Day 9 - Crewe to Chorley, 60 miles. Hilly bits 1900 ft. 2 x falls.

Since Somerset, much of the route has been along canal paths. After Devon and Cornwall, and their never ending hills, this was glorious. One moment we’d be in the middle of nowhere, water fowl our only company. A mile later we’d have snuck into the city centre, as surreptitiously as an ambush.

But they are beginning to pale… Feels churlish to want nice new tarmac for a country side canal path, but after miles of being rattled every which way over rough gravel and tree roots, it is such a pleasure when the surface improves. And the paths widen. As we have been cycling extremely close to the edge (in all senses), I try to slip my feet from the cleats without anyone seeing - falling in attached to a bike seems all to likely - but invariably I am spotted and reminded going slowly only makes me more wobbly.

The other problem with canal paths is all the barriers. Granted, they are not as bad as if we were travelling on the water and had to use the locks, but by the time we’ve wiggled and lifted 5 laden bikes through, we’ve lost 5-10 minutes per gate. And today they must have been every 500 yards.

Today’s lessons:

1. Check height of barriers to ensure your bike can fit under. Puppet Pig does not appreciate hurtling to the ground as his stand breaks.

2. Impaling your leg in multiple places to a barbed wire fence, does not fix a needle phobia. (Impressive roar though, Richard.)

3. Chocolate goes down better as an afternoon snack than green beans.

Thank you and goodbye Cheshire.

Good night.