Blackburn to wigan Pier 2025

It had been going so well on the cycling holiday, even though the weather had not been kind, with wind in our faces and occasional rain, as well as other obstacles to overcome.

It was grey and wet but at least some of the rooms had a nice view of the Cathedral.

A scenic but wet view

We decided to walk round to the Wetherspoons for Breakfast. It was an interesting building as it was an old main post office, hence the name the Postal Order.

Soon we were all fed and watered and ready for the off. We started in the rain and it was a cold day so we all had our jackets on,
we lifted the bikes out of the van and saddled up ready for day three

We took my route to canal. It involved pushing the cycles through the railway station and then we rode down the side of the cinema up past McDonalds over the road, up a foot path then skirted around Asda and found the cobbled road leading down to the canal.

Slippery wet cobbles, luckily no one had a spill.

Taking care on wet cobbles becomes a theme

All worked fine so we then set away out of Blackburn. No need for map reading today as we follow the canal all the way.

We had only gone a few yards when Peter saw a piece of artwork, so we had to stop for a picture

Which one is the real Peter?

Today there are more lovely properties on the canal side with great views of the canal

It must be fantastic to live here in the summer

What a lovely picturesque spot even in the rain

I had arranged for a lunch stop at Chorley as there was a Gregg's by the canal. We were making good time despite the wind in our faces, then Glen got a puncture. All Fixed but he could not get the valve back through the valve hole. strange it seemed too large, it was a Schrader valve on the tube but the hole was for a narrower presta valve. It was fortunate that my bike had the same size tyres and my spare tube had the correct diameter presta valve.

First puncture of the ride	Why does it always has to wet and muddy when we have a breakdown
We all have to stand around getting cold and wet waiting for Glen	It took longer than it should have with the tube problem.
Peter decides to check his tyres while we wait	The shape of things to come

Once we had fitted my spare tube it went back together and we were finally sorted. Then a girl cycling towards us warned about lots of thorns on the path ahead where a farmer was cutting the hedges. We decided it would be best if walked carried and pushed our bikes to try and avoid getting any more punctures. Great theory but it didn't work as well as we hoped. Next Colin N,
got a puncture. A new was tube fitted and we were on our way again. It was slow work pushing and carrying the bikes for two miles. When we could ride the path was muddy and slippery which meant very slow progress. Then Glens tyre went flat again. As we were only a few yards from a road and a short distance from our planned stop at Chorley we decided to call Ian to collect Glen and his bike and we would repair it at the cafe stop.

More muddy track	At least the weather is improving
The The sun is starting to break through	Yes we are still having a great time

We cycled on and soon came into Chorley where we had planned to meet up at Gregg's. Again it was easy to find and park the van for Ian as it was on an industrial estate and beside the canal.
Some were cycling on ahead and we had cycled past the link off the path up to the stop, so after I had caught them up and called a halt we were well past the cycle route way as We were beside some steps we decided to carry our bikes up the steps and then to head the couple of hundred yards back to the meeting point.

We made it.	A well deserved break
It was a nice clean and tidy premises until we arrived	Just as well we dint take our bikes inside, they were covered in mud

Over a coffee and a snack Glen decided to borrow Trevor's bike as Trevor was not riding today. This would save time fixing his puncture. If Trevor had seen the colour of our bikes he may not have agreed to the loan. Then just as we were setting off we found that the electric bike that Conner had been riding had puncture so Connor had to get back on his bone shaker. The Cycles were covered in mud from the wet track but at least now the weather was improving and everything was drying up. It was just as well as we still had 12 mile to go and were now well behind schedule so we had to pick up the pace.

Thankfully we had no further problems with the bikes so we could make good progress but we could not stop to do much admiring of the scenery.

There was also the complications of barriers on the path to stop vehicles but it didn't make it easy for bikes either.

Slow progress through the barriers	One at a time with careful manoeuvring
We found the best way was to wheel them through on the rear wheel	It was slow progress but we got there

The weather keeps improving and the sun comes out it looks like we will have a dry finish. The scenery along the side of the canal is very impressive, its a great section to cycle.

There are some lovely spots along the canal

Bob stops to enjoy the scenery in the improving weather.

Now we are really warm as we have arrived at the top of the flight of locks leading down to Wigan. There is time for a photo stop, and it is now all downhill and a good surface.
There are 23 Locks and it's a lovely gentle ride down, unfortunately there are a series of gates that we have to negotiate, some have narrow openings that handle bars can slot through, others have to be lifted over barriers or wheeled through the swing gates on their rear wheels.

Collins pleased his plans have worked again	Downhill to Wigan
Info sign	We are all happy to be on the last leg
Dave has to pose by the top lock	The way ahead down beside the locks

Then we arrived at Wigan pier, my mileage was spot on as I calculated 22 miles and clocked 22.19.
We met up with Ian and Trevor and posed for the usual end of ride shots.

Info board	It was a hard life
Redeveloped from its hey day	Unusual Wigan Pier sign
A more traditional road sign for the pier	The finish
We insist Trevor joins us for the final pictures, He may not have completed the ride but his bike did	Enjoying the fun in the sun at the end of another great ride.

Then we pushed the bikes to the van got changed and loaded the van, we didn't have time for the finish ride drinks we had planned, due to losing too much time with punctures.
We walked to the station and had a 30 minute wait for the train to Manchester Victoria, it was two minutes late so we had to walk quickly to our next train which was already in the station, so that was cutting it a bit fine. Two hours to Darlington, Where we arrived on time then had a short wait for the train to Bishop where our wife's and girl friend were waiting to take us home in the cars

We dropped Graeme down for his car and I got home for just after 9 another long day but lots of memories.

The ending.
Ian and Dave dropped bikes off as well as all our kit, the bikes were filthy with mud and still a bit wet so we all had a day of cleaning ahead, and some of us had punctures to repair, including me as I discovered a very slow puncture in my rear tyre, now where is my spare, oh that's right Glen has it.

The muddy tracks have left their mark on the bikes	This will take some cleaning
All the lower areas and chain are covered in mud and grit	All done cleaned and oiled and ready for the next ride out

Another great ride, we all thoroughly enjoyed it even though it was a bit more of a challenge than last years.