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Roy Bourne Run - 15 May 2011
Dave Style once again organised the Roy Bourne Run. Last year’s very successful run went to the steam powered Llanfair railway in Wales. This year’s equally successful trip went to Cheshire to see some Victorian hydraulically powered technology at the Anderton Boat Lift. We learned that the hydraulic power was later replaced by electric power due to pollution in the water corroding the hydraulics. Pollution is something that we hear a lot about today but the Victorians found it caused them problems too. We moved on a century or two on the return run by visiting the radio telescope at Jodrell Bank where they have a very nice café.
Thanks to Dave for organising the day and to those of you who sent me pictures
some of which I have included below. Eddy.
Here is Dave’s report of the day:
“Despite the best efforts of one of our members following any old black motorbike that passed, ten, plus Geoff's new mates turned up for the run. We arrived at Fairways Garden Centre at Ashbourne for coffee where unfortunately Dave Davis’ clutch cable broke. He carefully rode home presumably to spend the afternoon fitting the new spare clutch cable that Chris had supplied with the bike when Dave bought it. ;-)
We went North West through Leek and almost to Macclesfield then via lanes across towards Northwich taking part in a cycle race of at least 1,000 people. I saw number 1017. We arrived at the pub for lunch about 12.15 which I hope everyone enjoyed; mine was very good.
A short walk to the Boat Lift and after negotiating a discount we got in for half price! What a wonderful piece of engineering and what guts to build it; saved by a group of volunteers with lottery funding just prior to opening in 2002. As we were so near we then detoured to Jodrell Bank for afternoon tea.
With only a minor error navigating our way back onto the outward route worked well with riders dropping off to take their best route home along the way. Chris Worland chaperoned me to within a couple of miles from home where I arrived at 6.20.
Fortunately, my usual weather forecast held true and I declare drizzle and light showers; I saw no real rain!
Thank you everyone and I hope you enjoyed your day as much as I did. Dave
Style.”
The lunch party.
View of the top of the lift.
A boat leaving the bottom of the lift.
Some of our party with the lift in the background.
Jodrell Bank radio telescope.
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