Tjs recovery ride part 4. Im in England heading for Hull.

Lets ignore the fact that we'll be away from tomorrow for a couple of weeks but as you've said England I'm now regarding myself as Snubbed of Milton Keynes! Wherever you go though TJ it's uplifting to see your progress and the depth of humanity (and beer consumption) in the STW community. Keep on buggering along.

👍

If you take the southern option of the Transpennine Trail (surfaces much improved over recent years), there's beer and board for you in Doncaster. Then onward on the TPT north to Selby, and a right turn there for Hull.

Even further north than the canal route, and you'd need a couple of extra days, The Way of the Roses is absolutely glorious, at least as far as York, where you could hop back on the TPT to Hull via Selby.

🙂

What is your approximate ETA in North Manchester so we can have it re-painted and replace the blown bulbs?

First stop Leigh to see a pal

You visiting @Samuri?

EDIT - having woken up and realised what's going on (I've not followed your previous threads though @bunnyhop has been following avidly) I should say it would be lovely to see you again. We do have some other stuff going on though so this may not be possible. If your route takes you to the south of manchester then let us know and we'll sort something out

What is your approximate ETA in North Manchester so we can have it re-painted and replace the blown bulbs?

Nah, leave it all grotty and run down, it'll remind him of Scotland 😉

Nah, leave it all grotty and run down, it’ll remind him of Scotland 😉

Manchester is dismal but it isn't *that* bad, and I say that as a Yorkshrmn.

3 days to mnpr land

I'll probably be away as you swing by Skipton on the Leeds/Liverpool, so have a virtual wave now. There are two potential campsites for you right by the canal - one in Gargrave, one next to the Niffany swing bridge just as you get close to Skipton.

Please please *don't* stop in Hull.
In and out as swiftly as you can...

What's your planned route-ish on the way to Mordor, sorry, North Manchester? I can't offer a bed this week unfortunately, but could possibly met up one evening in the sunlit uplands of South Manchester/Bunnyhopshire for a pint, or a brew if you're passing (you'd have to come up a pretty big hill to pass us though 😉 )

then on to Hull

You have my commiserations.

Also sad you didn't come to MK!

Will drop you a PM TJ as I'm terrible at following threads, but I'm just outside Hull (can see the Humber Bridge from my window) and would be delighted to meet you / buy you a beer show you around if I can.

Hull for a ferry. Not as a destination. I suppose i had better check there is a ferry😀

Ta for all the offers. Much as I would like to take you all up it would make my route even more random and longer. I need to be in the Netherlands in about 10 days before my sister goes on holiday

I also seem incapable of planning properly or committing to anything. Time to look at maps I guess.

Ill update as I get closer.

I also seem incapable of planning properly or committing to anything.

I thought that was one of the aims of your trip?? 😁

Do we have a North Manchesto' destination yet?

I need an address to get the coke and hookers delivered to

Hull - Zeebrugge no longer runs, but Hull-Rotterdam runs as an overnight sailing.

As above, one of the joys of your situation is that you have relatively few committments so you can ride where and whenthe fncy takes you.

If you do swing this way at some point either on the way to hull or at some point in the future, we'll make every effort to meet up and remember the good times

I need an address to get the coke and hookers delivered to

If only he were called Gregg Binners would be in Shangri-la.

Binners. I have to work out where everone is and who is going to be least cruel. I'll try to make a decision soon honest

I'm in Disley, which is either Gateway to The Peak, Gateway to Leafy Cheshire or Gateway to the Republic of Mancunia, it just depends which way you're facing.

I need an address to get the coke and hookers delivered to

I'll PM you.

I’m in Disley

I did not know that. I know precisely two things about the place.

You have a posh bar there called Malt Disley, this makes me happy.

You've also got one of the best escape rooms for miles.

I did not know that. I know precisely two things about the place.

You have a posh bar there called Malt Disley, this makes me happy.

You’ve also got one of the best escape rooms for miles.

I think you did, cos you've told me those two things before.

And strictly speaking, you know three things now 🙂

I did not know remember that.

FTFM.

Making good miles today. 5 miles south of Nantwich and hoping to get further but im about to run out of power for my phone. Couldn't recharge anything yesterday

We send the grandkids home tomorrow night, so free Thursday, Friday Saturday.

