A lovely bright morning to start the postponed run and eleven bikes and riders turned up at the club on an assorted range of bikes.
Just after 10:30 we set off onto the A49 and turned towards Preston then turned off on Back lane just after the Crematorium to get to Eccleston. From Eccleston we branched off to get to Bretherton and Much Hoole where we turned South on the A59 to get to Tarleton where all the roadworks that have plagued the junction for about a year have finally been finished so no big queue for a change. At Sollom we followed a big tractor off the A59 and he led us into Lock lane where he politely let us pass as it was a very narrow road. Over the canal and then the noisy steel bridge that crosses the River Douglas and on to Croston to stop at The Twin Lakes Velo Cafe for refreshments. Bob met us here with the newly arrived caps he had ordered and spent the break with us.
After refreshments we turned towards Mawdsley and then onto Bentley Lane. At the end of the Lane one rider snapped his clutch cable and quite a while was taken making a makeshift repair with another cable that had an inner that was slightly too long but it allowed the rider to limp home. After the clutch cable stop we carried on, minus a few riders who left us for various reasons, and travelled on to wards Blackrod and Adlington to arrive at the Bolton Road alongside the Lower Rivington Reservoir, we then turned up to Rivington Lane to stop at the Lower barn at Rivington for lunch.
There were a few other bikes at the barn and a couple of riders came to see us. One was riding a 1927 AJS, total loss oiling so covered in oil and carbide lighting! The other chap was on some sort of monkey bike. They were interested in our bikes and the club so we invited them to join us at the next club night.
Discussions on which way home were held, as by now the sun was behind some cloud and the wind was rising so a couple of riders decided to take the low road home after we crossed the reservoir dam so the remaining 4 rode up over the Anglezarke Dam, past the Yarrow Reservoir to ride on over the hill to Belmont Village. At Belmont we turned left and travelled on to Abbey Village where we turned left at the Hare and Hounds. Just as we turned left a chap on what looked like a Matchless model “X” turned in behind us. I was tempted to stop and chat but as John pressed on I kept an eye on him in my mirrors but he stayed on the main road when we took a left fork down a rough quarry road into Brinscall. I wonder who it was?
As we approached Whittle-le-Woods John turned off, presumably to take a scenic route back to Euxton but the canal ,bridge was closed and under repair so we had to go back to the main road.
At this point the traffic became horrendous. Total jams everywhere so progress was very slow. We had passed over a motorway bridge earlier on and there was no traffic on it so I presume the motorway had been shut and all the traffic had ended up in and around the roads round Chorley but at last we arrived at Euxton Mills where we waved goodbye to John and headed home to the Fylde.
It was a lovely ride in dry weather and the wind didn’t cause any problems but the traffic in Chorley was a low point. Thanks to John for leading us and to all who turned out for the experience.
I clocked 112 miles home to home. An approximate map is in the gallery