Leeds Liverpool canal and Bridgewater canal! Wigan to Manchester! Leigh branch

Join me on this amazing ride down the full Leigh Branch

This is one of the most stunningly beautiful canals I have seen to date! Filmed in stunning 4k with drone shots you do not want to miss this ride!

I will rude along the Leeds Liverpool canal and joining the Bridgewater canal in Leigh,

Bring Me Sunshine (cover):
​ ⁨@CHUCKDIECKO⁩

Written by Arthur Kent and Sylvia Dee.

Here are links to my kit and some things i wish for! If you buy anything from these links I do get a commission and you do not pay any extra! You just watching and liking the video is always enough!

Bike:

Brooks B17 Saddle – https://amzn.to/3F60HoD
Continentgal Unisex’s CTM516 Tyre – https://amzn.to/3FmXtNA
Lamicall Mobile Phone Holder – https://amzn.to/3DpJzK4
Mud Gurads – https://amzn.to/43vUPPI

Clothing:

Danish Endurance Cycling bib shorts – https://amzn.to/3QPipiS
DHERA Cycling Bib Trousers – https://amzn.to/3QXNgcZ
Buff Merino Wool Multi Functional Headwear – https://amzn.to/3QQkgnx
Yobenki Warm Winter Gloves – https://amzn.to/3FcsdB2
Rockbros Cycling Glasses – https://amzn.to/3FdW783
Sealskinz socks – https://amzn.to/41NzXSH
French Fitnbess Revolution Helmet Liner – https://amzn.to/3XtWMrZ
Fatvoto Mountain Bike Helmet – https://amzn.to/3Fe5qES
Fox Ranger 2.l Water Mens Waterproof – https://amzn.to/4kw3Ez0
Five Ten Mens Bike Shoe – https://amzn.to/3QQkkUj

Recording:

DJI Standard 4 combo – https://amzn.to/3FdTbs4
DJI Osmo Action 5 Pro Standard Combo – https://amzn.to/3FdBatN
DJI mini 4k drone – https://amzn.to/3FmWvAW
DJI mini 4k drone fly more ( you get extra batteries) – https://amzn.to/3DxNh4k
DJI mini 4 pro drone – https://amzn.to/3DC1BJ4
DJI mic 2 – https://amzn.to/4bB3RwJ
DJI Lavalier – https://amzn.to/3DmqM2o
DJI mini mic – https://amzn.to/41M0dgi
Boya mic – https://amzn.to/43rXuKg

Chapters

Intro 0:00
Wigan Pier 0:49
Unlock Sculpture – Pennington Flash 5:25
Leigh 6:53
Worsley 8:09
Eccles/ Old Trafford 9:31
Manchester 13:56