Garage space and a spare room if any use!
Will send you the details.

Nobbut a cockstride from Cougs.

Ta.

Im checked into a cheap but rather odd hotel in Nantwich. I realised I have not slept in a bed for two weks. A couple of sofas and thevrest in my tent.

You will likely get VERY drunk if you stay with the spanners. I've seen them in action

Im getting scared

All these folk offering places to stay. Im also confused. Its not difficult to confused this poor old man. I need to work out where folk are and where i am.

Binners. Sent you a message on messenger

Binners is in Sheepsarse.

Rusty and I are a little further up, as he says he's not a million miles from me. Pete's probably a better judge of which of the two of us is best poised to offer crash space as he's been here and I've not yet visited theirs.

Makes no odds, as long as he's somewhere. 🙂

I guess it's down to cat/bed/sofa preference:

We have a spare room and garage, but we're up a hill.
You have a sofa, cats, more games and are closer to civilisation. Well, Padiham. 🙂

We can all meet up, I'm happy to drive and ferry folk around.
Loads of nice pubs around, Kettledrum near us is a cracker, sure we'll sort something.

We could even pass him round, like a cheap dog toy.......

I also have a deeply uncomfortable futon and a surprisingly nice airbed. But either or.

So, Binners is Ramsbottom, Cougs is north Burnley and we're south east Burnley.
Whatever suits you best, you're sorted fella.

nbt
Free Member
You will likely get VERY drunk if you stay with the spanners. I’ve seen them in action

Ah, now that was a good night post HtN. Looking forward to another one. 😀

If you need refreshments/company around Leeds way, let me know...

Binnets gaff is closest to a sensible route not tha that matters that much. Could we meet at a pub near binnets place?

Ta hardtail
Ill keep it in mind.

I'm sure that could be arranged. 😀

Cougs, I'm happy to pick you up and drive over.

Just let us know when and where!

90% probability Thursday

I think there is likely to be a fair contingent of the MNPR turn out to see you TJ, now it's been confirmed there's no danger of it becoming a bike ride. 😁

Im scared..please be gentle with me

I feel like the MNPR lot ought to take TJ speedway racing. The perfect combination of bikes, beer and violence.

Sorry I’m not around to help break or repair TJ.

Cougs, I’m happy to pick you up and drive over.

That's very kind, thank you.

Im scared..please be gentle with me

They told me they'd be gentle.

They lied.

I haven't been back since.

I feel like the MNPR lot ought to take TJ speedway racing. The perfect combination of bikes, beer and violence.

That was great fun. I recently rediscovered the promo video and the correct issue of the magazine, I've set it aside to re-read soon

That's me in yellow, in my "jesus" phase.

As in "jesus, what was he thinking of going out looking like that"

Paperwork approved and pass stamped. See you tomorrow!

I made it to my pals in Newton le willows in good time despite getting lost in Warrington. I did find the golden gates of Warrington tho

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If you end up in East dorset pm me for camping.

Newton le willows

If you are accosted by an elderly gentleman who wants to talk about his son who likes bikes and spends too much time on some random mountain bike forum, say hello to my dad. He's overlooking the high street from The Parchments....

I made it to my pals in Newton le willows in good time despite getting lost in Warrington. I did find the golden gates of Warrington tho

The one way system in Warrington was designed by Satan himself

The Golden Gates we’re made for Queen Victoria to adorn Buckingham palace but ended up in Warrington. God knows how. And I went to school in Newton (not enough of us left footers in Warrington to warrant our own school)

Anyway, we are greatly looking forward to hosting your good self in the East Lancs hills at Casa Binners tomorrow night and it looks like we’ve a good few of the usual suspects coming over for an evening of beer and pizza in Casked 😃

25 miles tomorrow to get to sheepsarse

The Golden Gates we’re made for Queen Victoria to adorn Buckingham palace but ended up in Warrington. God knows how.

Like most things in Warrington, they were probably stolen. If they are in a posh part of Warrington they were probably stolen to order 😉

Given their proximity to St Helens it's surprising they're still there.

Do we have any sort of vague itinerararary for the next 24 hours?

