I left Pendlebury Lane and linked back up with the Leeds & Liverpool Canal then left Haigh Hall Plantation via a route known as the 'Whelley Loop Line' which was the old branch line used by Wigan Coal and Iron Works to transport coal to and from the main line. Now surrounded by acres of woodland and trails our industrial past is left to the history books. The old loop line lead back to the Leeds & Liverpool Canal very close to where the new locks were being installed where I stopped again to look at the new lock gates.
A local walked past and we got chatting "the work started last January and should have been completed this weekend" he went onto say "it looks like there's at least another weeks work left I added" I left the chap and peddled downhill passing lock after lock before arriving home about twenty minutes later.
Now that the lighter evenings have arrived I'll have the opportunity to head out after work just like I did last year, it gives the chance to shake the stress away and enjoy the local scenery and just like last year enjoy the sunsets too. |