Heading to Leeds Route 66 |
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Leaving the village I had a steady climb for a while then
descent. This continued along the B1222 until I crossed over the
A1. Ahead I reached the Great North Road which thankfully I was
only on for a short while. The adjacent path was almost
unrideable due to zero maintenance. I left it to continue west &
the further I went the busier the road/traffic. |
Too narrow cycle track. |
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It was a lovely sun |
Alan Bennett in Leeds. |
Leeds. |
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Thankfully I was able to join the Route 66 cycle route for a
while which was quiet cycling but some of the barriers were a
problem getting my bike bars through. I was able to avoid riding
on the road all the way to the River Aire & adjacent cycleway. I
saw a nice mural painting of Alan Bennett close to a coffee
cabin. I decided to stop for a £3 capuchin. A young lady was
there with her dog & we chatted for a while about Alan Bennett
films. The man in the cabin didn't know who he was. I continued
along the cycle track to the large basin by the Armouries
Museum. Two men were there doing a 3d scan of the area using a
piece of Leica kit on a tripod which they moved around to
different locations. |
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I continued on heading for the Leed & Liverpool canal but part
of my planned route was closed due to building works. I had a
bit of trouble riding round to eventually join my route & find
the canal. It was delightful riding on the towpath & I was
surprised how clear the canal water was. I commented on the
clarity when I walked along it with Charlie many years ago. I
wasn't on the canal for long before I had to leave it & join the
A647 towards Bradford. It was a busy road but fortunately there
was a dedicated cycleway along it. |
Leeds. |
Leeds near the Armouries Museum. |
Leeds & Liverpool Canal. |
In Bradford. |
Birthplace of The Brontes.
Charlotte 1816.
Patrick
Branwell 1817.
Emily Jane 1818.
Anne 1820.
Were all
born here. |
In Thornton and birthplace of
the Brontes |
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It was marked with green surfacing most of the way. As I started
my descent into Bradford I was surprised how steep the hills
were. The weather was fine as I reached the city centre with a
circular water feature with variable fountains [Centenary
Square]. I'd planned to cycle round the Alhambra but it looked
to be covered in scaffolding so decided against it and continued
along the Thornton Road. My progress was now much slower as I
was riding up a steady gradient. |
I remembered the birthplace of the Bronte sisters was in
Thornton & stopped to ask a lady at a bus stop where the blue
plaque was. She gave me a rough description so I continued. I
stopped at the Community Centre to get some water. The lady
there filled my bottles then emptied them as she said the tap
wasn't drinking water. I continued to the Bronte House & blue
plaque to take some photos then continued on the cobbled Street
to the Black Horse pub where I got water. I man called !! Came
over to chat as I packed the water in my panniers. He said he
was working on a nearby farm & was camping. |
In Thornton. |
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I said goodbye and continued down to the very busy main road.
Thankfully I soon left it to follow the path to the Thornton
Viaduct on the Great North Railway trail. I followed it south to
the site of the old Queensbury Railway Station where I found a
good spot to camp. A lady walking her dog said she remembered
when the trains were running in the 1950s. Nearby is the gated
portal of the Queensbury tunnel and memorials made of railway
sleepers to the 10 men who died constructing it. |
Camp 02 neat Queensbury on the site of the old Railway
Station. |
It seems like a gravestone at
the site of the old Railway Station. |
Queensbury tunnel entrance. |
Old view of workmen near the
tunnel. |
Queensbury Railway Station. |
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