Well, not today but last week, but I've been busy since I got back...
Last Thursday I somehow got my self to Euston for around 6:39 (Uggh!), collected my ticket and Bike Space reservation, boarded the 07:30 to Preston and settled into my First Class seat (great value on certain trains booked well in advance...). Orange juice, cooked breakfast, toast and copious amounts of coffee later (all included in the £10 extra over the standard fare) I arrived at Preston at 09:35 collected the bike, switched on the Garmin and loaded the course from Preston to the Trough of Bowland so generously provided by @ColinJ
Down Fishergate Hill, left at the river and along through Miller and Avenham Parks past the old Tram Bridge we used to walk over on the way from school (PCC) to the Grafton Playing fields.It was at this point that it registered that it was 40 year to almost the very week that I took my A-levels, leaving Preston in the autumn for University and never going back apart from a few weeks here and there in University holidays and, since then, never for more than a long weekend - cue a veritable cascade of childhood memories.
Along the Ribble, over the A6 and into "here be dragons" territory - my folks never had a car so the area East and North of Preston was not somewhere I rarely went. Though I do recall and an Aunt and Uncle who went Tandeming and camping in the Trough in the 1930/40's.
Along, past Brockholes wildlife centre. Beyond here the track got a little agricultural for a 25mm shod road bike, so a hundred yards of so of walking, the back on the bike and onward wiggling North to Becon Fell - the clue is in the name! - the first climb of the day up to around 800ft. The smells and sounds of the country roads brought more childhood memories flooding back - rural Lancashire around here is cattle country- the sweet smell of fresh manure, the local architecture, stone farmhouses and houses in the smooth wire cut Accrington Brick, the hedgerows so very different from my current stomping ground of surrey. Anyone passing by must have been worried about me, so wide was the smile on my face!
Then further North almost to Lancaster before heading off right, into the Trough. 30 miles so far.
For those who don't know the Trough, it is one of the most beautiful parts of Lancashire - isolated and almost unpopulated. A bit like southern lakeland, without the people!
My stop for the night was at a new (6 months) farmhouse B&B in Newton-in-Bowland. One of the problems with the Trough is that there are so few people there are very limited numbers of places to stay - it is simply not set up for tourism - and long may that be the case. But Clerk Laithe Lodge is a a welcome addition - a newly built block in traditional style on a working farm. Matthew and his wife are very welcoming and are set up for cyclists - track pump just inside the door is the first thing you see! Food is all freshly prepared in Farm Labourer quantities! Local buttered shrimp on a muffin to start, pork loin in cream and mushroom sauce, then fresh strawberries. Breakfast was the full works and HUGH!!
On the road again, I back tracked a little then through Whitewell (home to the Inn at..., an iconic country hotel). Over Cow Arc (yes Colin, i diverted off your route here and did the steep bit!) East via Waddington and Chatburn, past Pendle Hill. before heading North East to Skipton.
46 miles/3,800 feet on Thursday and 34 miles 3600 feet on Friday.
A great couple of days - great route (thanks again @ColinJ ) through the most fantastic scenery.
The it was two days watching the Tour - Saturday from my mates front garden and Sunday we rode out 10 mile for a second dose.
Cracking few days.
Last Thursday I somehow got my self to Euston for around 6:39 (Uggh!), collected my ticket and Bike Space reservation, boarded the 07:30 to Preston and settled into my First Class seat (great value on certain trains booked well in advance...). Orange juice, cooked breakfast, toast and copious amounts of coffee later (all included in the £10 extra over the standard fare) I arrived at Preston at 09:35 collected the bike, switched on the Garmin and loaded the course from Preston to the Trough of Bowland so generously provided by @ColinJ
Down Fishergate Hill, left at the river and along through Miller and Avenham Parks past the old Tram Bridge we used to walk over on the way from school (PCC) to the Grafton Playing fields.It was at this point that it registered that it was 40 year to almost the very week that I took my A-levels, leaving Preston in the autumn for University and never going back apart from a few weeks here and there in University holidays and, since then, never for more than a long weekend - cue a veritable cascade of childhood memories.
Along the Ribble, over the A6 and into "here be dragons" territory - my folks never had a car so the area East and North of Preston was not somewhere I rarely went. Though I do recall and an Aunt and Uncle who went Tandeming and camping in the Trough in the 1930/40's.
Along, past Brockholes wildlife centre. Beyond here the track got a little agricultural for a 25mm shod road bike, so a hundred yards of so of walking, the back on the bike and onward wiggling North to Becon Fell - the clue is in the name! - the first climb of the day up to around 800ft. The smells and sounds of the country roads brought more childhood memories flooding back - rural Lancashire around here is cattle country- the sweet smell of fresh manure, the local architecture, stone farmhouses and houses in the smooth wire cut Accrington Brick, the hedgerows so very different from my current stomping ground of surrey. Anyone passing by must have been worried about me, so wide was the smile on my face!
Then further North almost to Lancaster before heading off right, into the Trough. 30 miles so far.
For those who don't know the Trough, it is one of the most beautiful parts of Lancashire - isolated and almost unpopulated. A bit like southern lakeland, without the people!
My stop for the night was at a new (6 months) farmhouse B&B in Newton-in-Bowland. One of the problems with the Trough is that there are so few people there are very limited numbers of places to stay - it is simply not set up for tourism - and long may that be the case. But Clerk Laithe Lodge is a a welcome addition - a newly built block in traditional style on a working farm. Matthew and his wife are very welcoming and are set up for cyclists - track pump just inside the door is the first thing you see! Food is all freshly prepared in Farm Labourer quantities! Local buttered shrimp on a muffin to start, pork loin in cream and mushroom sauce, then fresh strawberries. Breakfast was the full works and HUGH!!
On the road again, I back tracked a little then through Whitewell (home to the Inn at..., an iconic country hotel). Over Cow Arc (yes Colin, i diverted off your route here and did the steep bit!) East via Waddington and Chatburn, past Pendle Hill. before heading North East to Skipton.
46 miles/3,800 feet on Thursday and 34 miles 3600 feet on Friday.
A great couple of days - great route (thanks again @ColinJ ) through the most fantastic scenery.
The it was two days watching the Tour - Saturday from my mates front garden and Sunday we rode out 10 mile for a second dose.
Cracking few days.
.
. Also, about halfway down the hill I reached my 1000th mile on the bike in 2014 
. Still, it was warm. Stopped at Chassenon for a drink. There are 2 of these guarding the Great War memorial - look as if they belong to something else - tank? rather than being stand alone, 'cause they're a bit small.
(apparently it's the Association l'autopompe of St Junien and there are 60 members that buy and restore these vehicles 
)
and so is the sun 
)
, going to Condover, Longnor, Acton Burnell, Cressage, Wroxeter, Upton Magna and back throught the centre of Shrewsbury.