Today on bike trekking with Carl, I do the entire lay branch of the leads Liverpool canal and the Bridgewater Canal combined. This is a 40 km ride, making this the first longer ride I have done since I was hit by a car a month ago. So stay tuned to the end of the video to find out what happened on that day. But before that, we have a spectacular ride for you. This is my unofficial guide to this ride, and the weather, well, let’s just say it was challenging, but the views were well and truly worth it. Now, this channel is still growing. Your likes, your comments, your subscriptions really do help me out. So, without any further ado, let’s do this. [Music] Hello and welcome to Wigan. Here we are at Wigum Pier and I’m ready to do the lost branch of the Leeds Liverpool Canal. I’m going to be going down the Leads Liverpool Canal, but on the lay branch connecting onto the Bridgewater Canal, I’m picking up the bit of the Bridgewater Canal I missed on my last journey. So, this is my first bike ride since the car crash, the first like long distance one. So, a few modifications have been made to the bike. Um, for anybody who wasn’t aware, I was hit by a car. Um, I might go into the details on this ride just a little bit more. I sustained a few minor injuries, uh, which just make it a bit uncomfortable for me to ride for long distances. So, yeah, a little bit apprehensive, but also I’m just excited. I’m just so glad just to be able to get another canal ride in. It is a half turn, but the weather’s not great today, and we’re early enough. We’re early enough. So, I’m hoping for some uh clear toe paths and some very happy riding. So without any further ado, let’s do [Music] this. It was time to depart Wigan Pier. And Wigan Pier, what a fascinating little area. This is steeped in history. The name itself Wigan Pier was actually given in jest as the area in Victorian’s times was greatly impoverished and as a joke people would call it Wigan Pier kind of conjuring images of a lovely seaside town when in fact this was a very poor coal mining area and along this route we’ll be constantly reminded that this canal was used for the coal mining [Music] industry cycling in the mornings you reckon it’s better or worse Yes, people are friendlier in the mornings. Morning people are friendlier people. Morning. Morning. Morning. Morning. Yeah, morning people. Friendly people, do you reckon I went to pick my bike up from the shop? I had to cycle it back along the canal a canal in the afternoon on a bank holiday Monday and good lord that was not fun. That was not fun at all. Everyone was miserable. My morning people are just, you know, I think those are my people. And if there’s one shot in this video that summarizes the first half of this canal ride, it’s this one here. Nature reserves, trees, vast open saves of countryside, and gloriously wide tow paths. This really is a beautiful ride. Unfortunately, I can’t say the same for the weather that is to come. Which side of the canal is better to be on here? Everything’s so confusing. I’m going to go on this side. It looks better on this side. The grass ain’t always greener on the other side. Here comes the rain. Dooby dooby. Here comes the rain. It’s all right. A rainy mcrainy mcrain rain. Yeah, things are a wee bit overgrown. Oh my god. Don’t go in the water. Okay, here I am like struggling through this bit. I’m just looking that other side. Oh, there’s like pristine toe path over there. Okay, so do not, I repeat, do not if you are cycling out of Wigan on the lay branch, go on the left hand side of the canal. Stay on the right hand side. There’s a bridge here. I was really hoping near this ramshackled building that I can get across. This building is the DoA lock in. It was formerly known as the White Lion and stood across from some old stocks. Now it lays in ruins following what I can only assume was a fire. But there wasn’t time to dwell here because I was moving on to the next major landmark, the Unlock sculpture. This is made from five old canal lock gates and arranged to resemble a book holding secrets and stories of the canal. Each leaf of the book symbolizes the unlocking of a previous mining heritage history. It really is impressive and one of the many great sites to see on this ride. Look how big this hood is. Oh, I’m grateful for it right now, though, cuz it is just bucketing it down. and it is not showing any signs of stopping. And I’m passing some of the most iconic absolutely amazing stuff here. Look at this memorial. These solid oak beams. This is oak, isn’t it? I’m not sure. It’s just absolutely epic here. Absolutely epic. And there’s just a huge nature reserve out over there as well. There’s just lakes and nature reserves everywhere. So much history here as well. And a lot of rain apparently. A lot of rain here on the days I come. Anyway, okay. At some point we’ve passed over into Bridgewater Canal Territory and I think we can look forward to some nice surfaces. But tell you what, they haven’t been too bad. They haven’t been too bad. Legend has it that guy is still waiting for the rain to stop. Bring me sunshine in your smile. Your smile. Bring me laughter. Bring me laughter. All the while. In this world where we live, there should be more happiness. All the joy you can give to each brand new bright tomorrow. Make me happy through the years. Never bring me any tears. Let your arms be as warm as sun above. Bring me love. Bring me sunshine. brings me down. I mean, this this rain has been relentless. It is not stopping. There’s not one bit of me now that isn’t wet. Like, I am wet in places I’ve never been wet before. It’s just not stopping. And about to hit somewhere. I was Well, I am extremely excited to see. And it’s this basin right here. And here we are at the Bridgewater Canal Basin, a major terminus of the canal. It’s where coal for the Duke of Bridgewwater’s mines in Worley were loaded onto barges for transport to Manchester. The area includes entrances to the underground canals at Wesley Delve, where tunnels were built to transport coal. today. It makes for a much more picturesque and peaceful scene with TUDA style buildings and plenty of gorgeous views. I would say the only downside is the traffic noise from the nearby road, but on a rainy day, you can drown that out quite easily and just enjoy the view. [Music] Can’t park there, mate. I don’t think I’ve ever been on a ride that has had this much rain like ever. Well, maybe not ever, but not since I’ve started the YouTube channel anyway. I mean, the uh the colder navigation that was rainy and cold. Well, at least it stopped for like a minute or two. It has not let up for miles. Like my gloves are just soaked. I could probably ring the water out of these. Uh my fingers are literally pruning. It’s just It’s tough going. And I’ve just seen a guy cycle by me and he looked miserable. Like really miserable. He