3rd July 2025
Our summer holidays were now but a distant memory, even though it was only a matter of weeks since we had both returned. It was Thursday and that meant adventure night. I’d arranged to rendezvous with Graham at the Meccano bridge in Little Lever. I took the route which followed the path of the now filled in canal from Darcy Lever as it is a more scenic route. Once across Hall lane I rode up the steep hill to rejoin the canal at the top, which at this point is still in water. It was on the assent up the hill I spotted one of the dangers that hinders us Extreme Bikers, a large, camouflaged piece of steel protruding out of the ground. Things like these can cause accidents and possible serious injuries but luckily we have avoided such things, so far anyway.
As I leisurely rode along the towpath in the bright evening sunshine, I passed a family of swans, the cygnets were now quite large and it wouldn’t be long before they would be going their own way. I spotted Graham sat on the picnic bench which is made from huge pieces of Meccano. I joined him and we had a good catch up about work , life in general, our families and our holidays , his and Vals in Corfu and Peggy Lou’s and mine in Rhodes. I also told him about my experience on the MTB trails up in Gisburn Forest the previous Sunday, where I’d come off my bike a couple of times but only sustained minor cuts and bruises, it was all part of the fun but I told him that it was hard work and I could hardly move on Monday morning due to the exertion. Once we were caught up Graham inquired where we were off to tonight, I answered ” Just to Burrs Park pal, don’t want to overdo it “ still concerned over Graham’s heart condition, and therefore not wanting to get on the wrong side of Val, even though we have been friends for over 50 years.
Our first stop off point was once again the 1934 breach on the Bury arm of the canal that is now beginning to take shape as they back fill in the soil , slowly building it up to reopen the canal after nearly 100 years. We rode under the new bridge over the canal which allows access to the new houses under construction on the site of the old Creams Paper Mill at the base of the hill. We continued along the canal just enjoying the peaceful beautiful scenery, that was until Graham interrupted, asking ” Hey pal what makes you fat ?” , ” eating “ I answered “that’s what does it mainly food” I added. Then ” how about beer and stuff ? “ Graham asked. ” Yeah that as well pal “ I replied. ” Oh well that’s it then we’re both screwed then , we just gonna get fat ” he said with a chuckle. “Well getting out on our bikes will keep us fit and healthy pal” I said on a positive note “ Yeah pal you’re right “ . I then asked Graham when he’d last been out on his bike . “ Urmmm , well Urmmm , not since our last adventure “ . I think he may need to get out a little more or cut down on the pork pies mate , as the Blur song goes.
At Water Street in Radcliffe the canal goes through a small channel under the road so you have to leave the canal and cross over the busy road to rejoin the canal on the opposite side. I spotted a gap in the traffic and went for it, but Graham hesitated for a split second, and missed the opportunity. As he joined me a couple of minutes later he called out ” Took a bit of a risk there didn’t you pal “ I probably had, but I was perfectly safe , it was just the split second timing that had enabled me to safely cross.
It was a very pleasant evening as we rode along the canal and there were plenty of people out for a stroll in pleasant evening air, some walking their dogs others out with their children, but this caused a slight problem for us. We obviously ring our bell to warn people of our approach and slow right down as we pass , but the frustrating thing is the repetitiveness of saying thank you to them all as we pass, but it costs nothing to be polite.
As we approached the end of the canal Graham shouted out behind me “ Hey Ebay I’ve just noticed you’ve not got a jumper on , I’ve not got one on either “ then he said “ but I have got a vest on , well you know it’ll probably get a little chilly later “ . He sounded like a proper old man. At this point we took a well deserved water break and continued to chat about our holidays and that we would be able to meet up on our next holiday in September as we would both be in San Stefanos in Corfu at the same time.
