the canal water. He pointed out that if we peered over the edge of the canal you can see it, and indeed we did. Here Graham pointed out his forms at the bottom of his garden that overlook the canal, very nice indeed. I suggested I take a photo, then realised it would be a little intrusive. He said he didn’t mind but warned it might end up with loads of autograph hunters descending on him. This didn’t deter him so I snapped a quick pic, he did ask though when I published my book about all our adventures could he be at the book signing, I told that was a given, there’s no Graham and Ebay’s World without Graham.

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