I haven't posted in this thread before but it is one of my favourite ones on the whole website and I read it most days. Sometimes I leave it a few days so there is more to catch up on. I particularly enjoy the photos from around the country where people go cycling.
I thought I would add my own contribution following my ride yesterday, from Southport down to Seaforth and Crosby shore, and back. My wife was having her hair done in the morning and it was quite bright with a southerly wind, which meant riding south towards Liverpool would mean enjoying a tailwind on the way home.
First photo stop was New Causeway in the countryside by Formby, an exposed stretch of road with no shelter from the wind. In the second (zoomed) shot, you can see a large crane (about a third of the way across on the right of the trees) in the distance; that is at Seaforth or Gladstone Dock and there was a feature in the local news a few weeks ago when it was being towed into the Mersey estuary, now a bit of a landmark.
After weaving my way through past Hightown and Ince Blundell, I passed through Little Crosby, a quaint village on the outskirts of Liverpool.
After taking a left at Little Crosby Church, I made my way to Thornton via Back Lane and Virgins Lane (pictured below)
Then I made my way down to the back of Crosby and Waterloo, and over Brook Vale bridge into Seaforth. On the left of the photo below, looking along Sandy Road in Seaforth towards the city, you can see the ongoing construction of Liverpool Football Club's new stand, what an eyesore...booooooooo!!!!
Then I went down Cambridge Road towards Crosby shore, with Seaforth Docks to my left. Into Waterloo Road and past the old Christ Church which is now used for various community events, including the Waterloo Beer Festival, which is well worth attending. When I do this ride I always say a silent hello to my good friend Paul who sadly passed away 2 years ago, a short 3 months after attending said beer festival with a few of us, RIP mate, you were one of the best.
After calling in at the Crosby Marina Leisure Centre for a loo stop, I went back up to Marine Crescent / Adelaide Terrace, which if I could choose, would be amongst my top choices of streets to reside in Merseyside, you can keep your Birkdales, Blundellsands and Caldys, I just love the stylish houses from circa 1900, and the superb views across Liverpool Bay towards the Wirral and North Wales.
Onto Crosby promenade and the views towards the docks, over to the Wirral and North Wales contrast superbly. This is the location of Anthony Gormley's "Another Place" exhibition of iron men looking out to sea. However, the tide was high so only a few iron heads could be seen popping up above the waves yesterday morning.
Although the wind speed was supposed to be around 20 mph according to the BBC website, it wasn't as much of a hindrance as I expected, but when I do this ride and the wind is blowing from the south, it is always noticeably much more quiet when you get onto the Promenade and it changes from being in your face to behind you, as was the case yesterday. Looking north along the Promenade, towards the white building which is the ex-Coastguard Station - an austerity casualty, the waves were splashing, rather than crashing, over the barriers, but it was wet enough to make me keep away from the edge, don't want my bike being ruined by seawater, nor do I want to get soaked! Looking out to sea, you could see the Burbo Bank wind farm, and the odd cargo vessel heading to or from the port of Liverpool.
Heading north and towards home, I stopped at "the bench by the Alt" (below) just south of where the River Alt emerges into the sea slightly north of the mouth of the Mersey. Looking beyond the Alt is Formby Point the home of much precious wildlife and an expansive beach, and beyond that Formby Pinewoods, an importnat sanctuary for the endangered red squirrel.
Remounting after briefly sitting on the bench by the Alt, I headed home via Hightown and through Formby Village, a round trip of just under 30 miles, arriving just in time for lunch and to admire Mrs Roadhump's lovely new hairstyle.
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