Day 45
Thanks Annette
Today we were heading to Birkenhead to await our ferry to Ireland. We are starting to feel a little like our journey is starting. Final goodbyes to Annette, and also Sandra and Steve Coffin who run the campsite. Sandra had a great chat with Tom about our adventure and interest like this always puts us in a positive frame of mind. Tom had also made his first big change to how he loads his bike. After spotting that I now have nearly empty front pannier bags, he sent a few items back with Annette to hand over to our friends Anne and Pete, who are kindly storing half our home in their attic! Then the tent which normally sits on top of his rack is now in one of my front panniers, making his bike a bit lighter!
We had about 45 miles to go and were hoping to not have too late a finish. The route started with a few hills. After descending a very long steep hill we discovered that the road closed signs we had ignored at the top of the hill, really did mean road closed. Normally as a cyclist we can usually get by whatever stops a car, however they were replacing the overhead electric cables and there was no way we were going to be allowed through. A quick map check and we decided to take a footpath over a few fields. Two stiles later and we were back on the road, only to discover the cable guys hadn’t actually started!
A couple more hills, then miles and miles of excellent canal paths bypassing all roads in Chester, then a final few mile on cycle paths on busy roads and we arrived at Premier Inn at Birkenhead. Sad to see just how run-down and derelict so much of the area by the docks is. A reminder to us that the impact of long term unemployment, little investment and covid have really impacted in such a negative way on this once major trading city.