If TJ is like an hour away from a Rammy, which I understand is the default state for a Scotsman, he's likely going to be in Binnerland whilst the steak bakes are still warm. I have a prior commitment in that I'm playing taxi for Ms Cougar around 6pm, beyond that I'm golden.

I have a friend hosting a BBQ on Saturday which I could probably wangle a +1 for, though I assume you'll be on the Road To Hull by then.

Slightly gutted I'm now north of this shindig.

Remember only the beers from the top of the board in casked

Cougar. I have no plans beyond arriving at binners tomrrow afternoon and id like to be in Amsterdam by around the tenth of august.

I need a rest day in the next few days

But im just making it up as i go along.

I know its a bit awkward being so vague but thats the state of my head. Vague.

My bedroom for tonight
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That's preferable to a tent - yes?

I think I've seen that lion before.

Right, the 4 and 9 year olds have been returned to the daughter so we're free 'till Festwich on Sunday 😀
Tired but happy, that was fun.

Happy to pick people up within a reasonable distance from Pendle Hill, just PM us.
Cougs, is your Mrs coming?
If so, we have 1 spare seat, if not, 2.
Sue's offered to drive.
Could get messy.
If more folk want to join in, I'll happily take a second car.

Can't wait to see everyone 🙂

Just me. She has prior plans tonight.

I'm interested to know how you are going to tackle the last 500m.

Casa Binners lies mid-way up quite an impressive hill. 25% gradient down or 15% gradient up. A challenge either way with a trailer on the back...

Low gears and mighty thighs of POWA

Why does everyone live uphill?

*sobs*

In the case come at it from the EAST. WESTERN approach is like a ski jump with added stone walls.

[EDIT]I have no sense of direction.[/EDIT]

The pub's at the bottom though, right?

In the case come at it from the south.

Is that possible for a Scotsman?

Pub is at the bottom.

The pub’s at the bottom though, right?

Rather handily, there's one at the top, one at the bottom and one half way up.

Its the main reason I moved there in the first place 😀

TJ - as someone who's done it many times, there's no shame in getting off and pushing up it. It is used as part of the national hillclimb series for very good reason

It just lacks a cable car.

The Golden Gates we’re made for Queen Victoria to adorn Buckingham palace but ended up in Warrington. God knows how.

They were made as a gift for the Queen but when she went to view them there was a statue of Oliver Cromwell behind them; she took offence and refused the gift. a Warrington councillor saw them (back in the foundry) in 1893 and bought them for Warrington (along with the Cromwell statue).

If I'd known you were coming through Warrington, TJ, I could have helped you get lost.

She was less than thrilled by the statue of Cromwell in Manchester too, to the extent that she did a “no show” at some big event and was widely slagged off for it afterwards.

To this day the statue of Victoria at Piccadilly is often adorned with a traffic cone as a mark of respect.

To this day the statue of Victoria at Piccadilly is often adorned with a traffic cone as a mark of respect.

I recall a phase of wrapping it in rainbow flags too

I recall a phase of wrapping it in rainbow flags too

It's important to recognise diversity. The blue to symbolise Greggs, the orange representing Pound Bakery, Greenhalgh's green, the iconic Oddies red...

TJ – as someone who’s done it many times, there’s no shame in getting off and pushing up it. It is used as part of the national hillclimb series for very good reason

He arrived at my house in Swansea on the hottest day of the year looking even hotter and bothereder than I'd guessed, because his GPS had taken him up Constitution Hill. Only 0.2 miles, long, but climbs 300ft and is cobbled. https://www.cyclingweekly.com/news/latest-news/cobbles-of-constitution-hill-awaiting-the-tour-of-britain-57542

The Tour of Britain goes up it whenever it goes through Swansea. The pros don't like it either, but they aren't riding 35kg of bike and trailer.

Btw, I think TJ's GPS hates him!

Can I just reiterate what someone else said previously...

I love this thread 😍

We need lots of photos of this for 'preposterousnesserity'.

How many pies can be consumed in one evening?
I hope no Rams bottom's were harmed in the organisation of this meeting.

Also yes, we all live 'up a hill'.

Have fun.

You and Julian should drive over. It is only 45 minutes away.

Pix or it didn’t happen!

HtS - I'm not well, will see if J is around (I usually drive, then J can drink).