Day 7 - Runcorn to Lancaster
I’m happy to report we’re now at the halfway point, with nearly 500 miles traveled and about 32,000 feet climbed (more than Mt. Everest). At the start of Day 7 this morning (from Runcorn to Lancaster, 73 miles and 4,140 feet of climbing), I told my pal Larry that today would be totally chill. Which was true at the start, with an easy rollout from Runcorn. A few miles in, though, Paul passed me and of course I had to grab his wheel. Then, at about 5 miles in, to my surprise we caught up with the A group, consisting of Hannah, Charly, Neil, and Tama. From there, we had a nice peloton of 6, with me in the rear but staying tight with Paul. Much of the mileage was on a cycle path, with frequent barriers which slowed down the pace.
As we approached the first Brew Stop at 19 miles, I made an audacious move to secure the sprint points, passing Hannah on the right and leading the peloton to the stop at Plank Lane Lift Bridge at the Leeds and Liverpool Canal in the town of Leigh. (Proof is in the photo below, never mind the fact that this was all orchestrated by Hannah, who slowed for a bit so I could pull ahead with my camera.)
In front of Hannah, Charly, and Paul for just a moment
The 19 miles from the Brew Stop to lunch were a different story, weatherwise, with a constant light rain and low clouds that we climbed up into. I was again on Paul’s wheel and grateful for the steady pull. From lunch to our final destination in Lancaster, the weather gradually cleared, so by the time we finished we could enjoy a well-deserved libation in the sun.
Our route took us through the urban perimeter of Manchester, through or near towns I only know of because they have football clubs, like Wigan, Bolton, and Blackburn
Me, Paul, and Larry, somewhere near Wigan
The view after a long climb near Bolton. Would be spectacular on a clear day, I imagine. Larry remarked to me that the English seem so good-natured about the changeable weather, jolly in fact. “Ha ha, it’s England after all.” Larry wasn’t having it. “What’s wrong with these people! This is miserable!” But as Nigel explained to me, “You can’t have adventure without variety.” We experienced both today, for sure.
Weather started to clear after lunch. This photo is from near Darwen, 10 miles north of Bolton.
As we were rolling through Salesbury, eagle-eyed Paul spotted a cricket match a bit off the road, so of course we had to take a look. The pitcher is called a “bowler.” What’s up with that?
Weather continued to clear up. View from Barnacre, about 10 miles from our destination.
A few more shots above from the Lancashire moorland, with sheep, heather, and long views south and west
A group dinner, followed by a quick stop in the pub and it’s off to bed for all, to rest up for Day 8 tomorrow