Charity Bike Ride – Leeds Liverpool Canal "The Wrong Way Round"
Thu 25th September 2008
In 1770 work was started on the 127 miles long Leeds Liverpool canal and after 46 years it was completed. Nearly 200 years later a couple of drunken 30 somethings decided it would be a good idea to cycle it while raising money for charity. Following 4 months of training, 3 to 4 times a week in pretty miserable English “summer” conditions, the guys set off from Liverpool at 7.00 am on the morning of 25th September.
The canal winds, serpent like, northerly from Liverpool then heads in a south easterly direction to Wigan. After the Wigan branch it heads north east through industrial towns and cities like Blackburn, Accrington and Burnley until it reaches Gargrave in North Yorkshire where it again changes direction and heads south east into Leeds city centre.
Commenting on their achievement, Matt said “We stopped off to meet friends that had come out to meet us just outside Apperley Bridge and with the sun in the sky made our way into the centre of Leeds and canal end. We arrived at about 3.30pm with around 5 hours saddle time under our belts. We made our way up to Stephen George and Partners Leeds office where the reception of receptions made the whole trip worthwhile and for a few moments made me and my good mate feel very special.”
Matthew would like to thank:
Chevin Cycles, Otley for the cycling jersey, energy drinks and water bottles
All Terrain Cycles, Saltaire for the cycling jersey
The Maple Lodge Hotel, Blackburn for the reduced room rate
All the people that sponsored me…I couldn’t and wouldn’t have done it without your support….thanks so much
Stephen George & Partners for giving me the opportunity to do this.
My mum and sister for the fruitcake and flapjack.
