14 September 2012
Middlewich- Lower Peon - Knutsford- Culcheth- Chorley - Whittle-le-Woods.
Miles: 44.7
Average Speed:
Hours: 8.00 am - 4.45 pm
Feet up: 1618
Feet down: 1526
Well, all day long I was thinking how, back in Nelson, our weekly group would not have biked (you know who you are !!)
The actual biking today was just fine, but the weather was the villain. The wind was constant and strong, with gusts that at times were pretty difficult to cope with when they caught one from the side (up to 50 mph we believe). Rain storms kept blowing across, and at times it felt pretty cold, again because of the wind and rain.
However, we knuckled down, and did a pretty good mileage.
Yes, Alain, we did go through one of the Peons, and maybe some of the other names you mentioned this morning, but honestly, I was not sightseeing today, just getting there was the goal,
We think that our location tonight has an interesting name also.. Apparently from "a white hill in the woods"
Our route took us around Manchester, slipping between that city and Liverpool. It was quite different from what we have seen so far, much more residential, although never far from farming country,
We crossed over the Manchester Ship Canal, which runs from the sea into Manchester, along which ocean going vessels passed in times gone by. There is still a toll of about 12p to cross, but the lady toll taker in the cute little toll booth excused us.
We passed by some very grand homes lined up together on a road not far from the airport, and then through many working class towns/suburbs consisting mainly of red brick row houses. They were all mill towns, we believe, connected with manufacture of cotton.
This is how the towns felt - notice the clothing and body language - it was rather miserable.
Lunch today was in a Pub, taking shelter from rain, and warming up. We both had mushroom soup and a cup of tea..... Whatever next!!!!
Knutsford was a very pretty, very upmarket town. Some of the others were rather dreary, and it did not help that everyone was rugged up against the weather.
We have met three other "end to Enders" so far.
First was a guy about our age a few days ago, no luggage, big map rig on his handlebars, and turns out he has his wife in a car following with his luggage and spares, etc
Yesterday we met Nick, doing the ride in 12 days, he hoped, for his fortieth birthday. His biggest day was 107 miles in across the end if Cornwall, Devon, and into Somerset . He was having major problems with his bike, which was a racing bike that did not like the potholes at speed, and responded with punctures and broken spokes.
Nick told us about a guy on a recumbent bike, and today he pulled alongside while we were stopped. He is doing it in two weeks for his 50th birthday. Both these guys are carrying so little, it is amazing. Certainly nothing electronic with chargers that would allow blogging. They also have NO clothes and the recumbent rider allowed as how one could probably smell him a mile away, but we did not notice!!!! We were too impressed with their biking ability. .... And then we did a little age check??
So folks that is the story for today. Internet connection here is very slow, and photos take 2 minutes each to download, so I will post the text tonight and add photos tomorrow night, all going well.
A bathroom in the Premier Inn (the Malthouse ) a chain in Whittle- le - Wood on the Liverpool Leeds canal - you never know what might turn up
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