20th August 2024
The weather had put pay to our last two adventures. So I’d suggested, due to an upcoming holiday, that we would change our adventure this week to Tuesday. Graham patiently awaited my arrival at my house, as I’d been delayed by heavy traffic.
Once I was ready Graham checked whether I had got a jumper on , I had. He said we’d probably need them later, even though the sun was shining and it was a pleasant evening. I told Graham that I’d hurt my back earlier and was in some pain and that had contemplated going on my E-bike but had thought better of it. He said tongue in cheek, if I had he would have just gone home. He also has a recurring back problem and told me he had to take a couple of Anadin before he set off, but as Extreme Bikers it’s going to take more than that to stop us.
Now prepared for our adventure, we set off in the direction of Bolton town centre. We went via the cycle route over the viaduct in Darcy Lever. It was then we heard the sound of a police car and sure enough far below us on St Peter’s way we saw it, slowly making it’s way through the standing traffic. We noticed how the breeze had gotten a little stronger. “Gee Wizz, it’s picking up a bit,” Graham exclaimed as we rode atop of the viaduct. This was nothing though for what was to come.
We arrived at Manchester Road to find it at a standstill but we used the bike crossing as a matter of safety “ You never know what’s overtaking down the outside pal “ I advised Graham. Once safely across it was up over Orlando bridge. The traffic here was the same all at a standstill.
We made our way through the traffic on our way to Spa Road . As we did we stopped off at the remains of the Greyhound Pub that had been burned down in a gas explosion earlier in the year . We then got onto the Middlebrook trail, it was here that I had to answer the call of nature behind a large tree. We set off with myself riding in front with Graham just behind me to my left. We ride like this due to Graham being deaf in one ear, it helps him to hear me as we ride along, well sometimes anyway. The trail is a popular route for walkers and cyclists alike. As we rode along I heard the ring of a bell behind us so I pulled over to the left to let them pass. As he passed us I heard Graham “ Gee Wizz he gave me a shock, he should have rung his bell “ he called out . I replied “ He did pal that’s why I moved over” . That’s when it got a bit silly. “ Ring your bell pal see if I can hear it” ding ding “ Yeah I can hear yours I’ll try mine” ring ring “ I can hear mine too, he needs a better bell me thinks” . I think it might be more to you being hard of hearing pal to be honest.
At the end of the trail we were met by the sad sight that was the Lostock Arms here we turned right and then on up to Regent Park golf club. As we rode up the path through the golf club the storm clouds above us opened. The wind had also gradually increased throughout our adventure and was now blowing quite strongly. Combined with the rain it was far from pleasant. “ Gee Wizz “ Graham exclaimed “ This wasn’t forecast “ . I suggested we take shelter between some bushes but when we got there it was like a wind tunnel, nearly blowing us off our bikes. A little further along we did find some shelter under some trees and it wasn’t long before we were joined by other people doing the same.
As the rain eased we continued up passed a new housing development on Ox Hey Ln that had sprung up since our last visit. Here Graham recalled an accident he had a few years ago when he was distracted by a woman with humongous boobies . Reflecting he said “ It was a bad crash pal but I just carried on I didn’t say anything at the time but I was in some pain “ . A true trooper our Graham. At the top of Ox Hey Ln Graham pointed out a fabulous looking tree and insisted I get a photo , with Graham and his tree. At the top of the lane we went straight over Chorley New Rd and up the steep Fall Birch Rd .
This is quite a long steep climb and we were both shattered near the top and Graham suggested we have a couple of minutes rest at the top but just before he got there he’d had enough and said “ I’m stopping here pal I’m goosed” . It was a matter of a few metres from the top so I powered on up passed him “Come on pal we’re almost there “ I shouted, “ I was just waiting for you to catch me up pal” he retorted. We took our well earned rest and took on some fluids and had a quick chat with Graham asking his usual Thursday night question “ How’s your week been pal ? “ not quite the same when it’s only a Tuesday. Now we continued up the more manageable incline. Well that’s what we thought, the road soon turned to very uneven cobblestones and with the fact we were both suffering with our backs we took the decision to dismount and push our bikes to the top. Even Extreme Bikers have to know their limitations.
