Leeds Liverpool canal ride

This is the first 'proper' ride trying out the bike with panniers etc. A few of us are going off for the weekend and stopping overnight in a pub. As well as me and my partner Doreen, there's another couple John and Julie coming with us. They will also be meeting me in Germany and doing a section of the route with me. The other two coming this weekend are Steph and Shelagh. We've had a couple of trips together, but unfortunately they cant make it this year to meet me en-route.

First outing with the new bike

Tried out my new bike last weekend - just a short ride round Rivington and Anglezarke a couple of miles from where I live. It's a great area for cycling if you've never been, with loads of off-road tracks and bridleways. They held all the Commonwealth Games events there so you might have seen it on telly.