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Summer Holidays Commuting Bliss
Blog Date 6 August 2019
The 6 weeks of summer holidays are upon us. Countless parents around the country are taking overpriced holidays with their screaming chilblains or otherwise having to palm them off on friends, relatives and play groups so they can work. In a mix of flooding with heatwaves, kids being sick in the back of the car on the way to grans and melting ice cream dripping on to overcrowded car parks all is normal in Blighty.
As my own small person is now a very big person the small person issue has been resolved for me. I am therefore allowed to enjoy the summer holidays by working non stop through them, thus removing myself from packed beaches and lines of traffic. Even better it means my commute to work is quieter.
I only need a 4 mile 20 minute ride to work but I like to take a different route each day. If the weather is inclement I may take a half hour 10 mile option, if the weather is acceptable then maybe a 45 minute 15 to 20 mile trip is in order. Typically the traffic is in places jammed solid so my detours are usually along the busy but hopefully not jammed streets.
During the holidays there is less traffic, yet it's still busy. This last couple of days, for reasons unknown, the traffic here in Bolton and surrounding areas has been incredibly light. Yesterday's 45 minute ride allowed me to cover 30 miles and still be at work 15 minutes early.
Today I was up early and the skies were not threatening rain for once. I departed my abode at 0710 and took a 1 hour 30 minute detour to work. Anglezarke, Chorley, Croston, Mawdesley, Standish and Wigan. Light traffic, blue skies, countryside, single track lanes and the CBF125 rattling away beneath me. Bliss.
A little more if this in the mornings would be nice.
I know this experience will be rare. I don't always wake early. The rains will soon return. The unusually light traffic will become heavy again. Winter will bring darkness and ice in the mornings. That's fine, that's life. I am just thankful that this morning it all came together for me and I enjoyed a rare and precious commute.
If you'd like to talk to the BAT team contact ren@bikesandtravels.com
Reader's Comments
Borsuk said :-
Enjoy it when you can get it Ren.
I will be going home to Spain this leave, looking forward to getting the bike out and riding the mountain roads, but not looking forward to the traffic jams at home, the last one was nearly 50m long. How can people be expected to keep calm in such atrocious traffic conditions.
I finally decided to stop for a while to let the road clear but there was only about 30 cafe / bars in the area to get a coffee and sandwich at. Such lack of amenities is utterly deplorable.
06/08/2019 23:15:21 UTC
Bob said :-
That's why motorcycles are mankind's greatest achievment! Constantly exploring the most fun route between point A and point B. Even if you find heavy traffic, there's the enjoyment of filtering past all the stalled cars.
My meanering route to work occasionally involves a green lane or two, but I need more time for that.
07/08/2019 08:59:35 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Borsuk - why do you tease me this way?
07/08/2019 09:00:30 UTC
Borsuk said :-
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Borsuk - why do you tease me this way?
To quote Charlie Sheen from 2 1/2 men.
"Because it amuses me".
07/08/2019 09:59:29 UTC
Upt'North said :-
And me!
07/08/2019 13:23:33 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Thanks. Fer nowt.
07/08/2019 19:49:16 UTC
Marv said :-
Yep, I'm finding it more enjoyable than usual commuting in at the moment. Particularly when it's sunny in the morning and I've got some nice and empty, twisty road in front of me. Bliss indeed!
07/08/2019 22:35:11 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Where you from Marv?
08/08/2019 08:48:06 UTC
Marv said :-
No where exotic, just the Suffolk coast! There is some decent roads, but nothing like there is in Wales or Scotland.
It's a pretty dry part of the country though, so can ride to work most days in Spring/Summer/Autumn on dry roads.
08/08/2019 20:08:03 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ed, why did you have to mention returning rain, jinx.
Just noticed you mentioned Chorley, I've got an o'd buddy who lives at Eccleston.
You'll know if you see him he's got some old Suzuki triples so is constantly surrounded by blue castrol r smoke. Sometimes when the bikes aren't even running.
14/08/2019 09:38:31 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
My mother dearest lives in Eccleston so I go to see her there often. I used to go to Eccleston as a teenager all the time because Croston where I was brung up was as boring as hell. As for your pal with the 2-smokes I can't say as I know him - and him being a fan of ring-a-ding-ding machines won't help that cause much.
14/08/2019 11:49:38 UTC
Upt'North said :-
When riding into Eccleston from the south off J27 of the car park it's on the right, he built a place there himself probably around 25 years ago. Why am I telling you this? You may ask.
Just incase you ever want anything automotive painting there is a great paint shop just opposite, you may already know that of course being Lancunian through and through.
How's the Whippet?
Upt'North.
14/08/2019 13:23:28 UTC
Ren - The Ed¹ said :-
Are you coming into Eccy along the A49 or B5250?
14/08/2019 15:16:46 UTC
Upt'North said :-
Ed, it would be the B5250, Langton Brow? I think.
The body shop/paint shop would be on the N/S I think going into Eccy from the general direction of J27.
I know I'm a bit vague but I haven't been there for about 15 years.
Upt'North.
14/08/2019 16:17:26 UTC
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