Before I set off to Barrowford this morning I looked at two disparate weather reports,and after some discussion in Barrowford’s Pendle Heritage Centre’s tea room we decided to go for the most clement forecast.
Our original route was to take us to Greenberfield for lunch, but Sue the Lock Stop Café’s proprietor had phoned yesterday to say she would be closed for the weekend;unfortunately she had had a mishap with her new carving knife and was forced to visit A & E. We wish her a speedy recovery. So another route was quickly planned.
In sunshine we rode along through the park beside Pendle Water and up past the BMX and the cycle race track to cross the Leeds and Liverpool Canal as we climbed up to Barrowford’s top lock. We continued along the towpath until we arrived at the entrance to the Foulridge Tunnel.
Our new route was now along the trackbed of the now defunct Colne to Skipton railroad. The last time we ventured along this route I was castigated by a certain rider, but today I thought I was safe. This route although having no physical barriers to progress is not a public right of way of any sort, but is simply a dis-used railroad.
Why was I castigated? Perhaps it was the copious quantities of filthy black slime, or the large puddles thereon, or was it because of the fallen trees we had to negotiate?There was, for part of the route a higher level path which most riders used, some of us stuck to the permanent way.
Next, crossing Vivary Way in Colne we snaked our way along beside North Valley Road to McDonalds for a bite to eat, a drink and a brief rest.
Our return route was quite short; re-tracing the route beside North Valley Road we joined the roadside cycle lane to Greenfield beside Colne Water and crossed the canal to return to Barrowford.
We arrived back just before the rain started; this just goes to prove how important it is to choose the correct weather forecast and believe in it. I think the more dismal, but inferior forecast may have deterred some riders today.
You may view the photographs I took here on our Flickr account.
Thank you for your company and for another grand half day out, Brian.