Onward we were soon travelling along the cycle path that would take us to Woodhill Rd and on up to Burrs Park. It was here as we joined another path and we came upon a man riding an E-bike. He stopped to let us get ahead . Graham asked him about his bike and told him to PUT INTO BOOST, I don’t think he got Graham’s humour. Unbeknown to me the man continued to follow just behind Graham. As we rode along Woodhill Road I spotted an old VW camper in a car park so I stopped to take a quick photo with Graham pulling up sharply behind me , Graham is accustomed to this but the poor guy who was still following us nearly crashed into the back of Graham. I apologised but Graham pointed out “ Don’t think he was happy with you there pal” , “ Well he shouldn’t have been following so close “ I remarked. We entered the park and rode across the bridge over the river Irwell where Graham noticed some kids swimming in the river below between the signs for NO SWIMMING , NO CLIMBING . Graham pointed out that the river didn’t look that clean . He then went on to comment that we did it when we were kids, which is true. He then added ” Oh yeah been in the canal a few times , but they were normally always accidents tho “
We had just passed by a farm when Graham shouted towards me “ Have you pumped ?” obviously relating to the smell of muck spreading from the farm. I obviously replied that I hadn’t. Our aim once in the park was to find the railway station of the East Lancs Railway that runs from Heywood to Rawtenstall and passes through the park. As we made our way around the park we spotted a large sculpture that is part of the Irwell Sculpture trail that extends some 33 miles in total.
In typical Graham and Ebay style we went in the wrong direction at first and had to make a u turn but even then we took the more difficult path through a set of gates. Eventually though we did make it up to the station which overlooks the caravan park. I told Graham that I think it was called Burrs Park Halt rather than a station, but after looking at various maps it is marked on as both, a Halt and a station, what the difference is we’re unsure. We had a quick look around the platform and the information boards. Sadly there were no trains running at this time .I told Graham Peggy Lou and myself have experienced a couple of lovely 4 course evening meals whilst being pulled along by a steam train on this railway and suggested we could all do it sometime . This is one of the experiences offered by the East Lancs railway that you board from Bolton St station in Bury.
We looked over towards the caravan park. Graham commented that it wouldn’t be a bad spot to spend a weekend with there being a pub , The Brown Cow in the park, plenty of walks around the area and only minutes from where we live . The site was quite full but there were still a number of spaces. As we looked out over the site Graham asked me how I set up our caravan, I explained it’s quite simple and pointed out things on various caravans that were pitched up.
I mentioned to Graham that it was possibly time to set off on our return trip home to avoid being late and causing Val undue concern and he agreed. We left the park behind us but took a slightly different route back to the road, this took us along a gravel path, and at a sharp bend they had placed a lot of loose gravel, this caught both Graham and myself out , causing us to skid and slide whilst at the same time screaming like a couple of girls. Our composure restored we headed up onto Crostons Road in Bury . It was here Graham spotted a rather unusual little pub nestled in a row of terraced cottages , it was called “Help Me Thro'”. On further investigation it turns out to be quite a popular pub serving a good selection of beers and food.
We now had to negotiate the very large and busy 8 lane junction of Crostons Rd and Bolton Rd. The first part was easy. I pressed the button on the crossing and patiently waited for the green man, the sign it is safe to cross. The same thing at the next part of the crossing, but now it was Grahams time to take a risk .At the last part of the crossing Graham decided to take a short cut which left me stranded on an island in the middle of the road. I had to wait quite a while for a safe gap in the traffic to get to Graham.
Once were safely across the road we needed to take a left turn to get us back to the Daisyfield Greenway cycle path , but before I was able to workout which turning it was I heard Graham behind me ” Hold up pal, need to call in here !” . Looking round I couldn’t see where he meant, that was until he caught up with me. ” need to call in here pal “he said with that silly grin that he has. I looked round to see where he was pointing to. It was an ADULT ENTERTAINMENT SHOP. Naturally he was only joking.
Once on the Cycleway we made good progress and soon found ourselves faced with a brand new path which headed up to our left, now being on an adventure we had to explore where it went. Well what a great decision it turned out to be, it was new path which joined onto the Bolton-Bury Cycleway . As we rode along the path between the farmers fields we spotted a large bird of prey, sweeping down between the trees, as all the magpies, gulls and smaller birds scattered in all direction. Sadly it was to quick for me to get a photo, but J9, a colleague at work said, going off my description it would most probably have been a buzzard, whatever it was it was huge.
Not long after we emerged onto Bradley Ln. We stopped here for a quick chat before we went our separate ways. As we sat there a car appeared with some absolutely awful music blasting out of its open windows. Both of us shook our heads. What the hell was that we both said. ” Bet he thinks hes dead cool “ Graham remarked. Then his girlfriend appeared and got in the car. I turned to Graham ” Well he might think hes cool but his bird was a minger” I said. Graham retorted ” Yeah pal we might not be cool but we’ve got a couple of crackers for wives” . I certainly agreed with that statement. It was now time to part company with usual request of a text message we were home safely.
