PEDDLERS :- Mike, John W, Danny,
Martin, Anthony, James.
Hikin' ? No Bikin' . and if it's Bikes it must be Mike's (Today's leader) and here we are gathering together before setting off.
It didn't seem to take us long to drive up to Glasson where we parked as usual next to the freshwater basin and unloaded and prepared our cycles.
Who's are the "Blanco'd" legs ?
For me personally it was nice to take the weight of the knees (and I have to admit to having "Some Weight") and do our "walk" by bike.
With all cycles sorted we crossed over the road and set of on the old rail track towards Lancaster.
With blue skies above us and the weather forecast set fair for most of the day it was a joy to pedal along with the open reaches of the Lune Estuary to our left.
Quite soon the track became tree lined and somewhat narrower
The discerning reader will have noticed that the photos are coming in groups and are perhaps a little similar. Taking photos whilst pedalling is not wise so several photos at each stop are taken...…. and then there are the "official" stops e,g, Coffee time.
Here we stop at a small clearing just off the track (behind the group) with a handy table provided.
Coffee over we continued along the sheltered ride until it was joined by the road from Aldcliffe.
Mike arrives at the junction...…….
Followed immediately by Martin.
Not being experienced cyclist our paces were different so every so often we stopped to gather together and discuss our journeys next section.
From this point the narrow roughshod track broadened out into a wide almost road like track with a good smooth surface which would take us to the edge of Lancaster.
The track ended at a rather gaunt building which was in the process of being demolished. Presumably for more housing.
We followed a brief section of actual highway before mounting the footpath which officially doubled up as a cycle track.
With the blue waters of the Lune to or left we cycled on until we arrived at the rather spectacular Millennium Bridge. (No photo sorry)
One wheeled transport didn't make it over the bridge but was slowly disappearing into the mud.
Soon after the Millennium Bridge the cycle way plunged through a short but bikingly tricky tunnel under the greyhound bridge before opening out into the small Riverside Park.... Lunchtime !
All parked up with Skerton bridge not far upstream.
The white bike in the foreground has a water bottle.... or has it ?
As we munched our lunch we discussed our next moves. Infrequent cyclists and borrowed bikes needed consideration. *Plough on" was the decision. So on we ploughed. We also noticed that a stiff breeze had blown up and as we looked over the barrier down to the Lune we saw that the water was beginning to swirl inwards as the tide had obviously turned.
We soon arrived under the famous aqueduct carrying the canal high over the Lune.
Not much further on we passed under the two bridges carrying the M6 motorway and the new link road leading away from it towards Morecambe and Heysham.
The decision had been taken to cycle on as far as the Crook O' Lune and then reconsider. First we arrived at the old railway station at the Halton crossing.
And some while later we arrived at the bridges over the Lune.
At this point we left the track and climbed up to the café for a well earned coffee (Chocolate for me.)
After a pleasant stop chatting to other cyclist (Ahem ! One trip does not make us cyclists) we set off on our return trip downstream i.e, downhill !
"After you." says Mike. "No, after you." says Martin. "I know lets WALK through together." Agreed !
Our ride back into Lancaster was quite uneventful and soon we were passing the little park were we had lunched.
Back through the tunnel and over the Millennium Bridge and then a final "Finish Flasks" stop.
Ah ! That's the owner of the "Blanco'd" legs.
I
It was now just a straightforward ride back down the track to Glasson Dock but of course, as we have said before, little that the Meanderthals do turns out to be simple. After a day of blue skies and blustery sunshine a large black cloud appeared in the sky and it began to rain heavily. It even gave a finishing flourish of hail.
Our riders in the most took to shelter under bridges and trees and found themselves quite widely separated...……… Do you remember the White Bike with the water bottle ? Oh Dear !...….. a Duracel moment. The Batteries (water bottles !!) on some electric bikes gave up the ghost. Perhaps I should have mentioned that Electric Bikes are becoming increasing popular with our ageing group ?
So we trailed in often several minutes apart.
All gathered together again. Bikes packed away and Martin's shandy consumed we set off for home.
Perhaps I might close with a combination of Glasson Dock and cycle.
THE END
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