Leeds - Liverpool Canal

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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
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Riley Green
February 13, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
Like many places we have seen on this journey, this stop looked to have so much potential. A Marina with Canal Boat Cruises and a romance restaurant sounds perfect. Alas no, it was now a dilapidated series of buildings surrounded by fences slowly being taken over by nature.

Chris has now joined Holly & Jonah which was reassuring as they left here, heading towards Blackburn, Hmm, glamorous! With Chris now cycling there was no point in me trying to get waypoints in central Blackburn. I had spotted a retail park on the other side of town that was right next to the canal - perfect!Read more
Traveler New pad!!!!!
2/13/24Reply
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Blackburn - an absolute dump
February 13, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
Whereas we were pleasantly surprised by yesterday's sojourn through Wigan, which although Northern-urban was quite pleasant in a 'living history' kinda way, Blackburn proved itself to be a grim hole. While there was a very short burst of cobbles, statues and locks, other than that it was derelict warehouses, moody characters and dog poop. Not even a view across to Blackburn Rovers' Ewood Park could lift spirits. The final insult was a stretch of towpath closed off for repairs, necessitating a tortuous diversion through the backstreets before we could pick up the canal again. Despite this, the kids cracked on and we finished the day with Blackburn firmly in the rear-view mirror and approaching the halfway point of the ride...Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Retail Park off Jtn 6 of the M65
February 13, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 7 °C
When I arrived to find a huge fence topped with barbed wire I was worried that it would be like being at the zoo as the riders pedalled past free on the other side and I waved. With a bit of walking around I did finally find a gap in the fence. If you could block out the roar of traffic on the M65 and the spinning class blasting out of the nearby gym, it was quite idyllic.

I checked the live location feed and started the stopwatch to see how long it takes to go from one side of Blackburn to the other on a bike along the canal. Including a detour due to the towpath being closed and stops for photos, the answer is roughly 53 mins, I reckon it wouldn't be much different in a car and way more stressful.

When everyone arrived it was unanimously agreed to call it a day. Another 27.22km in the bag and some very muddy bikes and children.Read more
TravelerAnother lovely, energetic day for you. XX
2/13/24Reply
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
The beginning of the end
August 8, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 19 °C
We're back and ready for the final push to finish the challenge. We've booked an Air B'n'B in Barnoldswick, which is a mid-terrace 2 up, 2 down, on a traditional Lancashire town street. It feels very much like visiting Great Aunty Margo!

Once we'd dropped the bags we headed back to Blackburn and our finishing point from last time. While I shopped for provisions Holly & Jonah hopped onto the canal and put in a cheeky 10km to bring the route out of the bustle of Blackburn and back to a more rural phase. It was enough to dust off the cobwebs.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Beautiful Burnley
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 16 °C
So the plan this morning was for me to drive up from home to yesterday's finish point, meet up with Claire and the kids and crack on with the ride. However, on meeting up, we discovered that somebody who shall remain nameless (Holly) had neglected to put her helmet, gloves or the backpack in the car when they left our lodgings this morning. Therefore, she borrowed my helmet, the kids set off solo and we returned to Barnoldswick to pick up the missing kit and drop one of the cars off. We then headed back towards the route to find they'd covered about twice the distance we'd expected. Our subsequent RV point was about as Northern as you can get - by the canal, behind a bingo hall overlooking Turf Moor, home to Burnley FCRead more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
The Swan & Goose
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 17 °C
Snack stop surrounded by ladies who lunch in a classy bistro overlooking the Marina. A small place filled with 60th birthday balloons, floral summer dresses and a group of sweaty people in lycra!

A portion of chips and a drink and then onwards.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Victorian Engineering
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
A quick interception at Barrowford Locks for a drink and snack. Jonah helped with a lock and we watched the mechanics of amazing Victorian Engineering as a narrow boat navigated through.

This part of the world is full of relics of the cotton industry, canal side mills and row upon row of solid stone terraced cottages.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Barnoldswick
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Barnoldswick is where we're staying and the bridge we came off at was a short ride from the canal to the 'cottage' via an Aldi. We picked up provisions for a picky lunch and headed back. We're yet to decide if we go out again for another stint to try to get to the most Northerly part of the trip tonight.

On the way from the canal we also passed some yarn art with a crocheted and knitted remembrance display outside Rolls Royce and a crocheted speed camera post box topper.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
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An evening with Mum
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 19 °C
So, we decided to go for it and push on to Gargrave, the most Northerly point of the route. This time it was Mum's turn to ride and Dad's turn to be in the support wagon.

