Cycling to Leeds from Birkenhead via Accrington
 

Hi all,

Hope you don't mind a blatant plug, it is kind of football related though?

As you all know, on Tuesday August 12th Accrington Stanley take on Leeds United at Elland Road in the Capital One Cup First Round.

My plan is to cycle to this game from where I now live in Birkenhead, leaving on Monday 11th August and taking a ferry across the Mersey - someone should write a song about that - and then following the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with an overnight stop in Accrington before reaching Leeds ahead of the game. A journey of over 150 miles.

The idea is to raise a little money for three great hospices - Claire House on the Wirral, East Lancashire Hospice in Lancashire and St Gemma's Hospice in Yorkshire.

Full details are available at index.html, together with a link to a sponsorship page if anyone can spare a little cash to make a small donation to the cause.

Sorry again for the blatant advertisement!

Rob

Re: Cycling to Leeds from Birkenhead via Accrington
 

Nice one mate :)

Re: Cycling to Leeds from Birkenhead via Accrington
 

Every credit, Rob. I think the mid point of the leeds-Liverpool is in Church , about bridge 112 from memory. After that you're heading towards Clayton where they mate their dogs with Bison, judging by the size of turds they leave on the towpath. As you approach Burnley, keep your head down and keep your tempo up. Try not to look at any of the locals in the eye, you'll arouse them, they're Premier League. After that, the danger's passed and you're almost in Yorkshire where you'll get a good cup of tea. Good luck, hope you make it ;)

Re: Cycling to Leeds from Birkenhead via Accrington
 

Don't know if it's still there, but there was a small milestone marker that was (almost) at the half way point.
It read "Leeds 63.25miles / L'pool 64 miles".

Re: Cycling to Leeds from Birkenhead via Accrington
 

Thank you for the tips and advice!

The half way point is marked in Church, though I would imagine the official location has moved several times over the years as it was initially shortened a the Liverpool end some time ago, but then recently extended with a branch that means you can get right to the Pier Head now.

Thank you for the donations so far, if anyone else has a couple of quid to spare - appreciate that there is no let up from people trying to get the pennies out of your pocket - then you can support these three great hospices at @robheys

On Stanley On!