Rsf Monton Sun 10th Feb 2019-02-11
As we prepared for a ride in the east of Greater Manchester there were 4 Ebikes to 3 non-mechanised (sign of the times?) The problem with Ebikes is that there are more things to go wrong, and so it transpired. A major power failure meant that we lost our main photographer before we had even started.
Almost immediately we left the road to take the trail along the old Lancashire and Yorkshire line that led to Clifton. It was on this route that the Black Harry Tunnel collapsed in 1953 taking with it 3 houses and killing 5 occupants. We left the trail to cross the East Lancs Road and follow the A6 for about a mile. We soon found the newly surfaced old rail track that took us to Blackleach Country Park. We stopped to admire the view across the lake towards the church spire at Walkden. After crossing the A575 we continued along the trail until we were able to cross over the M61 to the east of Farnworth, and then back under it at junction 4. From here we turned south and passed between the enormous warehouses of Aldi and Amazon in the new industrial estate that lies south of the A6. The trail then opened up and wended its way gently downhill through a wide area of reclaimed land replete with many trails. We then crossed the Manchester - Wigan rail line and followed a section of old cobbled lanes and dirt lanes into Tyldesley. Cafe Elliott served us well with large bacon & egg baps and where I saw something never seen before – Mick unable to complete his all day breakfast!
After lunch we followed the smooth surface alongside the new guided bus way, thankfully with a strong following wind. Almost at its end we veered off left on a newly opened cycle trail leading north eastwards towards Walkden. Despite having ridden this only 3 weeks earlier I drifted off on another newly laid section to disgorge on to an unfamiliar road. The map told us that we should have been ¼ mile to the right. So, back on the trail we continued a short distance until we met route 55 which we followed rapidly. Then saying goodbye to John we took a short detour through Worsley Golf Course to arrive back at Monton.
Despite the forecast, the day stayed fine and everyone found sections of trails that they had not ridden before - even if in my case it was due to an error!
John Kemp