The views from the top overlooking the reservoir were stunning and well worth our efforts. The road down was made up of smoother cobbles but due to the rain the cobbles were extremely slippy as Graham remarked ” Gee Wizz these are damn slippery pal better take our time”. “Wow I’ve said it again Gee Wizz, don’t know what that’s all about I just keep saying it ! “ . I said I hadn’t noticed, as I chuckled away to myself.
On our right I spotted a dirt path that looked like it could possibly be a short cut but sadly all it did was take us through a load of holly bushes, complete with girly screams as we kept getting pricked by them, so eventually we returned to the road. It was here Graham spotted something that he sarcastically calls mole hills , large mounds of earth and a house set back off the road. ” Don’t think I’d like to live there pal its a bit secluded . It’d be a bit scary at night don’t you think ?” . We discussed this matter and came to the conclusion that if unlike us who were brought up in an urban environment, if you were brought up there it would just feel normal.
We emerged onto Old Kiln Lane and rode up until we found our turning down Boot Ln. It’s is a dirt road with odd bits of tarmac so we cautiously rode on and to our surprise we soon found ourselves on a lovely tarmac road with houses on one side and horses on the other. I soon realised where we were. We were in fact near some friends of ours Wing Commander Dave and his wife Camper Van Irene. Sadly we didn’t have time to call to see them, maybe next time. As we emerged onto Moss Bank way we saw the traffic here was also gridlocked, something must have happened somewhere. As I stopped to take a photo a lad in a car stuck in the traffic shouted across to us “ It’s a bloody nightmare, not moved in ages “ . I called back to him enquiring if he wanted to buy a bike. He laughed as he said “swap you for this car”. At least we may have brightened his evening up I thought.
We managed to find a path down to Doffcocker lodge which would cut a large corner off our route , as well as making pleasant viewing. The lodge is a nice place to visit, relax and watch the wildlife but unfortunately for us we had to plough on.
Leaving the lodge behind we rode down Markland Hill lane. Graham pointed out that it was a very posh area here and apparently the pubs are full of older women looking for younger men. I said to Graham “ We’d be like a couple of toy boys in them pubs then matey ” . He said “ yeah they’d be fighting over a pair like us” , “ damn right !” I said.
We turned off down Greenmount Lane and headed for the site of my wife’s old secondary school Whitecroft Road School. Sadly there was nothing to see. It is now just another housing estate so we continued down Rydal Road where I made a nearly disastrous error. The road has a slight kink in it and it appeared the right of way was straight on, but it wasn’t. The road markings were almost non-existent apart from a faint white line to one side. So we just rode straight across. Obviously if you’re from the area you are aware but if you’re not it’s a disaster waiting to happen . Luckily for us there was no traffic coming in the opposite direction but it could have been a completely different story. Even us Extreme Bikers make mistakes but we always try and learn from them .
Queen’s Park was our next point of call so we travelled down Carlton Rd. The houses here were very nice and Graham pointed out that they would make a great backdrop for a 1950s scene. Now as we stopped Graham pointed out a small red flower growing at the side of the road and asked if I knew what it was but I hadn’t a clue, so we just called it Red Bells . If anyone knows its proper name please leave an answer in the comments at the bottom of the post. We both agreed that as we have gotten older we notice and appreciate the smaller details in life more, like little red flowers.
The evening was drawing in now and our adventure to an end. We were both glad we had put our jumpers on as the sun began to disappear. We rode through Queens Park admiring its splendour amongst the overall dismal town centre of Bolton. We then passed the new housing on Moor Ln , they are just boxes with windows in, we both agreed we’d definitely wouldn’t want to live there.
Our route home took us along Manchester Road and back over the viaducts until we parted company at Gorses Rd , with the usual promise of texting each other when we got home.
