Thursday 28 March 2019 – Biathlon Training?

The Trans Pennine Trail in Thelwall

On a sunny morning, Sue left early for work. I was tempted out, but decided to leave the car at home. A 27 km walk/jog along the canal towpath to the Bay Malton, then along the Trans Pennine Trail to Thelwall, returning home via the Bridgewater Canal’s towpath, was punctuated by a couple of convenient ‘bench and banana’ stops and a chat with Ken Burgess, who was out for a run, saw me back in our garden enjoying a pint of coffee by 11 am.

The Bridgewater Canal near Thelwall

A barge approaches Thelwall on a sunny morning

Bridgewater House in Lymm, a superb location

Butterbur - there's lots of it by the canal near Little Bollington

There was lots of bird life in evidence today, as well as the rapidly sprouting plants - Grey and Pied Wagtails, Greenfinches and Goldfinches, as well as the usual garden birds (lots of Robins and Blackbirds).

A 'bench and banana' stop near Dunham Massey

That would have been sufficient exercise for the day, but Jenny had been miffed to have missed Monday’s ‘Fallowfield Loopline/Cheshire Ring’ bike ride, so I’d agreed to show her the way. What a pleasant afternoon we had on this 41 km route.

As on Monday, coffees were enjoyed at the Velodrome, where Sue had sought assistance from the staff at Evans Cycles to remove her disintegrated mudguard. Jenny has a fairly new bike. The cobbles had loosened the saddle. Evans were again very helpful and her saddle is now firmly attached to her bike!

Jenny, at the point between Audenshaw and Droylsden where the route joins the Ashton Canal

The route is described in detail in Monday’s diary entry, here.

Another picture of the Merchant's Bridge in Castlefield, with Jenny

This is the view Jenny had from her position above...

Perhaps I should enter a biathlon. What with a couple of hours gardening as well, I seem to have clocked up nearly 53,000 steps today!