Leeds to Liverpool

It was mid July 2020. 

Early morning around 7 am both of us sleepy but anxious and excited were packing our last things in our rucksacks. They kept getting heavier and heavier. 

We had never taken on such a long distance trip so we had no idea what we really need. 

As much as we read other descriptions and suggestions the more things we were thinking to take along. 

But the rucksacks had only that much space. 

We both ended up having rucksacks that weighed around as much as healthy Labrador or around 20-30kg if not more. 

Change of clothes and shoes, tools, batteries, parts, snacks, and stupid amount of water.. as if we are heading in to desert. 

First 30 miles. 

This was fairly easy. We soon realized that one of the bags is heavier than the other. So we kept swapping them every hour or so to relive the other rider. 

Skipton is the 30 mile marker. And we had another 40 to do on that day. 

The weather was good. Wasn't sunny but wasn't too cold or too windy. Just right. 

Since we didn't have to watch where we are going too much because of the excellent path we could enjoy the astonishing views. That helped a lot with the pain in our backs as well. You seem to be cycling inside a scene from Downton Abby. 

Lancashire 40 something miles. 

This is where things changed. The views stayed awesome but the path went from nice yellow brick road to the wizards place.. to your wonky foot path tho the outhouse behind the barn. In parts it was as narrow as the wheels. Thankfully it wasn't raining so we kept pushing. Path kept changing from wide to narrow around towns and villages. We kept stopping for coffee and refreshments because it was getting exhausting.. 

Burnley 50 something miles. 

We rolled in Burnley at around 7pm. We had been cycling for almost 12 hours with 15-20 breaks every 2 hours or so. 

We started debating where to stay over night. 

The plan was to pitch a tent on the side of the path somewhere out in the middle of nowhere. But my mate was knackered and my back was killing me as well. We looked at the map and decided to pitch our tent just outside Burnley .. 

There is a motorway overpass surrounded by woods. So we jumped over the fence and made our camp there. 

we were just 56 miles in .. well below the planned 70. But we lost a lot of time on the bad path. We had no idea that it will slow us down so much. 

It was a scary night as well. Small branches kept falling on the tent making a noise as if someone is dragging their witch nails along the tent. So none of us slept well. Also it got pretty cold. 

All in all we slept maybe 5-6 hours. 

Day two. 

We got up and tried to stretch out our stiff limbs. No breakfast coffee but light rain made us move on. 

Picked up our stuff and we set off to Blackburn. To get some hot food and coffee. 

The damn drizzle wouldn't stop .. and the path now was muddy and more narrow than ever. 

But then we hit the half way point. 

Suddenly there was a new lease of energy. We are half way .. "let's hope that the path improves further on to catch the miles we lost yesterday" 

But first.. COFFEE AND FOOD!

We jumped back on bikes and headed down all the way to Blackburn. 

Local Morrisons was open with Caffe inside. 

That was it! 

Full English breakfast!!

Two hungry, wet, tired, men sat in silence chomping down that food like it was the first meal in weeks. 

Afte the breakfast we both would have had a nap but it was raining cats and dogs out there. So the best strategy is to just get your head down and pedal. 

Wigan.. nobody cares about the miles anymore. 

We rolled in Wigan. Nice little town. Very busy. Got a hot coffee there and the weather got a bit warmer so the mud was starting to harden and fall off by it self. 

Do I need to say that we were knackered? 

We were starting to get pissed off at the path. It sort of improves after Wigan but not for too long. The rain stopped and the air warmed up a bit as well. But the mud was still everywhere, in my break pads, in my chain in myouth and in my shorts. 

Everything is a blur..

From Wigan it mostly is just a blur. It got very boring view wise because the landscape sort of flattens. And around 20 miles from Liverpool you can start seeing the crane's at the port. 

Now we are cycling in silence .. we are just too tired to talk anymore. And then suddenly my mates bike brekas down. The cassette is slipping... And he has to pedal very carefully and obviously slowly. 

He was slowly loosing his patience with it and rightly so.

We somehow gather our last strengths and swap bikes to relieve him from the frustration. 

We roll in Liverpool. But we are far from finish. It's around 10 pm and it's starting to get dark.. and google maps is starting mess with us. We arrived on the day when Liverpool won some football related stuff so everyone was cheering and partying while we were looking for our way through some dodgy streets in the underbelly of the city. 

After frustrating hour or so we arrived at the hotel. 

The staff were so nice to us. They took our bikes in storage and were shaking their heads when we told them where we came from. 

That night we had one drink and a pizza.. I almost fell asleep with the slice in mouth. 

What a great city. It has that vibe about it. Had no strength to explore it more but from what I saw it has things to offer. 

And that's basically it .. 

I learned something on this trip. There is a man that has a job, he likes coffee, and soft pillows. And then there is a man that is physically and mentally challenged to it's limits that just doesn't give up. 

That man can be summoned.