Got back from my 1st cycle mini-tour last night. Took my two sons age 11 and 14 for a little tester to check out the feasibility of bigger, more involved tours in the future. Travelling from Ashton-under-Lyne on Tuesday headed for a campsite just outside Culcheth for our overnight stay and then on Wednesday slightly less mileage but a little hill at the end before reaching my wife's workplace where we would load the bikes onto the roof rack for a lift home to our own beds.
Day 1
View attachment 347246
From Ashton it was straight onto the Ashton Canal towards Manchester, gradually losing height as we passed along this well surfaced and often travelled route to the big smoke. My bike was like a tank as it had 4 panniers loaded with most of the gear we wanted to try and make the trip do-able but without yet heading out to buy any specialised equipment.
We stopped off at some of the notable landmarks along the way...
View attachment 347248
View attachment 347250
My favourite part of this stretch of canal is the passage under the Piccadilly area where the canal passes under/is built over by the towering buildings above. The narrow walkways and locks all occupy the gloomy space beneath where there are ALWAYS a small number of shady characters loitering suspiciously in the shadows, not really a place I would like my kids or wife to go unaccompanied!
Going underground......
View attachment 347251
Passing through the centre of Manchester along Canal Street and past Deansgate locks we decided to have a little breather outside a bar in Castlefield while the sun was shining, before continuing on the Bridgewater Canal out to Broadheath, near Altrincham, passing another famous stadium along the way.
View attachment 347252
View attachment 347253
From Broadheath we then diverted on to the Trans-Pennine Trail past Dunham Massey, leaving the trail just before Rush Green where we crossed the River Bollin on a lane that turned out to be little more than a farm track and deposited us in Warburton just before an unexpected toll bridge.
The Bollin crossing....
View attachment 347287
View attachment 347288
I would have taken a picture of the rather impressive Warburton toll bridge but it was rather busy and I was a little concerned for my two boys. After this we headed up Dam Lane and School lane past Risley Moss where I could swear we met
@MossCommuter heading the other way looking fast and focused all in black! I shouted "Mossy" a couple of times as he disappeared into the distance but he either didn't hear or maybe recognised me and pretended not to hear
![Laugh :laugh: :laugh:](/styles/default/xenforo/smls/laugh.gif)
We crossed over the M62 and then crossed the large Birchwood landfill site via another rather bumpy and unsuitable path! It was here that our carton of milk gave up the ghost and started dripping out of the bottom of one of the panniers. Luckily by this point we were only a mile or two from our destination for the day and passed a local Sainsbury's in Culcheth so could restock the lost milk.
It was gloriously sunny when we pitched our tent for the night.
View attachment 347293
Dinner that evening was taken in the Italian restaurant in Culcheth which brought the days mileage upto 34 miles, not bad for day 1.