Route: Chorley to Keighley, via Blackburn, Burnley, Nelson, Greenberfield and Skipton
Distance: 105.2 km / 65.4 miles
Time: 6 hours 25 minutes
Average speed: 16.8 km/h / 10.4 mph
Weather : 24C, sunny to partly sunny
Awakening refreshed – physically and mentally – a substantial English breakfast followed prior to embarking on day two, destination Skipton. Leaving the hotel at 09.00 good speed was built-up and maintained to arrive in Blackburn within the hour, despite a wrong turn at the Walton Branch. Passing our second football ground of the trip, Ewood Park, we reached the psychologically important half-way mark at 11.00 taking a break for some energy bars, fluids and the obligatory photograph.
The towpath to Church, the midway point, was non-existent and difficult to maintain any momentum. In the knowledge we were into the second-half of our trip less than 24 hours after commencing proved a massive fillip; ensuring the ride to Burnley, despite some challenging terrain, was unproblematic until a bird decided to defecate on my face, or more specifically lips. At first I thought it was a fly but on putting my hand to my face it was a bit too moist for that, to which I exclaimed, "I've got to stop, a bird's just pooed in my mouth!"
Burnley was our next port-of-call and where we had to leave the canal whilst it threaded through the Gannow Tunnel. Navigating around Burnley was not easy, no signs indicated where to pick the canal back up so a bit of guess work aided by GPS on smartphone ensured we were back on track. Upon rejoining the canal we had the pleasure of meeting 'Burnley Man', a gentleman in his late-60/70s who by all accounts spends every waking moment cycling the towpath. Burnley Man suggested at Greenberfield to leave the canal and take the National Cycle Route to Skipton due to the absence of a towpath. Rob and I decided against this as to do so would be cheating despite the apparent challenges it would possess! However, from Skipton to Leeds, we were assured the entire towpath was paved…
With it being lunchtime I asked Burnley Man if there was anywhere nice to eat locally. His only suggestion was Tesco's café, so I'm not sure what that says about the local food establishments in the town! Anyhow, sandwiches from Tesco was deemed adequate to provide the necessary fuel for the afternoon session. Eating lunch on the Mile Embankment, it was possible to view our third and final football ground from the towpath, Turf Moor.
Buoyed by our sustenance we made rapid progress from Burnley as we travelled over the border into Yorkshire. A mid-afternoon stop to consume more energy bars and take on fluids followed before the rough terrain to Skipton, which proved mighty challenging – even more so than we'd experienced earlier in the day. The Rose & Crown, Skipton, another local-pub-for-local-people was the scene of our final pitstop of the day in what were now sweltering conditions.
It was our final leg, Skipton-Keighley, that Burnley Man and I fell out – not that he'll ever know. The towpath was awful – no paving in site – and having been in the saddle for over five hours already, the rough stones and tree roots were destroying my wrists, the incessant vibrations constantly gnawing away. My legs were still strong, though, as they needed to be to arrive at a Travelodge which was our accommodation for the night. A carvery meal, beers and being asked to be Rob's best man topped a memorable but exhausting day.
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