Roll on a leg of constant stopping so Mum could take photos of cows in water, pretty water mills, voles and bucolic English countryside 😂

Dad intercepted us at a Grade 2 listed quirky double bridge. According to good old Google, a local guide gives the following explanation:

"Double arched bridge near East Marton. This charming feature is actually an original pack horse bridge. However the A59 was built so instead of rebuilding the bridge, another one was built on top creating the quirky double arch. The A59 runs over it."Read more
Traveler Whose your friend?
8/9/24Reply
TravelerThis was Vinny the Vole. He looked like a baby, and was in the middle of the path. Still alive, but in need of Mum ❤️
8/10/24Reply
Traveler Good job mum was riding with you today. I love a picture of cows in water!!!!
8/9/24Reply
TravelerThank you Helen 😃
8/10/24Reply
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Gargrave
August 9, 2024 in England ⋅ 🌬 18 °C
Gargrave marks the most Northerly part of the ride and leaves approximately 34 miles left to Leeds. Another beautiful village in the heart of the English countryside. Strava recorded today as 44km covered.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Skipton
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
Another leg with Mum! Just the small amount I have done in the last few days gives me even more pride in what Holly and Jonah have achieved. This morning I got on the bike and the saddle was just sooooo uncomfortable. How they have done all the miles they have done, and not complained is testament to their grit and resilience.

Skipton was full of people enjoying a Saturday stroll along the towpath, walking dogs, children and just strolling. So, we needed to be mindful of all of the other tow path users.

The central part was beautiful. A junction of canals, twisty cobbled streets and canalside cafés. The statue in the centre of Skipton is of Fiery Fred Trueman, one of Yorkshire and England's finest fast bowlers.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Polish Airmen Memorial
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ☁️ 18 °C
This is where Mum left to become the support wagon and Dad began to ride.

The Polish Memorial commemorates the Polish Airmen who died on 23 September 1943 when the Vickers Wellington bomber (HZ251) they were flying in crashed killing all onboard.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Keighley
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Keighley was the lunchtime stop. Sandwiches next to the canal.

This leg has been characterised by Swing bridges. These bridges are road bridges across the canal which are just above the canal so need to be opened if a boat needs to pass, stopping traffic like a level crossing would.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Locks and Artwork
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Before we started today, I assured the kids it would essentially all be downhill today, as we would finish our 34 mile marathon 110 metres below where we started. As it turns out, we achieved the majority of that descent in a very short distance, courtesy of two monster sets of locks near Bingley. Not only were they very impressive from an engineering perspective, but the bottom set were accompanied by some lovely artwork.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Seven Arches Aquaduct
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
A brief interception at a lovely Aquaduct where the canal crossed the River Aire having just descended significantly via a series of multiple sets of locks.
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Saltaire
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ⛅ 19 °C
Britain's tiniest toilet, a random canalside octopus and a couple of llamas overlooking a cricket match - what's not to love?
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Apperley Bridge Marina
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 21 °C
A very well deserved extra long break before the final push into Leeds. Milkshakes and cake all round.

I did offer to swap with Chris and do a stint but I was very politely told that they really just wanted to crack on and get it done. Despite my Wonder Woman t-shirt yesterday and my Team GB one today, I'm definitely the weakest link. So I'll stick to refreshments, media & comms.Read more
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Leeds - Liverpool Canal
Leeds!
August 10, 2024 in England ⋅ ☀️ 23 °C
After several hard days in the saddle, passing through a wide variety of landscapes and weather conditions, but with the water our constant companion, we finally arrived in Leeds. Today was just a mere 56.06km!!!

I can't put into words how proud we are of the kids for having covered every single metre of this 128 mile journey under their own steam, with surprisingly little moaning!

To be honest, I'd envisaged a triumphant cruise down the towpath to the River Aire Lock, which marks the Eastern end of the canal, with the cheers of the people of Leeds ringing in our ears. The reality was somewhat more prosaic - we only discovered the lock after riding round the back of a pub and across a gravel car park, and we were met by a hyperventilating Claire, who'd had to sprint round from the Leeds station car park, as we'd completed the last leg slightly faster by bike than she'd managed in the car. See, two wheels really are better than four...

Link below to Wikipedia's page on the Leed-Liverpool Canal, packed with facts:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leeds_and_Liver…

And a reminder of why:

https://gofund.me/91a0dff5

🚴🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️Read more
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Trip end
August 10, 2024