The Cycle Path
Cycle Log
Day 5 - Wednesday 23 June 2004
Penkridge to Manchester
All the best laid plans occasionally go awry but on the 'path of the green dragon' the curse of the green bottle glass that pierced through my kevlar belted tyre continued to resonate. A new set of tyres and spares of the correct quality was eventually located in the Manchester Cycle Cooperative 'Bike Doctor'. Even the journey there involved two changes of train but under Stoke station's impressive canopy my bike in its folded state attracted the attention of a fellow passenger, Chris Gustar OBE...who lived on the IOW, was a member of Yarmouth Sailing Club and knew Alan Fisher. Not only that but he was the man responsible as former CEO of GKN/Westland Helicopters for ordering the painting of the big hanger at East Cowes with the full size Union Jack that still stands today as a massive piece of corporate art. We parted at Stockport where all tains to Manchester were terminating. A taxi ride to Bike Doctor gave me access to Rob who had kindly agreed to shift around a dozen other jobs to give succour to my injured Birdy. As good as his word the damage was repaired, I acquired a shed load of spares and the journey was on again. Huge thanks due to Rob and the good bike doctors for accomodating me and my traveller's needs. However,no time to recover the interesting canalside journey from Penkridge to Manchester but a promise to Bevan Craddock to return to Penkridge for the 'Penkridge Misdemeanors' a gathering of irreverent Morris dancers in July 2005. I was kindly aided through the Manchester motorway system by a passing UMIST student with defective brakes who collided with me at a junction; so thanks to 'Holly of the Cyclists' too. Manchester city centre is impressive as the junction of several canals all of which seem to merge under some huge railway bridges stacked in the sky. Even more bizarre is the giant plughole next to the YHA at Potato Wharf that allows water to flow into the Ship Canal and the river Irwell. Lots of slippery cobbles however, which don't make good cycling country. A modern YHA with helpful staff so after a shower met my fellow Countryside Agency Regional Director, Colin Maddison for to plan the next day's journey up the Irwell Valley Sculpture Trail to Bury and beyond...hopefully to meet Olivia Assheton at the Assheton Arms in Downham...the setting for the BBC series 'Born & Bred'. Later in the evening seeking food stumbled upon a mecca of local organic beers and ciders 'The Knott' where the bar's resident beer expert Emma Hardman introduced me to the great range of drink on offer. I recommend it to all thirsty travellers.