was the embodiment of my emotions right now. So, you know what? Thank you for this little um prominard, this little shelter. That’s a pro, not a prominade, is it? Gazebo. Thank you. This little gazebo is going to be my haven. I’m going to eat lunch here because I just don’t think it’s going to stop. And this is what makes an adventure an adventure. So, you can’t have the good times without the bad. Leaving my temporary shelter, I headed back out into the lashing rain. And it felt as though this was never going to change. And honestly, it never did. But one thing was changing, and that was the roots. The canal was changing from open countryside to this more harsh industrial landscape. I’d actually lost track of where I was up to. I’d crossed the Manchester Shipping Canal and didn’t even notice. But being back in Old Trafford, it really did make me happy. This was a familiar area. I’d done it recently when I did the Runcon Manchester Bridgewater Canal. And I knew the end was in [Music] sight. This isn’t as busy as last time I was here. I think something’s putting people off. I can’t think what that would [Music] be. My god, it smells like pies here. Like really tasty pies. Really, really. I probably said this last time. I can’t remember if he included it in the video, but it smells good. And I feel this is where I went wrong last time. I think I need to be on the other side of the road. The other side of the canal over this uh Throttle Nest Bridge. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I need to go up here. I’m learning. So, what do I think of the Leadeds Liverpool Bridgewater Canal Lee Branch? I think it is a stunning little ride. There’s some absolutely glorious spots on it, some beautiful things to see. A lot of history, a lot of efforts been put into the surfaces. It’s just a lovely little ride. And even when you get through Old Trafford, I mean, this bit’s growing on me the more I come through. very urban, but it’s also because it’s running through industrial estates and it’s coming straight off Castlefield. It tends to be okay for the most part. I’m sure that’s not the case all the time because I’m about to go past the bit where I went past a burnt out motorbike last time, but you know, overall it’s a lovely ride. And like if you live in the center of Manchester or something and I can see it’d be totally one you’d do. You’d probably well ride out on your bike and get the train back. All right, let’s bring this one home. Put a big old bow on this one and call it a day. We’re about to hit Castle Field. And that is the end of the ride, folks. That’s the end of the ride. So that’s it. We’ve done it. That is the end of the ride. So, I’ve still got it. And honestly, I’m not going to lie, I was I was pretty nervous about this one. I didn’t know what my back was going to do. I didn’t know I just didn’t I just didn’t know if I I could do it to be honest with you. Um I’m not going to lie, I am pretty sore. I’m more sore than I would be normally. But, you know, the fact that I’ve managed to do this is just a huge kind of boost to my confidence. So, I really needed this. I’m not 100% yet. It’s going to be a while before I’m 100%. But yeah, I mean, mate, I’m just so glad I did it, even if it did rain the entire time. So, let’s get out of this um lovely place that is uh is Manchester. Okay. Yeah, the accident. While we’re here, let’s talk about it because I don’t want to blow it up into something that it wasn’t. Oh, basically, uh, I had these new army surplus bags that I’m converting into paniers and I thought, you know what? I’ll just nip out, get a quick bit of footage. Cycled off up the road. I was heading up this totally clear road. So, this car pulls to the edge of the the main road, waiting to pull out into the main road as I’m passing by. And literally the second I’m in front of it, it just floors it into me. Like literally, I thought at the time someone’s having a bit of road rage, so it slams into the side of me. Now, thankfully, I had the paniers on, so the pad cage over the back wheel stopped the car from hitting the back wheel. But what happened was is it knocked me across the road like a like a dodgum. So I kind of had this twisting jerking motion in the middle of my back. Back spasms up and then I kind of like manage to roll over the side of the road and get off the bike hunch over. So this uh car turns around and comes back eventually and this person gets out. They’re super apologetic straight away. I I didn’t know what was in for. I thought is it going to be like road rage this or something? Anyway, they’re super apologetic. You they’re showing lots of contrition. They’re very sorry. Uh I recorded the whole thing because I know how stories can change after the event and I’m glad I did. Anyway, the next day the person started sending me all these messages of how they’re such a moral person and basically trying to infer that I’d kicked their car with my foot. Now, the pictures I got the damage and the recording all totally contradict that story. I think you just caught me at the back. I mean, yeah. I mean, did you not see me? So, yeah, it’s just turned into a bit of a nightmare. Then I’ve had to spend all this time on the phone to solicitors and all the rest of it because the police said, “Well, if they’re not willing to give you their insurance details, it then becomes a civil matter. So, you need to get a solicitor.” So, I had to get a solicitor and get all that stuff sorted. And before you know it, it’s just turned into nightmare. Back’s been aching like crazy. Been given like all kinds of painkillers from the doctors. So, yes, I’ve made a few modifications to the bike. Like I said, get all the weight off my back, get it into the panas, get the hydration pack into the frame. So, this is the first long ride I’ve done. And I’ve been doing like hour long rides near me. My shoulders get fatigued very quickly. very very quickly. So, I’m doing everything I can to get all the weight off my back and give my shoulders a rest. So, we’ll just see how we get on. And what a beautiful place to cut my teeth to get back on the road. It’s the Leeds Liverpool Canal and the Bridgewater Canal. And so far, the toe path’s not been bad. a little bit little bit worn here but this is really good compared to some other toe paths and the Bridgewater section I know that’s going to be good because Peele for all the problems they do take care of their toe paths so yeah so that’s the story very disappointed with the person and the way they’ve been I wish they would have uh I don’t know I wish they would have continued just to put things right there’s one thing to say sorry but you know you could have helped me get my bike fixed quicker so I didn’t have to go for a month without my bike. Well, there you go. You know, that’s just some people, isn’t it? Right, let’s go. God is so good around Yeah.